When the nighttime bar scene leaves you sleepy with a blaring headache, ditch the night-life and head to happy hour.
Happy hour is a different world, bartenders report. Rather than crowded rooms and overly aggressive potential suitors, happy hour crowds enjoy a laid-back atmosphere, better conversation and more space to spread out. Stringent and, ahem, official research conducted by Trib p.m. staffers at some of the more happening happy hours in the city revealed the post-work party here has its own brand of barroom behavior and customs.
Happy hour is the barfly swing-shift, sandwiched between hard-core morning tavern denizens drinking their breakfasts and evening imbibers looking for a hook-up.
Bartenders and drinkers said Pittsburgh happy hours don't get rolling until the end of the week. Some bars report crowds on Wednesday or Thursday, but Friday afternoons reign supreme.
Regulars are usually an ethnically diverse group of students, blue- and white collar-workers, ranging from young drinkers to old-timers. In spite of - or perhaps because of - patrons' differences, conversations flow freely.
"Someone settles down next to someone else and they start talking. People have their guard down at happy hour," said bartender Wayne Myrick of William Penn Tavern in Shadyside.
Johno Prascak has been slinging beers at Mario's on the South Side for 17 years. He has long history with his regulars.
"I try to introduce people around and get them talking. A lot meet on their own, but I try to make sure everyone knows each other," Prascak said.
Variety among patrons is useful when people remain faithful to one watering hole, usually close to home or work.
Jack Adams, 64, has been a regular at Doc's in Shadyside for 40 years, touching base on his way home from his psychiatry practice.
"There is a sense of camaraderie... people are comfortable with each other and treat one another with mutual respect. Over time, you develop friendships," Adams said.
Friendships, but not romantic interludes.
Bartenders and drinkers agree happy hours aren't a singles' meet/meat market. One reason for the difference is a supply problem of sorts: there are fewer women than men at most happy hours.
Kyle Greenman, 27, of South Side and David Kosovec, 23, of Mt. Washington said the lack of love in the air is more about attitude.
"It's happy hour. Hooking up isn't on your mind as much. It's never the intention," Greenman said.
"If it does, then so be it." Kosovec added, "That just makes it an extra-happy happy hour."
| Happy hours |
Just in case you don't know where to go, the Trib p.m. compiled a list of some happening happy hours, depending on your mood.
Mario's South Side Saloon, 1514 E. Carson St., South Side, (412) 381-5610: Lots of regulars, but Johno will introduce you.
Shady Grove 5500 Walnut St., Shadyside, (412) 697-0909: Cocktails served in a comfortable atmosphere stocked with college students.
Olive or Twist, 140 Sixth Ave., Downtown, (412) 255-0525: Especially good on theater nights.
Bossa Nova, 123 Seventh St., Downtown, (412) 232-3030: Slick professional crowd with a slightly higher hook-up quotient.
Smokin Joe's, 2001 E. Carson Street, South Side, (412) 431-6757: Excellent mixed crowd of students and work-a-day people of all kinds.
Fathead's, 1805 E. Carson St., South Side, (412) 431-7433: Packed with drinkers, but also people waiting for food.
James Street Tavern, 422 Foreland Ave., North Side, (412) 323-2222: The scene is 30- and 40-something office workers.
Fuel and Fuddle, 212 Oakland Ave., Oakland, (412) 682-3473: Bring your own people, because you're not likely to meet anyone new.
Mad Mex, 370 Atwood St., Oakland. (412) 681-5656: Early 20s crowd drinks beer and good mixed drinks at the bar
Staff writer Derek Fuchs contributed to this report
