TalkTales Entertainment

Nathan Howard has been working in the Hospitality industry for 15 years now. He brings his sense of humor and conversational style to the forefront when bartending, aiming to make a connection with folks over the cocktails he prepares for them. Now, as the Operations Manager of TalkTales Entertainment, Nathan gets to share his love of crafting delicious flavor pairings with the groups he leads.

With over a decade of bartending experience, Matthew Schmuck has shaken, stirred, and poured his way across bars in Atlanta, Portland, Los Angeles, and even around the world via Zoom. As the General Manager of TalkTales' Headquarters, with Pal's Beer, Wine & Spirits, Matthew brings his deep knowledge of mixology, leadership skills, and passion for hospitality to the forefront, ensuring top-tier service and innovation behind the bar.

Javier Cruz is an established name in the Los Angeles bartending scene. For over 20 years, Javier has worked in various positions across many venues in the greater LA area. He held down the shift lead role at Cole’s in DTLA between 2017-2021, making friends with patrons in the neighborhood and folks who were just passing through. Currently, Javier leads in-person events for TalkTales Entertainment as well as leads kit fulfillment.

Riley is a Los Angeles based bartender who has been mixing and shaking for 10 years now. Having worked in numerous craft cocktail bars, his main area of expertise is the American classics. He loves discussing things like the history and science behind the Old Fashioned or the origin story of the Manhattan and it’s many cousins! He has worked with TalkTales in some capacity since 2018 and is so excited to shake things up with you!

Edward Katzka has tended bar at craft cocktail spots on both coasts over his many years in Hospitality. He aims to please and entertain, spinning stories and sharing his trademark trivia facts for guests. While he’s not shaking things up, he’s spending time with his son, Gabriel.

Kelsey is the Executive Bourbon Steward from Louisville, KY. She has been in hospitality/food and beverage for over a decade, and has a passion for American Whiskey and Bourbon. Kelsey has been able to learn from the best whiskey destinations in Louisville, giving tours at both Stitzel-Weller Distillery and Michter's For Nelson on the historical Whiskey Row. She is currently the Bourbon Steward for Hard Truth Distillery in Indiana. 

Joewell McKenzie is TalkTales’ Bay Area Mixologist extraordinaire! Based in San Jose, Joewell is the bar lead at Wild Rose as well as a co-host of 2coinTV. He aims to make people feel comfortable and confident in his mixology sessions, sharing his passion for beverage creation with the world.

Sari Grossman is a seasoned bartender with a passion for crafting exceptional cocktails and delivering top-tier hospitality. With experience at renowned establishments like The Varnish in Los Angeles and Cure NOLA in New Orleans, she has mastered the art of balancing classic mixology with innovative techniques. At The Varnish, she refined her expertise in speakeasy-style cocktails, focusing on precision, balance, and storytelling through drinks. 

Jay loves to share his passion for all aspects of bar work - technique, banter, glassware, food pairings. He's excited to meet new guests and friends through his class experiences