What’s Your Ancestry?
by Adam Bonislawski
Everybody’s from somewhere else. Some people know where, some people don’t. It used to be that most bartenders in New York were, in fact, Irish. But based on the following responses, that just doesn’t seem to be the case any more.
Name Withheld
Where he presides: Rodeo, Murray Hill
Favorite drink: Guinness
Just about everyone assumes I’m Irish… Probably it’s because I work behind a bar. People see me laughing, joking, doing my job — their mind just says Irish. I’m actually half Swedish, half fourth generation Brooklyn Jew. My ancestors are from Austria and Russia on the Jewish side. My grandfather on my mother’s side was an umbrella salesman on Orchard Street; my other grandfather was a bootlegger.
Erin
Where she presides: Iggy’s, LES
Favorite drink: Corona and a shot of
Patrone Silver
Hey — I’m from Oregon. I’m not that interesting. All right, all right. I’ve actually got something good for you. My grandfather’s from Colorado — he’s Irish. Last name is Darby. Not really that interesting right? But my grandmother’s last name is Savage — and she’s related to Pocahontas. I have no idea how they met. My other grandparents dropped out of high school and eloped because they just wanted to get married and farm. Which brings you to me: The blonde-haired, blue-eyed Pocahontas descendant!
Jason
Where he presides: Tracy J’s Watering Hole,
Gramercy
Favorite drink: Grey Goose on the rocks
I’m half Italian, half Irish. My grandfather’s actually Sicilian, and his dad came over from the old country. He was an American G.I. and he met my grandmother in Paris right after the liberation. He was actually an all-American football player at Lehigh too. They had a lot of kids. My grandfather had seven brothers and four sisters. I don’t even know how big his parents’ families were, but probably really large. Me, I’m the oldest of three — I guess the birth rate’s dropped off a little bit.
Miguel
Where he presides: Amuse, Chelsea
Favorite drink: Hangar Vodka and tonic
My parents are Colombian, and I’m first generation. I actually grew up in El Salvador. Have I ever visited Colombia? Just once, actually, when I was two years old. My mom took me.
Shane
Where he presides: Duff’s, Williamsburg
Favorite drink: Jim Beam
I’m from the Bronx and my mom’s Italian and my dad’s Irish. My last name’s Klogh and I think there used to be a “Mc” at the beginning. People say I have an Italian accent, but I don’t really hear it. I think I’m third generation or so? I really don’t know. My dad… I don’t think he even knows his mother’s maiden name. Yeah, it’s too bad actually.
Max
Where he presides: Blue Moon, Chelsea
Favorite drink: Maker’s Mark Sidecar
My mom’s Thai-Chinese and my dad’s Scottish and Welsh. They fell in love shortly after my dad tried to set my mom up with his best friend!
Harold
Where he presides: Corner Bistro, West Village
Favorite drink: I drink rum
I’m a native New Yorker. Hundred percent Irish. My grandparents — I didn’t get to know them unfortunately. That generation tended to die a lot younger.
Ando
Where he presides: Osteria del Sol, West Village
Favorite drink: The Ando
I’m Turkish, and my whole family’s still over there… I’ve been in New York about five years. [To the manager: ‘No, he’s not from the INS — he’s a writer.] I have some Greek relatives too. How often do I visit? Every holiday! Of course.
Name Withheld
Where he presides: Rodeo, Murray Hill
Favorite drink: Guinness
Just about everyone assumes I’m Irish… Probably it’s because I work behind a bar. People see me laughing, joking, doing my job — their mind just says Irish. I’m actually half Swedish, half fourth generation Brooklyn Jew. My ancestors are from Austria and Russia on the Jewish side. My grandfather on my mother’s side was an umbrella salesman on Orchard Street; my other grandfather was a bootlegger.
Erin
Where she presides: Iggy’s, LES
Favorite drink: Corona and a shot of
Patrone Silver
Hey — I’m from Oregon. I’m not that interesting. All right, all right. I’ve actually got something good for you. My grandfather’s from Colorado — he’s Irish. Last name is Darby. Not really that interesting right? But my grandmother’s last name is Savage — and she’s related to Pocahontas. I have no idea how they met. My other grandparents dropped out of high school and eloped because they just wanted to get married and farm. Which brings you to me: The blonde-haired, blue-eyed Pocahontas descendant!
Jason
Where he presides: Tracy J’s Watering Hole,
Gramercy
Favorite drink: Grey Goose on the rocks
I’m half Italian, half Irish. My grandfather’s actually Sicilian, and his dad came over from the old country. He was an American G.I. and he met my grandmother in Paris right after the liberation. He was actually an all-American football player at Lehigh too. They had a lot of kids. My grandfather had seven brothers and four sisters. I don’t even know how big his parents’ families were, but probably really large. Me, I’m the oldest of three — I guess the birth rate’s dropped off a little bit.
Miguel
Where he presides: Amuse, Chelsea
Favorite drink: Hangar Vodka and tonic
My parents are Colombian, and I’m first generation. I actually grew up in El Salvador. Have I ever visited Colombia? Just once, actually, when I was two years old. My mom took me.
Shane
Where he presides: Duff’s, Williamsburg
Favorite drink: Jim Beam
I’m from the Bronx and my mom’s Italian and my dad’s Irish. My last name’s Klogh and I think there used to be a “Mc” at the beginning. People say I have an Italian accent, but I don’t really hear it. I think I’m third generation or so? I really don’t know. My dad… I don’t think he even knows his mother’s maiden name. Yeah, it’s too bad actually.
Max
Where he presides: Blue Moon, Chelsea
Favorite drink: Maker’s Mark Sidecar
My mom’s Thai-Chinese and my dad’s Scottish and Welsh. They fell in love shortly after my dad tried to set my mom up with his best friend!
Harold
Where he presides: Corner Bistro, West Village
Favorite drink: I drink rum
I’m a native New Yorker. Hundred percent Irish. My grandparents — I didn’t get to know them unfortunately. That generation tended to die a lot younger.
Ando
Where he presides: Osteria del Sol, West Village
Favorite drink: The Ando
I’m Turkish, and my whole family’s still over there… I’ve been in New York about five years. [To the manager: ‘No, he’s not from the INS — he’s a writer.] I have some Greek relatives too. How often do I visit? Every holiday! Of course.
