Farewell to Krishna
There will soon be a void in Cleveland Park: Bartender Krishna Ramsundar is leaving Aroma after seven years of mixing martinis, dispensing advice and being the ringmaster of a true neighborhood hangout.
He's not going to be bartending anywhere else for a while -- he's going back to school to get a degree in communications and computer science, and taking care of "family issues." After illnesses in his immediate family, Krishna says he has "a deep-rooted desire for change in my life." Great for him, but not so good for those of us who appreciated his cocktail wizardry.
I have a hard time thinking of a bartender who's gotten more praise from the City Guide staff and Got Plans? readers over the years. With just a few quick questions -- Do you like your drinks sweet or bitter? Fruity or dry? Rum or vodka? -- he can divine a person's tastes and whip up an elixir to match. It was usually something you hadn't ever tried, or even thought to have asked for, but it was almost always perfect. Then he'd tell you the story behind the drink.
That said, Krishna's talents lie not only in his encyclopedic knowledge of drink recipes, but in his people skills: Remembering what his customers like and who they're dating, introducing people on neighboring barstools and saying "You guys should chat," and always being ready with a joke or really crazy story.
We first introduced Krishna to the D.C. community in April 2001, when he was washingtonpost.com's Bartender of the Month. He'd been on the job for a little over a year, but he was already showing signs of becoming a D.C. legend. Through the magic of the washingtonpost.com Wayback Machine, here's that article. April 2001 Bartender of the Month: Krishna Ramsundar.
Krishna will work his final shifts tonight, Oct. 12; Sunday, Oct. 14; Monday, Oct. 15; and Friday, Oct. 20 Oct. 19. Stop in for a final cocktail and handshake, because Cleveland Park -- and this city's cocktail scene -- will not be the same.
-- Fritz
By Fritz Hahn |
October 12, 2007; 4:33 PM ET
Bars and Clubs
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Posted by: Aromatic Chemist | October 12, 2007 5:43 PM
Krishna is an institution befitting of a post by GOG. The Gentlemen of the Cleveland Park Men's Club will truly miss him. He has been a good friend to all of us, and will be truly missed. Good luck, big man. Follow your dreams.
P.S. He does have a bone-crushing handshake...doesn't matter if man or woman, he let's his presence be known.
Posted by: The Senator of the CPMC | October 13, 2007 10:05 AM
Krishna is by far the best in town. His laughter and ability to make a stellar cocktail is matched by none. I will miss you and your Hugs!
Posted by: HustlerTshirts | October 13, 2007 11:31 AM
Is his last shift on Friday, October 19th, or Saturday, October 20th?
Posted by: n | October 15, 2007 3:22 PM
Friday, the 19th.
Posted by: Fritz | October 15, 2007 4:57 PM
Good luck in Philadelphia, Krishna. Hopefully we'll see you before you leave.
Posted by: Andrew Gerst | October 16, 2007 3:51 PM
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With his famous crushing handshakes and superb knowledge of acid-base chemistry, Krishna is an institution in the CP neighborhood and will be a hard act to follow. His roots are deep in the DC area, however, and I look forward to seeing the additional ripples that the "Krish" rock creates in the small pond of DC. For one man, his influence reaches pretty far and wide.