mixology
by kevin plautz
BAR SURFING WITH #1 FIFTH AVE.’S TRAVIS STEINER
Blue-eyed, 38-year old Travis Steiner is your typical California surfer boy, who grew up in San Clemente and has lived in San Diego for about 12 years on and off. He’s a regular bartender at one of Hillcrest’s popular watering holes, where you can catch a glimpse of this handsome guy and enjoy a drink with one of the neighborhood’s favorites. The Rage Monthly sat down with Travis to find out a little bit more about his totally rad world.
Tell about the first time you walked into #1 Fifth Ave. I don’t remember the first time I went to #1 but I remember it always was a place to go at the end of the night, when we would close Martinis! Rikke, the manager of #1 Fifth Ave. was a regular patron of Martinis and our staff loved him because he was always polite and treated us with the utmost respect. The staff recognized we were industry and just needed a minute to relax with a cocktail or a beer before going to bed. #1 is one of those rare places for a lot of people that is just a safe home-away- from-home. Did you have previous bartending experience? I bartended at Martinis and Uptown Tavern and
both were great experiences. When Rikke first asked me to cover a shift, I jumped at the chance. I
feel like I’ve found a good fit working at #1 Fifth Ave. with Rikke and the staff. What would you say that you have personally
brought to the bar? I don’t know exactly what I bring to the team,
we’re a crazy group of people. I think what we all have in common, is knowing how lucky we are and that we really appreciate each other. I can honestly say, I have never felt cared for by an employer the way that I do at #1. What is your favorite event at #1 Fifth Ave. and why? Havana Nights is a great shift for me. It’s wild,
with awesome dancers, musicians and people with huge smiles plastered across their faces. It’s always super busy and everyone is having a great time. Tell us a little more about the people you work with at #1 Fifth Ave. Omar, the owner of #1 Fifth Ave. and Rikke have
made it possible for me to help friends and family out. If I need to run up to Orange County to take care of family or fly to Idaho to see my parents, they are so helpful and thoughtful. My life is better because of this bar and this staff. You never know what it’s going to be like when you get a new job but this crew and the family of regulars will always greet you like fam- ily. Tiger and Jess share their beautiful smiles with
me every time they come in. KC and Denny seem to have an endless supply of hugs and encouragement and Artie will give you a huge grin and flip you off across the bar (with only love and laughter behind it). It’s a family over here at #1 and I love it. Tell me about your hobbies… With my free time, I love to be outside in the
ocean and traveling. I’m going to the Amazon with some of the staff this March and I can’t wait. Last year I went and surfed in Costa Rica with some friends, which was incredible. Fresh fish every day, a deep sunburn, hiking to waterfalls and skinny- dipping every night. Describe what the ocean represents to you? Growing up in San Clemente was nice, it’s just a
small town and we spent all of our time at the beach or ditching school to go snowboarding. We didn’t drink a lot, which probably explains why I’m such a lightweight. You’ll probably see me stumbling through Hillcrest on a Sunday night and for that I blame Chad B from MO’s. Whenever I hang with him, I hear stories the next day about being a big mess…Just kidding Chad.
#1 Fifth Ave. is located at 3845 Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest.
For more information, check them out on Facebook at
facebook.com/numberonefifth
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RAGE monthly | JANUARY 2018
photos by rikke photography
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