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He's one of those guys that makes you do a double take and wonder where you know him from. And most likely, you do indeed know him from somewhere. A local boy, hailing from Brewster, with delusions of Hollywood grandeur, Mike Donaghey has been slinging drinks with a smile across Putnam county for five years.
From J.P. Cunningham's in Mahopac to Kelly's Corner in Brewster, to his current main spot at Claddagh in Mahopac, Mike has served it up all over the place.
When he's not serving (or sipping a Guinness) Mike enjoys listening to NPR, reading travel guidebooks, and reciting lines from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Metromix chatted with him about his hatred of gin, silly customers and curing a hangover.
Relationship status:
Love actually.
Ever gone home with a customer?
Is that a serious question? It's one of the perks of working at night.
Favorite celebrity you’d love to serve, and what drink:
I would love to share a white Russian with the dude (Jeff Bridges) in someone else's limo.
What’s a girl/guy have to do to get a free drink?
If you tip right, I'll take care of you all night. Breasts for booze is an unwritten rule.
What drink will have you calling a cab home?
Whiskey you're the devil!
What is the worst pick up line you have ever heard?
"Hi. You'll do." "How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice."
What's the largest cash tip you've ever received?
$236. A bachelor party from New Zealand damn near drank us dry. They also performed a traditional Maori dance when we closed the bar.
What alcohol will you not drink?
Gin is my kryptonite, has been ever since I chugged a handle in a Jacuzzi in high school. Thanks H.
What made you become a bartender? Do you have any other jobs?
My cousin Billy Bily, yeah that's his full name. He got me in and is still my best man behind the sticks. The scene is always fun, the connections are omnipresent, and oh yeah—the money. I am also a producer in new media at a studio in NYC.
Do you go out to any other bars?
NYC is always good for a change of pace, but I'm a local guy and tend not to stray to far from the friends at the nearby watering holes like J.P. Cunningham's, Southside, Kelly's Corner and O'Connor's over in Brewster.
Is there a drink that makes you cringe when its ordered?
No, I don't mind fixing a complicated or curious cocktail. I cannot stand when a customer orders an uncommon drink and has no clue what is in it.
Have you had any really ridiculous or insane customers?
They really come out of the woodwork on the full moons. We've seen 'em strung out, beat down and bloodied, talking to themselves, picking fights. I had a chick foaming at the mouth come in begging for a drink. When I said, "No way," she tried busting down the door and coming at me. She lost.
What’s your secret to curing a hangover?
My Aunt Mo taught me a very important lesson. You have to be proactive all night, one glass of water for every drink. When I get home I pound a Trader Joe's protein shake. It's loaded with vitamins and nutrients. Two hours of sleep and I'm ready to do it again.
Do you see fake IDs? If so, what was the worst?
All the time. I expect them. It's always fun to watch a kid squirm when you question them, especially when you know the person in the ID. Many states have updated the security features. It has changed a lot since my roommate use to make them in college.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I have a twin brother named Stephen and we perform back flips simultaneously.
Do you have a signature drink?
The Balls: a delicious pineapple and rum shooter that will drop her panties pronto.
