Road Names

Here in Taxachussets, some things are called funny names.

For example, they say “massave” to designate Massachussets Avenue. And “commave” for Commonwealth Avenue. Some people say “dotave” for Dorchester Avenue. And some say “memdrive” for Memorial Drive. I do, and Ryan does. Megan and Antonia insist, however, that noooobody says Mem Drive to mean Memorial Drive.

But what do they know? They’re so vehemently cantabridgian they say “downtown” to designate anything east of the river, whether that’s Beacon, Brookline, or Brighton.

….

Speaking of big words, Toby Cecchini has a book coming out called “Cosmopolitan” that uses a lot of big words. It’s about being a star bartender– he worked at the Odeon and took a rather obscure cocktail named the Cosmopolitan and revised it slightly, and then watched it become very very popular, and burn out, and turn way too sweet, and now he’s embarrassed by it. (He likes it 5 parts citron vodka, 5 parts triple sec, 4 parts fresh lime juice (the fresh juice is key– Rose’s is waaay too sweet, and I should know, I love the stuff), and just enough cranberry to color it.) But mostly the book is about what it’s like to be somewhere at the intersection of servant, pimp, pusher, and artist.

He doesn’t quite hold his tone as well as he should, and is no good excuse for his use of the word “salubrious,” and even of his (multiple) uses of the word “matinal.” Nonetheless, he does a good job of showing off a liberal arts education which presumably he hasn’t used much behind the bar. And he also shows off a lot of fantastic insight into why the food industry is amazing, cool, and not for anyone who can avoid it. I’ve often fantasized about being a bartender, but then again, I’ve often fantasized about being a race car driver or an astronaut, and neither of those are likely to happen either. I enjoy playing bartender at parties like I enjoy playing race car driver in games, or space cadet at work, but that doesn’t make a career out of it.