thePULSE
Worcester’s bartenders are more than just good-looking. They’re pretty smart, amazing people who go to school, support charities, and have great senses of humor. So, get to know your local bartenders a little better and next time you’re out, tip them well.
Hillary Blood, 25
Hometown: Spencer.
Education: I am currently finishing up my master’s degree this year in the field of occupational therapy. I completed my B.S. at Worcester State University and my MOT at Bay Path University.
What makes you more than just good-looking? I believe the qualities that make me more than just good-looking are my values and personality. I am generally enthusiastic, optimistic and deeply value a good education.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I hope to be married to the love of my life and working as an occupational therapist, helping change the lives of others! Living the dream. 🙂
What book is on your bedside table? The book is called Dyspraxia and its Management. Super nerdy, I know.
What can’t you stop listening to on your iPod? I am in love with all country music; therefore, it is most likely any Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan or Pandora station that plays all the new country tunes. I change up my music choices all the time. I really love it all.
What hidden skill do you have? Many people would not know that I like to be outdoorsy and go hiking regularly in the summer and fall months.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? One customer screamed at me after cutting her off, then proceeded to threaten no tip on the next beer. Makes sense, right? Or the customers that message me on Facebook, then come back in and call me out for not responding. Awkward.
What’s your passion? I am passionate about helping others. It is the reason I have spent so much time in school to do what I am passionate about. I have completed endless internships and volunteer time in order to have the knowledge I do now, and I do not regret a single second of it!
Hillary is behind the bar at Michael’s Cigar Bar (1 Exchange St., Worcester) from 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Keith Allain, 30
Hometown: Worcester.
Education: Went to Q.C.C. ~ business management but want to switch to sports management!
What makes you more than just good-looking? I’m great with people; love to brighten someone’s day. I’m full of positivity. Love to sing and dance and get my bar having fun.
Do you have a day job? I am a personal trainer. I also do landscaping.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I plan to be owning a gym and investing my money.
What book is on your bedside table? Anything sports.
What skill are you most proud of? I’m most proud to be a father to a healthy, beautiful boy. He is 9 years old and keeps me young! I enjoy a lot of things but mostly enjoy bettering myself on a daily basis, may it be at the gym, in life financially or my mind.
What’s your favorite charity? My favorite charity has to do with cancer. It hits home. My family has struggled beating this sickness.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? The most annoying thing I have experienced at work was when a customer threw his glass on the floor, breaking it, trying to impress a female.
What’s your passion? My passions are the gym, sports, being a father, modeling and going on vacations.
Anything else you’d like to say? I would just like for the world to be a better place. Enough of the corruption! Help one and other out. Believe in yourself. Anything is possible! Push to better yourself on a daily basis! Most importantly, remain positive ~ you get outta life what you put into it!
Keith is behind the bar at Loft 266 (266 Park Ave., Worcester )from 4:30 p.m.-close Fridays and Saturdays.
Shayla Carlo, 22
Hometown: Grafton
Education: I attend Anna Maria College, and I major in marketing.
What makes you more than just good-looking? Ask my boyfriend ….
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Ten years is a long way from now, but my future plans are to move near my family. We all ventured out in the world to do our own thing, and I cannot wait for all of us to be back together again.
What book is on your bedside table? Honestly, my bedside table consists of water bottles, a nightlight and an iPad. I haven’t read a book since Fifty Shades of Grey.
What hidden skill do you have? I love playing the piano!
What’s your favorite charity? My favorite charity is The Jimmy Fund because I have had close friends and family members taken from me by cancer.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? I hate to say this, but one time, a customer came in and acted cocky and as if he was living the life and then tried to pay a dollar draft with dimes. Needless to say, I told him to keep his dimes and paid for his beer.
What do you do on your days off? On my days off, I like to catch up on some of my favorite TV shows on Netflix and be forced to listen to DUDEnGUY’s latest tracks.
What do you drink? Recently I’ve been on a tequila kick!
What’s your passion? I would love to be traveling the world.
Shayla is behind the bar at Mahoney’s Pub (413 Park Ave., Worcester) from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesdays.
Paddy Rafferty, 25
Hometown: Westminster.
Education: I am currently in my final year at Suffolk University Law School.
What makes you more than just good-looking? I’ve asked my friends how to answer this question, and they said it is a weird question. So my answer is this is a weird question.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Owning a business and a partner in a law practice.
What book is on your bedside table? Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy.
What hidden skill do you have? I’ve recently again picked up woodworking projects and building furniture in my spare time.
What’s your favorite charity? The Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.
What do you drink? Downeast Cider! You must try it!
What would you like to do even if you weren’t paid to do it? Probably be a statistician/analyst for a professional baseball organization.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? I handed a customer a drink. He took his lime out and threw it at me in disgust. He was politely escorted out.
What is your superpower? The ability to walk away when a customer flags me down for his order, then turns 180 to ask his friends what they want to drink.
Paddy is behind the bar at The Compass Tavern (90 Harding St., Worcester) from 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday.
Brittany Wong, 20
Hometown: Worcester.
Education: I’m currently a senior at Worcester State University; my major is marketing. I’m in the midst of applying to grad school for my MBA.
What makes you more than just good-looking? My ambition.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? As a successful business lady.
What can’t you stop listening to on your iPod? Trap music.
What hidden skill do you have? I make a mean Chicken Parmesan.
What’s your favorite charity? Ivy Child.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? Racked up an $80 bill, talked to me for an hour, left me no tip and left his phone number on the credit card slip.
What is your superpower? Being able to balance time for my friends, work and school.
What’s your passion? Traveling. I’ve been to many places like Hawaii, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Martin, Grand Turks, Bermuda, Japan, etc. I plan to see other places in the future.
Brittany is behind the bar at Perfect Game (64 Water St., Worcester).Her hours change each week.
Ian McGinnes, 25
Hometown: Holden.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in media studies from Franklin Pierce University.
What makes you more than just good-looking? I am truly humbled that I’m thought of as “good-looking.” Honestly, when I got the e-mail, I thought it was someone messing with me. I guess being personable and friendly is what makes me more than just good-looking. You can be an attractive person, but if you’re an a-hole, that’s what people are going to see.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Possibly still in Worcester. I know I hope to be at Armsby for a while, but you just never know exactly what the next day brings.
What book is on your bedside table? Two right now. I’m re-reading Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk, and I’m about halfway through A Storm of Swords, the third Game of Thrones book.
What can’t you stop listening to on your iPod? Elliott Smith, Cymbals Eat Guitars and The War on Drugs if I want to relax; La Dispute and At the Drive-In if I want to wake up.
What skill are you most proud of? I guess the skill I’m most proud of is drawing. I love to use India ink or Faber-Castell pens. A hidden skill I obtained from Armsby is the ability to be completely spatially unaware behind the bar.
What’s your favorite charity? The Kyle Warren Broken Glass Foundation. For every glass Kyle breaks behind the bar, I donate a dollar. In 2014 alone, we put almost 20 kids through college.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? We work in an industry where the majority of people who come into your establishment don’t have a background in the restaurant business and generally don’t understand how it works, so you have to take a lot of things people do and say with a grain of salt and remember they’re your guests. That being said, it’s annoying when people who don’t know what we do ask for their usual macro lager and don’t trust that I can find them something they’ll like to drink.
What is your superpower? The ability to tell whether or not someone can wear a fedora. It’s usually a no.
Ian is behind the bar at Armsby Abbey (144 Main St., Worcester) from noon-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
Adrienne Lemieux, 26
Hometown: Haverhill.
Education: I have a bachelor’s of science in biology with a minor in chemistry.
Do you have a day job? I work at a medical facility in Newburyport a few days a week.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I hope to be conducting medical research with a concentration in genetic disorders … or working Keno at the Banner Bar & Grille. It’s kind of a toss-up at this point.
What book is on your bedside table? Yes Please by Amy Pohler.
What hidden skill do you have? I can hold a tray really well, and I have a pretty unforgettable laugh. 😉
What’s your favorite charity? The Jimmy Fund and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fund.
What’s the most annoying thing a customer has ever done? When customers ask me what my real job is. As I said before, I don’t plan on bartending for the rest of my life, but I know plenty of people who do, and it is a perfectly acceptable way to make a living.
What is your superpower? Dancing like Kermit the Frog introducing someone.
Anything else you’d like to say? This award should’ve gone to Beyoncé.
What’s your passion? Eating and traveling.
Adrienne is behind the bar at Banner Bar and Grille (112 Green St., Worcester) on Tuesday-Friday nights and Saturday days.
