{bazima.com}

Here's the "straight" bio: A.J. Daulerio is an editor at The Black Table and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Post, The New York Press, VICE, and Maxim. He once had a story published in Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul and was also fired from Shecky's, after falsifying more than 30 bar reviews, making him the Stephen Glass of the bar review circuit.

I would also like to add that A.J. is a troublemaker, but usually in the best possible way. Also, he likes to give assignments 10 minutes before their deadlines and say, "HURRY!"

Blaise K: The obvious first question: What does A.J. stand for?
A.J. Daulerio: It stands for Albert James,which is my father's name and his father's name. So, I'm technically Albert James Daulerio III, but that sounds very regal and important. I'm neither of those, so I went with initials instead so I can lower people's expectations as much as possible. And besides, I'm not really put together to be an "Al" or a "Bert" or even an "Albie" for that matter. My personality--when I have one--is more A.J: One long vowel and one hard consonant. I just realized I have no idea what that means. Sorry.

Blaise K: The Black Table, for which you are the editor, has been described as a snarky phoenix that rose out of the ashes of failed on-line writing ventures. Is it? Is The Black Table a snarky phoenix?

A.J. Daulerio: Fuck you and your "snarky phoenix". And I'm not the editor, I am an editor at The Black Table, which is pretty much a made-up title anyway. I'm as much "sea captain" or "best boy" as I am "editor". I mean, it's just a website with four buddies trying to do stuff that gets us piles and piles of beaver. Yep. That's it. We couldn't play rock'n roll, so we went the next logical step which is web magazine-dom. (Well, Aileen doesn't want to score chicks. Because she's straight, but we're working on that.) I apologize for cursing at you, but sometimes the snark takes control over me. Anyway, I don't even know what a phoenix is.

BK: What do you do when you're not doing stuff for The Black Table? (Touching yourself goes without saying.)
AD: Hmmm...well...nothing. I sit in the apartment and smoke. I check e-mail obsessively. If I feel like being active, I may do a push-up every now and again. Other than that I'm pretty much a sedentary man, just waiting for somebody to shove me in a direction and then I'll move. Oh, but I do like to play tennis. If somebody knows how I can join a league or something that'd be great.

BK: Are you single or in a relationship? (I'm asking for the ladies. Or the mens. Whichever.)
AD: Of course I'm in a relationship. I mean, I'm a make believe editor at a moderately popular website for Christ's sake! Guys like me don't stay single for too long.

BK: Now, you and I met at Welcome To The Johnsons bar once, shortly after I wrote my first Waxing Off piece for The Black Table. It was the night I was convinced that you were mispronouncing your last name. Then you came to the sold out show at P.S. 122 last year, in which I was featured along with blogger greats (notice I didn't say "OTHER web greats") like Choire Sicha, Andy Horwitz, and Paul Ford. Tell me, thinking back to Welcome To The Johnsons and P.S. 122, I looked hotter which time?
AD: Yes, I'd say P.S. 122 most definitely. Your bosoms that evening were showcased extraordinarily and I finally got a peek at their brilliant brown hue. After that magical evening and getting a full glimpse of Blaise K., I was convinced that I would not throw you out of my bed for eating crackers. Or melon, for that matter.

BK: Do you remember any of the following: The Barbapoppas, I Married Dora, My Sister Sam, or Jake and The Fatman?
AD: My Sister Sam was groundbreaking, not only for sitcoms featuring dysfunctional families, but for lunatic stalkers everywhere. It brought ultra-violent sycophancy to a whole new level thanks to the untimely and grisly murder of its star Rebecca Schaeffer. It gave B and C-list actors an irrational fear of signing autographs, which made them feel more a part of the Hollywood elite. Now was Jake and The Fatman the show about the talking monkey that drove a delivery truck?

BK: What's your take on the whole "hipster movement"? Do you think you're a hipster? If you deny it too emphatically that means you're one of them.
AD: I'm a proud hipster through and through. I even had the privilege to stand arm and arm with Paul Sevigny of A.R.E. Weapons and Jason Baron owner of The Dark Room during the historic "Williamsburg March" back in November of 2002 as we shuffled across the bridge into the depths of the LES singing songs by The Shins and drinking PBRs. It was a glorious night and a watershed moment for "the movement". I feel so blessed to be a part of it. So, to all my hipster brothers and sisters, I bid you a resounding "Whatevs!" May your dim light shine upon Avenue A forever.

Visit A.J. and his entourage at The Black Table. I write for them sometimes, so that's an additional draw.