They open your beers and pour your drinks and now it's time to find out about the person behind the bar. As part of an ongoing series, we'll be profiling a new bartender once a month so you can learn a little bit more about your favorite bartenders.First up, Jason Topete of The Mix Bar. We've seen his brawny, handsome mug for a couple of years now. We asked Jason a few questions. Here's what he had to share:
CB: When can we find you here?
Jason: l'm here at the Mix tending bar on Mondays; tentatively. Thursdays , Fridays, and Saturdays are the days you can find me breaking a sweat and breaking pint glasses with a little bar tending on the side.
CB: How long have you been bar tending?
Jason: 24 1/2 cat years.
CB: How long here?
Jason: The same. The Mix birthed and mothered me into who I am today, amniotic fluid, breast milk, and all.
CB: How long have you lived in SF?
Jason: Bay kid forever. I've been living in San Francisco for about 6 years now.
CB: What's your favorite spot in the Castro?
Jason: I try to get out of the Castro as much as possible. However, as with any job I have had, hanging out around your place of work isn't fun. People start talking to you about work etc.. and its a buzz kill. I would definitely say the Mix since it's convenient and we have a patio! I do like taking a quick walk across the street and hanging at Moby Dicks or even Toad Hall.
PatchCB: Something interesting about this bar.
Jason: The bar is delegated by a boston terrier (Patch).
CB: Strange encounters?
Jason: Where the hell do I start? So many people come in looking like they shouldn't be having another drink and or be put in a public setting. I often have to kick 'em out for loitering, getting too wild and pulling their cock out on top of the bar, and/or carry them out if they pass out/black out. Which have all happened by the way.
The most memorable one is a night me and Nick (the other tattooed bartender) worked together. This guy was, unfortunately, way too inebriated to even stand straight and talk like a sober human being. We cut him off and politely handed him a bottle of water, free of charge (cause we're stand up dudes) . We then asked him politely to sit outside, chug the water and head out. He declined, opened the water and threw it in my face and got a few innocent bystanders wet. He wouldn't leave even after yelling at him so we got a little physical and pushed him out and he continued to say these exact words, "You think you're so hot don't you? You think your hot boy friend is so cute don't you? You're all just so hot!" Nick and I both look at each other and tried not too laugh and watched the guy walk away. I even passed by him an hour later on the way to 7-11 and he had no idea who i was.
Oh and one time a guy fell asleep on the pool table bench and shit (can I say that?) his pants. Cleared out the bar for a while.
CB: On your days off, where can we find you?
Jason: I love to eat (everything but crustaceans and some sea food) and love going to the gym at 24 Hour Fitness on Van Ness (the Castro one is kind of a joke). Besides that, I make my rounds at Hemlock or Submission for some punk shows. I also enjoy Baker beach and my backyard on a hot day! Or just looming around the fog burdened Outer Richmond drawing at home.
CB: Have you served anyone famous?
Jason: I have often served Cleve Jones. He is famous as well as a hero in my eyes.
CB: Something you wish everyone would know about bar etiquette?
Jason: I wish some people would understand that a black rubber mat on the counter with fruit trays and napkins is a SERVICE AREA. When someone congests the line because they're sitting in front of it, drink in hand, other people get upset and leave. Thats a huge pet peeve of mine. Get your drink and move that ass along. Also, when someone yells your name while your serving someone else and there's a line, so you can serve them. I haven't figured out how to create three clones of myself yet, although that'd be kinda fun.
CB: Odd requests?
Jason: I hope I'm not putting someone on blast by saying this (actually I don't really care). An off duty cop once asked if he could blow me in the kitchen.
CB: Worst thing you've either seen or heard in a bar?
Jason: Racial slurs. Seriously, get the f outta here.
CB: What cocktail do you hate making the most?
Jason: I hate Mai Tais. So much sticky, smelly grossness. They're good, don't get me wrong, but I have a weird thing with sticky substances getting all over me.
CB: Dating advice?
Jason: I think I'm the last person to ask for dating advice. I'm kind of a hopeless romantic anyway. I will say, however, I do think communication is absolutely key. I think that verbalizing wants and needs is a valuable tool in keeping things copasetic.
Next time you head into The Mix, say hello to Jason. He is a sweetheart.
First up, Jason Topete of The Mix Bar. We've seen his brawny, handsome mug for a couple of years now. We asked Jason a few questions. Here's what he had to share:
CB: When can we find you here?
Jason: l'm here at the Mix tending bar on Mondays; tentatively. Thursdays , Fridays, and Saturdays are the days you can find me breaking a sweat and breaking pint glasses with a little bar tending on the side.
CB: How long have you been bar tending?
Jason: 24 1/2 cat years.
CB: How long here?
Jason: The same. The Mix birthed and mothered me into who I am today, amniotic fluid, breast milk, and all.
CB: How long have you lived in SF?
Jason: Bay kid forever. I've been living in San Francisco for about 6 years now.
CB: What's your favorite spot in the Castro?
Jason: I try to get out of the Castro as much as possible. However, as with any job I have had, hanging out around your place of work isn't fun. People start talking to you about work etc.. and its a buzz kill. I would definitely say the Mix since it's convenient and we have a patio! I do like taking a quick walk across the street and hanging at Moby Dicks or even Toad Hall.
CB: Something you wish everyone would know about bar etiquette?
Jason: I wish some people would understand that a black rubber mat on the counter with fruit trays and napkins is a SERVICE AREA. When someone congests the line because they're sitting in front of it, drink in hand, other people get upset and leave. Thats a huge pet peeve of mine. Get your drink and move that ass along. Also, when someone yells your name while your serving someone else and there's a line, so you can serve them. I haven't figured out how to create three clones of myself yet, although that'd be kinda fun.
CB: Odd requests?
Jason: I hope I'm not putting someone on blast by saying this (actually I don't really care). An off duty cop once asked if he could blow me in the kitchen.
CB: Worst thing you've either seen or heard in a bar?
Jason: Racial slurs. Seriously, get the f outta here.
CB: What cocktail do you hate making the most?
Jason: I hate Mai Tais. So much sticky, smelly grossness. They're good, don't get me wrong, but I have a weird thing with sticky substances getting all over me.
CB: Dating advice?
Jason: I think I'm the last person to ask for dating advice. I'm kind of a hopeless romantic anyway. I will say, however, I do think communication is absolutely key. I think that verbalizing wants and needs is a valuable tool in keeping things copasetic.
