Dive Bars

[Tobias]

is # of work trucks in the parking lot a good indication of dive-yness?

[Stevesie60]

is # of work trucks in the parking lot a good indication of dive-yness?

That factor wouldn't hurt!!

[bones129]

is # of work trucks in the parking lot a good indication of dive-yness?

Not necessarily. IMO, they keys are (1) how many bumper stickers are on the trucks, whether they're on the bumpers or not; (2) how many CB antennas are on the trucks (yes, I hear people still do CB's, just like some hunt for beanbag chairs at yard sales), and (3) how many of them have mini license plates in the back cab windows with the names of the driver and passenger, like Bud and  Sissy in Urban Cowboy? (OK, I watched Urban Cowboy the other day while pak'd...sorry).

[jtksu]

is # of work trucks in the parking lot a good indication of dive-yness?

Not necessarily. IMO, they keys are (1) how many bumper stickers are on the trucks, whether they're on the bumpers or not; (2) how many CB antennas are on the trucks (yes, I hear people still do CB's, just like some hunt for beanbag chairs at yard sales), and (3) how many of them have mini license plates in the back cab windows with the names of the driver and passenger, like Bud and  Sissy in Urban Cowboy? (OK, I watched Urban Cowboy the other day while pak'd...sorry).

Not trying to be a jerk or anything but the dive bar you're describing sounds like it sucks.

[bones129]

is # of work trucks in the parking lot a good indication of dive-yness?

Not necessarily. IMO, they keys are (1) how many bumper stickers are on the trucks, whether they're on the bumpers or not; (2) how many CB antennas are on the trucks (yes, I hear people still do CB's, just like some hunt for beanbag chairs at yard sales), and (3) how many of them have mini license plates in the back cab windows with the names of the driver and passenger, like Bud and  Sissy in Urban Cowboy? (OK, I watched Urban Cowboy the other day while pak'd...sorry).

Not trying to be a jerk or anything but the dive bar you're describing sounds like it sucks.

Point was this: work trucks don't necessarily signal a dive. Work trucks (or non-work trucks, for that matter) with the characteristics I listed generally indicate a dive. That said, I've thrown a few back in some dives, and probably will again.   

[Asteriskhead]

bones, sit this one out. you're done, son.

[star seed 7]

work trucks generally signify a sports bar at 5pm.

[Institutional Control]

I used to love to go to dive bars. "Hole in the Wall" on Harry Hines in Dallas used to be one of my favorites. Cheap beer and live Blues every weekend. I'm not sure if it's still open.

Had a great time at a bar in SF called International Sports Club. I would call it a dive.

[Cire]

Red balloon also has Karaoke.




EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK!

[Boom Roasted]

The Laundra-bar, in Topeka, is hands down the diviest of dives. The bar is attached to a laundromat. Seriously, you have to walk through the laundromat to enter the bar.

This is a great one. I used to work at the coffee shop next door to it. My high school self had some crazy run-ins with the drunk white trash that frequented The Laundro-Bar.

did my laundry twice there when i lived across from washburn.

it was famed in the construction-trash element because it was the first bar in town to open, so they would go there if there was a rain day or something.

Chip shot in NKC opens at 6am on Saturdays to get the night shift guys, 7am most other days.  We always talk about either trying an all day pak where you start there at 6am and try to go the whole day(realistic 3pm would be good) or you stay out at a 3am bar, then go to foundation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_Musicians_Foundation till 5am, grab some 24hr diner food at the best 24hr place in KC (hayes hamburgers) and then continue at Chip Shot the next morning. Would be a great time with great stories but a horrible hangover

[Institutional Control]

Red balloon also has Karaoke.




EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK!

I used to go to the Red Balloon. I dated a girl that lived near there and we would go and watch the freaks sing.  I love it when people bring their own music and their own props.

[chum1]

I think this sort of idea is essential to the concept of a dive bar:

Individual bars may be considered to be disreputable, sinister, or even a detriment to the community

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dive_bar

It should be a place that most wives or girlfriends refuse to go to.

[Boom Roasted]

I think this sort of idea is essential to the concept of a dive bar:

Individual bars may be considered to be disreputable, sinister, or even a detriment to the community

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dive_bar

It should be a place that most wives or girlfriends refuse to go to.

I would say finding a girl that would go with you to a dive would be a plus.  It's not like you are going to find many reputable fillies there

[PorkChop Express]

peanut on main, good call.   grinders, i disagree.

guy fieri wall art turn you off?

well, i've never noticed the art you're referring to.  just seems like the 8 foot panel windows in the front and the back of the place that keep the inside of the place as bright as the sun, with the fact that their food is well regarded by just about everyone, they do a ton of micro/craft beer, and the place is pretty damn clean, would disqualify it.  but don't let my perspective jade your very odd idea of what a dive bar is.

I guess my criteria for a dive bar would be a local place that has a certain grease ball element.  The Peanut on Main's food is well regarded by most.  McSorley's in NYC has big windows in front, and I'd most certainly call that a Dive.  Same goes for huge windows in Auntie Mae's.  I also wouldn't call Grinder's pretty damn clean.  I'm pretty sure they just take a wet rag and spread everything around.

But I certainly respect your opinion.

[pissclams]

the peanut is 100x more disgusting/dirty than grinders which negates the fact that they can make a giant chicken wing that people like. 
whoever called auntie maes a dive is a mongloid who doesn't know what a dive bar is, so good work using it as an example.

[Dr Rick Daris]

a dive bar should have a fairly consistent small base of older clientele who mostly walk there.

also, for people going up to ames this weekend that would rather hang out in des moines, here is the best dive bar there and trust me, they have a ton. also, apparently "dive bars" is a category in yelp. ha.   

http://www.yelp.com/biz/carls-place-des-moines

[8manpick]

Sure, KK

[michigancat]

ok, last night I went to a place that could be considered a dive bar in Oakland. They had $2 cans of Olympia, I saw a hipster wearing an eyepatch, and the bartender (female) talked about stabbing someone in front of a "yelper". And great wings!

[pissclams]

a dive bar should have a fairly consistent small base of older clientele who mostly walk there.

this is definitely true. 

[pissclams]

ok, last night I went to a place that could be considered a dive bar in Oakland. They had $2 cans of Olympia, I saw a hipster wearing an eyepatch, and the bartender (female) talked about stabbing someone in front of a "yelper". And great wings!

i think of a dive bar and some place that has a older clientele who smoke, hunched over while they drink some flavorless domestic beer, a place where you would never consider eating (unless it's a pickled egg) and probably doesn't have a kitchen.  there's a jukebox with david allen coe playing, there are a couple of games- maybe a shuffleboard, or a pool table.  the place is dark inside.  the bathrooms are as bad as anything you've ever seen anywhere. 

the eyepatched hipster would have been great though, why no pic?

[michigancat]

i think of a dive bar and some place that has a older clientele who smoke, hunched over while they drink some flavorless domestic beer, a place where you would never consider eating (unless it's a pickled egg) and probably doesn't have a kitchen.  there's a jukebox with david allen coe playing, there are a couple of games- maybe a shuffleboard, or a pool table.  the place is dark inside.  the bathrooms are as bad as anything you've ever seen anywhere. 

There were definitely some older punk types there. Or at least they looked old. There was a pool table, and a patio with a sign that said "try not to bother our neighbors". bathroom was vile (it had a trough urinal, and you had to open a second door to get to a sink that was with the toilet.) There was a shitty band with shitty sound and feedback playing.

they eyepatched hipster would have been great though, why no pic?

well, it was dark.

[chum1]

I'm glad that I'm on the same page with clams about this concept because there is no greater bar expert.

[pissclams]

sounds like a true dive bar, 'grats michigancat.  at least someone here can do a true dive bar.  i guess wings can happen at a dive bar (the peanut too). 

[pissclams]

I'm glad that I'm on the same page with clams about this concept because there is no greater bar expert.

meet you at the kids thread!

[Emo EMAW]

a dive bar should have a fairly consistent small base of older clientele who mostly walk there.

this is definitely true.

If a guy rides a Segway into your favorite dive bar, is it no longer a dive bar?