The Keep It Down

The Keep It Down is the only bar in the town of Averno.

Description
The Keep It Down is a popular spot for everyone from townies to A New School students and even the odd cultist. The bar is run by Greg, a pillar of the community known for his friendly demeanor, his willingness to listen to people when they're at their lowest, and his seemingly infinite knowledge of different drinks. (Seriously, how does he do it? He knew the recipe for a drink made by one bar in Singapore by heart.) Though it is most definitely a bar, Greg makes a strong effort to include those who aren't allowed to drink and those who choose not to, and the bar has a number of non-alcoholic drinks ranging from simple yet tasty to downright ridiculous. (Can you name another bar that serves a roasted pineapple lemonade with rock candy made on a Roman candle in it this side of Manassas?) Despite his exceptional drink knowledge and utterly ridiculous selection of beer and spirits for a rural bar, Greg very clearly has no idea what glasses certain drinks should be served in, with cocktails and fine rums often appearing tableside in a humble chipped beef jar. (don't worry, he cleans them very thoroughly.)

Interior
Everything about the bar is old and run down, but in the best and comfiest way possible. The ceilings are low, there's always a roaring fire when it's cold, and all the chairs are comfortable. The bar consists of two rooms. The main barroom, oddly, is actually the smaller of the two, with a traditional wooden bar with seven stools and several tables arrayed around the periphery of the room. In the back corner is a harpsichord, on which Greg will often play old Scott Joplin and Hank Williams tunes.

Separated from the main bar by a short hallway is the hangout room. The hangout room used to just be more seating, but Greg decided to renovate it into a place where Summer could come do homework and spend time with her friends during Skyline Diner's dinner rush. (Don't worry, he has no idea what kids think is cool, it's still old and shabby. Where does he get all this stuff?)

Winter Solstice Lore
The Keep it Down is the town’s most popular bar, a title hard-won by being the town’s only bar. Small-town dive-bar with a little bit of Irish pub thrown in for flavor, the Keep it Down is a favorite of locals and ANS students alike, and one of the only places where the two mix without conflict, due mainly to the unmatched peacemaking skills of barkeep Greg. Greg, who has somehow managed to run the bar as long as anyone can remember and been present at every major global event for longer than should be possible, is known for being a philanthropist and a shoulder to cry on. He has put more than a few local kids through school, paid for summer camps, and everyone (twenty-one and up) has shared the rite of passage of hitting rock bottom, crying at the bar while Greg pats your back and gives you life advice that you’ll still think of on your deathbed. He is the honorary grandfather of everyone in Averno, especially Summer Jackson. It is for her that he created the Keep it Cafe, an alcohol-free hangout-study space with the best mocktails and coffee this side of Manassas, including the “Summer Daze”, a roasted pineapple lemonade sprinkled with rock candy, served with an umbrella and a Roman candle. Where the Keep it Down is all dark wood and fireplaces, dimly lit conversations and backroom deals, the Keep it Cafe is nearly all windows, furnished with bean bag chairs that are constantly being rearranged and a wall of herbs tended by the local witches. In a majority-Christian town, the Keep it Down is the only place offering alternative holiday celebrations, from Yule to Diwali to Hannukah, and during the holiday season, there is always an armchair warming by the fire for those who most need it.