Danielle Forand of Off the Traxx | The Beachside Resident

By: Paddy McDrinksey

Article Category: Bartender of the Month 1 Comment

Well amn’t I the lucky so-and-so!

I’ve just found me muse, which is nice because my others weren’t really working out for me.

The St. Pauli girl was easy on the eyes, there’s no denying that, but to be honest, it was all I could do to choke down one of her brews. By comparison, old Sam Adams makes a formidable elixir, but it just doesn’t do for a man to have another man as a muse. Not that I have anything against that kind of thing, but you understand. And the less said about the other muses, the better. (You know who you are, Mr. Schlitz…)

Now this new muse, Danielle Forand of downtown Melbourne’s Off The Traxx, is more to my liking — and not for the reasons you think. Sure, she’s well looked after in the pulchritude department, but it’s her attitude that sealed the deal. Originally from Bolton, Connecticut (just a hop, skip and a jump from UCONN), the 21-year-old ‘tendrix works days in a real estate and development office, where she’s rubbed elbows with many prominent local luminaries. Apart from that and putting in 25 hours a week at Off The Traxx, she spends her precious free time mentoring an 11-year-old girl.

Ladies and gentlemen, Danielle…

What’s the best part of your work here?

I love working with the crew the best, meeting new people and seeing regulars. The midnight shot with the crew is a fun part of the night, too.

What do you dislike about the profession?

The late, long hours. Sometimes there’s trouble, but the guys behind the bar usually take care of it really quickly. The crew is awesome!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve witnessed from behind the bar?

A (presumably) homeless man came into the bar. While there, a woman felt so bad for him that she bought him a hamburger and had it sent to him. He got really irate and cursed out the woman and left.

What’s your drink of choice?

The Red-Headed Slut: Jägermeister, peach schnapps and cranberry juice.

Do you have a preferred hangover cure?

Hot tea at night. Orange juice in the morning.

What’s the strangest concoction you’ve ever been asked to make?

Beer, orange juice and Amaretto.

If you could be president for a day what would you do?

I would help children from bad homes, set up free schools and financial aid for kids aged 14-18 from struggling families, and would try to help them cope with life experiences.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the winnings?

Pay off my Mom’s mortgage, travel the world, or go backpacking in Europe and Australia with my sister.

Where else would you most like to travel?

I’d like to rediscover my past and my family roots. I’d like to visit Prince Edward island again, and maybe Lithuania.

What would you order for your last meal?

Mashed potatoes. Close runners-up would be Mom’s chicken marsala, artichokes and Geyser Peak Chardonnay.

Any parting words of wisdom for our readers?

“Human life has been given to you for the sole purpose of realizing the Self. If you die without realizing the Self, your life has been wasted.” — Annamalai Swami

Off The Traxx is located at 918 E. New Haven Ave. in Historic Downtown Melbourne. They’re open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. They’ll be hosting a Fourth of July celebration starting at 4 p.m., which will feature their 1st Annual Pig Roast, specials on white sangria pitchers, $5 frozen drinks, $2.50 Bud and Bud Lites, $2 spiked watermelon slices and a visit by the Bud and Jäger Girls at Midnight. Enjoy live bands like Over The Void, Joe Oliver and Vintage and watch the fireworks from nearby Front Street. Happy Hour is celebrated at Off The Traxx Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring $1.75 drafts and $2 wells. On Mondays, Happy Hour reconvenes at 11 p.m. and lasts till close, and Tuesdays it’s celebrated all day long. Wednesdays see Ladies Night with $3 martinis, 2-4-1 wells and $2 drafts for guys. Trailer Trash Nights are held each Thursday with $1 PBR and bar games like quarters and beer pong. Off The Traxx hosts live music every weekend, check our calendar page for July’s schedule. They also serve cooked-to-order wings, open-faced sandwiches, seared ahi, steaks, burgers, pasta and much more. For more information, call them at 327-2919.