The Crow Bar

I enjoy bartending once in a while, and my cocktails had become so popular that I was frequently asked to serve at private parties. This required a proper bar setup, and a portable one, at that. I was unable to find a portable bar that would suit my needs, so I decided to engineer one myself. The Crow Bar as I called it, only catapulted the popularity of these parties and private events.

What you're seeing here is the second generation of portable bar I designed, including many of the features you'd find in a regular bar:

• Solid oak bartop
• Lightweight aluminum frame
• Refrigerator
• Ice bin
• Drink rail
• Speed rack
• Wash basin
• Drain plumbing
• Lighting
• Power outlets
• Reversible, modular design

The entire rig folded up on brass hinges and packed down into four lightweight units. Including the fatigue mat, garbage can, and storage coolers, everything was easily hauled via a small pickup truck.

I worked for tips and donations only, so patrons were basically getting their drinks at cost, and I was breaking even. There's something about being a host that I find very enjoyable, and rather like the arrangement. After several years of this, however, it became tiresome to deal with rude party-goers, some of who would steal entire bottles of liquor from behind the bar.

Eventually, I sold the fixture. I miss it some days, but my love of bartending lives on, and I'm sure I'll design a clever permanent bar some day.