By Kenneth SmithSenior Staff Writer
There comes a time to put away childish things.
And even those unwilling to retire their battle-scarred and fadingCandy Land board game are likely to admit that an all-night,Pop-Rocks and Coke-fueled gaming binge doesn't hold the same allureit did when you were 12. For many, the libation of choice has changedto harder fare - and I don't mean Jolt.
It is for these people that the Whistle Stop, a quaintneighborhood bar at the corner of Fern and Juniper streets in SouthPark, offers "Friends Chill," a night of board games and mellowgrooves.
"It was started by one of our first bartenders, Ariel Deleon,"Nicole Costello, who mans the taps every Tuesday, said. "Tuesdaynights were a little slow and she asked if she could start a boardgame night and have her friend (DJ WankChops) play cool mellowrecords.
"She brought in her own games and some candles, (DJ WankChops)played records and people dug it."
Of the name, Whistle Stop owner Sam Chammas said, "I asked Arielwhat summed up the night, she said it's about friends hanging out andchillin', relaxing, so we said lets call it 'Friends Chill.'"
Chammas said Costello, who took over Tuesdays when Deleon left forcollege, "has done a great job of keeping the night going andgrowing."
At two years old, the event is the Whistle Stop's longest -running regular event.
The bar has a number of games available - including perennialfavorites like Monopoly and Yahtzee - and bar-goers are welcome tobring their own games. Costello said crowd favorites are undoubtedlyConnect Four and Scrabble, with Scattergories running close behind.
Costello is quick to add that the music, still provided by DJWankChops with guest appearances by DJ Cardboard Snodgrass and DJRocketRacer, remains an integral part of the night.
"It's all very mellow, ambient grooves," she said. "Good for boardgames and chatting, not too disturbing."
A few other marked characteristics of the Whistle Stop - asidefrom an interesting, retro-train-themed, largely red and greendécor - is its dog-friendly atmosphere (meaning your pooch cancome play too) and tends to be somewhat of a hipster haven, thoughunobtrusively so. It also offers a full bar and a wide variety offine beers on tap.
Taken altogether, its undeniable "Friends Chill" offers a certainsurrealistic charm - it's a rare place you can sit swilling a nicefrosty pint of Newcastle mid-week while watching some shaggy-headedhipster, brow furrowed in deep thought behind black horn-rimmedglasses, as he tries to Connect Four against the bass player of yourfavorite local band. All the while Fido watches on and Portisheadprovides the soundtrack.
And for the bar's staff, "Friends Chill" is not just fun andgames, but it also makes good business sense.
"It easily doubled our sales," Costello said. "There are busiernights of the week, but Tuesday is many people's favorite. There'slots of Tuesday regulars, and for some it's the only night they comein."
"Friends Chill" night happens every Tuesday. For more information,call (619) 284-6784.
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