You Voted, and Here They Are!
By Linnea Sheldon

Almost two months ago, we asked you to head to the Pulse website to start nominating your favorite Worcester County bartenders to be featured in our October cover story. And nominate you did ~ the votes flooded in, so, without further ado, here they are, your ten favorite bartenders in Worcester County, answering questions about their lives on both sides of the bar. Salut!

The Questions

How long have you been a bartender?

What’s your hometown?

Do you tip other bartenders better now that you know what they go through?

Best pick-up line you’ve ever overheard?

Most requested drink?

What’s your favorite way to unwind after work?

Most embarrassing bartending moment?

The people-watching must be great ~ what’s the wackiest thing you’ve ever seen at the bar?

One thing about you that would most surprise your customers?

Is it true that people wind up telling you their life stories?

Ever date a customer?

Coyote Ugly or Cocktail?

Any interest in ever owning your own bar?

What’s your drink of choice?

Biggest tip you’ve ever gotten?

The Bartenders

JR BUTLER, Foobar and Raw

JR Butler began working at the Plantation Club as a bouncer and bar-back while he was a freshman at Holy Cross. When the opportunity to hop behind the bar came up he took it, and has been bartending for the last couple years. Currently he works at the Foobar Monday night and at Raw Tuesday and Thursdays.

Originally from Marlboro, JR said he is always sure to tip other bartenders very well whenever he is out. “It’s tough bartending with a college crowd because a lot of the kids don’t really know how it works,” he explained.

JR also has his share of stories from his many nights behind the bar. “One night this guy just went up to this girl, gave her his phone and said, ‘Put your number in there, I’ll call you this week,’ and then walked into the bathroom. It was the cockiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The most requested drink at the college bars JR works at is the rum and Cokes. “I work mostly college nights,” he said, “So when ever you see an older person come in who has had a little too much too drink, its always a scene watching them interact with the college kids.”

While at work, JR doesn’t worry too much about embarrassing himself. “I hate when someone orders a drink and I draw a blank,” he said, “But usually the person won’t notice, but if they do it’s the worst.”

JR explains that when it’s slow that he’ll always have a customer who wants to tell his life story, but lucky for him his nights are usually busy so he doesn’t get stuck listening too often. As for his best tip, he explained, “This guy was a mess one night and we had cut him off but he was still ordering drinks so I was just giving him tonic waters, without booze, but I wasn’t charging him. He must have thought I was giving him free drinks with booze because he left me like 50 bucks.”

His favorite drink when he goes out is Jack and Coke, and as for after work, he said he usually goes home, cracks a beer, pops on the Sopranos, and is asleep before the opening credits are over.

This Crusader said his customers would probably be most surprised by his athletic background. “I played hockey for Holy Cross and was part of the team last year that upset Minnesota out in North Dakota in the West Regional,” he said.

He said he has never dated a customer, and JR prefers Cocktail to Coyote Ugly. And as for owning his own bar, he said, “I would love to someday.”

MAGGIE DeMAIO, Tammany Hall

Maggie DeMaio has been a bartender at Tammany Hall for about a year and a half. She started out just hanging there and that eventually led to a job. Right now she works Thursday and Friday nights, and the most requested drink she gets is Captain and Coke.

Like all good bartenders, Maggie has her share of crazy stories. She said she’s seen people fall straight backwards, right off their chairs. As for the best pickup line she’s ever heard, she said, “I heard a guy say to a girl, ‘You have the nicest rack in this bar,’ then the girl yelled at him.”

From the sounds of it, Maggie is too busy to slow down and listen to her customers vent. When we asked her if she has the problem that most bartenders have with their patrons telling them too much information she said, “No, not really, only people I am friends with, but not anyone I don’t know.”

As for the biggest tip Maggie has ever received, she said someone left $89 on New Year’s Eve, but she split it with her co-workers. She does have her own drink, she named it the Michael Murry, but you’ll have to go visit her to find out what is in it. Like all good bartenders, Maggie has her share of embarrassing moments. She said he worst one she can think of was a real disaster. “When I got up to dance on the bar one night I slipped and almost fell off the bar.”

Maggie’s hometown is Spencer and her favorite way to unwind after work is sleeping. She said she has never dated a customer, but didn’t say she wouldn’t. But the one thing she thinks her customers would be surprised about is that she is very shy.

When she goes out her favorite drink is a Vanilla Stoli and Coke, and she always tips the bartender well. Movie-wise, Maggie prefers Coyote Ugly to Cocktail and as for owning her own bar someday, she gave a resounding, “Hell NO!”

BERNARD YOUNG, Funky Murphy’s

Bernard Young has been bartending since 1999. Originally from Boston, he moved to Worcester to attend Clark University. “Like any other college student I needed a job,” he said, “I figured I’d at least have a good time while I was working.”

Currently, Bernard tends bar at Funky Murphy’s Wednesday through Sunday nights. He admits strange things happen almost every night when people are drinking, but as far as the strangest he said, “One of the things that stick out in my mind was a five way kiss between girls, not bad to watch.”

He’s also heard his share of secrets from his customers ~ lucky for them he’s very tight-lipped, so they have nothing to worry about. He couldn’t help but share his favorite pick-up line that he’s heard so far though. One night he heard a guy use the line “I’ll give you the best two minutes of your life, and that includes cuddling and foreplay.”

Bernard said the most embarrassing situation he’s been in while at work was when he split his pants, right in the middle of a shift.

He has also dated a few customers here and there. His favorite thing to do after work is unwind by watching Entourage on Demand. He admits he is also a Desperate Housewives fan, which is probably what would surprise his customers most.

He is a Coyote Ugly fan, and as for his favorite drink, Bernard said he’ll try anything once. He is also a great tipper: “One comes to appreciate others in the business, so I usually tip 30% to 50%.”

Bernard has been a bar owner before, and he is once again opening his own place in November called Bar None. “The idea is to create a new attitude towards Worcester nightlife for the young professional,” he explained. “Located in Washington Square, Bar None will take on the task of becoming Worcester’s first trendy sports bar. Bar None promises to be only for the grown and sexy, sporting a hip & clean cut decor with a Boston edge. The restaurant will open in 2007. Hope to see you there.”

Kelly Kerrigan, Seamus O’Callahan’s

Kelly Kerrigan, originally from Shirley, has been bartending for nine years, starting out right when she turned 21 at a dive bar in Fitchburg. But now she works at Seamus O’Callahan’s in Sterling during the day on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, on Monday nights, and occasionally on a Friday or Saturday night.

The most requested drink at her bar is the Jager Bomb, and she has heard her fair share of pick-up lines, including the lame favorite of many drunken men, “Did you hurt yourself falling from heaven?”

Kelly has had her share of embarrassing moments over the years, but she said a recent one was particularly embarrassing. “My boob fell out an old guy last Wednesday,’ she explained.

Some of Kelly’s customers definitely end up telling her their life stories. “I usually listen for a good 30 seconds,” she said, “Then I start to think about Disney World.”

After a long day at work, Kelly’s favorite way to unwind is to serve herself a cocktail. Her drink of choice is usually wine, and she always tips the bartender very well, “Everybody should,” she points out.

Though Kelly has dated a customer before, she tries not to anymore. “My boss Jimmy frowns upon that because they usually become ex-customers.”

Kelly is a Coyote Ugly fan all the way, and as for ever owning her own bar, “No interest, not at the moment, but you never know.”

NIKI LUPARELLI, Vincent’s/Ralph’s

Niki Luparelli at Vincent’s has been a bartender for four years now. Initially, she got laid off from a high tech job and thought it would just be fun…and she’s been doing it ever since. Right now she works Tuesday and Sunday nights at Vincent’s and Thursday nights at Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner.

Niki’s witnessed plenty of stuff from behind the bar. She said, “I watched an 80 year-old lady with a fanny pack jump on the bar and dance to Margaritaville. I had no idea all those Appletinis were for her. Jimmy Buffet ruins everything.”

As for the best pick up line she’s ever witnessed, she said it was, “Marry me. I’ll die in a few years and you can have all my money.”

The most requested order at Vincent’s is by far the $1.50 Bud Light Drafts, but she also serves a lot of their famous meatballs. “Just today, apparently I was leaning too close to a plate of ziti and balls, and I had a bright red nipple circle all day. Everyone felt compelled to comment so I said, “Yup, all your sandwiches are gonna taste like boob.”

Niki is one bartender who doesn’t discourage over-sharing. “People tell me way more than I need to know,” she said. “I want to know funny things. Tell me about that bet you made to eat a jar of old mayo for $5.”

Originally from Worcester, Niki really knows how to relax after work. “I smoke…then we talk crap about any weenies that came in.”

Niki’s favorite drink is usually Bacardi and Diet Coke, but she said her drink of choice this summer has been Stoli Vanilla, Malibu, and fresh lime juice, and for shots she prefers Tuaca. As for how she treats fellow bartenders when she’s out and about, she said, “I am an awesome tipper, unless you totally suck, even then, guilt still dictates 15%.”

The one thing that might surprise most of her customers is that Niki is one-half of a comedy duo called the Steamy Bohemians. “Although I’m a shameless self-promoter. They probably know. What they don’t know is despite my high shot consumption, I can only handle like 2 drinks before I’m way too buzzed to function properly.”

Not only was one Niki date customers, she’s married to one, so I guess the rest of her customers are out of luck. As for her movie preference, Niki had to go with cocktail, but she warns, “If you see me throwing bottles, duck.”

She said she’s got big plans for owning her own bar too, “Tricky Niki’s, a chain a la Ruby Tuesdays, coming soon. We will only serve one kind of food. I’m leaning towards hot dog soup.”

HANH NGUYEN, Club Red 1888

Hanh grew up in Long Beach, California, but has been bartending here in Worcester for about three years. “I’ve been wanting to get into the bartending business since I was 18,” she explained. “I finally went to bartending school at 21.”

Right now Hanh is working at Club Red 1888 on Friday and Saturday nights. Her most requested drink there is a Sex on the Beach. Her most embarrassing moment happened not too long ago. “At Club Red we wear high heels to work, not the best thing to do,” she explained, “but it looks good. So one night I wore a new pair so I wasn’t sure how they would work with the mats. I was slammed and I was rushing, and I felt my heel get stuck and next thing you know I went crashing to the ground. I just wanted to rush to the restroom and disappear, but just like a trooper I had no choice but continue to work. Everyone was nice and asked if I was OK, but I was so embarrassed.”

Hanh doesn’t have too much of a problem with talkative customers at Club Red. “In fast paced clubs and bars people don’t have time to tell you their life stories,” she said, “But I’ve worked in slower paced places and I found out people are lonely and really enjoy talking to their bartenders.”

To unwind after work Hanh’s favorite thing to do is to play with her niece or read herself to sleep. Most of Hanh’s customers are surprised to find out that she has a day job, but she doesn’t mind the thought of owning her own bar someday. “It sounds nice to be the big boss,” she said.

Since Hanh has always been in a business that involved customers, she has always been a great tipper, even before she was bartending. Her biggest tip was $ 100. “It’s happened about three times in all my bartending years, and it’s funny but I never feel comfortable accepting such a big tip,” she said.

TRICIA CARIGLIA, Flying Rhino

Tricia Cariglia has been bartending for seven years now. Originally from Worcester, she got into the business after visiting her brother Marty while he was behind the bar. “It looked like fun, meeting new people, making money, and not having to wake up early in the morning! I like to think of myself as a vampire,” she said.
Tricia said she thinks she has worked in every bar in the city. She currently works at the Flying Rhino Saturday during the day and night and fills in a couple of shifts during the week.

Her most requested drinks are Captain and Coke or Stoli Raz with Sprite and cran. Her favorite thing to do while she’s serving drinks is to observe her customers. “Watching people’s demeanor is the best part. Especially women, they start off reserved and 4 drinks later they’re dancing on the bar and doing body shots,” she said. “The girls will scope out a guy, talk to him until he offers her a drink, get the drink, and then off to the next guy.”

One of her favorite bar experiences, which also happens to be her best tip ever, was her brush with fame. “I served Charlie Moore, the mad fisherman,” she said. “He has a fishing show on NESN. It was funny because my brother was like, ‘Go flirt with him, he’s famous,’ but I had no clue who he was. He was an awesome guy though and he loved us because we’d take shots with him.”

Mr. Moore left a little over a hundred dollars. “But the best tips can’t be measured in money,” she said. “I learn something new everyday.”

Like most folks who’ve been in the business, Tricia is a very good tipper. “I’ve always tipped well because I grew up in the restaurant business,” she said. “Being in the business definitely helps. It’s like one hand washes the other. Most of my close friends are bartenders and we all take care of one another.”

To unwind after work Tricia usually grabs some breakfast, hops in the shower, and then she’s off to bed. She also knows to keep her bar life separate from her dating life. “A bar fly wants one thing,” she said. “You figure it out.”

Tricia is a Coyote Ugly fan, and her drink of choice is a mixture of Stoli Blueberry, Sprite, a shot of Chambord and splash of cranberry juice. As for owning her own bar, she hopes to someday, once the finances are there.

Ted Thanas, Ralph’s and Vincent’s

Ted Thanas, better known as Teddy Ballgame, has been a bartender for nearly two years now. It took a while for him to get into the business: “First I tried to muscle my way in, but that didn’t work so I tried to spoon my way in, when that failed, I just bought my way in.”

He currently works Tuesday and Saturday nights at Ralph’s and Thursday and Friday nights at Vincent’s. He said his most requested drink is the Little Cabana Boy, I wasn’t sure what went into these drinks, but I decided that in this case ignorance was bliss!
Teddy is quite the charmer, so he’s certainly heard his share of pick-up lines. He said his personal favorite so far is “Make out with me or I’ll kill myself.”
When it’s not too busy, Teddy often finds himself in deep conversations with many of his regular customers. Not only do people tell him they’re life stories, but he also gets a great deal of tall tales ~ must be that colorful clientele over at Ralph’s and Vincent’s~ “They tell tales of goblins, wizards, and unicorns,” he explained.

He went on to say that he always tips other bartenders very well, but as he puts it, “As long as they are using flare.”
Teddy insisted his favorite way to unwind after work is to drink a protein shake and lift a bunch of weights, but anyone who knows Teddy knows this probably isn’t true. He also admits that it usually ends up in something he likes to call “Stalking my girlfriends via the internet.”

While Teddy wasn’t a fan of either Coyote Ugly or Cocktail, he did mention that he really enjoys Road House with Patrick Swayze, as well as the more recent Road House 2: Last Call with Jake Busey. As for whether Teddy has ever dated a customer, “Yes,” he said, “but quietly because I still live with my parents.”

MEGHANN EVANGELOUS, Blackstone Tap

Meghann Evangelous at the Blackstone Tap found her way into bartending after a brief stint as a waitress-turned-bartender at the Ground Round. All total, she’s been bartending for the past four years. Right now she works Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and during the day on Sunday for football season.

Like all bartenders, Meg, who is originally from Sturbridge, has seen and heard her share of crazy stories, and personal information. “For some reason people don’t hold back when they start to drink,” she explained, “and most of the time they end up telling you more then you need or want to know.”

When we asked her what the craziest thing she ever saw while she was bartending was she had several stories to tell, but our favorite was the couple getting it on in the bathroom. “I walked into the bathroom one time to wash my hands and a couple was going at it, right there in the middle of the bathroom,” she said. “I turned around and walked out, and they didn’t even stop to say sorry.”

As a female bartender, Meg’s heard her share of pick-up lines, too. “There are a lot of cheesy ones out there, but I like ‘I think you’ve got something in your eye, oh never mind, it’s just a sparkle.’”

At the Blackstone Tap her most requested drinks are usually a Tie-Dyed Grateful Dead and a Swedish fish, and she said the biggest tip she’s ever gotten was about $100.

Meg’s favorite thing to do after work is to sit down and have a drink ~ very fitting for a bartender. Her favorite drinks are a Sea Breeze or some wine. Of course she’s sure to tip the other bartenders really well.

Meg said her number one golden rule is not to date a customer, but I’m sure they were waiting in line after what she describes as her most embarrassing bartending moment. “I was wearing a skirt at work, and as I was walking by the dishwasher the skirt got stuck on the corner of the dishwasher and my skirt was pulled almost completely off.”

The one thing she said her customers would be most surprised about is that she is very quiet and shy outside of work. As to whether she preferred Coyote Ugly or Cocktail, Meg’s said Coyote Ugly all the way. She also said she may open her own bar…someday.

JAKE PELLETIER, Southside Grille and Margarita Factory

Jake Pelletier has been bartending at Southside Grille and Margarita Factory in Gardner for three years. Originally from Leominster, Jake now lives in Gardner. His most requested drink at work is something he likes to call a Horny Margarita, a concoction he created from a blend of juices as well as a secret ingredient he won’t disclose.

Jake’s most embarrassing bartending moment happened several months ago. “I tripped over a mat in the back of the bar when it was completely dead,” he said. “I totally wiped out and rolled around. I think there was only one customer, but there were about six employees who saw it, and it was pretty funny. I trip all the time, but that was the first time I actually hit the floor.”

Jake has heard his fair share of pick-up lines, but he insists he’s never heard a good one. As for the people watching, since he works at a family restaurant he said there’s not a lot of crazy stuff going on, but he did say there was one memorable moment. “We have acoustic music on Fridays and Saturdays and there was a guy with a group of people one night and every 15 to 20 seconds he would yell ‘Whoooo,’ so we were trying to determine if he was drunk or weird or what his deal was. The place was pretty busy and he was annoying everybody there. We withheld his beer for a bit to see what the situation was, and it turned out he had Tourette Syndrome, there were no hard feelings, and it ended up being really fun and everybody by the end of the night was yelling ‘Whooo.’”

Although he tries not to listen or encourage, does hear his fair share of stories. “The people’s life stories that I would want to hear don’t tell, and the ones that I don’t want to hear always try,” he said.

When he goes out he always tips well, but he definitely said he started tipping even better since he began bartending. His favorite way to unwind after work is a cold beer and maybe some tequila. As for what would most surprise most of his customers? He’s not a party animal at all. “I’m always working so when I’m not working I just hang out with my fiancée and my dog.”

Jake has dated customers in the past, but he doesn’t do that anymore now that he’s with his fiancée, who just happened to be a co-worker. He is still undecided about opening his own bar, and as for his best tip he said he got about $60 once. “I guess they just liked their service,” he said modestly.

We won’t give away the authors of these comments that came in for Favorite Bartender, but we think you’ll get a kick out of them anyway!

Erin at Tammany, she’s got style, she’s got class, and she knows how to shake her…glass?

Teddy Ballgame from Ralph’s Diner rocks it every time! One classy bastard!

Here’s a vote for Bijan at Boston Billiards…have you seen him? Well then, ‘nuff said.

Ben from Ralph’s/Vincent’s has gotten me drunk twice this week so far…and he lets me touch his butt!

Teddy Ballgame @ Ralph’s – a sexual dynamo-mixologist!

My vote is for Michelle White of the Victory Bar. Not only is she beautiful and a great worker…she reminds me of Thumper from Winnie the Pooh!

Jayy Ahhh Butler from Raw Bar – quickest hands on this side of the Mississippi.

Teddy Ballgame. He’s cool like the Fonz.

Oops, that was me above! Duh! I thought “Name” was where you put in your favorite bartender’s name.

Niki from Vincent’s. She can shake a frickin’ martini. So hot. Want to touch the heiney.

Erin from Tammany because she dates Brendan from OSB. Brendan is famous and sexy.

Niki from Vincent’s…She knows how to make you feel like a man. Even though, I’m a girl.

Meg at Blackstone Tap – I traveled from Asia just to see her.

JR Butler@RAW – He is off the heezy fa sheezy.

Now make sure to go visit your favorite bartender(s) often ~ and remember to tip them well!