The Atlas

Slowly walking through the bar as the last tables from the dinner rush are being cleared, my friends and I made our way into a booth in the corner of the Atlas on Thursday night. Located on the corner of Iowa Avenue and Dubuque Street, the Atlas turns into a lively and excited bar after 10 p.m. The Thursday night special is martinis, and, while my friends ponder over the different selections of fruity and traditional martinis, I order my usual classic martini with no olives. The martini special is only for well vodkas, so, despite my initial feelings, I order a $3 vodka martini. My friends sample from the variety of options on the menu, a tequila-tini, an apple martini, and, what I refer to as a patriotic martini, a drink that is red, white, and blue. Although the liquor is cheap, the drinks serve their purpose, and the mood of our table grows ever more energetic as the tables throughout the bar begin to fill.

After our first round of drinks, my friends and I headed downstairs for another round. Compared to the upstairs lounge, the lower level has more of a bar atmosphere. The lights are down low and a cloud of smoke hovers over the patrons of the bar. The bar is crowded and the tables scattered throughout the floor are filled, so I eagerly work my way up to the bar and place the drink order for our group. I recognize the bartender and hint to her that it would be great if she could use vodka besides the well in my libation, which she does without hesitation. I tip her generously and assure her that there is plenty more where that came from. With the different vodka, the drink is a lot smoother, much too my liking. With the bar full my friends and I spread out and talk with the familiar faces in the bar. As the hour grows later, the steady crowd begins to dwindle and I find a place at the bar.