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People hear, but often don’t listen

Don’t they want to make money?” the woman asked her friend as they stood at the front door 45 minutes after we’d closed. It’s common enough…

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A billionaire walks into a bar

The rain came down in little patters, filling potholes and creating an obstacle course of sorts in the darkened parking lot near the restaurant. The people…

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3 great nonalcoholic drinks to try this new year

Here we are one week into the new year. By now, all those New Year’s Eve endcap displays of sparkling wine in every supermarket anywhere have…

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Welcome to the jungle

The lion walked into the modern-day oasis without a care in the world. If an oasis is defined as a place of respite with abundant food…

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Every person in a bar has a story

The man looked vaguely familiar, but not familiar enough for me to remember much about him. I didn’t know his name, his drink or even, for…

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Marin mixologists share holiday recipes

It’s certainly that time of year. The holidays are in full swing: shopping, gathering, wrapping, working and eating — it’s all happening. And while it’s still…

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A conversation in a bar might take you places

If there was an open fire, I’m sure chestnuts would have been roasting on it. Instead, we had to settle for a gas fireplace and a…

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A gift I’ll never forget

“Joyeux Noël,” Miss Moller had said. And we as a class repeated it back to her. Learning a language in high school actually meant becoming familiar…

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Don’t let the jerks ruin your day

I pulled into the nearly empty parking lot with a bag full of goodies like I was Santa Claus. It wasn’t really Santa’s bag — it…

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Four spirited gifts for wine and cocktail lovers

No matter whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, here come the holidays. If you’re looking for last-minute gifts, there’s still time, especially if you…

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The Press Loves “Twenty Years Behind Bars”

Top 25 iBooks Bestseller

Top 100 Amazon Bestseller

“more about mixing people than drinks”
Christopher Kimball America’s Test Kitchen

“racy and innocent”
Marin Independent Journal

“insightful writing about bar culture and human nature”
SF Examiner

“the best stories are of the clueless at their worst behavior — often before they’ve ordered their first drink” “juicier reads than you would find in the pages of a family newspaper”
Patch

“a book of riotous stories”
The Bold Italic

“great book, quite funny, and includes recipes!”
Joel Riddell, Dining Around, NewsTalk 910

“I love this book. It's insightful, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and includes expert cocktail recipes, too!”
Erika Lenkert, author of Last-Minute Party Girl and Raw: the Uncook Book

“Served straight up, with humor, irreverence and a one-of-a-kind perspective, Twenty Years Behind Bars takes us up close into the life of bars, bartenders, and those who frequent both. To get any closer, you'd need be an olive in one of Burkhart's martini glasses.”
Kimberley Lovato, author of the award winning cookbook, Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves

All Content Copyright 2025 Jeff Burkhart, All Rights Reserved