Anyone know a place in NY that's hiring?

One more thing, lots of places ask you to fill out a little questionaire to make sure you have some knowledge, so here's what you need to know: "86" = you're out of a menu item. "to mark a table" means to put the right silverware/glasses on the table. you're familiar with the Squirrel and Micros computer systems. learn what goes into a cosmo and shit like that. make sure you know at least three brands of top-shelf liquor for every variety. And at least two single malt scotches [that question turns up on every questionaire]. Wine varietals and appelations and stuff: learn a few. Umm, its all I can think of right now. Good luck!

You make it sound easy...

At least give it a shot. It's not, from the sound of it, like you have many other offers knocking on your door. And think about it - when was the last time you've been to a restaurant in NYC and really liked the service? It's pretty dire across-the-board, so even if you're terrible at it, you'll fit right in. And your days would usually be free to pursue career-type jobs.

But if not, I think The Grilled Cheese [Ludlow, below Houston] is usually hiring. All you have to do is stand behind the counter, take orders, and grill sandwiches for LES hipsters.

The basics are: "call" liquors -- liquors you order by name ("Jack Daniels," "Maker's Mark"), versus "well" liquors -- ordered "generically," if you will ("whiskey," "bourbon"). "Top shelf" are just the pricier call liquors (Stoli or Absolut as opposed to Smirnoff , which is call but not the most expensive).

Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie, those are common single malt scotches. If you forget one or both, just make up some that start with "Glen[something]" and make it sound Scottish. Chances are few people would possibly know all the single malt scotches that start with "Glen" -- there must be hundreds. Glenallister, Glen Stewart, Glen Kill All Hippies (well maybe not).

There are many fine points, like serving from the left and clearing from the right and waiting until everyone is done before you clear a course but half the suposedly fine restaurant wait staff don't even do this. A lot of this you can pick up by watching. One thing you do know how to do is to open a wine bottle with a real wine opener, the kind you can fold up like a pocket knife. The kind with the two handlees on either side are for amateurs. Anyway, phil-two's advice is very good and good luck.

also Felicty Nightowl, I've had Glen Kill All Hippies at that new XTRMNTR BSTRO...

Still, it's got to be hard to convince someone on the other side of the continent to hire you, I'd guess. Especially if it looks to them like nobody on your side thinks you're worth hiring.

If someone out there was interested in my work, I'd move in a heartbeat.

Oh goodness, I've done this twice in the past few years. You tell them you're visiting your S.O./favorite uncle/school friends in a couple of weeks and ask if they'd like to meet you. If they say yes, then you book a trip.

Hi Spencer! I am up because I went to Gogol Bordello Bodega at Luxx in Williamsburg tonight and had too much diet coke and am excited to be part of the electroclash scene now.

anyway, if things got really hairy for me i was thinking of applying at starbucks. (there's one a few blocks away from my apartment.) they offer health insurance ... which is more than i can say for my last job, which i might be going back to for four weeks anyway.

oh yeah, I used to be into that stuff, but the comedowns were a drag...