Bartender Michael Howk of The Palm restaurant talks about the celebrities, conversations and drink orders that make IT The best job A GUY could have.

At The Palm Restaurant, Denver's breeding ground for high-profile locals, bold-name celebrities and athletes with household names, bartender Michael Howk has seen it all. A favorite of single women (sorry cougars, he's in a serious relationship and putting two kids through college), he takes it all in stride. The Broomfield native dishes to Denver Magazine® barfly Lori Midson.

I became a bartender …
Because of the money and the lifestyle.

My first bartending job ...
Was in 1996 at Chives American Bistro.

I got my job at The Palm
With diligence and hard work. I had to interview six times before I finally just showed up one day with a white shirt, black tie and pants. I didn't even have the job, but I was determined to get it. I had to sit down right away for a staff meeting with [then general manager] Scott Fickling. He didn't bitch, but he would definitely tell you if things weren't going well. I listened to complaints from the week before, while scratching my head, thinking "What the hell did I just get myself into?"

I love to make ...
An Old Fashioned. There's just something about the muddling of fruit that lets out aggression.

I loathe making ...
Mojitos. I don't know why it is, but when you shake the drink, all the mint leaves get stuck in the tins.

My favorite bar gadget is ...
The other bartender, Laura. She's 4-11 and weighs 90 pounds; I'm 6-4 and weigh 230 pounds. I love messing with her.

The most annoying part of my job is ...
Stopping heated political conversations at the bar.

The best part of my job is ...
Carte blanche to enter into a conversation any time I want.

The bar crowd at The Palm is ...
Career-minded professionals, low-maintenance regulars and athletes. And they're great tippers!

My favorite celebrity story ...
When another bartender told me that Rene Russo was standing right in front of me. I was star struck and couldn't stop staring. She's stunningly beautiful. She noticed that I couldn't take my eyes off her and finally said, "You're kinda creeping me out." Yes, I totally freaked out Rene Russo at the bar. I'm such a goof.

My worst celebrity story ...
When the St. Louis Cardinals were staying in the hotel back in 2002 and the Colorado Avalanche had just won their second Stanley Cup. It also happened to be my birthday, and Cardinals' center fielder Jim Edmonds sang Happy Birthday to me. He couldn't sing at all and I was so embarrassed.

Champagne cocktails ...
Remind me of Julie Andrews. It must be all about the accent.

I have lots of favorite barflies, but I really enjoy the company of ...
Penny Parker from the Rocky Mountain News, Bill Husted from The Denver Post, Shaquille O'Neal, Clint Hurdle and Brian Setzer. Brian autographed the wall the last time he came through and we even let him hang out behind the bar. He's just so cool.

Best line ever used to get a free drink ...
"Nice haircut; makes you look 10 years younger."

My hands shook when I made a cocktail for ...
Rocky Bleier, who played fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had (grenade fragments in his legs) in Vietnam and then came back to play professional football. He's a true American hero.

My most embarrassing moment as a bartender happened when ...
I was late for work one day and grabbed a pair of wool pants by mistake. I had some, uh, chafing going on, and I knew that corn starch was a remedy. I snuck into another room and was caught red-handed by a manager, who saw me standing there with my shirt in my mouth and dusting my bottom with corn starch.

The best pick-up line I've ever heard ...
A woman asked her date what his occupation was. He said he was a professional hockey coach. Next thing I know, they were running upstairs to a hotel room.

Best sob story I ever heard ...
Oh, man. There was this guy who tossed a cigarette out of his car window, but unfortunately, it landed in the back seat of his Porsche, which then caught fire.

Largest bar tab ever ...
Well over $30,000 when the Boston Red Sox partied here after winning the World Series in Denver. They drank us completely out of beer, champagne and Grey Goose vodka.

The best tip I ever received ...
Jeff Foxworthy's manager was in town. We started chatting about my girlfriend's daughter who was going off to college. The tab was $800 and he left me a $2,000 tip and told me to buy books.

Strangest drink request ...
Chianti and Coke. I couldn't bring myself to try it.

My greatest professional moment ...
Is still ahead of me.

My favorite bars in Denver ...
Herb's, Candlelight Tavern and the Satellite Bar.

If there's one rule of thumb when making a cocktail, it's ...
When in doubt, put more liquor in.

My drink of choice ...
Patrón Silver tequila. If I thought I could survive, I'd live on tequila.

Best hangover drink ...
Corona and V8 juice.

Best hangover breakfast ...
A Pete's Kitchen breakfast burrito.

Howk's Hanging Chad:
2 ½ oz. Grey Goose vodka
1 oz. St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
½ oz. sweet and sour
½ oz. Sprite

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.