Bartender Chronicles: Ryan Flynn, the Knitting Factory
Have you ever wondered what life is like for those kind and patient people pouring shots behind the bar? This summer we’re bringing you a meet and greet with some of your favorite faces behind the bar at your favorite haunts. After the jump, Ryan Flynn from the Knitting Factory talks his biggest customer pet peeves, secrets from the Knitting Factory, and his favorite drink to make (hint: it involves a body part in the name).
How long have you been a bartender, and where did you get your start?
I’ve been bartending for about four years. I got my start in shitty Vegas nightclubs.
Why did you become a bartender?
I had to put myself through college.
What do you like about bartending?
The comraderie — and the cash, duh.
What’s the best thing about working at The Knitting Factory?
All the scumbags I get to work with.
Do you have any hobbies you pursue when you’re not bartending?
Riding skateboards and motorcycles.
What are your favorite local drinks (beer, spirits, etc.) that you serve?
All the Europeans seem to enjoy a good Brooklyn “Loooogeuuur.”
You just got off work and you’re starving, where do you go?
Definitely not Kellogg’s.
How long has your bar been around? Do you carry on any traditions?
It’s been in Williamsburg for somewhere around six years, and before that it was in Manhattan for a bazillion years. Our traditions these days are to give just about every employee a nickname and then do impressions of them for each other.
What’s the worst way for a customer to get your attention?
A customer just recently grabbed my head and pulled it in close to tell me their order. I almost kicked him square in the teeth…
What’s on the jukebox at The Knitting Factory?
That all depends on the show.
What’s your go-to after work drink?
The crappiest beer I can find, or whatever my friends are pouring.
What’s the vibe at The Knitting Factory?
It’s pretty “vibey” in there.
What’s your favorite drink to make?
Fuzzy navels and buttery nipples…basically, anything with a body part in the name.
Visit Ryan at the Knitting Factory during Northside Festival–check the show lineup at Knitting Factory to see who’s playing.