Someone recently asked if I visit drinking establishments at the same time of day, every week. They were wondering if I compared the bartenders in equivalent shifts, because theoretically the "best" bartenders work on Friday and Saturday nights. Why would I want to compare a Monday lunch bartender with a Friday night bartender? 

Of course, this question would potentially be a valid one, that is, if I actually compared anything at all in this column.  

Would you compare one piece of art to another?  No, you can't.  Each has its own attributes, and its own type of admirer.  It's the same with bars. They each have their own drink specials, and their own type of clientele. 

That being said, I met my friend Liesl for happy hour at Vinum last week - something she and I both consider "art".  We were the perfect admirers of this particular piece of work, no comparisons needed.

Drink One: Sterling Vintage Collection Meritage (my choice) - This week's drink order is a little backwards.  I walked into Vinum thinking I was meeting Liesl for one drink then trotting off to a meeting.  This proved to be really difficult, as the company at Vinum (Hi Cliff, Annie, and Patrick!) was magnetic.  The humongous wine pour I received for a mere $5 at happy hour price went down smooth as silk.  Liesl and I contemplated - have another drink?  Three drinks, perhaps?

Drink Two: Mocha Death (most popular drink within last hour) - HOLY CRAP. Did I say Cliff was good company in my last paragraph?  I was wrong.  Everything was fine and dandy until I told him I was doing Three Drink Minimum and I needed him to make me the most popular drink within the last hour.  That little s*** pulled out the BIGGEST "glass" (more like a pitcher) of beer I've ever seen.  The dude even admitted, "It's actually three beers, but you can count is as one for now." 

Drink Three: Ironstone Cabernet Frac (bartender's choice) - I'll admit, Liesl and Patrick helped me out on that last glass of beer, and Cliff made up for everything by sliding me this wonderfully deep (and still huge) glass of wine for his "bartender's choice".  Needless to say, my tipsy actions were an "art" all their own at the meeting later that night. 

At least, in comparison. - Steph DeRosa

[Vinum Coffee and Wine Lounge, 1001 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.9901]