March, 2021
On bartending in the early 2000s at the Apple Barrel, which was frequented by residents of the Christopher Inn (sometimes called “the old folks’ home”) next door.
MdS: I had the Christopher Inn shift. There was a dayshift, then I started like at 7. Or 6pm? I forget what it was, but there was happy hour for one more hour [when I arrived]. So those guys were already blasted because they’d been sitting there daydrinking since 2pm. Out on the sidewalk, or inside the bar, or whatever.
And they loved to get you in trouble, or make shit up, like telling Liz [Liz Montoya, owner at the time], “Liz, she’s late! And she’s already drunk!” [laughing, shakes her head] I was like, “Come on, it’s not like that clock’s ten minutes fast!”
They were a handful, the regulars, but I really did love them. They were from Christopher House, mostly. And working people getting off work—construction guys, stuff like that. And neighborhood musicians and artists. Lots of artists.
We had no tourists, then little by little, people came during Jazz Fest. They were great tippers, they knew the music, they loved the scene; they wanted to eat the scene up with a spoon, in bucketfuls. They were dream customers. People would complain, “The tourists are coming!” … I’d say, “These aren’t tourists, they’re travellers!”
Travellers from all over the world, that really loved the music. As opposed to what we got now… I mean, I have to get drunk to go to Frenchmen Street on a Saturday night!
[Stay tuned for the long-form interview with Monica and partner Monty Banks!]
