By Kevin Wilkerson, San Diego Blogger
Some things you know right away. It could be a job that just feels right, a destination – the Greek Islands were that way with me – or if that car you just bought is a classic or a clunker.
It’s the same way with bars. The look and decor of a place, attention to details such as wiped off tables or a clean bathroom, the type of people that are in there and, as important as anything, the people who work there, tells whether or not you will pull up to a barstool or leave faster than the Chargers departed San Diego. When PubClub.com first walked into The Beverly Beach Garden in Pacific Beach, CA, it was the person behind the bar that caught our attention. We sat down and were immediately greeted by a smiling bartender who told us the drinks, the specials and made us feel as welcome as regulars.
We knew immedately we had a new Bartender of the Month.
She is Ava Garczynski-Lewis and she is PubClub’s San Diego Bartender of the Month for February. She typically works at The Beverly – a multi-level bar with a rooftop deck comprised of firepits, water tanks and views of the Pacific Ocean – Thursday through Saturday nights. Although we met her on a Sunday afternoon. Ava works both upstairs and downstairs and particularly likes it when she is assigned to the latter. “Upstairs at sunset; you really can’t beat that,” she said.
Originally from Denver she, like many who have moved here from elsewhere, quickly adapted to life in San Diego. “I love San Diego, the weather, the ocean,” she said. “There’s a lot of nightlife. It’s a great place to live.”
A skiier and snowboarder (duh, she’s from Colorado) she also shows her roots in her musical tastes. While she loves all types of music – except for Jimmy Buffett, owing more to a not-so-pleasant experience while working at Margaritaville in downtown San Diego rather than a distaste of the troubadour’s tunes – she’s a huge fan of country music and loves line dancing. She is also a world traveler, having spent much time in Europe, particularly in Spain. If you want to strike up a conversation with her on a slow day, bring up one of those subjects.
Now you might think when you see her photos in this article, watch the video or see her making drinks that she is another pretty face behind another bar. She is that most definitely, but she is also smarter than many people she serves. Ava is currently taking exams for actuarial science, which Google search describes as “rigorous, professional assessments required to become a credentialed actuary.” There are a series of tests to pass. The success rate of each is 40-60%. She aced her last one.
“I came to SDSU to study statistics,” she said. “I graduated in May and now am going through the exams so I can be an actuary and work in insurance.” She says this as casually as she watches a sunset.
So a big cheers to Ava, the PubClub.com San Diego Bartender of the Month for February.
Name: Ava Garczynski-Lewis
Occupation: Bartender
Bar/Restaurant: The Beverly Beach Garden, Pacific Beach
Hometown: Denver
How Long Have You Been In San Diego? 5 years
Personality: “”I like to think that I’m chill and easy going, a go-with-the-flow type of person.”
Favorite Drink To Make: Bloody Mary. “Because it’s usually a hair-of-the-dog situation. There’s sometimes good conversations that come with that, and our Bloody Marys are really good here.”
Favorite Drink To, Well, Drink: Mezcal Margarita
Things You Like To Do When Not Bartending: Line dancing.
Available For Hire For Private Parties & Events? Yes.
Instagram: @avagarczyn/
This story was written by a human with no assistance from AI or ChatGTP.
Links To Previous Bartenders Of The Month & Featured San Diego Bar Staff
• Cute Kate, Miss B’s Coconut Club
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