Let’s get real: the American system of “Fuck you, I got mine!” has been proven to be woefully unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic. What a surprise! This plague is laying bare the fact that not having Universal Healthcare or other social safety nets is terrible for society. If we had Universal

OFF MENU IS SPONSORED BY BENDER’S BECAUSE THEY ARE BADASS. DROP BY AND MAKE SOME BAD DECISIONS WITH SOME GOOD PEOPLE! Bob Dylan once wrote, You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed you’re gonna have to serve somebody. As a long-time server and resident of San Francisco, that couldn’t be more true.

I see you come in and hear you say “We are 6 for food please” and know that, unless I point it out, it’s an 80% chance I’m gonna get a 5% tip, though when I point it out, it becomes a 35% that they will not tip..

Last week, I read a thoughtful article on this site by Jamal Frederick entitled “Tipping While Black- The Struggles of a Black Barman.” I encourage you to read it. It offers keen insight into the racial attitudes and discrepancies characteristic of tipped service work. It also reinforced the strong opinions

I tip because I’m a part of this industry, but more importantly I tip because I’m Black. It’s a lose-lose at times because I’ll have the urgent need to make sure that I leave a good impression…

Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit — probably not.

The service industry: where dick jokes never get old Living and working in the performing arts usually means I spend more time behind a bar, (or in front of one) then I do on stage, or sitting at a desk writing my masterpiece. In fact you can end up spending