Melina Zissou is a bartender, traveler and avid reader. She is known as one of the friendliest faces at Twilite Lounge.
Special thanks to Salt Lake bar staple Twilite Lounge, who hosted this month’s SLUG Style.
Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct and unique member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUGStyle is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.
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“I’ve been working for Twilite for almost three years, three years in December,” says Zissou. “So I was a decent regular for a while. But my good friend, Andre, was a bartender here. And he got me the job here, essentially. We met when I came here so frequently and then I ended up taking him to Burning Man with me. And then I came back and he was like, “We’re hiring. I’m going to put your name into the ballot.” And it ended up working out.” Photo: @clancycoop
“[Bartending at Twilite] is almost like you’re at your house serving someone a beer, having a good time,” says Zissou. “I generally have a great time with everyone that I meet. Or I just know them from a friend, so it’s easy to be so welcoming and so open.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I grew up in Reno so a lot of [my stylistic influence] is mostly like artists and weird people,” says Zissou. “And the Burning Man community is pretty big in my life. So a lot of it is comfortable and free. And I look up to a lot of new bands. I really enjoy La Luz and their kind of weird California vibe.” Photo: @clancycoop
“My grandma was very thrifty. And very colorful and bright,” says Zissou. “So I always went off of her style. And then as I got older, it was more of what was in and what also fit my thrifty kind of lifestyle.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I read a lot. So the book I read are primarily … As of right now, really weird, interesting feminist books,” says Zissou. “So a lot of it is just women who are speaking their mind, because it’s the time for that. The last book I read was Slutever by Karley Sciortino.” Photo: @clancycoop
“At Twilite Lounge, we have that certain community,” says Zissou. “This is that last spot for everyone, where they’re going to meet their friends at a certain time and they can count on their friends being here. And they can have a friendly staff, who will recognize them or remember them. And just feel comfortable at their end cap, their night cap for the night is like Cheers. Everyone’s here, they’re all going to say hi to their friends and then go home.” Photo: @clancycoop
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!["[Bartending at Twilite] is almost like you're at your house serving someone a beer, having a good time," says Zissou. "I generally have a great time with everyone that I meet. Or I just know them from a friend, so it's easy to be so welcoming and so open." Photo: @clancycoop](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SLUG_Clancycoop_Melina_2.jpg)
!["I grew up in Reno so a lot of [my stylistic influence] is mostly like artists and weird people," says Zissou. "And the Burning Man community is pretty big in my life. So a lot of it is comfortable and free. And I look up to a lot of new bands. I really enjoy La Luz and their kind of weird California vibe." Photo: @clancycoop](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SLUG_Clancycoop_Melina_5.jpg)
