Help choose the best bartender in Kalamazoo!

Watch local bartender's compete to become "BEST BARTENDER IN KALAMAZOO" every Thursday in February @ 6pm at the Wine Loft at 161 E. Michigan Ave. There is a $5 Cover Charge and there will be LIVE Music.

Save the dates:

2.4.10 - 5 bartenders will compete....Vote top 2
2.11.10 - 5 bartenders will compete.....Vote top 2
2.18.10 - Semi-Finals...top 4
2.25.10 - Finals.....Winner will be announced "BEST BARTENDER IN KALAMAZOO" and receive $500 cash prize.

Winners So Far

Round 1
1st Jessie Sears
2nd Ryan Cunningham

Round 2
1st Liz "Lizard" Lignell
2nd (tie) Jenny Osebold
2nd (tie) Angie Roman

Nicki Shipley - 24, Big Deals Sports Bar, Signature drink: "Sullie"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
What do you like about your job: Meeting all the different people and getting to know them. It's a fun atmosphere.
Drinks of Choice: Budweiser
Hangover Cure: Water and Taco Bell
Favorite Off-Duty Bar: Big Deals
In School: Completing Bachelor's in Bio Medical Science

Rob Jude - 30, Shakespeare's Pub, Signature drink: "Gorilla Mist"

Lives In: Portage
The coolest thing about his job: Something new everyday.
Fun Fact: Ran Track on a Scholarship at Western Michigan University
Hangover Cure: Spicy Bloody Mary
Drink of Choice: Rumplemintz (That's all they got)

Ryan Cunningham - 27, Zazios, Signature drink: "Poma-Tini"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
The coolest thing about his job: Meeting different people
Favorite off duty bar: Shakespeare's Pub
Hangover cure: Spicy Bloody Mary
Bad-Day Drink Suggestion: Spread Eagle Shot- Rumplemintz, Baileys & Kahlua
Fun Fact: Spent an entire summer in Alaska fishing.
"Go Blue"

Jessie Sears - 27, Monaco Bay, Signature drink: "Sex Panther"

Live In: Kalamazoo
The coolest thing about her job: Very fun atmosphere and I love the people I work with.
Favorite off duty bar: Wild Bull
Drink of Choice: Grey Goose Dirty Martini w/ Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives
Hangover cure: Advil and McDonald's Breakfast

Mark Anderson - 55, Y-Bar, Signature drink: "The Purple Thunder"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
Drink of Choice: Bud Light & Jagermeister
Bartending Memory: Don't have much of a memory...When a random guy took all the straws out of the container near my station and threw up in it.
Hangover Cure: Get a chilled glass and fill it with a can of Bud Light, pour from high in the air, and let all the foam run over the sides....then slam it!
Fun Fact: I have been bartending since the 70's.

Mike Burks - 26, Epic Bistro, Signature drink: "Sweeter Than Hell"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
Best Bartending Memory: When I waited on Tom Sullivan, co-collaborator with the Evil Dead Trilogy. He said "He liked my Margaritas"
Fun Fact: Born in the same hospital as Judy Garland
Favorite Off-Duty bar: The Union Cabaret & Grille
Quote: "Looking forward to showing off my bartending skills & excited to be part of this contest!"

Liz "Lizard" Lignell - 27, Harvey's on the Mall, Signature drink: "Killer Koolaid"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
Favorite Cocktail: Vodka & Cranberry, and Jagermeister
The coolest thing about her job: Meeting all the new people and loving all my co-workers...they are my friends for life!
Fun Fact: I love to travel as much as I can. I won a couple dance contests through the years.
Hangover Cure: Bloody Mary and lots of water before bed.
Favorite off-duty bar: Bell's Brewery
"Slow and Steady wins the race"

Jenny Osebold - 25, Olde Penninsula, Signature drink: "Jenny O's Hard Root Beer Float"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
Best Bartending Memory: "When a couple guys came in and said they were impressed with my work and how great I multitask and now they are regulars!"
Fun Fact: Love to snowboard
The coolest thing about my job: The people I work with, fun place to be.
Favorite post-drinking stop: Harvey's On The Mall

Angie Roman - 22, Wayside West, Signature drink: "LaFerme Rouge"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
Favorite Bartending Memory: Halloween- We got to decorate our own bar to match our costume.
Hangover Cure: Ovaltine, its packed with vitamins and I wake up so thirsty and slam it!
Favorite Post Drinking Stop: I like to come home and eat cereal:)
Fun Fact: I lived in San Diego until I was 15.
Favorite Off-duty bar: Y-Bar

Dan Johnson - 30, Wild Bull, Signature drink: "Fuzzy Dragon"

Lives In: Kalamazoo
Drink of Choice: Captain and Sprite
Favorite Off-Duty Bar: Y-Bar
Fun Fact: "I have tons of useless information"
Best Bartending Memory: When I counted my tips at the end of our Block Party weekend and I had over $900!
Hangover Cure: Lots of Water
Bad Day Drink: Car Crash