DoctorDrinks

Bio.......Hi there I'm doctordrinks! Of course no parent would really name their offspring doctordrinks so most people call me Ryan. I got into bartending by barbacking while in college in Boston. After a year of city living i dropped out. Soul searching, I came home for some farmin' up at Cooks Orchard. I quickly decided I need to continue my education but in warmer climesseeked warmer climes to continue my education. I moved to California to continue my education in Marketing/Business in Santa Barbara. While in school I landed my first real bar job at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, CA at the Plow and Angel Bar at the Stonehouse Restaurant. A wonderful old world basement lounge beneath the restaurant. A recent fire sadly damaged many of the antique interior fixtures and it has since been remodeled. A Relaix and Chateau property, the hotel is now owned by Beanie Baby tycoon, Ty Warner. The ranch is and was synomous with exclusivity and frequented bythe Hollywood elite, new and old. To this day the ranch remains the crown jewel of low profile stays in Santa Barbara. Boasting over 10 ten freestanding bungalow cottages of varying size and luxury crowned by the famous Kennedy cottage. The vacation site of the honeymooning couple. This is where I learned the "art of bartending" from Brett Freeman.

I was with the Ranch for exactly a year before I was offered a position as bartender, which quickly became a head bartending postion at The Press Room in dowtown SB. A much different environment, this was and is still a true British pub with owner James "Raf" Rafferty hailing from the mining town of Manchester. Raf granted me much latitude creativelyand I was allowed to cross over into entertaining and promotional work as well as bar duties. During my two years with The Press Room we saw much change. Many bands, a revamped sound system, a handpicked jukebox voted number one in SB many times over, endless parties, courthouse weddings, drinking contests, curry Sundays, soccer team victories....and losses, and most of all that old English pastime of "taking a piss at one another". It was here I learned "the world of bartending" from Kevin Illes. A true British gentleman. Big Kev was quick with the wit and possessed the inate ability to enthrall those in front of him. Cheers Kev for teaching me how to do it!

After two historic years as the only yankee behind the bar, I was struck by a car on my walk home from work one fine day. It took a good year to recover and I needed a change. I decided to rehab at Mammoth Lakes, CA the following winter. And on an early season scouting trip of the area I found an old road house saloon, La Sierra's, in need of a bar manager. So off to the mountains I headed. I spent a rather cold season up there booking bands, tending bar, giving tourists rides home late at night, snowboarding, hot tubbing, gambling and any and all things mountain townish. Alas the end of the season came and I headed south. La Sierra's is now closed and I'm pretty happy for Big Nick the owner. A 40 year veteran of the Mammoth area he owned a major chunk of downtown and most assuredly rode the wave of appreciation. Happy retirement pal!

Back in SB I found myself picking up shifts at Jimmy's Oriental Gardens. Jimmy's was a bartenders bar, an artists respit, a recluses dream and a hub of friendships. It was somewhere you always and only heard jazz. A place held down and built by the best bartender in SB. The oldest and only remaining remnant of a five block section of downtown formerly known as Chinatown. A place where only the privileged new the "knock". Jimmy's was the last true speak easy of SB. It closed two years ago after 50 years in business. In need of major upgrades and under the aging family ownership of the Chungs, it was just time to let go I guess. It was a day of mourning in sleepy Santa Barbara.

family He never ever took a day off. To step in for Will was truly an experience. One his beautiful wife Esther, Jimmy's Garden waitress, made even easier. Jimmy's was the last true speak easy of SB. It closed two years ago after 50 years in business. In need of major upgrades and under the aging family ownership of the Chung family I'll never forget the day Willy asked me if I would cover a shift for him. It was really more of an honor than a position. I mean Jimmys was like the top

Out surfing one day I caught wind Roy might be looking for some help. I was able to pick a shift here and there until old Danny boy, who, apart from Roy himself, easily commands over 100 jokes at any given time, headed out to Vegas in search of a place he could afford a home. When I came on Roy had just expanded to an adjacent space where he'd opened the Jolly Tiger Lounge. A nightly live entertainment spot with food available from the restaurant. The Jolly Tiger would go on to forever cement its' place in SB music history hosting stage to Spencer the Gardener, Summercamp, the Ataris, various parts of Lagwagon, Emile Millar, Ramsay Midwood, Vaughn and many, many local talents. Most notably songwriter/surfer/filmmaker Jack Johnson. He played his first solo shows here until he so big he was selling out the SB County Bowl. All that in the span of a year. It's still hard to believe.

Soon after the JackSplosion, Roy remodeled. Combining the two spaces into one and relocating the bar to the front of the restaurant expanded the space, made for better view of the rotating art and allowed for a new era of service. The new space made a perfect venue for a variety of shows produced by yours truly.Two of which, Country night and the Gong Show went on to become somewhat cult classics in town. I eventually began spinning records behind the bar while I worked. And Roy, a diehard Backgammon afficianado now hosts a backgammon night renowned on the west coast for its' talents.

None of this however should overshadow Roy's abilities to circumnavigate the finest ingredients grown by local farmers and incorporate them into a simple yet elegant three course menu served to midinight 7 days a week year round. 13 years and going strong Roy is a SB legend. Always a kind ear and a welcome smile, this Buffalo native is in SB to stay. Be sure to stop by.

Present day, Miami. Michaels Genuine Food and Drink. Voted #4 among new restaurants in the nation by the New York Times. Offering ingredient driven, new American cuisine in a wonderful courtyard setting off 40th and 2nd in the burgeoning Design District of Miami. Chef Michael Schwartz celebrated his one year anniversary three weeks ago with all his patrons by offering them a glass of the ifnest bubbly. Also boasting one the best happy hours known to man..... premium well, cocktail menu, wines and beers are half off, you can also satisfy your appetite by sampling the snack menu until the restaurant reopens at 530pm. Hope to see you there!

I can be found at Michaels W, TH, FRI 1130-300 FRI 430-1100 SAT 530-Close

Doctordrinks 2008