A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele.[1] The precise definition of a dive bar is something on which people rarely agree, and is the subject of spirited debates.[2] The term dive was first used in the press in the U.S. in 1880s to describe disreputable places that were often in basements into which one "dives below".[3]: 1 A dive bar may also be known as "brown bars" or "brown pubs" in parts of Western Europe and Northern Europe, for example bruine kroegen in the Netherlands,[4] and brun bar or brun pub in Norway.[5][6][7]
Once considered a pejorative term, "dive bar" has more recently become a badge of distinction from patrons who seek "authenticity" in such establishments.[8] Devotees may describe a bar as "very divey" or "not divey" and compose rating scales of "divey-ness".[9] One such devotee is Steve Vensen, founder of a California group called the DBC (Dive Bar Conoisseurs) who says, "Every dive bar is like a snowflake: diverse and unique. . . you always get local subculture and every time is an adventure."[8]: 13 Author Todd Dayton offers the following: "Dives [dive bars] are like pornography: hard to define but you know it when you see it".[10] As to what distinguishes a dive bar from an ordinary bar, Dayton says:
For me, the ideal dive bar is run by a beefy guy named Frank, where the aroma of yesterday's beer still hangs in the air, and your quest for clean bathrooms (or toilet paper, for that matter) will go eternally unanswered. A bottle of Bud costs two bucks, a shot of Jack, $3, and Pabst Blue Ribbon is served in a can. The sign outside says Steaks, Dinners, Cocktails— but there hasn't been any food served since FDR was president. The prevailing decorative elements are red Naugahyde, wood-toned Formica, and cinder blocks.[10]
Dive bars adhere to the minimal effort needed to provide guests with drinks; i.e., they typically do not advertise, provide parking, or have fancy signage.[2] Dive bars are not known for their food.[9]: 3 They often do not serve food beyond pretzels and snacks.[9] For example, a well-known Nashville dive bar has a hand-written menu taped to the refrigerator and lists only pork rinds, popcorn, peanuts, and microwaved corn dogs (US $1).[11] Bathrooms in dive bars are notoriously shabby and may have a shower curtain stall. Authentic dive bars are usually "cash only" establishments, and would probably not have computerized registers.[1] The owner or a family member of theirs is often working the bar.[1] Dive bars usually have a clientele from all walks of life, including some locals who have been drinking there for decades.[1]
During the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s, U.S. cities closed down bars and food service establishments, and many dive bar owners made repairs and cleaned up while they were closed down.[3]: 1 Rick Dobbs, author of the 2019 book Local Spirit: Neighborhood Bars of Orleans Parish, said, "A dive can absolutely be cleaned up but still be a dive... it's the character and spirit of the space that counts".[3]: 1
^ abcdVivanco, Leonor (19 December 2008). "Divers' Education". No. Red-eye Chicago Magazine. Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
^ abLongest, Knoefel (23 October 2014). "What We Talk About When We Talk About Dive Bars". bostoneater.com. Vox Media. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
^ abcGarbarino, Steve (20 July 2020). "Beer and a Shot of Hand Sanitizer: Dive Bars Try Cleaning Up". Vol. 276, no. 13. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
^Boztas, Senay (4 June 2023). "Brown, grimy… and historic: the battle to save Amsterdam's old bars". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
^Nordbø, Harald (11 February 2022). "Ut på byen? Her er din guide til 20 av Oslos bruneste puber". VartOslo (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 13 July 2023.
^Lindbaek, Gudmund (6 April 2014). "Brun bar med grønne miks-varianter". King Goya (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 13 July 2023.
^Isdal, Helge Tollan; Tilrem, Martin; Stenshagen, Victoria Lillejord (26 February 2023). "Jakten på Trondheims bruneste pub". Underdusken.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 13 July 2023.
^ abMarshall, John (24 November 2009). "Dive Bar Connoisseurs". Vol. 115, no. 41. The Herald (Dubois County, Indiana. Associated Press. p. 13. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
^ abcMitchell, Wendy (2003). New York City's Best Dive Bars:Drinking and Diving in the Five Boroughs. New York: Ig. p. 3. ISBN0-9703125-3-9. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
^ abDayton, Todd (2004). San Francisco's Best Dive Bars. New York: Ig Pub. p. 4. ISBN0-9703125-8-X. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
^Rodgers, D. Patrick (10 December 2018). "Fran's Eastside Is the Best Dive Bar in Nashville". vice.com. Vice edai. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
Further readingEdit
Hamill, Pete (14 December 2008). A Drinking Life: A Memoir. Little, Brown. ISBN978-0-316-05453-9.
Moehringer, J. R. (1 September 2005). The Tender Bar: A Memoir. Hachette Books. ISBN978-1-4013-8341-1.
Stockton, J.; Okun, W. (2004). Chicago's Best Dive Bars: Drinking and Diving in the Windy City. Best Dive Bars Series. Ig Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN978-0-9752517-0-6. 150 pages.
October 21, 2023
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A dive bar is typically a small unglamorous eclectic old style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks it may feature dim lighting shabby or dated decor neon beer signs packaged beer sales cash only service and local clientele 1 The precise definition of a dive bar is something on which people rarely agree and is the subject of spirited debates 2 The term dive was first used in the press in the U S in 1880s to describe disreputable places that were often in basements into which one dives below 3 1 A dive bar may also be known as brown bars or brown pubs in parts of Western Europe and Northern Europe for example bruine kroegen in the Netherlands 4 and brun bar or brun pub in Norway 5 6 7 The Merrimaker in Los Osos California United States Contents 1 Description 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingDescription EditOnce considered a pejorative term dive bar has more recently become a badge of distinction from patrons who seek authenticity in such establishments 8 Devotees may describe a bar as very divey or not divey and compose rating scales of divey ness 9 One such devotee is Steve Vensen founder of a California group called the DBC Dive Bar Conoisseurs who says Every dive bar is like a snowflake diverse and unique you always get local subculture and every time is an adventure 8 13 Author Todd Dayton offers the following Dives dive bars are like pornography hard to define but you know it when you see it 10 As to what distinguishes a dive bar from an ordinary bar Dayton says For me the ideal dive bar is run by a beefy guy named Frank where the aroma of yesterday s beer still hangs in the air and your quest for clean bathrooms or toilet paper for that matter will go eternally unanswered A bottle of Bud costs two bucks a shot of Jack 3 and Pabst Blue Ribbon is served in a can The sign outside says Steaks Dinners Cocktails but there hasn t been any food served since FDR was president The prevailing decorative elements are red Naugahyde wood toned Formica and cinder blocks 10 Dive bars adhere to the minimal effort needed to provide guests with drinks i e they typically do not advertise provide parking or have fancy signage 2 Dive bars are not known for their food 9 3 They often do not serve food beyond pretzels and snacks 9 For example a well known Nashville dive bar has a hand written menu taped to the refrigerator and lists only pork rinds popcorn peanuts and microwaved corn dogs US 1 11 Bathrooms in dive bars are notoriously shabby and may have a shower curtain stall Authentic dive bars are usually cash only establishments and would probably not have computerized registers 1 The owner or a family member of theirs is often working the bar 1 Dive bars usually have a clientele from all walks of life including some locals who have been drinking there for decades 1 During the COVID 19 pandemic of the early 2020s U S cities closed down bars and food service establishments and many dive bar owners made repairs and cleaned up while they were closed down 3 1 Rick Dobbs author of the 2019 book Local Spirit Neighborhood Bars of Orleans Parish said A dive can absolutely be cleaned up but still be a dive it s the character and spirit of the space that counts 3 1 See also EditDrinking culture Flat roofed pub Honky tonk List of dive bars Roadhouse Speakeasy Types of drinking establishmentsReferences Edit a b c d Vivanco Leonor 19 December 2008 Divers Education No Red eye Chicago Magazine Chicago Tribune p 8 Retrieved 4 July 2020 a b Longest Knoefel 23 October 2014 What We Talk About When We Talk About Dive Bars bostoneater com Vox Media Retrieved 4 July 2020 a b c Garbarino Steve 20 July 2020 Beer and a Shot of Hand Sanitizer Dive Bars Try Cleaning Up Vol 276 no 13 Wall Street Journal Retrieved 28 May 2021 Boztas Senay 4 June 2023 Brown grimy and historic the battle to save Amsterdam s old bars the Guardian Retrieved 11 June 2023 Nordbo Harald 11 February 2022 Ut pa byen Her er din guide til 20 av Oslos bruneste puber VartOslo in Norwegian Bokmal Retrieved 13 July 2023 Lindbaek Gudmund 6 April 2014 Brun bar med gronne miks varianter King Goya in Norwegian Bokmal Retrieved 13 July 2023 Isdal Helge Tollan Tilrem Martin Stenshagen Victoria Lillejord 26 February 2023 Jakten pa Trondheims bruneste pub Underdusken no in Norwegian Bokmal Retrieved 13 July 2023 a b Marshall John 24 November 2009 Dive Bar Connoisseurs Vol 115 no 41 The Herald Dubois County Indiana Associated Press p 13 Retrieved 6 July 2020 a b c Mitchell Wendy 2003 New York City s Best Dive Bars Drinking and Diving in the Five Boroughs New York Ig p 3 ISBN 0 9703125 3 9 Retrieved 5 July 2020 a b Dayton Todd 2004 San Francisco s Best Dive Bars New York Ig Pub p 4 ISBN 0 9703125 8 X Retrieved 4 July 2020 Rodgers D Patrick 10 December 2018 Fran s Eastside Is the Best Dive Bar in Nashville vice com Vice edai Retrieved 27 July 2020 Further reading EditHamill Pete 14 December 2008 A Drinking Life A Memoir Little Brown ISBN 978 0 316 05453 9 Moehringer J R 1 September 2005 The Tender Bar A Memoir Hachette Books ISBN 978 1 4013 8341 1 Stockton J Okun W 2004 Chicago s Best Dive Bars Drinking and Diving in the Windy City Best Dive Bars Series Ig Publishing Incorporated ISBN 978 0 9752517 0 6 150 pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dive bar amp oldid 1179861710, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
