Jason has always been a popular bartender and I am not in the least surprised by the recognition. The article notes that “the best bartenders aren’t necessarily tailor-vested stiff-necked chemists but warm-blooded mammals you’d actually want to drink with.” That would be Jason. He has had a magnetic personality and contagious sense of humor. However, I am contemplating legal action after reading his description of The Creepy Uncle: “PBR, bourbon shot & Awkward Silence . . . $7.”
This could be a matter of libel per quod. (Yes, this is a transparent attempt to make my nephew’s honor a legal question appropriate for posting). I assume that this is a reference to my brother Christopher. Then again it could be a matter of group libel. Given the small size of the group, it may work. One of the leading cases occurred in 1952 in a New York lawsuit. In Neiman-Marcus v. Lait, 13 FRD 311 (SDNY 1952), employees of that high-end story sued the author of a book titled “U.S.A. Confidential.” The book claimed that some of the models at the story and all of the saleswomen in the Dallas store were “call girls.” It further stated that most of the salesmen in the men’s department were “faggots.” The issue came down to the size of the group. With 382 saleswomen and models, the court found that the group was too large. However, with the 25 salesmen, the court found that an action could be maintained.
“Creepy” seems defamatory, though I could face a challenge under mitior sensus.
Turleys have always excelled in combination with alcohol — or at least that is the way we always remember it the next day. Jason’s success, of course, is entirely due to the guidance and influence of his Godfather. So, in many ways, this is really my own recognition.
Congrats Jason . . . now change the name. Why not “Annoying Aunt” or “Creepy Cousin”?
Photograph: Courtesy of Andrea Bauer (Chicago Reader)
What lottakatz said …
Blouise,
Completely OT, but I saw an article last night about a place that serves rose ice cream. I’ve never had it, but I have had lavender ice cream which was just fantastic. I bet rose is good too.
AY,
Aha … with that little insight from Buddha concerning ice cream … you have to be a long lost relative for everyone in my family would fight to the death if someone attempted to get between them and the freezer!
I have every ice-cream machine known to man, coupled with every recipe ever concocted … still searching for that illusive perfect “dish, cone, lick”.
AY,
Wherever I am, you are always invited!
Considering your ice cream intake, AY? I don’t know about the toast part, but you got the milk covered, my friend.
What am I milk toast?
SwM,
One doesn’t have to drink to have fun … I bet we could manage a hell of a good time drinking only tap water … we’ll take Buddha with us … he can’t drink anything hard … probably make a few bucks at the pool table 😉
tomdarch,
We had an incredible meal at a tavola
(cut and pasted your recommendations to my “Chicago” notes … thanks)
The Creepy Uncle? How about the Turley Tuck Syndrome? This was the almost uncontrollable desire by female 1Ls in your very first Torts class in the Fall of 1988 to tuck in the back of your shirt. I don’t know how you lectured now. But you were very animated in that class, causing the tail of your shirt to come out on a regular basis.
Looking at the photo in the Prof’s article, I was thinking to myself, “What bar is that? Have I ever been in there? I should mention Bar Deville!” I don’t go out drinking much, but Bar Deville is very much within staggering distance of home for me. Every drink I’ve had there has been great! This is a great excuse to stop in and congratulate Jason!
For anyone visiting Chicago, I can totally recommend hopping in a cab (roughly $12 to $15 from the loop including tip) to have dinner at one of the really good restaurants on Chicago Ave between Noble Street and Western Ave (several are in the new Michelin guide). Flo (casual southwestern) Leopold (Belgian), Mexique (French/Mexican fusion), Green Zebra (nouvelle mostly vegetarian, seriously – try it!), Chickpea (casual middle eastern) or a Tavola (northern Italian), (with a possible side trip north on Damen two blocks to Black Dog Gellato) then walking to Bar Deville to cap off the evening with a drink.
Blouise, I might be a boring companion at the Chicago bar. My nightly cocktail is a glass of pellegrino with a shot of blood pressure lowering pomegranate juice. lol I will tell my sister about the bar as she is single and looking for places to have a drink in although it is a long ways from her house.
Blouise,
I’ve filed that under Blouise’s Boilermaker and will belt one down when we hit our next milestone… Battling things out with the FBI now for FOIA info… possibly stored on one of their infamous “I” or “S” drives… or whatever “drive” they’re using now… Pick a letter… or a number… or maybe they’ve moved on to the Greek alphabet… who would know…
My favorite boilermaker is a shot glass of Irish Mist Whiskey Liqueur dropped into a mug of Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale …
“…a natural deadpan and endearingly benevolent malevolence”
Given that “Creepy Uncle,” makes sense to me. Must be some interesting Turley clan get togethers. In PBR are we talking about Pabst Blue ribbon and bourbon? If so, while I had my share of boilermakers in my youth, the results usually wound up with me kneeling at a toilet. I guess it’s those family genes that make a drinking difference.
That was truly laugh out loud funny. You oughta try one of those. As long as it’s tasty, you should be honored. 🙂
“The only thing that problematic is the name of his signature drink: the Creepy Uncle.”
The only blog that can give me my morning “fix”… Rough waters these days, but the Turley blog keeps one “leveled out” and laughing… Congrats to Jason and, in some twisted way, it must be high praise…
In the opinion of this particular blogger, this is an honor that should cast a warm glow of recognition and accomplishment on the entire family for it takes a village to raise a truly gifted bartender … creepy uncles and all.
The Truth Turley…..
Or perhaps he could rename it Great Aunt under the bar, in honor of his Aunt Mary of course.
From the linked profile: “…a natural deadpan and endearingly benevolent malevolence make him one of the more companionable barkeeps in town.”
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It sounds like the same traits that make for a good barkeep would work well for a good lawyer; the apple may not have fallen far from the tree at all. 🙂 I think you should embrace the possibility that he named a drink after you and negotiate that you should therefore always drink them free when you visit his establishment. Congratulations to Jason.