On any given night, between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. or so, there is a mysterious elevation in the noise level on upper College Ave. A quick glance out my window (or a quick listen) reveals the source of all the raucus: the Johnny O’s contingent. Whether they’re waiting to get in or just getting kicked out, there is always a scene to be seen outside of this bar.

The rest of Collegetown is no different. Whether it’s at The Palms, Rulloff’s, Dino’s or any other fine drinking establishment, students happily gulp drinks served up by the bartenders of Collegetown. While some of us may have intimate relationships with our favorite bartenders (much love to the basement of Rulloff’s), many of us don’t even pause to think about the men and women serving our drinks. Or, better yet, we have trouble remembering our newfound bartender friends when we wake up the next morning.

Regardless, there are more than a few men and women who spend their time behind the bars of Collegetown. This week, Eclipse gets to know a few of them, delving into why bartend, what they like about it and digging out some of their best stories from their time on the job.

We hope that you stop in and say hi to a few bartenders this weekend. If you have a favorite, or just want to give us some feedback, we’d love to hear from you at eclipse@cornellsun.com.

Here’s to you,

Leigha Kemmett