Barworkers Ball 2013: Ozo Umeh, Rory O'Brien, Carole Barrow, Brittany Clark: Whisky Tasting Challenge with Stephen Torres
Barworkers Ball 2013: Revelers captured by SnapFiesta.com
Barworkers Ball 2013: Ambassador Missy served up samples of Maker's Mark and Maker's 46
Barworkers Ball 2013: Challenge Judges Marke B, Katy St. Clair, and Broke-Ass Stuart
Barworkers Ball 2013: Revelers captured by SnapFiesta.com
Barworkers Ball 2013: Revelers captured by SnapFiesta.com
Barworkers Ball 2013: Barry Shields and Charles Washington enjoy icy bottles of Stella Artois
Barworkers Ball 2013: Revelers captured by SnapFiesta.com
Barworkers Ball 2013: Cafe du Nord provided a spread of fantastic treats from their own menu
Barworkers Ball 2013: Cafe du Nord's Kerry Labelle with Ball founder Stephen Torres
Barworkers Ball 2013: Ayelet Cohen enjoys an icy Bud Light Platinum with Tina Stayduhar
Barworkers Ball 2013: Kelley McKenzie, Robert Faras, John Anderson
Barworkers Ball 2013: Johnny (Hayes) Funcheap and Broke-Ass Stuart (Schuffman)
Barworkers Ball 2013: Rory O'Brien (Hotel Chancellor) wins the Whisky Tasting Challenge
Barworkers Ball 2013: DJ Bus Station John
Barworkers Ball 2013: Mario Tolentino, Melody Ferguson, Susan Hwang
Barworkers Ball 2013: David Hong, Tricia Yong, MC Bu, Ben Chi, Justin Phillips
Barworkers Ball 2013: Bo Barfield, Trish Pwitzy, Jesse Boyes, Mike Kirkowski
Barworkers Ball 2013: Lisa Fox, DJ Sonny Phono, Carol Coronici
Barworkers Ball 2013: Broke-Ass Stuart, Katy St. Clair, Stephen Torres, Marke B
Barworkers Ball 2013: Young Workers United table with Josue Arguelles, Mauricio Lozano, Edwin Escobar
Barworkers Ball 2013: Angela and Phil Harvey
Barworkers Ball 2013: Mixology Challenge surprise ingredient Basil Hayden's whiskey
Barworkers Ball 2013: DJ Sergio Fedasz
Barworkers Ball 2013: Mixology Challenge contestants Lori Rich and Ryan Hisamune
Barworkers Ball 2013: Mixology Challenge winner Robin Hansen (Pacific Catch)
Barworkers Ball 2013: Iso Rabins (Forage SF) and Jeff Krupman
Barworkers Ball 2013: DJ Sonny Phono
Barworkers Ball 2013: Vinay Malkani, Vanessa Nance, Chris Ng, Ken Pascal
On February 19th, the city's hard-working nightlife pros—bartenders, barbacks, bussers, bouncers, servers, DJs, dancers, doormen, coat check, hat check, clothes check, greeters, promoters, hosts, hostesses, sound guys, and other service industry workers—were treated to a night of their own, honoring their contributions to our own regular decompressions. Host venue Cafe du Nord welcomed revelers with a generous buffet from their hearty menu, while partners Maker's Mark, Stella Artois, and Bud Light Platinum provided the liquid courage necessary for the traditional barworker challenges, hosted by Barworkers Ball creator and beloved impresario Stephen Torres.
Industry folks mingled with paying partiers—proceeds benefited the nonprofit California Music & Culture Association—and cheered a bevy of barworkers participating in the infamous Blind Whiskey Tasting, Mixology Contest with Secret Ingredients, and Irish Car Bomb Competition. Discriminating, eagle-eyed and palate-wise judges included Marke B. from the San Francisco Bay Guardian; Katy St. Clair from SF Weekly; media maven Broke-Ass Stuart; and 7x7's own man-about-town Riley Manlapaz.
Funky soundscapes were provided by some of San Francisco's best DJs, including Sonny Phono (Rock the Spot Wednesdays at Madrone), Bus Station John (Tubesteak, Love Will Fix It), and Sergio Fedasz (Go BANG!, The SyntheTigers, M2 moulton media, KALX).
Frisky fun-timers also posed for the lovely photo station Snap Fiesta's camera, capturing moments from one of the season's most vibrant annual traditions.
More Barworkers Ball photos from Snap Fiesta here.
Full photos: Tara Luz Stevens for Drew Altizer Photography
