Zoe Stone is one of the all-knowing, all-seeing and almighty Feve bartenders who sweat over delivering drinks to thirsty Obies every Happy Hour. In this issue’s Off The Cuff, we go behind the scenes of Oberlin’s favorite bar stage to talk to Stone about the Feve and beyond.

How long have you worked at the Feve and how did you come to take the job here in the first place?
This is my fifth year here and I got the job by accident. I asked if they were hiring and Jason [the owner of the Feve] just said, “Okay, I will put you down for Wednesday.” And I said, “No, wait, I’m still living in Chicago!” I was only supposed to be here for four months. I moved here with my ex-boyfriend. Soon after that we broke up and I stayed.

What would you say is special about the Feve?
This is a difficult question to answer. I don’t know if there is anything specific. Basically this job is the reason why I am still in Oberlin. The place just has a lot of personality, and the boss is awesome. The Feve is mostly where the students go, and the [Oberlin] Inn is where the locals go. We pretty much have a monopoly on the alcohol situation.

Do you think that there should be an alternative to the Feve and Happy Hour in town?
No! No I don’t! (She laughs.) Since there are not that many drinkers...also the whole “being 21” is an issue. It’s nice to have just one place where people can go without having to run around looking for their friends; just to have one place where they can converge, hang out with everyone or with no one, whatever they want. There is more of a chance for an unexpected “Whoa! You’re here!”

How is the Feve different during Happy Hour?
Well, depends if you are talking about this Happy Hour [Thursday night] or Friday Happy Hour. Most people don’t know about the daily Happy Hour- $2 draft, $2 well [drinks] till 9 p.m., and .50 cents off the beer in the cooler.

And how about the atmosphere?
Well, [during the week] we have a crowd of regular drinkers or old people who just come here for a beer and then go home to have dinner. For most parts it doesn’t get busy until 11 p.m. so I just sit here and read a book. It gets pretty crazy for us and we run our asses off but the weekend has begun and everyone’s excited and in a good mood, which is nice. Also, we make money. I like that.What is one thing you have learned about Oberlin students from the way they behave during Happy Hour? I don’t learn much when they are not here (laughter). But on Fridays I have learned that they like to drink. Cheap. It’s funny because I get a different perspective on them than they do of themselves. Here everyone is a customer, but sometimes we’ll develop a nice little relationship with one of them.

Any stories?
On Fridays we are really too busy to notice. Usually it’s when the employees get drunk on their days off and make fools of ourselves. Other than that it’s mostly people coming back on the next day being like “Oh my God! When I left from here last night I got arrested...naked!” or something.

What is the one thing you have always wanted to say to the Obies who come here, but never could?
I don’t think I can say it still. (She laughs.)