Best Party In Mammoth
By Camilli
I get asked a lot of questions. Sometimes while I am snowboarding and especially after I tell people that I am affiliated with Mammoth after Dark. Many want to know the best place in Mammoth to 'party' and they often end up looking befuddled, face crinkled and mouth agape when I respond, "Chair Two." " You mean, the Mill?"
" No, I mean the actual lift, Chair Two. You know, Stump Alley Express." " There's no party on Stump Alley Express."
"oh, yes there is."

That's when I go into a robotic, gibberish-ridden explanation of my general proof that Chair Two is the best place to 'rage'. If the person isn't a mandatory captive, locked in next to me on a fast moving ski lift and separated from the ground by forty feet of nothingness, they might just wander off into the Mammoth landscape mumbling something about that crazy, gibberish- speaking dude from Mammoth After Dark and how I avoided answering their ultimately important query. Hopefully, my victim is temporarily imprisoned next to me and I own their undivided attention.

Lakanuki is cool; Whiskey is rad; Clocktower is somewhat stimulating on the right night; Grumpy's has 20 televisions. Big deal. Chair Two takes the trophy as the easiest place to meet new friends. Four of you get on the chair and are then whisked headlong into nature at an unrelenting pace. Adrenaline replaces apprehension. Most of the time I am riding alone and just waiting for someone to speak to me. If they don't talk first, I'll unload some unsolicited advice, life lesson or just sing aloud to the music drilling into my brain from my I-pod. I want the attention, I suppose. After all, I am at a party.

The chair moves up the mountainside and visual stimulation is provided, free of charge, by the throngs of snow riders down below. There's the guy in the bright green uni-suit, skiing as stiff as a marble statue and making gigantic, non-impressive slow speed G- turns as he snails along the glassy groomer. The wide-as-you-can- stand-stance snowboard kid fresh off his six hour marathon drive from L.A., whistles by in a day-glo flash of reckless abandon. Gotta be a cute snow-bunny somewhere...there she is. Of course the family of four slinks underneath, kids shrieking from excitement and parents shrieking from pure horror. The strangers you sit on the chair with are slowly becoming your friends. They are captivated by the stories you rattle off, real or not, and are genuinely interested in what you have to offer. The ambiance is tangible and spontaneous. There are no stacks of speakers obscuring your cheesy pick up line, no drunk guy walks thirty feet across the barroom floor just to spill his drink on your freshly washed collared shirt, no attitude from some overworked bartender. You are seated for a solid five minutes next to potential new buddies.

Chair Two flies along, suddenly lurches, screeching on the brakes and then deposits you atop a peak littered with some of the most wondrous scenery in the world. Whether stunned by the Mammoth Mountain's natural majesty or hypnotized by the beauty of a new- found friend, you slide along, enlightened and satisfied. Hopefully you are joined by someone new. Hopefully you realize you just left the best party in Mammoth.

Patrons
By Camilli
I manage a little bar here in town called The Tap. For those of you that have been to my bar, I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Those that have not, I hope you will come soon. To me, the Tap is a true locals bar. Quaint, personal and friendly. Nestled above John's Pizza, sandwiched between Main Street and Mono, The Tap is slice of the past wedged amongst present. The Tap features one of the most unique ceilings in all of 'bardom'. The Tap also features some of the most unique patrons.

You might meet Eric, a spitting image of Woody Harrleson, only he is way less pretentious and not as stoned. Eric is a nice enough guy, but his disdain for my awkward, spontaneous and not-always- funny-to-you-but-funny-to-me humor has recently caused a rift in our relationship. He'll get over it. After all, I am the Bartender.

Then there's Mike Bryant, native of Oklahoma, intelligent and hella funny. This guy spouts tall tales like an overractive geyser. Any story that starts with, " Back in Enid Oklahoma", means your in for a Mike Bryant shocker or you are about to learn one of his very imprortant 'lifes little lessons'. I take lots of notes as some of these lessons I do not wish to personally repeat.

Sean Ryan, Dave Thomas and Dave Cummings play in a local band, Almost Famous. They should rename the band Almost Infamous. Dave Thomas is a hyperactive, overanimated, real-life version of the Muppet's character, Animal. Only Animal has a better hairstyle. Dave beats on everything with his fists as if it were some make believe drum set. Whatever you do, don't set your beer near the edge of the bar, Dave's thumping will spill at least half. Sean's dog Bridgette is more a staple to the Tap than the color blue is to the sky. Bridgette is a petitte Jack Russel, but her thirst for a cold Guiness outweighs the thirst for a Beverly Hill's socialite's desire for her next enhancement surgery. Bridgette batts her sad eyes at you, seeking new victims, searching for any weakness in your character and looking for that next oppportunity to sink her gigantic, sloppy wet tounge into your cold, unsuspecting beer. Wait, did I just describe Bridgette or Dave Cummings.

Hopefully I did not damage any relationships with my colorful charcter descriptives of the aforementioned patrons. They are all good people, and without my employment at The Tap, I would never have had the pleasure of meeting each of these persons I get to call friends. I have been blessed with a great job. If you don't see your name in this story, don't worry, round two is coming soon.

Tell your friends about mammoth After Dark and log on each day for new pictures, videos and stories.

What a Rush
By Camilli
I'm not talking of my last run down the mountain, rather the throngs of visitors during the holidays. Mammoth is usually 'feast or famine' and we thank you for the feast. We still have great snow and wonderful weather. Where are you? When are you coming back?

I'm looking out my window and the sun is bright, birds chirp in the distance and clouds meander the sky. Another perfect day in paradise. I went snowboarding yesterday with my friend Lloyd and we had a blast. My face is still locked up with a fiendish, freakish grin, chiseled by high speed runs down St. Anton. Thanks for getting me out there, Lloyd. We met some great people and had a lot of fun!

Thanks for logging on to Mammoth After Dark and checking out this site. We try to incorporate new ideas, recent photos and fresh stories so that you have something new each time you log on. If you enjoy this site, tell a friend about us. We continue to update the page almost daily and have recently added video to our program. Come back tomorrow for something new!

THE JAVA JOINT
By Camilli
Sandwiched between The Booky Joint and Minaret Cinemas, the
Java Joint sits neatly tucked away in a corner of the Vons Shopping Center. Upon entering the Java Joint, one would think from it's name that the smell of fresh brewed coffee drinks would be the predominant aroma, rather the waft of fresh made Crepes
overwhelmed my nose and lured me to the counter inside.

The extensive menu had not only espresso and coffee drinks, but
tea, smoothies and fresh squeezed juices are also featured. The
walls to the left and to the right of me offered a menagerie of videos for rent as well as for sale, and magazines adorned the nearby tables where upon i sat to contemplate my order.

Karen Kasten offered her friendly customer service and helped me
make my food and beverage decision. With the hard part over, i
made my way to a soft leather couch, melted into the cushions and indulged in delicious turkey-avocado sandwich, veggie juice combo.

The Java Joint is comfortable, intimate and friendly. With diverse
food and drink options, convenient location and excellent service,
the Java Joint is a great way to enjoy a small slice of one of
Mammoth Lakes great local businesses. Check into it soon.

THE TAP
By Camilli
Finding the Tap is the easy part. Leaving is much harder. With 12
beers on tap, great wine selections and semi-hard drinks available,
friendly bartenders help make your beverage decision easy. This
quaint, warm locals bar has one of Mammoth's most amazing
architectural interiors and it is easy to point out who's a new face in the bar- they are most likely looking straight up at the Tap ceiling.

Easy to-talk-to patrons dole out local knowledge and local lore by the glassful and free popcorn is eagerly inhaled throughout the night. The pool table is inviting as is the free dart game. Ask a stranger to play a game and they will end up your friend within minutes, especially if you let them sink the eight ball!

Live local musicians play almost nightly and there is no cover charge for entertainment. A variety of sounds, from Bluegrass to good ol' Rock and Roll is another reason for a must visit. You dont want to miss a night as each band is unique. Last week i saw a guy playing a musical instrument that consisted of a stick, a piece of rope and a bucket! Only at the Tap,located above Johns Pizza on Main Street.

NEW GUY IN TOWN
By Camilli
So, your the new guy in town. Pretty intimidating, huh? So many
unfamiliar faces and places. Where do you go to meet someone?
Well, the answer is different for everyone, but for starters, I suggest trying one of our local coffee houses.

The Looney Bean, located in the Rite Aid shopping center, is a
great morning perk for beverages and conversation. Locals and
visitors alike swarm this unique coffee house early each morning
and mingle with one another, starting their day in a similar,
caffeine injected manner. You are sure to be served by some of
the friendliest, attractive young ladies in Mammoth. Not only can
they whip up the tastiest cafe' mocha this side of the Owens river,
but their smiles can thaw through the negative-degree
temperatures swirling outside.

Don't be afraid to take a seat next to the guy with a live, red-tailed hawk
draped across his wrist. Puma ( aka Shawn Plummer) is as much a
fixture at the Bean as the sun is in the western sky. Karma, the
red-tailed hawk, is house trained, Puma on the other hand...Shawn is a
local tattoo artist and a wildlife care specialist, working with the Eastern
sierra Wildlife Care center. Shawn also owns a tattoo business, A light
Touch 760-937-6870 and for a nominal fee, he will let Karma imprint
an everlasting piece of art onto your body.

If you don't speak fluent red-tailed hawk, introduce yourself to someone
sitting nearby. Local or not, you now have a chance to make an
acquaintance or lifelong friend. The Looney Bean is not pretentious, but
if you order a venti non foam non, fat latte' with extra shots, prepare to
be dissected by the people in line behind you. I suggest you be simple
with your beverage until people get to know you, then you can be as
weird as the rest of us here in the Eastern Sierra. Just be sure that
when you see that new guy in town, help him through the newbie
stage of life in Mammoth.

WHISKEY CREEK, A GO GO
By Camilli
There's a monster loose in the town of Mammoth Lakes. I've seen the monster consume entire families. It doesn't discriminate from size, shape or color. It inhales skiers and snowboarders alike. Women, men, children as well. The strangest thing is, most of the monsters' victims enter the belly of the beast willingly. I know where this monster lives. It lives on the corner of Minaret and Main Street. The monster does have a name. We around here call the monster Whiskey Creek.

If you have been to Mammoth Lakes, you know Whiskey creek. This iconic mountain bistro has dominated the most prolific corner of town for decades and imposes it's will on the throngs of winter and summer visitors. If you are hungry, amazing culinary creations  are craftily prepared from superior meat, fish and fresh vegetables. The friendly restaurant staff awaits your visit. Dont think that that the monster known as Whiskey Creek is a one trick pony. Rather, the restaurant is a predecessor to the Creeks' upstairs bar.

Blazing neon lights flash and flare! Thump, thump, thump! Wicked sreams and guttoral groans! The monster is consuming its victims! Don't worry, Its just another night at the Whiskey Creek bar. Dancing, live music and libations. Lights, music, action. Step up to the bar, order a drink and let go of your inhibitions.  Meet someone new or say hello to an old friend. If you want to see Whiskey in all its' glory, visit during the middle of the week on Wild Wednesday for one of the longest running events in Mammoth.  A huge dancefloor, large stage and plenty of elbow room amkes this venue apealling in many ways. Next time you are in Mammoth, come visit the monster known a Whiskey Creek.

Be Careful What You Ask For...
By Camilli

We asked for it. The snow is falling and the wind is howling. The temperature is dropping and, shockingly enough, people are happy about it. They're actually smiling. Some folks are giddy, some gleaming with delight. Your car is buried under two feet of snow, your face frozen, your fingers cold and useless. Yet, you're happy about this. It's about time we get to feel this way.

Mammoth is a tough but beautiful place to live. Winters are great, Summers are beautiful, Fall is spectacular and Spring sublime. Most of us make a living from tourism and the various businesses that support visitors. We need tourism to survive and the elements must cooperate to make this plan come to fruition. Snow isn't the most important part of Winter, you are. Thank you for your visit, by the way, as it seems like this shoulder season has dragged on longer than usual. I hope you enjoy your time here in the Eastern Sierras and I hope you come back often.

Make sure you spend your time and money locally. Eat a California Roll at Sushi Rei, buy a snowboard from Wave Rave, have a Martini at Whiskey Creek. Keep in mind that most of us living here in Mammoth love it , but businesses sometimes struggle though the 'off season'. I've come to learn that Mammoth has no 'off season' and I hope you discover this fact , too. Any visit to Mammoth might just be your best trip ever. When you patronize one of the restaurants, hotels or services advertised here on Mammoth After Dark, keep in mind that you are supporting someone's dream. Somebody took a chance and invested time, money and effort to open that business, with you in mind. Be careful what you ask for. We just got it. See you out on the town.