Unique take on the nightlife of Savannah GA, focusing on the professionals (and unprofessionals), working in the industry. Since the nightclubs are a notoriously rough "scene", a sardonic tone makes a useful contrast that brings richness to the details in the story. Fit the story in an original design mockup using Adobe InDesign.
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Three Speeds For Nights Downtown A loose overview of businesses with a liquor license—according to the people that stay long after you black out—from dive bar to 5-star hotel By David Cerón Giraldo “Christmas is the worst: You get people trying to get away from their families…” Whether determined to drown your woes in drink or celebrate southern joie de vivre, no small binge is complete without its bartender. With St. Patty’s Day coming up, what kind of bar will suit your fancy? Equal parts therapist and oral historian, bartenders get to know the city and its hotspots with full intimacy: They’re the ones to ask! When others choose to sleep, mostly for circadian reasons, the bartender endures long hours working on their feet, with few expressions of gratitude, often punctuated by spilled drinks. How do the bar men and women keep sane in their dire habitats? Mercifully, it’s time to check out the joints legally allowed to sell alcohol! Five Feet Under The first informant is Ed Wolf, who can be contacted through underground channels, as his place of employment is basically a basement. Totally Awesome—written in varying full and waning versions of Pacman—is a dive bar with touches of 80’s nostalgia. But fear not, Ed is highly trained in the art of conversation (as tenders of all kinds should be). “Bartending is like the funnest job but sometimes it’s like f*** all of you, you know,” Ed says, eloquently. Wearing a tank top fashionably accented by a wool beanie, he’s quick to grin, and has plenty of reasons to be happy on the job. “I have to pull a lot of all-nighters… but I love money!” The dive bar offers a more relaxed mood for visitors and workers alike. “It’s easier if you’re attuned to people’s energy,” he says. “We can drink too, for example.” Despite his short career on tap, Ed has no qualms with being friend and confidant. He’s seen fights break out, bride tribes pillage the inventory, and heard stories of love triangles. “So this guy had been married for seventeen years,” Ed says. “One day his wife tells him she’s got a girlfriend. So he’s shocked you know, but later he asks her if he can get a girlfriend too. She says no. She says he should get a boyfriend. But he’s not gay!” Bartender-In-Chief Behind the emerald green rounded countertop of Wasabi’s, during high noon, on a hot winter day, Andi Sosa greets me, her gesture measured yet natural. She’s been working as a bartender for nine years. “But my real bartending started 6 years ago,” she says. “I did my lessons, then I started doing my own mixology per se.” Despite also working as manager for the whole restaurant, which serves truly Japanese dishes, with fish imported right from Tokyo, she’s still happy to whip up a drink. The fun and polished image of Wasabi’s does contrast with Andi’s colorful history pouring for deviants. “It’s weird because a lot of stories are negative,” she says. “I’ve had someone jump the bar at a high-end restaurant, I’ve had someone who won’t pay for an ounce, or order $2,000 for a shot.” The mark of a professional may be their ability to see the best in their clients. There’s an air of efficiency and exoticism to be found at this bistro. “I think my favorite stories are about my regulars,” Sosa says. “It’s why I keep doing my job.” High Rollers, Low Restraint Surrounded by eclectic art, with a discreet view of Forsyth Park, Nick Moschetto shakes flavors into submission. This spirited debutante delights with plentiful anecdotes at The Mansion hotel. He confides that working in Kessler’s turf is no joke: Many travelers prefer K-man’s joints for their refined atmo and Marriott backed pedigree. “The best guests are business conferences,” Moschetto says. “You get groups of at least a hundred, but they don't wanna eat because they have catering, and they all order a drink. The best part is they pay on one corporate account with a 20% tip that’s automatic!” Still, wetting the palette for two kitchens’ worth of customers—plus room service—is tough. “St. Patrick’s Day is a mess,” he says. “And Christmas is the worst: You get people trying to get away from their families…” People that sleep alone at hotels during major holidays are no match! Nick Moschetto continues to serve weddings, tourists, and even film workers. Among screen icons he’s seen Joel Edgerton walking, Morgan Freeman ascending the steps, and several more stars performing everyday actions! With good reason Moschetto concedes that work at a landmark hotel never slows down. Thus, whether you find yourself “on the rocks,” or pleasurably full of ethyl alcohol mixes, you’ll find that Savannah is one of the best places to drink: with friends, while getting married, on a work trip, on a frat party, rampaging with celebrities, it’s all good baby!
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