After a few visits to Sidetrack The Video Bar as a customer, Riva J. Casanova was hooked. This would be her barand her career.
"I was so impressed with everything about it," she said. "The bartenders had such a good, genuine energy. It was all around a wonderful and unique experience for myself and my friends who accompanied me. I wanted to be a part of [that] experience."
She started working at Sidetrack in 2011, and has been lugging garbage cans filled with ice, and more, ever since. She is one of about 15 barbacks at Sidetrack, which has seven working on a busy Saturday night.
And what about the heavy lifting needed for the job, especially when 1,000-plus patrons are crammed into the long-standing Lakeview establishment?
"Have you seen these guns? I'm strong, like bull," she said, laughing. "It really doesn't faze me much. Over the years, I've gotten pretty used to it. I'm smaller, so it's easy for me to squeeze through the crowd. The only time it becomes exhausting is over Pride weekend. We go through a lot of ice, so I usually find myself pretty sore after that weekend.
Casanova is always on the run while on the job, making sure the bartenders have everything they need, including fruit, straws, napkins and more. "Making everything as easy as possible for the bartenders is important; that way they can focus on their customers," she said.
Casanova tagged her Sidetrack world as "family," and she often is the prankster.
"I like to hide in tight spots around the bar and scare my co-workers," she admitted. "My manager, Jimmy, always ends up getting the most of it, though. My most memorable funny story, though, would have to be watching Pepe, one of the co-owners of Sidetrack, chase Jimmy around with a huge squirt-gun. When I say 'huge,' it was no ordinary squirt-gun. It could reach 20-feet and sprayed out like a pressured hose. Before Pepe left that evening, we gave him a smaller squirt gun to go home and squirt his partner, Arthur, who also is a co-owner of Sidetrack."
Casanova didn't hesitate when asked the best part of her job: her co-workers.
"The bond I share with each of them is something truly unique and something I feel is rare to find in a job," she said. "I wake up every day excited for my day and excited to see my co-workers. I do feel that relationship reflects on the customers that come into Sidetrack. I feel like they see our bonds, which will definitely change the atmosphere of the bar and the customers experience in a positive and uplifting manner.
"I have the perfect job. Sidetrack has such a positive influence on my life. It has changed me in so many good ways. It isn't just a job to me, it is a place where I feel safe, comfortable and very, very happy. Sidetrack inspires me. The owners and the managers have created an atmosphere that moves me to be greater, allows me to be me, and most of all, a place where not only the employees feel welcomed, but each customer who visits, too. I am honored and privileged that I was given an opportunity to work at such an amazing bar."
THE STATS
Age
25
Neighborhood
Roscoe Village
Relationship status
Engaged to Nicole Marie
Job
Barback at Sidetrack
Favorite local restaurants
Rollapalooza in Boystown, Orange in Roscoe Village
Favorite TV show
The Simpsons
Favorite drink at a bar
"Ketel neat. When I'm feeling adventurous, [Sidetrack bartender] Norbert makes a wicked good shot that I love called 'Big Chocolate Banana.' My other favorite is made by co-worker Todd and that shot is called 'Sweet Salty Nuts.'"
Four people (living or dead) who you'd like to have dinner with
"My great grandfather, Gotfree. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I've been told wonderful stories about him; [also], Bob Marley, Jack Kerouac and Neil Armstrong"