Robert’s Lafitte’s Alex Keller

By Johnny Trlica

Fifty-six years ago, he was spending an evening out with friends, dancing and drinking. Fredd “Tree” Sequoia never dreamed that he would be witness to a revolution and become part of history. He was at the Stonewall Inn.

Today, the 86-year-old is still going strong — bartending at the Stonewall Inn for the past 25 years and telling anyone who will listen his recollections of that historic night in June of 1969.

“The night of the rebellion I was in there dancing with my friends to a jukebox. I was doing the Lindy Hop with my friends. It was a gay bar; you had to know people to get in. In those days, if you didn’t know where a gay bar was, you never went to one. It was against the law to serve known homosexuals alcohol. We heard the screaming and rioting and all of a sudden the cops came in. We were lucky that we got out. We started throwing rocks and bottles, breaking the windows. They were shaking the police cars. One police car was set on fire. They broke the lock on one of the paddy wagons; everybody they arrested ran up and down the streets. When we ran out of bottles and bricks, we threw garbage cans through the bar windows. When we saw the riot police come, we ran like hell. I ran,” said Tree to PunchDrink.com in a 2020 interview.

This month’s Bartender of the Month is a little younger than Mr. Sequoia, but he also works at a historic bar. Galveston’s Robert’s Lafitte opened a couple of months after the Stonewall rebellion and proudly holds the banner as the oldest gay bar in Texas. His patrons describe him as kind, compassionate and someone who always puts the customer first.

He also has a business venture called Mixology Magic, offering professional mobile bartending services for various occasions such as weddings, holiday parties, corporate mixers, birthdays and more.

The MONTROSE STAR’s Pride Bartender of the Month is Alex Keller.

Name:

Alex Keller.

Where is your original hometown?

Plano, Texas.

Married, single or not telling?

Intentionally single for now.

Tell us about your experience bartending.

I started my journey in college, juggling weekend gigs to pay the bills while hitting the books. After a 5 or 6-year stint in corporate advertising, I returned to my true calling: elevating people’s “spirits.” For the last decade, I’ve been shaking and stirring at festivals, weddings, high-energy clubs, restaurants, dive bars, and beyond.

What is your drink specialty?

Margaritas: easy to make, hard to get just right. Fresh lime, agave, triple sec, tequila — shaken, not stirred — and a salty or spicy rim for beach vibes.

What is your philosophy on being a good bartender?

As a bartender, my motto is guests are the real VIPs! I only serve drinks I’d enjoy myself, and if I question my pour counts then, you bet, I sample it first.

Besides the money, what do you enjoy about being a bartender?

You know, beyond the tips, I really love the lively chats with patrons. It’s like being part of a big, quirky family — everyone has a story to share. And honestly, the fast pace? It keeps me on my toes and never bored.

What drink do you recommend?

Right now, my go-to cocktail is a Negroni: gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, slightly bitter and sweet. Yum. Goes down smooth and does the trick.

What is a pet peeve about being a bartender?

Figuring out how to cut someone off without them turning into a drama queen or thinking I’m the fun police. It’s a delicate art. At the end of the day, I just remind myself it’s for their safety… and to save future me from cleaning up a mess, literal or emotional.

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever seen from behind the bar?

One time, a guy casually put a line of cocaine on my bar like it was just another cocktail order. I told him to get rid of it, and when he paused to check with his friend — like it was a group decision — I just leaned in and blew it off the bar. Problem solved.

If you were not a bartender, what would you be doing?

For most of my life, I thought I’d end up in the medical field or in a role where I could help others — something like social work.

With June being Pride Month, what does Pride mean to you?

Pride, to me, is about celebrating who you are without holding back. It’s about being proud of your identity, no matter what anyone else thinks. We all deserve to feel comfortable in our skin and love who we love. Pride is just a big, bold reminder of that.

What do you do for fun? Any hobbies?

For fun, I’m all about traveling, going on adventures and getting outside whenever I can. I love spending time with my two dogs and my cat, friends, catching live music shows and unwinding with some PS5 gaming.

Who is your favorite musical artist? Who is on your current playlist?

It’s hard to pinpoint because I love such a variety of tunes but a few favorites are: Incubus, Sublime, Fleetwood Mac, Eminem, Britney Spears, Tove Lo and various electronic music artists.

Are you on social media?

Not a super active participant but I have a Facebook and Instagram, mostly to keep up with old friends from the different places I’ve lived.

Where and when can we catch you for a drink?

I am currently in Galveston at Robert’s Lafitte. I work karaoke on Monday nights, drag bingo on Tuesday nights and Thursday day. The other days are full of work doing various private parties with my mobile bartending startup, Mixology Magic.

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