.Most Charitable Bartender: A patient ear, not a heavy hand, defines his gift

Technically, charitable bartenders don’t really exist. Any bar giving out free booze will likely fail from lack of revenues shortly after the freebie policy is put in place. So while Lance Hill, the mutton-chopped booze-slinger at the live music institution that is the Stork Club, is certainly the most charitable fellow you’ll find behind any bar in the East Bay, that doesn’t mean he’ll be forking over the hooch for free. The charity in Lance comes from his ears and eyes, which are always checking to make sure everyone’s having a good time. When the bands, which can be heard almost every night of the week — quiet down, Lance can usually be found lending an ear to a sad tale of woe. And if that tale is woeful enough, he might even buy you a beer, or at least bum you a smoke. Then you can get back to listening to one of the most diverse live music scenes in the Bay Area.