Terry Boyer, Quality Bar
- 33 years old.
- Bartender, Pilates instructor.
- Free time: darts and movies.
- Signature drink: Cosmopolitan.
- What he drinks: porter stouts and brown ales.
- Hates when customer try and touch his hair.
Boyer is a 33-year-old virgo from Pekin, Illinois who teaches at Dulak Pilates during the week, and tends bar at Quality Thursday through Sunday. In his free time, he loves playing pinball, darts and surfing IMDB for new movie trailers. As a child, Boyer wanted to make movies: “I wanted to be the next Steven Spielberg and make a movie that Julia Roberts would star in.” Boyer came to C-U from Pekin “because it was hard being gay in Pekin. And I had a group of friends here.”
Boyer’s signature drink? Cosmopolitans. “Even though they’re a pain in the ass to make.” He also makes “a mean old fashioned.” Boyer himself likes to drink porter stouts and brown ales.
1. Darts: “I play on a Tuesday night dart league. Brian Morris got me into playing. He’s a really great guy. We call him our ‘downtown dad.’ He gave me the darts as a gift.”
2. Ear buds: “The last song I listened to was The Weeknd’s ‘I Can’t Feel My Face’.”
3. Alpaca hand warmers: “My best friend Amy Sullivan gave these to me. They’re fair trade and fair wage made. That is important to me. I also recycle, walk to work daily, and try and be really conscious of how much energy I use.”
4. American Apparel stocking cap: It is my favorite brand. It’s stylish and made in the U.S.”
5. iPhone charger: “I keep it just in case I need it. I also frequently let customers use it.”
6. Pabst Blue Ribbon: “I wore it for Katie Perry set at The Great Cover Up at The Accord. Just wanted something to accessorize with.”
7. Pendant: “This is from my friend Joey Wallander who blows glass. It has parts of meteor in it.”
8. Tax documents: “I do my own taxes.”
9. Mustache, beard comb, and hair tie: “I use this along with coconut oil. I haven’t cut my hair since my dad passed away. It’s just apart of me going through that loss.”
10. Sweet lemon tea, Cafe Kopi: “It’s basically an Arnold Palmer.”
11. Tigers eyes: “I bought them in New York. They’re supposed to ward off bad energy.”
12. Prana tank top: “I teach in it, work out in it, leave it at studio. I am bringing it home to wash and take on my trip to Puerto Rico. I am going for a week with 11 of my friends.”
13. iPhone 6: “I dropped my phone in the toilet last night so I just got this phone today. The photo on the background is from May 13th, 2013. From left to right: Mo, Elizabeth, and Cynthia Lochard. Mo, Elizabeth and I went to take our pilates licensing test with Cynthia who came from Australia to give us the test. It was about 10 hours of written testing and a practical. I passed on the first try which doesn’t happen too often. It was one of the proudest days of my life.”
14. Keys: “House, Dulak studio, CVS extra care card, bottle opener, and two keys that I have no clue what they’re for.”
15. Recycled wallet: “I will use it until it is no longer usable.”
Boyer and I went on to talk more about the nightlife scene in Champaign-Urbana. below is a summery of our conversation.
Smile Politely: What makes a bar suck?
Terry Boyer: Televisions
I don’t like to go to or work for bars that have a lot of televisions. I think it distracts people from interacting with one another.
SP: What makes a bar awesome?
Boyer: Games
I like to go to bars where there is something to do — other than drink beer or watch TV. I like to play board games, darts, pinball. It is kind of sad to walk into a bar and either see people just sitting and drinking or sitting drinking and staring a TV. The games allow people to interact with one another and that’s something I really enjoy.
SP: Where do you go to drink?
Boyer: Huber’s, Quality, Mike N Molly’s
I like to come to Quality. But I also like to go to Huber’s. It’s near my house and full of regulars. I like to hear their stories. I also like Mike N Molly’s because they’ve got such a great staff. Esquire is a great place for food and it’s also easy to meet people there. I am excited for Watson’s to open up. I think their menu is going to really diversify the food options in Downtown.
SP: What would make our nightlife scene stronger?
Boyer: Less competition, more collaboration
I think amongst the bars downtown we should be competing less and collaborating more. We should encourage customers to visit other bars. That would keep the crowd fresh. When customers only visit a few places.
SP: Fill in the blank: It is so annoying when costumers…
Boyer:
- Call Pub Mix “Chex Mix.”
- Say “I’m not really a beer person, so I want a beer, that doesn’t taste like a beer.”
- Try and touch or grab my chest or facial hair.
Find Boyer at Quality Bar in Downtown Champaign Thursdays through Sundays.
About the Sam Logan:
Sam Logan is the Smile Politely photo editor and chief photographer. Find him (and his photos) on social media or by emailing him directly.
Sam Logan is the Smile Politely photo editor and chief photographer. Find him (and his photos) on social media or by emailing him directly.Editor’s Note: There was an error in the title when this originally published, and which has since been fixed.