Learn to read the room
I inherited the couple from lunch. I had no idea how long they had been there, but there were two half-full martinis, some half-eaten bread and…
As a bartender, I’ve seen – and heard – it all
I passed the sporty little convertible on the freeway, marveling at the wonderfulness of Northern California, where you can drive around with your roof down in…
Two adult chocolate treats for Halloween
Often when we think of Halloween, we think of it as primarily a holiday for kids. But why should they have all the fun? And more…
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
I was late, but not late in the sense of clocking in. I’m one of those people who would rather be early than late. Someone once…
Where does the buck stop?
The notice popped up on my phone: “Package delivered.” That was weird because I have a large sign posted on my front door that reads “Ring…
From pumpkin to ginger, Fall flavors for your Autumn cocktails
It’s pumpkin pie spice season, if you haven’t noticed. It’s on all the grocery store shelves; it’s featured in commercials, and it’s even in your latte,…
Some people crave the spotlight
The couple came sweeping into the room like they were Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, or even Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds — only they weren’t.…
New book spotlights Marin restaurateur behind Poggio, Copita
Restaurateur extraordinaire Larry Mindel remembers when he called his father and told him he was going into the restaurant business. “He said, ‘Oh, Larry, don’t. Don’t…
Train pets, not people
In Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” windows are used as a metaphor for the separation of things. Brontë’s windows serve as invisible barriers between life and death,…
Tale of a Barfly
A live action play poured from the pages of Jeff Burkhart’s column Barfly and his books Tale of a Barfly is a story of life, love…