My Year of Waiters

The Anchor Fish and Chips, Minneapolis, MN

Jacquie F. — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:58:16 +0000

Ivory.

The Red Stag Supper Club, Minneapolis, MN

Jacquie F. — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:55:57 +0000

Michelle.

Punch Neopolitan Pizza, St. Paul, MN

Jacquie F. — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:54:04 +0000

Meghan.

Salsa a la Salsa, Global Market, Minneapolis, MN

Jacquie F. — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:51:07 +0000

I think her name was Pilar. She’s from Mexico City.

The Red Stag Supper Club, Minneapolis, MN

Jacquie F. — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:49:37 +0000

Erik.

The End

Jacquie F. — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:47:46 +0000

I think I’ve finally hit the place were I realized that this blog works better on paper than in reality. Sometimes my waiters were just too busy to have their picture taken, or weren’t feeling so glamorous after a long shift. Sometimes the lighting in the restaurant was just too low for shooting without a tripod or, worse, with my smart phone. I realized, too, that I had become more focused on getting the picture than getting to know my waiter. The intent of the project got eclipsed by the outcome.

I had hoped to make it through the year, but have decided to put this project to bed. In the days of my move, I captured a few last shots, and are posting them here (without dates–I can’t even remember those) as a final homage to the project. A last salute.

And it seems fitting, too, to finish the blog with an image of a waiter who was recently lost, Ivory from The Anchor. My thoughts go out to her family, friends, and co-workers.

Remember that who you are when you go out to eat is who you are in the rest of your life. Be nice to your waiter, don’t make a mess, leave the kind of tip you’d like to get, be the kind of person you’d like to wait on.

xo,

Jacquie

February 20, 2010: Chai’s Thai, Minneapolis, MN

Jacquie F. — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:55:05 +0000

It takes patience to be a waiter, and Stephanie knows a thing or two about that. She’s the eldest of five siblings.

February 19, 2010: Broder’s Pasta Bar, Minneapolis, MN

Jacquie F. — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:51:23 +0000

This is Rocky. But he don’t like rock. Rocky likes the disco music.

February 8, 2010: The River Room at Macy’s, Saint Paul, MN

Jacquie F. — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:16:33 +0000

Brad likes to lie in the sun. Not extactly sure, then, why he lives in Minnesota.

February 6, 2010: The Blue Door, Saint Paul, MN

Jacquie F. — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:13:45 +0000

Tom loves country music from the 80s, as well as a rainy night. I know this because he – just for me – interrupted the indie music playing on The Blue Door’s sound system to bust out some Eddie Rabbit. Hell, yeah!