Earlier today, Midnight Sunner (and local bar owner) Jason Zink came to me with a curious question:
Are there any places in Baltimore where the security or the host gets their palms "greased?
When I lived in Vegas, it was part of the dining experience. In order to get into the club or a quicker table at the restaurant, I would put a $20 bill in my palm and shake the doorman's host's hand.
As a D-list local celebrity, people grease my palm all the time.* But are there a lot of Vegas handshakes at local bars and clubs? There have to be.
Where, though? ...
Leaving your bartender a huge tip at the beginning of the night isn't the same thing, either. Tipping doesn't count -- whether it's the valet or the server. Jason's talking about sly bribery to get into a club, or to get a table at a restaurant.
How much would you have to tip someone here? If Jason slipped people in Vegas $20, would you only have to slip someone a $5 here? Maybe I should try that with the hostess at Charleston or Tio Pepe.
Have you ever done it, or heard about someone doing it?
*In case anyone from upper management happens to read this post, no, I have never taken a bribe in exchange for coverage. That was a joke. Yuk yuk yuk.
(Baltimore Sun archive photo of Sam Sessa's Saturday evening money suit. Dolla dolla bills, ya'll)