I’m not sure if it’s true but I vaguely remember guest bartending being invented sometime during the early 1980’s – and – that it took off like mad because everybody wanted to bartend back in those days. Bartending for the in crowd, whichever crowd you used to be in, used to mean everything. Nothing like a good bartender. The original influencer.
Like everything, the excitement over guesting ran out – when all of the sudden – it popped back up almost at the exact time you were sure it would never come back again. Before you could say boo, Celebrity barkeeps like the Bud Girls were pouring beers at the local summertime waterfront spot. Taverns were teaming up with charities for the local good. But ultimately, nothing worked better and was more en vogue as when the local cleric was called in to guest-tend for the flock. And while the Holy throw down always signaled a financial success for the establishment, it also signified that cumulatively the guest bartending resurgence had reached its pinnacle and pulled out all of the stops. Nothing brought out a crowd like the holy water – on tap.
It is with none of that in mind that the Historical Avalon Theatre’s Lobby Bar has brought Guest Bartending into the second half of the 2020’s. “We were going over ideas to let the community know that we were opening on Thursday’s year-round, and it came up,” said Kerri Clear who is the food and beverage manager. The Lobby Bar is currently open on Fridays and Saturdays at 5pm with shows and performances starting at 7pm. “For a long time the bar was open sporadically and the community wondered what was going on with the spot on the corner,” said Jess Bellis CFO and COO of The Avalon. “It’s a great way to bring different parts of the community back into the restaurant that had offbeat (no pun intended) hours for a certain time,” said Bellis.
Some patrons come back each Thursday to see who the guest bartender is while others follow the social media posts that let you know who is the next-up barkeep. “The spirit has been high at all of the Thursdays since we have been running them,” said Bellis. “Life is so serious and this isn’t. It’s very, very light-hearted. It’s friends and acquaintances enjoying food from Ava’s over a cocktail with good music.”
The Lobby Bar at The Avalon Theatre, open Thursday thru Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, serving selections from Ava’s in St. Michaels with a smile from the guest bartenders. “It compliments our mission of bringing community together in all that we do,” Al Bond Executive Director.
Upcoming bartenders include Jackie and Chris Sadler (4/30), Father Nash & Rabbi Peter Hyman (this is not the end) (5/7), Sherry Spurry (5/14), Michelle Bouldin with Kentavius Jones spinning vinyl (5/21), Gerri & Steve Leder (5/28).
For more information about all things Avalon, visit the organization in person at 40 E. Dover St or visit them online at avalonfoundation.org.
