hot pour

Bartender Of The Week By Natalie

GARCIA]

NAME: Zack Taylor

BAR: Neighbors! (Greensboro)

AGE: 31

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Florida, but I mostly grew up in North Carolina.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING?

About three years and some change.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER?

I started o as a barista about 10 years ago, went on to work in restaurants where I learned more about craft beer and cocktails. My manager at Hops really wanted me to move up to bartending, so she took the time to train me during the peak of COVID and showed me all sorts of drinks. I then slowly became a full-time bartender, and the rest is history.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING?

I love the people watching, love getting to know regulars and learning more about cocktails and the drinks that they love, getting to have fun with my coworkers. A great deal of my friends I’ve met through bartending/going out to bars.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BARTENDING?

Working late hours, keeping your sleep schedule intact, maintaining social interactions when you’re not feeling so social, and keeping up with high demand volume. Shout outs to any bartender that stays humble while “in the weeds,” because that is a challenge itself.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE?

A Daiquiri or a Margarita.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK?

A Margarita

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK?

A shot of Amaro and a Miller High Life.

WHAT’S THE STRANGEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE HAD?

Had a old man order a White Russian without Kahlua. Dude just wanted vodka and milk.

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING?

Not while bartending, but when I was a barista, I saw somebody get shot on accident. This also happened in a Florida mall. Some lady was waiting in line and had her friend hold her purse. Her friend accidentally dropped her purse and she had a loaded gun inside. The gun went o and shot her in the back of the leg, and this poor woman is on the ground screaming while her friend runs away. But that’s not the worst part, some teenage girl steps over this wounded woman and asked me if she could still get a Frappuccino, like girl, this is a medical emergency, NO!

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE FOUND IN A BAR BATHROOM?

So there’s this bar back in Pinellas County [Florida] called Mahu ers and the stalls in the men’s bathroom are separated by a dumpster lid that’s hung by a bungee cord. The stalls in the woman’s bathroom are separated by a shower curtain.

WHAT’S THE BEST/BIGGEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN?

Somebody recently tipped me $200 on $120, and that was pretty rad. I’ve had regulars bring me gifts for Christmas or my birthday. One of the coolest gifts I got were these band shirts. Somebody gave me two Jesus Lizard t-shirts and a Shellac t-shirt because they knew I had a thing for noise rock.

SALOME’S STARS]

Week of August 7, 2023

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Aspects favor new romances for unpaired Ewes and Rams. Already-paired Arian twosomes experience renewed harmony in their relationships. Money matters also take a bright turn.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Use that strong Bovine determination to help you keep the faith with your convictions while you move through a period of uncertainty. Things begin to ease by the week’s end.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Pay attention to your intuition. It could be alerting you to be more careful about accepting a “statement of fact” simply on trust. Don’t be shy about asking for more proof.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Concern for the well-being of someone in need is admirable, but don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Ask a family member, close friend or colleague to help you.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s OK to focus on the demands of your career, but try to avoid misunderstandings by also reaching out to family and friends. Your sharp intuitive sense kicks in by midweek.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Keep a rein on that green-eyed monster. Jealousy is counterproductive. Instead of resenting a colleague’s good points, concentrate on developing your own abilities.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Spending time on a creative project during this high-energy week can pay o both in emotional satisfaction and in impressing someone who is glad to see this side of you.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Now is a good time to start planning that trip you’ve put o because of the demands on your time. Be sure to choose a destination that is new and exciting.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) That upbeat mood in the first part of the week makes you eager to take on new ventures. A more serious note sets in later to help you assess an upcoming decision.

[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A high energy level gives the Goat the get-up-and-go to finish outstanding tasks before deadline, leaving time for well-earned fun and games with friends and family.

[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Dealing with disappointment is never easy, but the wise Aquarian will use it as a vital lesson and be the better for it. On another note, a close friend has something important to say.

[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your best bet is not to get involved in an argument between colleagues until you know more about who started it and why. Even then, appearances could be deceiving. Be alert.

[BORN THIS WEEK: You have creative gifts that inspire those who get to see this sometimes hidden side of you.

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate

Answers

crossword on page 10

Sudoku

sudoku on page 10

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. GEOGRAPHY: Which European city is home to the Prado Museum?

[2. MOVIES: What is Forrest’s hometown in the movie Forrest Gump?

[3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the only vowel that isn’t on the top row of letters on a keyboard?

[4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What breed of dog is the TV star Lassie?

[5. CHEMISTRY: What is a common name for nitrous oxide?

[6. MUSIC: Which musical instrument does the singer Lizzo play?

[7. LITERATURE: What is a bildungsroman?

[8. U.S. STATES: Which two states share the most borders with other states?

[9. TELEVISION: What decade is represented in the TV sitcom “The Goldbergs”?

[10. FOOD & DRINK: In which century was co ee introduced to Europe?

Answer

10. 16th.

9. The 1980s.

8. Tennessee and Missouri, with eight bordering states each.

7. Novel that focuses on the moral and psychological growth of a protagonist from childhood to adult.

© 2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

6. Flute.

5. Laughing gas.

4. Rough Collie.

3. A.

2. Greenbow, Alabama.

1. Madrid, Spain.