NPP Bar Blog

Manager Communication:  Mellow first round, but plenty of folks looking for ticket exchanges and related from Lobby bar, which may become a little harder to keep up with once the very busy dinner round kicks off.  Just something to keep an eye on tonight, and this weekend. JH Customer Comments: Everyone was pretty cool. It was buzzing for a minute. BAR Staff Observations:  Bryan has gotten much quicker at doing a full liquor restock on his Friday Trees opening, so we were well set for service by the time doors opened.  Tevon, as always, held down Lobby solo, with the exception of Filmbot-related manager calls. JH FOH Staff Observations: Monica was really great tonight. -Gus Hiring/Training: Greg is getting the hang of things. I found his test. He got an 81 on the food portion and a 93% on the Bar part. The one he got wrong was what are the two new  N/A offerings, but given that he is new and didn't know what was there before I think its a wash. -Gus Sick Leave/ ...

Manager Communication: I dropped a case of Dry Curacao. We were able to save one but the others are victims of the streets now. My bad y'all. - AB2 BAR Staff Observations:  Really similar service to yesterday, basically followed the same schedule, which was nice.  Tevon volunteered to take the first cut.  Patrick floated up to Trees once the last The Brutalist screening settled and got Jeshua through the special screening's initial service push.  Once both bars were set for the rest of the night, Patrick was able to get out of here and Jeshua and Matthew closed each bar without issue. JH Sick Leave/ Call outs: Natasha was not feeling well today. I marked her as sick on 7Shifts and we should be good with 4 Bartenders tonight. - AB2 Prep List: I made - Espresso Martini - 2 Firewalk - Simple - AB2 Ordering/Receiving/Shipping: We got a Baldor order in today. - AB2 Maintenance: Upon spilling the case of Dry Curacao, Stewart came up to say that alcohol was coming from th...

Manager Communication: If the servers could be reminded that they should not take empty dollies from Trees lounge, it is unsubstantiated speculation that this could be happening. We have been short dollies for our, clean/dirty/etc system.-LB Ian's R&D is on point! His Junglebird has WINGS. We cost checked it and he is gonna tweak recipe a bit.-LB  Patrick started infusing some vermouth trials for Spring Menu.-LB BAR Staff Observations:  First round was busy, dinner round was much more mellow, and the last round brought a couple of very sold screenings, so both bars were pretty busy throughout the evening.  Both Bryan and Matthew were able to get out of here once both bars had completed the initial service push for the last round.  Gabrielle and Patrick closed each bar without issue. JH Special Events? Happy Tet and Lunar New  Year to all!  Staff Meeting Agenda notes:  Lauren printed and laminated the comps/void sheets, and they have been placed in...

Manager Communication: Chill Tuesday. Got to check in with everyone and looking forward to tightening up in this slow period. Menu change will be exciting! - IP BAR Staff Observations: Sleepy non-trivia Tuesday. Got Lydia outta here around 7p. Darius and Greg were great in Trees - Darius stuck around to make sure Greg was fully set for closing solo. - IP Greg did an awesome job with his close. He followed the closing guidelines to a T and the bar looked great. Props to Bryan for coming up to help with a restock and to watch the bar and help out Greg with any last odds and ends after the lobby was already put to bed. - IP FOH Staff Observations: Sean was everywhere tonight it seemed. He was supporting all over the place and always has a lovely demeanor. - IP Special Events : The screening of "The Handmaidens" was great. Good crowd chilling at the bar and easy service. GOod work all around. - IP Staff Meeting Agenda notes: Had a nice bar manager meeting in the liquor room. Disc...

Manager Communication:  I think my experiment with coffee bitters has proven to be successful. Would love for anyone that likes Manhattans to give feedback on the coffee Manhattan I am working on.-LB  Entered a new recipe on Bevager and want to go over adding ingredients for this with Gus as some of the entries seemed odd to me.-LB Having the front doors lock again is really wonderful. Thank you.-LB Customer Comments: When I was routing theater 7 Kyah had just gotten a note from a table that their sodas were flat and they did not drink them, they also wanted water.  She was going to take them off their check. I encouraged her to check if they had in fact not imbibed them. They had not had much.  She got them fresh ones and I think this alleviated their dismay. I poured their sodas and they were not flat at the time, so yes sitting sodas get flat. I told her to let me know if they were still displeased.-LB BAR Staff Observations: Greg is getting more acclimated to the...

Manager Communication: Checked on Fast Kathy's website and they have the nufoam powder soap that we should get. Will touch base with Jenn on this Tuesday.-LB So I batched 3 specialty cocktails that I realized I did not the count into the POS, which is funny since this was my idea. I am putting a little reminder on those recipes in the binder so I don't forget. -LB Restocked the wine in the walk-in. - IP BAR Staff Observations: Natasha lapping the servers for brunch. Matthew opening lobby like a champ. Dream team.-LB Patrick is going to come in early on Wednesday and work on his vermouth with me.-LB Natasha relieved Matthew in Lobby so he could cut early around 4:15p. Pretty light rounds since the brunch round. Hopefully it'll pick up for dinner. - LB *Ron Howard Voice* It didn't pick up for dinner. Twas a very chill evening, but the Trees crowd continues to be robust. We also had a good amount of people stick around before and after movies to watch the NFC/AFC Champio...

Manager Communication: I got a bottle brush for Trees lounge and put a hook up for it, it is now gone.  It is useful at cleaning stubborn dishes if anyone has the whereabouts.-LB We are out of the cinnamon toaster business. Gonna ask Jenn to go over STB with me.  Patrick and I are making cocktail bitters for the upcoming menu. So I ordered mason jars from Amazon, in the interim so we can get started I will bring my own tomorrow.-LB  Yet another busy evening at Trees Lounge. Bar team and management team was firing on all cylinders. Great work all around - IP  BAR Staff Observations: Gab and Lydia held down the lobby and Jeshua, Patrick and Tevon were awesome upstairs. After Lydia left, the first floor was still super sold, so when the crowd at Trees was settled down, I swung Tevon down to help Gab with the service pushes. The team is all really in sync and they're all super flexible and ready to jump in wherever they're needed - it's a pleasure to work with them. - IP...

Manager Communication: Chill Friday for the most part, but Trees Lounge stayed pleasantly busy til about 9:30-10:00 after the PSP meet up. One busy service push for a well-sold Brutalist at 8:00 - otherwise a steady and uneventful evening. - IP Customer Comments: A guest from the dinner round showing of Wolfman in theater 6 left the theater and brought up some concern about the "chaotic" nature of the theater for their screening. They said the audience was full of people using their phones throughout, and lots of talking and disturbances. When I went in I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but after their film they found me to let me know that it continued after I left the theater. They were apologetic and said they don't usually complain, but it wasn't their usual Nitehawk experience. I gave them two passes to come back and they were very thankful and understanding. - IP BAR Staff Observations: Team was great tonight. Jeshua stayed on a little longer tha...

Manager Communication:  Really mellow first round today, with Trees gathering a couple of guests just before the second round of films began. JH Customer Comments: Couple of pops tonight, nothing crazy, no one stood out.  BAR Staff Observations: Natasha and Matthew were on it. Patrick really is eager to contribute to the next menu. Jeshua stayed and helped Natasha. Great vibes. Really smooth. There was a moment when Tevon, Patrick and myself were in the back doing work (batching, stocking, sorting) but Trees filled up and they needed to call us back. Thats something we can definitely improve upon. FOH Staff Observations: Theater 1 crew was really great tonight. Isabelle is really great at helping peers. Hiring/Training: Sick Leave/ Call outs: Special Events Staff Meeting Agenda notes:  86ed / counts on items: Prep List: Tevon made a ton of things R&D comp checks: Over/Short on Banks: Pay Outs: Lost & Found?:  Tevon found a pair of black over-the-head hea...

Manager Communication:  The plex and apple TV in Trees was acting out. Jack tried to fix but got pulled back to theaters for showtimes.-LB There were lots of random tools in both bars so I pulled them and put them in the tool box in liquor room.-LB Patrick is ready to experiment on his vermouth. He needs orange wine to start and will touch base tomorrow with on duty managers.-LB For the weekly bar email, please ask bartenders to not 86 the draft beers at Trees with masking tape. I will find another solution.-LB Also we need to start fresh upon the new menu launch or sooner if possible, of not having so bulky back ups behind both bars. With the bartenders restocking and managers able to bring stuff on the ready, it really is likely to be causing product to not be peak.-LB Was speaking to Miss Malice when waiting for their ride and it would be fun to do some shared content on IG of these shows. Perhaps installing a fixed camera in theater 2 so we can capture performances like this o...

Manager Communication: Comp meeting earlier today was great - then had another lil bar meeting with Gus and Lauren (we missed ya, Jenn and Ariel! Feel better, Jenn!) Gus tinkered with the bubblers and we're gonna try to get a little deeper into it tomorrow, time and business permitting. Lauren did a BUNCH of organizing (thank you!) and has upped our container game to the max. James is a phenomenal manager and was everywhere tonight, all the while making time to ask if there was anything he could help me with. What a mensch. - IP BAR Staff Observations: Bar team crushed tonight. Trivia was a breeze and even throwing a sold out theater one crowd in the middle of it didn't slow them down. Jeshua manned the lobby, and stuck around after trivia was over to help with the bar pop we had after Evil Dead let out. Truly everyone was on their game and they made it look easy. - IP Sick Leave/ Call outs:   Jenn was sick. Feel better! - The Team Special Events:  Trivia & Evil Dead 2 scr...

Manager Communication: Ordered a c-fold towel holder and hand soap dispenser for the dishpit in Trees Lounge as managers often want to wash our hands but it is a large detour to do so. Also having C-folds too for many things would rock. -LB If anyone has eyes on the sour/chamoy style powder that arrived from Amazon for R&D.-LB I forgot to put on football due to the fire issue, but no one seemed to mind. Also thanks for putting Marathon Man on the rotation at Trees so I can remember to start running again and go to the dentist. -LB The arcade games are gone at Trees, seems like a heist of great difficulty. What will go in their place? A tiny service bar for rentals would be cute, albeit dubious legally speaking.-LB I am leaving an envelope in lobby with passes for the concerned neighbor that flagged our roof, Jen Kob-LB  Overall a pretty cool Monday night with a slightly more active vibe to it than a non-holiday Monday.-LB Printed the Winter Garnish Guide and put behind Trees Lo...

Manager Communication:   So I think that the in-times for the opening bartenders should be 30 minutes earlier, or we should have another bartender to float at 11. As there is no mid manager shift on Sundays I think having more hands would help, albeit we consistently don't know when pops will happen. Or fixing the upstairs coffee machine could help alleviate some of the running around.  I updated the recipes on the wall in bar prep and the winter G&T in the binder.-LB I think if The Brutalist ticks up in popularity and sales the scheduling of film starts near the intermission times in large sold-out theaters should be considered. We also are going through many more mugs because of the length. I think it may be prudent to have servers separate the mugs into single racks after Brunch viewings so we can restock them. Otherwise they get mixed in and we have to hunt for them within towers of racks.  -LB I broke out two cases of 3 oz creamer containers. We have no back...

Manager Communication:  Clue opened the building up with a bustling service, and then the rest of the building kept service steady, but definitely mellowed out in terms of service until the late afternoon.  Looks like a similar opening tomorrow, but the impending weather may lead to a lot of day-of e-credits. JH So I know I am a broken record with certain things, but I do think that adding sound proofing panels to the ceiling at Trees would make customer experience much better.  The private party tonight just sounds like loud chatter that resonates. It would massively improve ambiance and make it a safer environment for hearing loss, speaking as someone who has lost a lot of hearing at their job.-LB In a note for the sound, it is really hard to expo efficiently when the sound of the room is so loud. Ian is killing it, but he is using his acting skills to the max.-LB I am placing a box of gloves on top  of the dishwasher so it is easier to clean out the gunk that acc...

Manager Communication: Daniel was out today and I ended up being in theaters a lil more than usual because of that and also that people kept giving us issues in the theaters. I was unable to get to as much batching as usual. - AB2 Customer Comments: Today started with a bang and it continued throughout the whole night in a not so fresh way. - AB2 I got a call from TH7 that a guest was being difficult. I went down and Dwight and I escorted her out. She has been here multiple times and I hear has mental issues. She demanded a refund and then did not stop talking... giving us a bit too much information (I haven't had sex in over 2 years and I'm bleeding out my pussy... this is only the beginning). After letting her tire herself out from talking, she saw her way out. She came back about 10 minutes later to use the bathroom. Upon exiting, she kept asking me why she was kicked out. I reached a point where nothing I say was going to help the situation. I told her we are done here toni...

Manager Communication: Wyatt & Jared tonight. Great combo. Held it down. I was able to get ahead of tomorrow Customer Comments: Nice crowd tonight. Lots of people for Mad Max and many of them stayed and hung out at Trees. One more comment, but I have to link it to the next category BAR Staff Observations: Game ball goes to Matthew. I cut Natasha due to the only major pop being Mad Max. He held down the bar. Jeshua stayed late and helped him close, cause he is also awesome. Specifically though, there was a guest who apparently has been coming a lot lately- he's 22, and his gf is 19. He asked for water and Matthew ID'd him. He got mad and complained to Jared. Once we realized the situation Jared talked to the guest and it was totally handled, Jared also crushed that interaction- but what I want the take away is I want this bar to be so uninhabitable for overage kids who are hanging out with underage kids. 7pm they go. If their friends are over 21 they can stay. Whatever that ...

Manager Communication : I would like to propose come menu change that we add another decaffeinated tea to the roster, since Peppermint does so well.  So it seems that the company that makes the frozen machines yet again sent us a piece that is too short. I have taken a picture of the pieces side by side to show them. The elmeco model FC2Green serial #220704873. Happy to correspond with them. Or maybe we did get the guts and they went in a machine already but either way we are down a long rotor. -LB* I emailed their tech support email with the photos, model number and how we need the correct part.  Ian and I were discussing batching and that batching the lion share of a recipe, putting a sticker over the edge that notes the amount of citrus ingredient needs to go in before it goes out. That way we don't run the risk of being far past the time frame of it being optimal. -LB Ian and I stacked the kegs. I put the empty cocktail kegs on the shelf where the Athletic had been to give...

Manager Communication: Gus, Jenn and Lauren were all here when I got in and everything was smooth and steady. Aside from the very sold Popeye screening, everything was relatively chill tonight. Decent bar crowd around dinner time. - IP BAR Staff Observations: Tevon and Greg made a great pair tonight! The Popeye screening brought a really great crowd to Trees before and after the showing. The service pass never got too insane, but when the tickets started flying, Greg was great about shifting gears from front facing to service. The lobby was very relaxed this evening, and Bryan was easily able to fly the boat solo.  FOH Staff Observations: Sabrina was really awesome tonight. Every time there was a second that I had to run some glassware or run a tray, she was there already taking care of it. Thanks!! - IP Hiring/Training: Greg trained the Trees close with Tevon tonight. He did a bang up job this evening (see above) and I think once the muscle memory kicks in, he's gonna fit in right...

Manager Communication: Just wanna put it out there that I do not have access to NPP's Bevager. I cannot put in any invoices or anything for here just in case anyone's out and y'all need me to step in. Can someone hook me up with access? - AB2 BAR Staff Observations: Darius was banging out the restock and breaks for Maya and Bryan before tapping out. Lydia tapped out a little early to join her sister who is visiting in a movie, pretty slow rounds. Maya rocking downstairs as always. -LB Maya told me that she was helping a customer on filmbot and after the transaction was done she was talking with them further. A kitchen staff member was on the 3/5 service pass and started waving. The customer said "oh someone needs you" and Maya went to speak with kitchen staff. They had said they had been waiting for 5 minutes and that they are customers too. Maya explained that guest interactions always take precedent no matter what and that they should understand this.  I don...

Manager Communication: I'm still quite unwell. Got the place open and made sure that the bars were set for the buy pushes in the afternoon, but once Patrick got in, and Rebecca and Carly assured me they had everything under control (you guys are the best - thank you so much <3), I got outta here to rest and recuperate (and not contaminate the rest of the staff!) I filled Lauren in on the happenings of the day and I'm sure with the team we've got, there shouldn't be any issues. - IP  I broke out two cases of rocks glasses last night. Natasha just told me she broke a bottle of bitters, sangiovese the other day and someone dropped a chenin blanc in front of walk in the other day. I realize I should have put that somewhere for spillage.-LB I don't know if there is any paperwork for the bartenders that trained with Greg today to fill out, was not informed but I saw this yesterday, but I gave Darius a couple tokens. I will hit Tevon with some later this week.-LB  Custo...

Manager Communication:  Relatively mellow first round, with service kicking off in the second round downstairs first, and then swiftly followed by a crowd at Trees and sold out big theaters. Most screenings for the second half of the day or near to or completely sold out, particularly those films we brought back this weekend. JH Tough being short staffed on a Saturday like this, no mid since Ian is sick.  The glassware was put away by Jeshua and Darius that was completely unclean. Patrick and I caught it and pulled the glassware. The dishwasher routinely gets lemon seeds stuck in the gears and needs to be cleaned at least once every weekend or otherwise busy day. It sucks to get to the point of noticing dirty glassware. I tried to point it out to Jeshua and he blamed the machine. -LB We batched a Bounty Law yesterday when we still had some left from 8 days ago.  I again worry that the batches will be compromised from sitting this long. I know keeping the machine full is a...

Manager Communication: I realized at the end of the night that the Cacao Raspberry syrup was not made. It is my fault for not double checking with Tevon to make sure that was done. Sorry y'all. Cacao Water needs to be strained tomorrow as well. - AB2 Customer Comments: we had a Jack Daniels person come in and do a small spend and there was a customer whom I recognize, Tevon knew him, and he was quite awkward with her. Downright rude. She told me about it. She didn't want anything to happen. BAR Staff Observations: Gabrielle killed it in Lobby solo and I was able to get Bryan out around 7:30ish. Natasha and Matthew were a dream in Tree's (No Surprise). Tevon batched and got out of here probably around 8. - AB2 Hiring/Training: Greg day 1. Binder was filled out by Tevon with Gus. Tevon said he seems fine but just needs to slow it down a bit. - AB2 86ed / counts on items: 86 Frizzante and Select Spritz. I may not have 86'd the Select Spritz. Please double check the POS in ...

Manager Communication: Wyatt and Daniel were on it tonight. There was a lot of ground to cover- lots to do. BAR Staff Observations: Natasha showed me that the frozen machine was being kind of funny, over freezing, for really no apparent reason. We played around with it. Will keep an eye out for it going forward. Special Events?  The event went really well today!  Bartop and buffet tables looked great, and all staff (Bryan, Natasha, Monica, & Shae) were absolutely excellent.  There is a lot of resetting and stocking for this one, but it went very smoothly (just like last year). JH Staff Meeting Agenda notes: 86ed / counts on items:  86 Autumn G&T (forever) JH Prep List: I did  4 FWWM     R&D comp checks: Over/Short on Banks: Pay Outs: $6 Kitchen Lost & Found?: Ordering/Receiving/Shipping: Saturday- Frizzante Kegs (if we kick tomorrow [we won't] we can pour the prosecco]) Skurnik  Maintenance: The Draft Choice folks are comi...

Manager Communication: Gil asked that closing bar managers get the skinny on daytime payouts from opening managers and that we count bags to have all the answers for closing floor managers.  Ian fixed the leaking coffee faucet in the lobby bar by taking the trees right side tap piece. The one at trees on the right doesn't have a handle since the threading on that nitro tap was different. We can order the correct one, but for now we can just use the left bank.-LB Ian is a champion and figured out what was wrong with the lobby bubbler, a part needs routine replacement. Gus, we wonder if we need to put more coolant in and if you know when that last happened. I think we should start a bar spreadsheet with all these routine maintenance things to just know if that is every an element to breakdowns. -LB Gus, Ian and I are swapping our opening/closing duties Sunday so he can watch the Eagles in the playoffs. If you can change the schedule so staff knows who to contact if need be.  Tha...

Manager Communication:   Great day for sussing it all out. Bar manager meeting was great, we all figured out getting on the same page and how to give bar staff the information they want when anything changes. -LB Ian had a great idea for the openers to shake the margarita keg, then run the lines until it is not clear, then pour the separated marg back into the keg. I think this makes sense.-LB I forgot a note last night that someone put dirty glasses in a brown rack which we traditionally use only for water cups, so if there was a new server or runner last night please lmk. Also connected to this, if there is one today, a dirty rack was put in Trees lounge where clean glassware goes.-LB Seconded re: the meeting! Was great to touch base and get on track. Trivia was great, Lauren did a bunch of prep and did some R&D while the team totally crushed trivia. I will put more about this in the maintenance section, but up front I want to relay that I took the cold brew off of the l...

Manager Communication: Wyatt helped me open the building as I was on the Williamsburg call. That guy rules. -GS Yet again two folks on the mezzanine with outside food and drinks sitting on their table. I told them to put it away and then asked for ID. One of them had it and the other did not. He said "we aren't drinking or anything" to which I replied, "well you need to be 21 with ID to be up here and if you aren't spending money here what motivation to I have to let you stay." Would love if security did loops on the half hour after 7. I think a policy of purchasing something in order to be in the lounge is sensible. That can also be a ticket to a movie, like the Penn Station waiting room, show your ticket. -LB Gus do you think any liquor brands would have branded check presenters? I bet we could get folding leatheresque ones from some type of vendor.-LB I took down Christmas decorations. I took the Christmas-themed decals but left the snowflakes. I took th...

Manager Communication: I had some plastic in the bottom of my coffee this morning. I also ordered a coffee carafe too tall for our machine by a hair. I will work on a return from Webstaurant. LB The internet seems really slow this morning. -LB Gil I submitted an order with first aid supplies for bar prep, I think the last time I did this I used the wrong code. Really need one back here. And another coffee thermos. Thanks.-LB I need to schedule a meeting with Edgar (or anyone who is familiar with the bubbler mechanics!) for him to walk me through internal Bubbler de/reconstruction so I can properly troubleshoot when we have issues like we had tonight (see below in maintenance). Just so in the event I need to take one apart and Frankenstein any of the parts we have in storage, I'm ready to rock. I am also happy to hop on YouTube and learn myself some stuff, but some guidance is always nice. - IP Dani bought some new solid plastic check presenters and maybe we can try them out at Tree...