Sneak Preview: Bar Regulars

St. Edward's University's Entertainment Journalism class is currently working on a story about bar regulars in Austin. The idea came from photographer Sarah Stolfa's book "The Regulars," which features portraits of the regulars that came into the bar she used to work at. Our own portraits and short profiles of Austin bar regulars will be published in The Statesman in December. Here's a glimpse of what to expect from the article: my own bar regular profile.

The phrase "bar regulars" tends to conjure up the portrayal of the regular bar customers of the 80s sitcom "Cheers." The show embraced the idea of being a bar regular as it presented the Boston bar Cheers as a place to go after a long work day; a place to unwind with a few friends and a few drinks; a place where everyone knows your name. While that last phrase may sound a bit worn out and cliche, that's the kind of atmosphere that brings people back to a bar; that turns a bar customer to a bar regular.

That's what Lavaca Street Bar, located on 4th and Lavaca, is for Adam Hesse. After moving to Austin about a year ago, Hesse, 32, started going to Lavaca because it's close to the restaurant he works at (Maria Maria), its not too busy and has a fair crowd, and it's not overloaded with DJs, he said.

But those aren't the only reasons Hesse frequents Lavaca Street Bar. He feels welcome there. "They all know my name," he said. "It's like 'Cheers,' when Norm comes in and everyone says, 'Norm!'"

According to Hesse, Lavaca Street Bar also takes good care of their regulars. Having worked at a bar before, Hesse knows how important that is. "I had to know [the regulars'] names and exactly what they drank," he said of the regulars that came into his bar. A lot of the regulars came in every day and lived within a mile of the bar, he said. "It was strange," he said. "But it was like a family."

Now, as a regular himself, that's how Hesse feels when he goes to Lavaca Street Bar - it's like a family. "It's a second home," he said. "It really is."

For Hesse, Lavaca Street Bar is the perfect remedy for unwinding after work. "A lot of people go home and watch TV after work," Hesse said. "I come here."

After a long day, there's nothing better than kicking back a few with some friends. And, you know what they say, there's no better place to do that than a place where everybody knows your name (and your drink.)