where everybody knows your name

Or at least your face. As fated, I've become my Chinese mother, who knows every owner of every Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area on intimate terms. Gawd.

Well, for me, make that the bus boy and maitre d' at Five Points, Alice Cheng from ACheng boutique on 9th and A, and Eloise from Gas (my favorite jewelry shop).

I always thought knowing the bartender at your local bar was the coolest thing, but one of those New York City phenomena that seemed unattainable because I'm just not a very good chatter. Who woulda thought?

The black bartender at Galaxy makes a smashing G Spot. Miki and I were there Friday night and I was surprised he recognized me. We chatted, then I got into a debate with his friends sitting next to us about music genres. All I asked was what kind of music did he play, and the dude gets all hot and bothered and replies his music has no "labels". I was just trying to make conversation, sheesh. He was trying to be all PC but it was such a trivial topic to be PC about. The dude finally laughs and says, "You're from California aren't you?" How did he know??

At Von, I noticed the elfin, slightly effeminate bartender noticing my green Google t-shirt. We exchange smiles and make small talk. I can barely understand his English, and he seems a bit flighty and ditsy, but he's got a cool fauxhawk. He asks if I want to get coffee the next day, I give him my number, he calls the next day and cancels. Whatevs. Last night, saw him again and we did the nonsense chatter. Though I still couldn't understand him, he gave us free sparkling water.

Coming home from work, from a run, from grocery shopping - I often times wave hello to the Brazilian maitre d' at Esperanto, standing at the corner of 9th and C. Recently, I went there with Bella - we got the best table and a mango mousse on the house.

At Gnocco last summer, a skinny Italian waiter with horn-rimmed glasses runs after us as we leave the restaurant and asks if I want to get coffee sometime. Feeling adventurous, I gave him my digits - which I later sort of regretted. Though he was an amazing cook, turned out to be slightly on the crazy side.

Teehee, we love nyc.