Broken Down Valise bartender Michelle Suarez (right) talks with customers (from left) Scott Nietupski, Jon Allen and Ed Grohoski on a recent Friday. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
New York on a hot day in June felt like mid-August, with the heat shimmering off the sidewalk; there was little shade in midtown. Walking by open doors blasting frigid air made it seem even hotter. Close to noon, the thought of a cold beer crossed my mind.
In my mind’s eye: the beer, ice cold, golden amber, in one of those Coca-Cola like glasses, condensation on its side, droplets of water running down to the cork coaster sitting on a glistening polished mahogany bar, the glass topped by a perfect crown of frothy white foam. (more…)
