But it was bittersweet, because the late 80s and early 90s were a very sad time because of AIDS-it was horrible. Where would you go in a time machine, and why? Back to the early 80s. What celebrity do you have a crush on? I used to love Suzanne Pleshette. How do you enjoy spending your time? Me and my girlfriend go to Key Largo every-other weekend. What’s your best characteristic? I’m a good listener (laughs). I didn’t really have a childhood, because I had to bring up my brothers and sisters since I was 10 years old. What did you learn from your parents? Not much. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To save more money. What are you superstitious about? Black cats. And on a side note, Chrissie Hynde grew up in Dayton, too, and my aunt-who had a beauty salon-did her mother’s hair. What’s your favorite band? The Pretenders. And working at The Copa for all those years in Key West kind-of ruined it for me. It’s not artsy there anymore, and it has too many cruise ships. What’ s the best place that you ’ ve visited, and why ? The keys, but not Key West. What’ s the last thing that you looked at online ? Probably Facebook. I feel like I’ve grown up with everyone here. I’ve introduced people who are still together years later, and I run into so many who tell me that I made their first drink when they just turned 21, or when they just moved into town. How would you like to be remembered? I really don’t know. He used to work at Scandals, but I’m not sure if he’s there anymore. Who ’ s your best industry friend? “Pooch.” I’ve known him for years. I used to hang around with her all the time. What celebrity are you closest with? Grace Jones. I had Warhol sign a napkin, and he drew a heart. I was at the bar-area in Backstreet, and all these queens were like, “Who’s that ugly guy?” None of them knew who he was, if you can believe that. What’s your best celebrity encounter? Andy Warhol. But I’m lucky because I’ve been here a long time, so I have a following. I can’t imagine that young bartenders have a following, because people don’t go out like they used to. What do you think about the gay bars today? Bars are getting more integrated, and young gays don’t give a fuck if you’re gay or not. I tried to find him, in case he left the money by accident, but he was gone. He left nine $100 bills under the ashtray. I only made one drink for this guy, and then he walked away. What ’ s the biggest tip that you ever got? Nine hundred dollars. I never made so much money in all my life. Me and my girlfriend were the only female bartenders there.
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But I ended up making more than the boys, so they moved me to the first floor. They eventually made me a bartender, but they put me on the second floor, in the back, figuring that I would quit. At first, I did everything there-bar backing, taking care of the entertainment, etc.
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The early eighties was a very magical time to grow up and be gay. It took up the whole block it was a big venue. It was in the space where Revolution is now. What’s the best place that you worked at in South Florida? Once again, Backstreet. The book is noteworthy for its witty, highly opinionated and conversational tone, as well as its categorization of cocktails into two main types: aromatic and sour. What’s the first place that you worked at in South Florida? Backstreet, in 1982.ĪDVERTISEMENT The definitive book about mixed drinks. They like to drink them because they don’t taste like pure alcohol. That, and my cocktails-people tell me about them all the time. What’ s your claim – to – fame ? I’m the longest-running female bartender in the gay bars in Broward County. I want to go where no one knows my name and I can just be a fly on the wall.
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But when I do go out, I go to a straight bar. Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why? I mostly stay at home with the puppies and my girlfriend.
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What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? Backstreet. What do you like most about living here? I like the ocean and the palm trees. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Davie. She eventually went on to California, and I just stayed. Me and my girlfriend-at-the-time were on our way to California. Why did you move here? Well, it snows in Ohio, and I love palm trees much better than snow. How long have you lived in South Florida? Since 1978.
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She had to learn how to survive in the male-dominate world of them - a world which she saw ravished by AIDS. At over 35 years, Vickie Bennett is - by all accounts - the most-tenured female bartender in the gay bars in Broward County.