Hi, I'm Reds
How important is a bartender's name?
Todd Conner's over in Fells Point is run by a guy named Reds (pictured, to the right).
As you can see, Reds has a handlebar mustache and -- get this -- red hair.
And none other than Biff Baker pours beer down at Charlotte's in South Baltimore.
I mean, when you go into an Irish pub and the bartender's name is Blarney MacJameson, don't you feel like you're getting the real deal? ...
Authenticity is key in such a situation, I say.
Now, I love names as much as the next person, but I'm probably not going to go to a bar just because the bartender has a name I like.
Or am I?
On second thought ... I'd love to walk into Charlotte's and yell, "BIFF BAKER! HIT ME WITH AN ICE COLD BREWSKI!" If he was named Chet Raspberry, it wouldn't have the same punch.
And would you really want to drink at a blue collar bar manned by a fellow with a Nantucket nomenclature like Scooter P. Kennedy IV?
(Photo by Monica Lopossay/Sun Photographer)
Comments
Hey. I resent the Irish stereotype, SAM, if that is your real name.
Posted by: mary | June 11, 2008 11:27 AM
Go see FONS at Leadbetters, he doesn't look like Henry Winkler but he'll entertain you while pouring you a cold beer...
Posted by: Don | June 11, 2008 11:32 AM
Wasn't Biff from Back to the Future? I also think a Biff was a friend of the Hardy Boys.
Not enough Biff around!
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | June 11, 2008 11:58 AM
HELL YEAH FONS IS AWESOME
But this phenomenon seems to apply more to male bartenders yes? I've met like 300 bartenders named Sarah - very few have cool nicknames or first/last name combos that sound nifty (The Queen excepted)
Posted by: Evan | June 11, 2008 12:21 PM
Brooks was here.
Posted by: bryaninTimonium | June 11, 2008 4:00 PM
Picture it: Milwaukee, 1978. Every bartender at every bar I patronized was called Mary. Then again, so were the customers. LOL - Those were the days.
(Heh, heh - my confirmation letter is q.)
Posted by: Piano Rob | June 11, 2008 4:46 PM
There is a Poz, a Queen, a Chops and used to be a Mauro in Federal Hill. But my favorite is Murph!
Posted by: jason | June 11, 2008 10:32 PM
Chet was the hardy Boys friend. He drove a jalopi. Joe dated his sister. How's that for off the top of my head!!!
Too bad I can't remember what I read yesterday though...
Posted by: mather | June 12, 2008 3:32 PM
mather,
they had 2 friends, Chet & Biff
Posted by: ss2 | June 12, 2008 4:09 PM
Biff = the older son in "Death of a Salesman."
Also: http://www.thebookofbiff.com/
http://www.biffelrod.com/
Posted by: Piano Rob | June 13, 2008 8:51 AM
4- don't forget Tony and Phil.
GF's were Callie Shaw and Iola Morton.
I think I read about 37 of them one summer vacation...
Posted by: Mather | June 16, 2008 10:14 AM