Dylan Stickney: Bartender by Day, Cork Carver also by Day

My new job at the Portsmouth Gaslight is probably the best summer job I could have ever asked for. Live music on the deck every night, an incredible wait-staff filled exclusively with young (and let’s face it: ludicrously hott) people that I really enjoy, great owners, and awesome managers. However, the inside day shifts get pretty agonizingly slow at times… but it allows us to creatively seek out busy-work. This has mostly taken the form of large quantities of cleaning, and getting really good at the daily crosswords/sudokus, but the Gaslight’s very own bartender, Dylan Stickney, is now finding passion and inspiration with each newly opened bottle of wine. Cork carving: an art form for the ages. Dylan allowed me to interview him this last Wednesday about his new-found talent, and I’m very excited to present an inside look into his wondrous mind, and the extraordinary process of turning a regular cork into a beautiful sculpture.

Nicole: Wow, Dylan, how did you even discover that you had this gift?
Dylan: One day, at the Gaslight, after getting frustrated and outsmarted by that damn crossword, and not interested in cutting anymore fruit, I began staring off into the distance. Mel, an amazing Gaslight kitchen member was enjoying a frosty brew at my bar (after her shift, in case anyone from the New Hampshire liquor board is reading) and I thought to myself: I love beer. And of those beers I really love Dogfish 60-minute IPA. So naturally, I wanted a replica of the tap handle… my medium: the most recent 7 Deadly Zyns cork. I carved that replica of the Dogfish tap handle, and I gave it to Mel for drawing inspiration out of me. And that’s where it all began.


*It should be mentioned that as we talk Stickney is concentrated, diligent, and attentive to detail as he carves a lion out of a Pigmento Malbec, and humbly answers questions about his raw talent.

Nicole: Did you find it came easy for you?
Dylan: Relatively. I’m alright with a knife, and what can I say? I’m good with my hands.
Nicole: (I blush) Enough said, can you tell us a little bit about the process?
Dylan: Well, it starts with an ordinary piece of prosthetic cork; my blank canvas, and then for about 15 minutes I assume a pensive position and think about what I want to make, assessing the possibilities relative to the dimensions and size of the cork. Some recent inspirations include: animals, busty bar guests, family interests, and alcohol. The color of the cork has a lot to do with it too, but once decided I go to work with the fruit knife. Each cork takes me about 4 hours between stocking, cleaning, eating, texting, and talking to the occasional bar guest.
Nicole: You know, I’m amazed that people just waltz right in here, sit at your bar, and have no clue that they were just served a perfectly headed beer by one of the most genius artists in the Portsmouth area. So where do all your creations go?
Dylan: Some I give away to worthy Gaslight customers and the rest, for right now, sit atop my girlfriend’s (sorry ladies) living room mantle. One day I hope to own a store, and sell my tiny masterpieces.
Nicole: Well Dylan, I think you’ve got quite the start, news of your custom figurines have made it all the way around the street level employees/managers, down to the pizza pub, and even to the upstairs nightclub bartenders. What are your current projects?
Dylan: I have many requests from my co-workers, family and friends the list right now is: the Mr. Planters Peanut, a giraffe, various flowers, and a mermaid.
Nicole: So where do you plan on taking this, what are your further goals?

Dylan: You know since this crazy ride started, I’ve felt that bigger things were calling my name. I hope to one day stumble upon a life-size cork and have my way with it, but I’ve also thought about exploring different mediums. I mean, if I’m good with a fruit knife and a cork, it can’t be that much different than a chain-saw and a block of ice. I really feel as though my sculpting career has just begun.
Nicole: Wise words Dylan, your ambition astounds me. However, I’ve heard that there is a small controversy with Gaslight owner, Eric Sorli, about right of sale. Any comments?
Dylan: Yea, the contract is being drawn up right now, and the conflict resolution has been very amiable. No worries there.
Nicole: Well that’s good to hear! Thanks so much for your time Dylan, may you carve until your heart is content.

There you have it, for purchasing opportunities email Dylan: Dylan@putacorkinit.com or come visit us weekday afternoons at the Gaslight to make our ultimate dream really come true: to be busy enough that we don’t have time to carve things out of cork, or conduct a full scale interview about it.

Summer Vacation: How to Handle the Extra Kid Time (Part 1)

Whether you have kids of your own, you’re a nanny, have significantly younger siblings, or for one reason or another are going to be around kids a ton these next couple of months… let’s face it… summer vacation can be intimidating. Not that we don’t love the children in our lives, but the sudden burst of extra time is definitely a game changer. This is especially true if you work from home, work nights, or have lots of vacation time. So here are some ideas that will hopefully keep you sane in the heat of the upcoming months.

Yesterday, Kennedy (my 9 year old sister) and I sat down together and made a master list of about 100 things to do this summer in different categories (Outside, Inside, Places to Go)… The key is to make sure 90-100% of the things are able to be accomplished by the child without your help. We’re going to put it on poster board, put it in the playroom, and she can refer to it whenever she’s feeling antsy, because she now knows the words “I’m bored” are officially removed from her vocabulary. I recommend doing the same kind of thing, especially with the input of the child(ren) to start things off right.

Here are some things you might have missed to do off our “outside” list:
Stations: This can take the form of gymnastics, exercises (sit-ups, push-ups, , obstacles… Set them up around the yard, and have goals/objectives to meet at each station. Example: Gymnastics stations: designate areas for stretching, for cartwheels, for hand/headstands (best if done against a wall, garage, side of house) for rolls (forward, backward), a balancing station, pull-up station (if there are bars around)… have them spend a specific amount of time in each place, meet a goal (15 cartwheels, hold your handstand for 10 seconds, 5 rolls etc.), or ask them to put together a routine that you go out and watch at the end of an approximate hour.

Chalk the driveway: set-up giant games (tic-tac-toe, hopscotch, 4 square), write messages to those who aren’t home, make a big coded letter. Whatever.
Scavenger hunt: So this takes a little more effort on your part with the set-up, but depending on what you put in, it could mean hours of hands-off fun for them. Hide something (or multiple things) with a string of appropriately challenging clues on index cards taking them all over the house, and the yard.


Water fight: If I know anything about kids, it’s this: they love getting other people wet. So take a break from whatever chore or report you’re doing, (strategically set up towels by the door) fill up the water guns/balloons, or go old-fashioned and use pots and the garden hose, and go a little wild… let’s be honest the kids probably needed some sort of dousing anyway, and some cold refreshing water on a hot day never hurt anyone. This isn’t as appealing, but trust me, you’ll earn extra cool points if you’re in street clothes.

Best Karaoke Songs

Due to last night’s karaoke awesomeness at Daniel’s Street (the most obvious and best place to go on a Sunday night in Portsmouth)… I’m sharing with you a few of the greatest, and not ridiculously overdone karaoke songs to sing**, and I would know, because being from Colorado Springs, every bar is a karaoke bar, it’s like a weird substitute for dancing, sports, and talking.

*asterisk number one: yes, by the end of the night, we’re all wasted and can’t stand up completely straight, everyone’s dance moves are sloppy, and voices are off-key: it is still NOT ok to scream like a banshee into the microphone… being drunk does not prevent ears from bleeding, but it does increase the likelihood of said banshee(s) getting kicked in the face.

*asterisk number two: don’t be “that guy” or “that girl” by singing every other song, especially if there’s people waiting… sing 1 or 2… 3 at most (if they’re well spaced out) and make it count. Even the best performers can get annoying if they overdo it.

The List:

1. “Wanna Be” Spice Girls… Especially near the end of the night… it’s guaranteed all the girls in the bar will sing along. Fun if done by girls, funny if done by guys. It’s also old enough that it’s not in everyone’s heads still, and a good I-totally-forgot-about-that-song karaoke piece.

2. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” Bonnie Tyler… if possible, done as it was in “Old School” with appropriate f words thrown in the right places… This song is so classic, I wouldn’t mind if I heard it every time there was karaoke. Everyone gets into it, and sings it like they mean it with eyes closed and fists raised.

3. “A Whole New World” Aladdin… obviously done as a duet… best if the duo acts like they are on a magic carpet. People forget about Disney songs at bars, so to unexpectedly bring one out gives everyone joy.

4. “Hey Jude” the Beatles… The song doesn’t matter til the na na na’s and if you’ve done your job correctly everyone will sing them with you at the end. It’s well known, but not over-played, or over-sung.

5. “Tequila” The Champs… If you can’t sing, or can and just want to take it easy for a song, this one’s for you. The word tequila is shouted three times, and the key is to get everyone dancing, and buying shots of tequila, preferably for you… or line-up
3 shots beforehand and take one each time it’s shouted. The possibilities are endless with this sure-fire hit.

Getting Acquainted with New Orleans

In a city with over 5 million things to do, you might feel overwhelmed, so I'll start you off with 5...


1. Ride the St. Charles street car end to end. Sure, I may have done this accidentally because I was confused about where I was supposed to go, but the result was the best $1.25 tour of New Orleans I could have possibly asked for. The street car is a piece of history itself, and offers extraordinary people-watching opportunities and a way to really get your bearings in the city.


2. Shop at the thrift stores along uptown Magazine St. My favorite was the Funky Monkey. I tried on clothes that made me feel a lot cooler than I actually am, and found a really good black romper. Don’t expect Good Will prices, but expect to have some fun, I even did, and I hate shopping. After, reward your eclectic self with an Abida (the local brew) at one of the many outdoor patio bars.


3. Sit and absorb the raging Mississippi on one of the park benches along the banks in the French Quarter. Stop before or after at the famous Café Du Monde for some coffee/beignets open 24 hours.


4. End up at a dive bar dancing til 4am. Take advantage of a land where bars don’t close, and bar hop until you’re satisfied. There are plenty of visitors and locals alike that will be down to party with you any day of the week. Some possible ventures include F and M Patio Bar, specifically for dancing (4841 Tchoupitoulas St) Le Bon Temps to get your pool on, and laugh with awesome bartenders (4801 Magazine St.) and Cooter Browns to eat good bar food and go to a place with “cooter” in the title (509 S Carrollton Ave).


5.Get drive-thru daiquiris. For those that have never been, you may think I’m kidding, but I assure you I am not. Drive-thru frozen drinks is a genius idea, I wonder why they’re not everywhere in America… hmmm… Well, if you don’t have a car, grab some daiquiris anyway, they’re a staple in a New Orleans diet.