SHAKING IT UP: Popular mixologist Gerald Ortiz is ankling his long-time spot at Culpepper's in the Central West End and scooting over to Erney's 32 and the soon-to-be-opened Hamburger Mary's in the burgeoning Midtown Alley area.

Ortiz follows a long tradition of lengthy service at Culpepper's, having vended beverages there the past 14 years. He's ranked alongside Jack Rinaldi, who was there for 18 years, and D.J. Deusheul, who racked up 16 years behind the bar at the venerable wings purveyor.

Ortiz will also be tending bar daytimes at Anthony's for a few weeks, having been recruited as a fill-in by Vince Bommarito Jr. He'll be doing his mixologist duties at Erney's in The Grove, and then will be man-about-the-house at Hamburger Mary's when it opens, which is expected before the end of the month. Mark Erney, owner of Erney's 32 and a principal in the new Hamburger Mary's, had originally planned to open in November but that date was pushed back.

Meanwhile, Erney has been lining up the pols for the ribbon-cutting. He has St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, Gov. Jay Nixon and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan all agreeing to help wield the big scissors.