"Bar Month" at OnMilwaukee.com – brought to you by Stoli Vodka, Altos Tequila, Fireball, OR-G, Jim Beam, Plymouth Gin and 2 Gingers – is back for another round! The whole month of February, we're serving up intoxicatingly fun articles on bars and clubs – including guides, the latest trends, bar reviews, the results of our Best of Bars poll and more. Grab a designated driver and dive in!
Join OnMilwaukee.com's Bartender Games (formerly the Bartender Olympics) at Turner Hall Ballroom on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.
Emceed by FM 102.1's Jon Adler, the Bartender Games will see the return of past participants who will battle it out against new competitors. Other special guests include Sarah Laux Photography and DJ E.Rich.
Cheer on your favorite bartenders and teams while they compete in the signature cocktail competition, Pabst can stack and a bartender lip sync competition.
You, the audience, will be part of the judging and can try and vote on the signature recipes. While you're there, enjoy sampling of new Red Bull Tropical Yellow Edition and be entered to win a year of free Red Bull.
The Thunder Chickens aim to be truly, well, thunderous. The team includes Nick Chartier of Hi Hat Lounge, Jamie Robertson of Three Lions Pub, Mary Oglesby of Boone & Crockett and Foundation, and Keanen Kopplin of Nomad.
OnMilwaukee.com: What's your favorite thing about the bar you work at?
Nick Chartier: The staff, ambience, spirits and cocktails.
Jamie Robertson: Great regulars, top banter and loads of football.
OMC: What are some of your favorite Milwaukee bars (outside of where you work) and what bartenders do you visit around town?
Mary Oglesby: Jeff Kinder at Bryant's, Paul Kennedy and Mark Waldoch at Tonic.
NC: The Standard, Bar None, The Rumpus Room, and Boone & Crockett.
JR: Ben Rothwell at Jacks, Jeremy Oswald at Black Rose, and Joel Price at Red Lions Pub.
OMC: What's your favorite Milwaukee restaurant right now? Why?
NC: Balzac has always been one of my favorite restaurants. Best mac n' cheese in town.
MO: Odd Duck. I've never had anything but an awesome experience. Their food is interesting and incredible.
Keanen Kopplin: Always been a big fan of Bosley's, but I really dig all the new places opening up in Bay View.
OMC: What's the craziest thing you've ever witnessed/experienced while behind the bar?
NC: I tripped over a dude who was passed out on the second floor of the bar I was working at several years ago. My girlfriend and I were very nice and waited him for a cab. When the cab showed up, the dude took my girlfriend's full beer, pounded it and then said, "thanks for nothing," and left.
JR: Working during the 2014 World Cup during U.S.A. games. You yanks went mental!
MO: A man drunk from a golf-themed pub crawl pissed himself, so when he got kicked out, he threw his sombrero full of Doritos at my coworker and got punched in the mouth.
OMC: What do you think the next big trend will be in the Milwaukee bar scene?
KK: Latex and leather. "Fifty Shades of Grey" bar.
JR: Topless bartenders – or at least that's the hope.
NC: Non-alcoholic craft beer is going to be huge!
MO: Evangelical Christianity themed non-alcoholic juice and milk bars. Jesus Juice.
