By Rebecca Harris
The team behind the 2009 Australian Liquor Industry Award’s (ALIA) ‘Best Bar’ have stunned the industry by stripping down to their birthday suits – but all in the name of charity.
With the aim of raising money for prostate and breast cancer research, the Black Pearl bar team in Fitzroy, Melbourne decided to create a 2010 calendar featuring their staff in the nude, with all proceeds going to charity.
“It was [owner] Tash Conte’s idea,” said Black Pearl bar manager Greg Sanderson. “The guys normally do Movember, but no-one really got into it last year, so she thought this would be a good way to still do something for charity.”
Featuring around eight staff members, including Chris Hysted, Nathan Beasley, Adi Ruiz and Cristiano Beretta, the calendar also has a few special group shots, most notably in the month of December, which features the staff with appropriately-positioned Christmas paraphernalia and Conte as Santa Claus.
The official launch will be held this Sunday (Jan 31) at Black Pearl Bar. For $25, guests will receive a copy of the calendar and a cocktail. Reduced-priced cocktails, including Gimlets, Caipirinhas and Blood and Sands will be available for the rest of the evening.
In addition, The Galley Room’s Sean Baxter will be auctioning the featured calendar boys off to the highest bidder.
The bidder will win the bartender’s time to do things like host a two-hour bartending class, or bartend at their private house party.