User:TomBronock/sandbox

Joseph Perks
Early Life

Joseph Perks was born in The Presbyterian Hospital, New York in 1955. Raised in Brooklyn, Joseph Perks's father tended bar during Joseph's childhood and would often entertain the family with raucous stories about the local drunks, celebrities and politicians who would frequent his establishment. From an early age, Joseph Perks dreamed of emulating his father and pursuing a career behind the stick. Joseph's father was well-known in the New York bar scene and organised Joseph's first job at P J Clarks on Third Avenue. He took to the bar world like a duck to water. The owner of the White Horse Tavern, Frankie "Cyclone" McCarthy (so-called because of his speed behind the bar) Frankie would teach Joseph everything he knew and turn him into one of the finest bartenders in the city. Joseph was well known for his incredible Manhattans, his ability never to forget a customers drink and his speed of service which rivaled Frankie himself. Frankie would often watch in awe and was heard to say of Joseph "If I'm a cyclone than young Joseph is a hurricane". In the summer of 1972, Joseph experienced a moment that would go on to shape his life in amazing and unexpected ways. Halfway through a normal Thursday night shift, a man walked into the bar shadowed by two burly minders. Whilst steadily knocking back several of Joseph's famous Manhattans, Joseph and the man got to talking - it transpired that the man was from England and in his own words 'played a bit of music'. He described England in vivid detail, particularly London, telling Joseph it was "the greatest city on earth". Joseph was enthralled, and as the man got up to leave they shook hands, with the man telling Joseph to 'Go to London, start a revolution, become a legend'.

As the man walked out Frankie appeared and told Joseph that he had just been chatting with none other than world-famous singer, songwriter and founding member of The Beatles, John Lennon.

This chance meeting had a fundamental effect upon Joseph, and two years later he decided to leave New York for London. He had dreamed of owning his own place ever since he was a child, and finally was in a position to make real his vision of a pioneering bar, the likes of which had never been seen before. In preparation Joseph embarked on a round-the-world voyage of discovery, in order to educate himself on the various traditions, ingredients and rituals associated with alcohol across the globe.

Travels Abroad

Blurb about his travels - opium dens in the far east, absinthe bars in paris, etc

Disappearance

On April 29th 1975, whilst travelling between Botega and Santiago District

, he stopped near El Piro for the night. It was here that his camper van was discovered with all of his worldly possessions still inside. Joseph Perks had seemingly vanished into thin air. The local police conducted many enquiries and left the case open for two years before declaring him a missing, presumed dead. Many rumours have circulated around his disappearance.

Unverified sightings have occurred over the Thousands have been enthralled with the legend of Joseph Perks and believe him still to be alive.