INDULGENCES mixology
NIck PIsToN of MJ’s
by lance perkins
Silverlake is an artist community and as part of the Sunset Junction, it has
a long Hollywood history. We stopped in MJ’s, a neighborhood bar with a club
atmosphere at night, for a drink and spoke with their bartender, Nick Piston. You
might recognize him from somewhere…but let him explain. Read on.
The Rage Monthly: How long have you worked at MJ’s?
Nick Piston: A little over two years now. I’m from Chicago and worked in a lot of
the gay bars back home. I grew up on the south side of Chicago. It’s not exactly the
nice part. I’m from the wrong side of the tracks. (Laughs)
Rage: When did you move to L.A.?
NP: About four and a half years ago. I had first come out to L.A. with my ex who
lived here. After we broke up, I moved here on my own.
Rage: Are you dating anyone now?
NP: I just started dating someone new. It’s going well. It’s good.
Rage: How often do you work at MJ’s?
NP: I’m there four or five nights a week. During the daytime it’s a very neighbor-
hood-friendly type of a bar. At night it transitions into a club. So I kind of get the
best of both worlds. Hanging out with the regulars and working the busy nights.
Rage: What’s the best night?
NP: Our busiest nights are Tuesdays and Fridays. But I work daytime on Sunday
and that’s my favorite shift. It was my first shift I got and still my favorite. Tuesdays
called “Rim Job” which is always crazy packed. Friday is called “Fresh Meat Friday.”
It’s a little more hip-hop; Tuesday’s music is more rock and roll, I guess.
Rage: What are some of your signature drinks?
NP: I make a lot of martinis being from Chicago. But Silverlake is not really a
martini town, so a lot of them are fruity martinis that I’ve turned into cocktails.
Lately I’ve been making a lot of Raspberry Lemon Drops and Watermelon Drops.
It’s made with Watermelon Smirnoff, a little grenadine, some sour and some triple
sec. It tastes like candy!
Rage: What is the crowd like?
NP: We have a pretty mixed crowd. We get a lot of people in from West Hol-
lywood. And a good age range. A lot of people with interesting jobs come in.
photographers, artist and people in the industry. We do a lot of release parties.
Last Friday we had some of the guys from Raging Stallion out for a new movie.
We do giveaways and some of the guys from the studios will come and dance and
autograph pictures. We do a lot with the porn studios. I know all the boys and can
pretty much get anyone in there.
Rage: Have you won a lot of awards?
NP: No, I’m the Susan Lucci of porn. Johnny Hazzard always wins everything. I’ve
been nominated more times than I can count and that little bastard always wins!
(laughs)
Rage: Do you have any other aspirations?
NP: I’m going to school in the spring. I’m going to nursing school. It took me 35
years to figure out what I wanted to go to school for. I’ll probably be in school until
I’m 45! (Laughs)
Rage: I noticed your tattoos. Do any of them have a special meaning?
NP: Almost all of my tattoos are special. A lot of them represent different traits or
beliefs I have. And a couple are for friends I’ve lost.
MJ’s is located at 2810 Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles. Go to
mjsbar.com for more info.
52 RAGE monthly | january 2010
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