Barfly: Tiger the tipper
by Deb L
Speaking of Making Amends:
Tiger Woods certainly gave comedians plenty to holiday cheer about — like not having to come up with any original material for a while. It’s like a vacation. Now, you know how I hate to get all smarty pants and all, but this is just too much. Back in 1995 when Tiger, age 19, participated in the Masters, his first PGA major tournament (finishing 41st and the only amateur to make the cut), I don’t know why but I didn’t like him. He just rubbed me the wrong way. My mom thought he was “Oh so cute.” I didn’t; my dad took to wearing polo shirts — all red, all the time — but me, I was annoyed. His smile, his voice… he bugged me. Fast forward to 1999. Tiger buys a home in Manhattan Beach (for just under $1 million, reportedly) and proceeds to earn a rep for his poor tipping skills — and I mean 10 percent and under, at times leaving nothing when recognized and comp’d. Celeb sightings came along with “…but he doesn’t know how to tip!” which annoyed me but I kinda felt validated. I knew I didn’t like him for a reason! Still, over the years when his name came up I would always interject his tipping defect and while some people were ready to get on the soap box with me, others defended or made excuses for him. Well… now whatcha gonna say? I feel bad that it took everyone else 15 years to get what I got from him day one. Next time, get there quicker…
Speaking of 1996:
I came across an Easy Reader from January 1996, two-and-a-half years prior to my arrival, and flipped to the original Barfly written by my predecessor John Paul Ziller. He listed all the resto openings of 1995 and among the 39 listed, the only ones to have survived are: Paisano’s, Sangria, Buona Vita and Café Boogaloo, all in Hermosa (although Buona and Boogaloo have new owners) and Aimee’s, RB. Among those we lost were David Slatkin’s Fusion, HB; Italy’s Little Kitchen, HB (owner Zane Koss kept the resto but changed themes from a bistro Italiano to a modern steak house he re-renamed Zane’s); Catalina Cantina, RB; Cucina Paradiso (now Chez Melange), RB and several I never even heard of — meaning they opened in ‘96 but closed by mid-‘98. It’s a new year now, the economy is bouncing back, but that doesn’t mean you should sit at home rolling your pennies — circulation works! Don’t show ‘em you’re like Tiger! Get out there, enjoy your life, give to the people who serve you and karma will reward. Just as the wheel and round and round we go. Enjoy the ride…
Say Buh-Bye:
One of my barflies from Manhattan Beach alerted me to an alternative celebration to Auld Lang Syne: The much honored Japanese year-end party “Bonen Kai” focuses on the thoughtful concept of “Screw Last Year!” The literal translation of Bo is to forget, Nen is year and Kai is assembly or gathering. So the Japanese, polite people as they are, like to say “Kampai!” to forgetting the past year. Most Japanese companies and businesses sponsor Bonen Kai parties for their employees to help them get rid of any bad feelings that may have developed during the year toward their colleagues and bosses. These “forget the year parties” use the magical affects of alcohol and free food to wash away bad feelings and wipe the “feelings slate” clean so that employees can begin the New Year with a renewed spirit of camaraderie that is vital to a well-functioning group of people. Kinda like Bill’s step nine but in this case rather than acting as the cause, the alcohol helps you make amends. And then everyone sings Karaoke…
Questions? Comments? Contact Deb L at BarflyDebL@aol.com. ER