Most people picture 2 a.m. as a dark, peaceful time of night where much of the world is sleeping. But for those working late nights Thursday through Saturday, it's a time of intoxicated bar-goers flooding the streets, getting into fights and throwing up out of the car window of their Uber. For them, there are three very distinct groups of humans when the clock strikes two: The Eaters, The Drunks, and The Lovers.
The Eaters are the people whose stomachs are guiding their next move. Some are willing to walk more than ten blocks to get a hot slice of pizza made from $0.50 cheese and others take the more convenient route - delivery. For The Drunks, blurry vision and instability are a sure sign it's time to go home. The Lovers are the people who just met or who have been together for a while and whose passion is heightened by the presence of alcohol.
Each of these three groups have very specific wants and needs during the late hours of the night. Thankfully, there are people whose job it is to care for and cater to these groups.
The Eaters Vs. Delivery People
"One time a bunch of guys invited me into their place to drink with them. I was up for it, but knew I would probably get fired."
The first hero is someone that can make or break a night - the delivery man. The delivery man is not just a hero, he is The Eaters best friend when 2 a.m. rolls around. In Boston, there are very few restaurants or even fast-food joints open during the late hours of the night. Thankfully, The Eaters have one of the best options for a late night feast and it can be ordered with just a few taps of a button. Domino's Pizza is notorious for their overly cheesy pizza and their gooey cinna-stix. They are also known for their late-night delivery. It's people like Kyle Oldanie who bring The Eaters what they really want after a night out. "I'm a night person, so working late doesn't really bother me," Kyle remarks. What does bother him though is that "drunk people usually forget to tip, but it's kind of expected at this point." Oldanie does get a kick out of how thankful these people are to be receiving their food, though and when asked if anything crazy has ever happened on the job, Oldanie remembers, "one time a bunch of guys invited me into their place to drink with them. I was up for it, but knew I would probably get fired."
The Drunks Vs. Bar Bouncers
"I'm sure I've prevented a lot of people from waking up on Sunday morning with two missing teeth"
The second group of unsung heroes are bar bouncers. These are the people who, when the lights turn on and bar-goers sweaty faces are exposed, have to escort even the mostly lively people out of the bar. "Jazz" from Cask n' Flagon has been a bouncer for just over a year and only has two concerns when 2 a.m. rolls around: nobody fights and everyone gets home safe. "I'm sure I've prevented a lot of people from waking up on Sunday morning with two missing teeth," Jazz says with confidence. Sometimes he gets pulled into a fight, "There are always the kids who think they're invincible and think I'm just there to get them in trouble. Sometimes they want to impress their friends." Many think of bouncers as strict security guards who are looking to get people into trouble, but Jazz is the opposite, he's just there "to make sure everyone stays safe."
The Lovers Vs. Uber Drivers
"...at 2 a.m., an Uber is not an Uber. It's a 'Love Taxi'"
The last group of unsung heroes, the people who get The Lovers to where they really want to be, are Uber drivers. According to driver Russell Bennington, at 2 a.m. an Uber is not an Uber. It's a "love taxi." In his three years as a driver, Bennington has seen everything from couples fighting to couples disrobing in his back seat. "I remember what is was like to go out to a bar in hopes of 'getting lucky,'" Bennington recalls. He tries not to intervene too much when The Lovers start to show their affection for one another in the back of his car, but if a certain line is crossed, he's not afraid to speak up. When asked why he works such late hours, Bennington responded: "the late-night crowd is the friendliest. And honestly the easiest. Most of them just fall asleep or look at their phones until their home."
So, next time you're out at 2 a.m., remember to listen to the bar bouncer, thank your Uber driver, and tip your delivery man because these people are working hard to keep the late night crowd safe and happy.
