Harry Williamson

Mount Vernon Inn

3200 Mount Vernon Highway

703-799-6800

Mountvernon.org/inn

Harry serves up the Inn’s special Martha’s Rum Punch

How did you get started in the bartending business?

I just wanted to have a little fun at my work.

What is your biggest bartender pet peeve?

Old tired bad jokes

What is the cleverest line a customer has used to solicit a free drink from you?

Back in the day…the old “flash me and drink for free” was a favorite. It’s hard to beat that one – it worked every single time. I almost had T-shirts printed up with that slogan

What is the best/worst pick up line you have heard while behind the bar?

Best – “Just tell those guys that are bothering you that I’m your brother and to leave you alone.”

Worst – I had a customer at Portner’s who carried a picture of his wife and kids in his pocket and he would tell the ladies that they died in car crash and he was very sad, when in fact, they were alive and well.

Tell us a fun story about an encounter you have had with a customer/customers.

I have tended bar in the area for so long that I could write a novel about the stories and encounters I have had over the years. There have been so many characters in Old Town that have provided me with stories but none better than the late Doug Meick aka Skippy Vanderbilt III – he was the King of the Costume! Those of you who know him, know what I am talking about. One of my favorites is: Doug came in to the bar dressed in full Santa Claus garb and sat at the bar, lit up a cigarette and proceeded to enjoy his beverage. Well…a hot cigarette ash dropped on him and caught the suit on fire. He did the old “drop and roll” and we put the fire out with our drinks. The damage was just enough that it gave the suit “more” character and he continued to wear it for years after.

If you could sit down and have a drink with anyone past or present, who would that be?

Doug Meick, of course, and the late Dave Underwood.

Harry is behind the bar Monday day 11:30 to 3:30 and Tuesday through Friday evenings 4:00 till 9:00

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