Whether you’re a long-time regular or a Fanelli’s newcomer, Mary’s warm demeanor makes every visitor feel like they own the place. Over the years, she has carved out her own indelible legacy, shining as brightly as the institution itself — a true star of the downtown scene.

What is your ideal office?

A space with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Hudson. The golden hour on that side of town is majestic and constant fuel for the imagination.

What was your favorite book growing up? 

The Secret Garden. It’s so precious.

Which weather phenomenon best embodies your personality?

The eye of a storm. I’m perfectly calm unless I step outside the center.

What is the last thing you learned from a piece of music?

That, depending on the phase of the moon, the same song can make me laugh or cry.

What is the strangest conversation you’ve overheard at Fanelli’s?

A group of young guys were talking about buttholes and one of them kept insisting he had a really small one. “In your dreams,” his friend quipped loudly. The laughter was contagious.

Do you have a favorite word in the English language?

Abundance. It just sounds so damn nice.

What is the weirdest compliment you’ve ever received?

A man at the bar told me that I had a neck like a swan. I asked if that was a good thing. He shrugged and said, “If you like swans.”

Is there a question you don’t like being asked?

Any questions regarding my accent. It doesn’t dictate where I’m from but rather it’s a culmination of all my travels and everyone I’ve ever met. I’m like a sponge in that regard.

If you could have a dinner party with any three people, who would you invite and what would you talk about?

My three wisemen: John Cassavetes, Werner Herzog and Fassbinder. I would get them drunk on wine and trick them into helping me wrap up the documentary that I have been unable to finish.

Where, or how do you feel at home?

Wrapped between two big familiar hairy arms.

How do you deal with failure?

I don’t accept it.