mixology
THE BAY Weekends Begin Here
TOP OF
For decades now, the San Diego LGBT community has gathered at
one place every Friday evening to plan out their weekend activities while watching the sunset. Now about to enter its third year at the Porto Vista Hotel, this charming rooftop location boasts amazing views and a relaxing start to everyone’s weekend. I spoke to the friendly staff at Top of the Bay about why this award-winning event is such a huge success.
by kevin plautz
Donovan:This place is great because of the amazing ambiance. It’s relaxing and fun! People love meeting at Top of the Bay for great personable bartenders and we really enjoy working with each other. We look forward to Fridays as well, because it is truly an amazing event. Beautiful people, beauti- ful setting and the sunsets are incredible. I love working with this staff, they are fantastic and the management here is very supportive of our ideas and they really listen.
Mike: I just love working at a place with a gorgeous view. My customers are so smart and have great taste in bartenders. Even though we only see each other once a week, we are all a bunch of goofballs and get along fabulously. People seem to love my two specialty drinks; Mike’s Jolly Rancher and The Pineapple Express. Come ask for them by name!
TOP OF THE BAY Every Friday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Porto Vista Hotel 1835 Columbia Street, San Diego, 92101
portovistasd.com
Jersey:As the second genera- tion of the original LGBT Friday night event, Top of the Bay continues the tradition of being the only “Happy Hour with a view from the Top.” I’ve met some pretty amazing people over the past 14 years of Fridays, with my boys! It’s like a weekly family reunion. We share stories from the past week, catch up with the friends we haven’t seen in awhile and usually wind up making new friends of those we haven’t met yet. The entire staff at T.O.B. genuinely likes each other... A lot! We work as a team and have fun while we’re at it. Can’t ask for much more than that! You should stop by and ask for my signature “Jersey Juice” cocktail, or my mean strawberry-jalapeno margarita!
Scott:You have bartenders here who care about the community they work for. Top of the Bay has an “old school” bar persona, where you can mingle with people without all of the technology getting in the way. It is a spot where you can socialize and actually have a conversation. The customers I serve are outstanding people. I have a wide variety who come and see me; everyone from doctors, authors and even small business owners. People seem to really like it here. I actually invented a cocktail in Denver when I was bartending and now I make it here. I had to tweak it over the years due to the original ingredients not being available anymore. I use Svedka’s Citron vodka and Strawberry Colada vodka, Peach Schnapps, pineapple juice and a float of grenadine. The drink is called Sex with Scott.
Big Mike:We love the fact people really do make plans with each other to meet at T.O.B. to start their weekends off. I believe we have the best customers. The view is magnificent, especially if you catch the sunset. And, the eye candy is pretty damn good, as well. We all have regular custom- ers that come to us every week and we are all grateful for their ongoing support. Our regulars make it a point to come by and talk to all of us who are working and they give us the feeling they are just as happy to see us, as we are to see them. It’s a great friendship we have built over the last couple of years. I’ve worked with most of my co- workers before, or have known them for years. We all have a very high respect for each other and enjoy each other’s company. Most of us have been doing this for many, many years. We always have a good time together and we are always there for each other. I would invite everyone to come and check out the patio view and enjoy the sunset with one of our tasty drinks. I would also suggest they grab an Uber so they don’t worry about parking and remind them not to drink and drive.
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RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2016
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