important drinking literature

nymag compiled some interesting bartender tales in its recent nyc drinking feature. here are some highlights:

What’s the craziest drinking feat you’ve ever seen?
The homeless guys who hang out outside will drink half of an Old English 40-ounce beer, fill the remaining half with Sparks (which I guess is now illegal), and then pound it. It’s called a Sidewalk Slammer.

What are some tricks you’ve seen used to cheat customers?
Auto-grat them [hit the automatic gratuity button on the cash register], knowing they are drunk enough not to notice, and add additional tip.

What’s your least favorite type of customer?
The person who thinks he’s the only guy at the bar who needs a drink.

Is there a drink order that’ll get a customer laughed at?
Sometimes people will actually order a Fuzzy Navel or a Buttery Nipple.

What’s the best way to get a bartender’s attention?
Smile and make eye contact.

What’s the weirdest drink request you’ve ever received?
A sidecar followed by a grasshopper to a 21-year-old who had seemingly been reading a book of cocktails from 1935 in hopes of impressing his date.