Behind Bars: The Straight-Up Tales of a Big-City Bartender Book

With Behind Bars, Ty Wenzel offers a revealing account of her ten years as a 'bartendress' slinging drinks at a hip Lower East Side bar in New York City. Wenzel, now thirty-six, has just thrown in the towel after a decade at Marion's Continental Restaurant and Lounge-a gig that was sup-posed to be a temporary refuge after corporate burnout, but instead took over her life. Honest, clever, and scathingly funny, this memoir at once offers outrageous tales, the dirty little secrets of the trade, a wonderful personal story, and inspired commentary on bar culture and the human condition. Unsparingly candid, these stories of life behind the bar cover sex, money, celebrities, and more: -The seven rules to insure a strong, prompt drink (hint: a $1 tip does not cover five drinks) -What the 'Floating $20' is between bartenders -The tricks bartenders play to get you to stay on the stool -Why bartenders can't seem to save money and get out of 'the life' -How pink drinks like the Cosmo are ruining civilization.Read More