Ladies and gentlemen, we have a superhero among us. Not exactly the type of superhero with extra special powers, but certainly one with amazing capabilities. This superhero is none other than Stillwaters.
Like Superman, Stillwaters by day and weeknight resembles mild-mannered Clark Kent. During these times, the bar is chill, intimate and very much a place to hold a good conversation. On weekends at about 11 p.m., our square and nebbish friend Clark makes a mad dash to the phone booth and emerges as a partying superstar. Superman is ready to get it on!
Weekends provide the glamorous mystique Stills has today. The bar is crowded with a very dedicated and predominantly student clientele. The line outside the door makes one wonder what type of Studio 54 antics are necessary to be allowed inside.
Almost harking back to the days of the famous Studio 54, Stillwaters is very popular among students from the East Coast. While I am certainly aware of the dangers of stereotyping, a fact is a fact — East Coast students have been coming to Stillwaters for years. But why does Stills have such an appeal to the East Coast crowd?
I decided to go to the experts, the friendly bartenders at Stills, in hopes of finding an answer. I asked Brodie Campion, bartender of over three years, and he replied, “The bar opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 1977, and from what I’ve been able to gather, it has always been popular with the East Coast crowd.”
Former bartender Johan Hulth agrees, “Many customers have brothers, sisters, cousins and friends who went to school here, and the phenomenon seems to feed itself.”
Stillwaters is a place to see and be seen, perhaps another reason for the strong draw. The gigantic windows allow an excellent view of the State Street goings-on. These windows make it easy to spot a friend and invite them inside. Alternatively, the windows provide those outside with a glimpse into the scene. The windows are a part of Stillwaters lure.
Bartender Steve Kevil indulges us with a recent window-related story. “This past Thanksgiving, there was a fight going on outside one of the windows, and one of the guys ended up getting thrown into the window, smashing it completely and getting pretty cut up in the process,” he explained.
The crowd inside is extremely stylish. There is plenty of eye-candy to go around — beautiful women and handsome men. It is like observing a fashion show unfold before your very eyes, with lots of Prada, Kate Spade and Gucci, as well as the most recent Kenneth Cole leather jackets. Everybody seems to be in the hippest shoes.
Although stylish, the crowd is one of the most consistent and loyal on State Street. According to Kevil, “The clientele is the friendliest and most outgoing in any bar I have ever worked.”
The style of the crowd almost contradicts the style of the bar. Named for the owners’ enjoyment of the sea and sailing, Stillwaters presents a rough, dark and almost nautical motif. The large aquarium (which actually used to be considerably larger a few years ago) dominates the center of the bar, and there is stained wood and heavy oak everywhere.
The booths are no exception, and many customers have taken the opportunity to engrave their initials inside, an act which is actually frowned upon. One upside, however, is creative and unusual graffiti, such as “The lizards are a race of people,” a tag I recently saw in the bathroom.
When the night draws to a close, the crowd outside Stillwaters is immense. A popular place to congregate after a night out due to the confluence of bars located near the intersections of State and Henry Streets, the outside of the bar serves as a beacon for those looking for more excitement. The area even has its own nicknames, such as “bartime” and “ground zero.” Regardless of the name, it is a popular destination after 2 a.m. to congregate and figure out what to do next.
Stillwaters is unarguably a unique fixture on the Madison social scene. The drinks are varied, well poured and well presented. The big draw is the scene, which in the end is hard to nail down. According to Kevil, “The people who work here are just as mystified as I am about this place.” It is never easy to uncover a superhero.
Stillwaters opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes around bartime, seven days a week. Major credit cards are accepted.
Bartime explores a near east-side joint, the Caribou Tavern, tonight, Friday, Feb. 1, at 10 p.m. The Caribou Tavern is located at 703 E. Johnson St. Cheers!
The Stillwaters Vertigo
Mixed in a tall glass with ice, add the following:
2 ounces Absolut Mandarin
Equal parts to top off of grenadine, lemonade and sour.
Stir well and enjoy!
