Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Bartender

Imagine, if you will, a young woman much like any other young woman, except that this young woman works at a bar in your neighborhood. She works at THE bar in your neighborhood, your bar; she's YOUR bartender. She knows all your neighbors by name, knows your favorite three drinks, has the lowdown on your ex (and your ex-ex), and has seen you in at least a couple of compromising situations.

When you had too much to drink on your roommate's birthday, she swept up broken glass and called you a cab. When you got dumped by that darling blonde who everybody thought was going to be your salvation, she kept the tequila shots flowing and refused your debit card. When you were sure you couldn't face even one more day with your boss, she gave you some bracing advice and promised to be there when the day was over. And then, the next night, she was there.

When graduate students begin their PhD studies in the field of psychology, they are told that bartenders are thought to be more effective at helping people cope with their problems than psychiatrists. We listen, and we despense medication, and then we listen some more. And sometimes, when we feel able, we advise. It's what we do.

So pull up a barstool, raise your glass, and tell Your Friendly Neighborhood Bartender all your troubles. I may not have a leather couch, and I can't prescribe you any Xanax. But if you've got a creepy co-worker, or you keep striking out with the opposite sex, or if you just want to know a good place to get a facial, or feel like trying a brand-new cocktail - then you've come to the right place.