Why Does The St. John’s River Flow North?

There is a joke in Florida (at least North Florida) that goes like this:

“Why does the St. John’s River flow to the north?”

“Why?”

“Because Georgia sucks.”

Insert laughter.

Now, I’m not a Floridian , nor do I have anything against Georgia. I am thinking that the joke probably originated as a taunt from Gator football fans. To which I say “Do they play football in Florida?”. I have been here 10 years and still claim no allegiance to any Florida sports team, except for maybe the Daytona Cubs.

As I said, I hold no ill will against Georgia. I spent a weekend in downtown Savannah and it ranks high in my list of top weekends ever. I have taken more than a few day trips to St. Simon’s Island and developed quite a fondness for Brogan’s near the lighthouse. I have an actual list of places I want to go visit in Georgia, such as Cumberland Island and Springer Mountain. I love the “living sociological experiment” that is a Huddle House restaurant, where a white person can experience the feeling of looking around and seeing nothing but different colored faces.

At this point though, I am pissed at Georgia. Georgia is taking away my friends. Sucking them away, if you will. Three friends (4 if you count Leilani) have gone. Left without fanfare or celebration, some without warning. I have spent the last 10 years on what I call an extended vacation. I say that because I have worked at golf resorts, for a golf wholesale company, and as a bartender. Having been in the “Hospitality Biz”, which is notorious for seasonal employees and staff turnover, I should be used to here today gone tomorrow friendships. This time is different though.

So..today I am pissed at Georgia. I am only about 100 miles from the Florida-Georgia border so this bird is for you Georgia.

Come to think of it, I’m a little upset with New Orleans right now too.

Y’all know who you are….here’s some drinks that will always be yours in my recipe book….

Hot Georgia Peach

1/2 oz Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps

1/2 oz peach schnapps

Chill and pour into a shot glass. Serve.

Suntanned Surfer Girl

2 oz Malibu coconut rum

fill with pineapple juice

splash of Coca-Cola

Pour into an ice-filled old fashioned glass. Stir and serve.

Georgia Tea
1 oz vodka

1 oz gin

1 oz light rum

1 oz peach schnapps

pineapple juice

orange juice

Build over ice in a highball or hurricane glass. Pour liquors, then fill with equal parts OJ and pineapple juice. Shake and serve.

Flower Of Heaven
1 1/2 oz Bacardi light rum

1 oz creme de banane

1/2 oz Cointreau orange liqueur

1/4 oz lime juice

Dash grenadine

Blend with a small amount of ice. Serve in an oversized cocktail glass or coupette.

And for the friends I lost to Louisiana…

Cajun Comforter
1 1/2 oz Southern Comfort

1/2 oz Old Grandad bourbon whiskey

Dash Tabasco sauce

Pour Southern Comfort and bourbon over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Add a dash of Tabasco (or your choice of hot sauce). If you’re feeling friskaaay, garnish with a jumbo shrimp!

Red Raider
1 oz bourbon whiskey

1/2 oz triple sec

1 oz sour mix

dash of grenadine

Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.

Just to let every one of you know that I am thinking of you. Mix ’em up and we can toast from afar.

There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.

Today’s Drink Recipe: Landshark

Landshark

3/4 oz light rum

3/4 oz spiced rum

1/2 oz dark rum

2 oz pineapple juice

splash of Rose’s lime juice or squeeze half lime

Shake with ice and strain over ice into a highball glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

Thanks to all who voted!

When I arrived at work today I was greeted by the marketing manager of Backstage Pass Magazine. He shook my hand and said “Congratulations, you’re my bartender of the year.” Effing sweet!

He gave me a certificate and a copy of the magazine with all the winners. It is the September 16-30, 2006 edition and is available at all your favorite bars (for those of you in east Central Florida at least). They don’t have the new edition up on their website, so I will post a link when it is up.

Until then, a quote from the magazine: “Florida’s favorite bartender went hands down to Mark Woods of the Golden Lion Cafe in Flagler Beach. Wow, talk about fans. Mark got the most votes to date for this category.”

So in the 8 years they have been having this contest, no other bartender received more votes than me. That is freaking awesome! Thanks so much to all who voted for me. Be sure to come visit me soon, so I can live up to my new title!

I wanted to mention a couple of my friends that also received honors.

Harryoke, my fave karaoke host is also the people’s choice for favorite host! Go visit him here, and show him some love. David lane, also of the Golden Lion, was selected as favorite server. Go show David some love, and listen to some great music, on myspace.

Thanks again everyone!

Today’s Drink Recipe: Carrie’s Undercurrent

Today’s drink was shared with me by Carrie, a bartender from Virginia who was at the Golden Lion last night.

Carrie’s Undercurrent

1 1/2 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz blue curacao
1/2 oz Chambord raspberry liqueur or creme de cassis
Splash sour mix

Shake the vodka, curacao, and sour mix with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Sink the Chambord (or cassis), creating a dark layer under an ocean blue layer.

Thanks Carrie!

The Weekend is Here!

Most of you are going back to work this morning after a long weekend. I am staying home to loung after a long weekend of working. I am glad to have a break too. It has been hot…and my bar has been amateur. Most of my regulars, all very cool people, had parties and barbecues to go to all weekend. I was left with people who seemingly never stepped into a restaurant before this weekend. LOL

Last night being my Friday night, I went to sing karaoke. It was Harryoke’s birthday over the weekend and Vicki the bartender put together a party for him last night. That was good times. Plus I got to hang with some groovy friends. Jojo, Neecy, and Mikey early in the night and Mason, Sticky Pete, and Bela D later in the night. My head is a touch foggy this morning but it was worth it.

Speaking of Mason….his band, The Jimmy Mason Project, is playing the Lion this weekend. I am so excited! I expect to see everyone there or else!

My website is coming along nicely. I am working on searchable drinks recipe database and also ans RSS feed. Keep checking it for updates.

One last thing. The voting for Florida’s Favorite ends today.

Backstage Pass Magazine is holding their annual Floridas Favorite. I am asking votes for the following: Favorite Bartender-Mark Woods, Golden Lion Cafe (thats me), Favorite Server-David Lane, Golden Lion Cafe, and Favorite Restaurant (General)-Golden Lion Cafe.
The online ballot is available here. Thank you for your support.

Mahalo and Aloha!

The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Sweet Pea owners: ‘We didn’t want this’

The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Sweet Pea owners: ‘We didn’t want this’

Australia’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin killed by stingray’s barb – Asia – Pacific – International Herald Tribune

Australia’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin killed by stingray’s barb – Asia – Pacific – International Herald Tribune: ” Australia’s ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin killed by stingray’s barb
The Associated Press

Published: September 4, 2006

CAIRNS, Australia Steve Irwin, the ebullient Australian whose catch cry of ‘Crikey!’ helped him rise to global fame as television’s the ‘Crocodile Hunter,’ was killed Monday by a stingray while filming on the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

Irwin was in the water at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called ‘Ocean’s Deadliest’ when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, said John Stainton, a friend and colleague.

‘He came on top of the stingray and the stingray’s barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart,’ said Stainton, who was on board Irwin’s boat, Croc One, at the time.

Crew members called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.

Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and for regularly getting up close and personal with dangerous animals in his television program ‘Crocodile Hunter,’ which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 before it was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting him to international celebrity.

‘The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet,’ Stainton told reporters in Cairns. ‘He died doing what he loved best and left this worl”

Today’s Drink Recipe: Pirate’s Treasure

Pirate’s Treasure

2 oz Captain Morgan spiced rum

1 1/2 oz Crown Royal

Coca-Cola

Build over ice in a collins glass.