St. Patty's limo tradition continues


Wednesday, March 18, 1998	St. Patty's limo tradition continues By EMILY REHRING Collegian Staff Writer Philadelphia resident Tedra Boyd describes it as her "happy place." To everyone else, however, it is known as The Brewery, 233 E. Beaver Ave. And yesterday, the bar celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style. With the traditional green beer and funny hats, The Brewery sponsored a white limousine to take customers for a ride around the town.
Tonia Dunkle and Chris Harvey (right), employees of The Brewery, 233 E. Beaver Ave., escort State College resident Larry Gray on a limousine ride downtown yesterday. The Brewery continued its tradition of offering a St. Patrick's Day limousine for customers. (Collegian Photo/Dan Saelinger - click for full size image)	Boyd, a 25-year-old marketing representative and self-proclaimed regular at the bar, comes back to State College every year to party at The Brewery. "This is where all my friends are," Boyd said. When she was a University student, Boyd said she was a "regular" and was picked up by the limousine every year. Boyd said she took yesterday afternoon off at her job as a marketing representative to come to State College. The limousine took several trips throughout downtown picking up customers. The routes were different each trip, but the final destination was the bar. People sat on the two benches, talking about the holiday and beer. Ray Rockey, manager of The Brewery, started the tradition of limousine rides several years ago when he was a bartender at The Phyrst, 111½ Beaver Ave. "We got it the first time just for the hell of it," Rockey said. He continued the tradition when he became the manager at The Brewery four years ago. Regular customers, employees, friends, bands and beer representatives get picked up by the limousines, but the passengers are not limited to those people, Rockey said. "We pick up anybody who is as excited about St. Patty's Day as we are," Rockey said. The limousine draws a lot of business to the bar every year, Rockey said. "A lot of people will see it driving around one year and when they come down the next year, they'll ask to ride in it," Rockey said.
*"It's a just away to give back a little of the money to the people who give it to us."* - Chris Harvey, Brewery employee	Other employees of the bar felt the limousine rides around the block were benefits for the customers. "It's a just away to give back a little of the money to the people who give it to us," said Brewery employee Chris Harvey (senior-microbiology). Harvey said he took several rides in the limousine, and the people in the car seem to enjoy it. Courtney Haskins, a State College resident and University alumna, said this was her fifth St. Patrick's Day at the Brewery but she's never ridden in the limousine. "I'd like to, but I've never had the opportunity," Haskins said. Students did not let the fact that St. Patrick's Day was on a weekday stop them from partying, Brian Dudley (junior-administration of justice) said. "I am missing more than a few classes today," Dudley said. Both Dudley and McElhenney said they didn't know the bar was offering limousine rides but, if given the opportunity, would definitely take a spin.