It's the short-haired waitress at Spider House, or the barista at Flipnotics. It's the winsome Bookpeople guy with glasses, or that guy in all the plays at Salvage Vanguard.

It's your local secret crush.

It's old news that Austin has evolved from a sleepy college town into a burgeoning city of big-city transplants, international ex-pats, Houston/Dallas refugees and former Californians. With this influx has come the influence of new ideas about urban density, mass transit, music and cuisine.

For this month's interview, we talked to one such person: Pedro Leal, the bartender with "the curly disheveled hair" at Sao Paulo's. This native Brazilian—who's sweetly devoted to his wife (sorry, folks!)—is a huge soccer fan, and puts together delicious drinks at Sao Paulo most weekend nights.

Pining for the record clerk at Backspin? Got the warms for the girl with dreadlocks at Buffalo Exchange? We're feeling you, bra. Email us at crushout@austinist.com, and we'll help you get the scoops.

What do you do when you aren't working at Sao Paulo?

I tend to not always do the same thing while not working but I try to go to the park with my wife and our dog, Samba, catch up with friends over a soccer match, or go to the cinema to catch a movie.

What was the last book or periodical you read?

The last book I read was The Travels of Marco Polo. It is a fascinating book about the most famous traveler ever. Because of my great love for traveling, this book was always on my list. I really enjoyed reading about the adventures of this young Venetian in Asia.

I am currently reading The Idiot by Dostoevsky.

Required annoying record question (you knew it was coming): tell us your three all time favorites and one recent find. Feel free to elaborate on why these make the tops.

First the recent find. The other day a friend gave me a CD of The Specials, The Singles Collection. It is great — ska with a hint of British punk.

Well ... all time favorites. Right now I would say
1) Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock
2) Red Hot Chili Peppers' Mother's Milk and
3) Bob Marley (in general).

I also love Jorge Ben and Chico Science's stuff. They are both from Brazil and many readers might not know them, but it's worth checking them out. There are many more artists and albums I love but it would take too much space to mention them. The ones I mentioned here serve to give one idea of what I've been enjoying the most lately.

Describe the last thing you saw that really made you think.

I saw the movie The Beach the other day. I didn't care much for the movie but it really shook my traveling ambitions. Now I really want to go to southern Asia as soon as possible and find a little paradise. I want to see the coast and remote places, but also the big cities and their messy ways.

Do you have any siblings?

Yes, two brothers. Emiliano, 32, who lives in Brussels, and Rodrigo, 31, who lives in Rio de Janeiro.

What is your hometown?

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Where did you live before Austin?

Brussels, Belgium.

Favorite eatery in town?

Paul's kitchen. Paul is my brother-in-law and he makes miracles in his tiny kitchen. A restaurant would be Sao Paulo's. Not because I work there, but because Melba, Jeff and Adriana make me feel at home when they cook for me. I like breakfast tacos from Taco Deli and sushi from Sushi Sake, too.

What is a guilty pleasure of yours?

Nightlife.

Do you ever have to get rough with unruly drunkards?

Oh, yeah! I had to stop serving this guy because he got too drunk. He came behind the bar, hugged me, and started crying, saying that his mother had recently died and that I should keep serving him. It broke my heart and I hugged him back and explained that I couldn't serve him anymore because of the law.

I also said that it was my only way to take care of him and help him in such a hard time. It was a big scene; everybody in the place was looking at us. I never saw him again, or found out if his mom really died, or if he was just trying to score another drink.

What else would you like us to know?

I'm going to be spending a month in Rio de Janeiro with my lovely wife, Kara. I haven't been there since I came to live here two and a half years ago. I am very nervous about going back, but can't wait at the same time. I just want to lay on the sand of Ipanema and let the sun dry the salty water on my skin. I will have a stupidly cold beer, too. And roll closer to Kara and plan the future from there.

Swoon.