dive (n)
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:32 pm
A disreputable and/or illegal neighborhood bar where all levels of society rub elbows. Often found in basements, so you literally, and figuratively take a "dive".
My father taught me to appreciate dive bars, and he grew up in south side Chicago during and after prohibition. I seem to often end-up in dive-bars where ever I go in the USA and Europe. Often I ask my local contact to take me, but my wife and I can sniff them out. You know it is a dive when one of the locals comes over to "meet you", and to ferret out why your there. Plus, they want to find out if you're cool, or a nark. When I travel I also read up on dive bars to avoid, there are a couple in Soho- London, and Budapest that are notorious for robbing tourists. Thus my habit of using a trusted-local to provide me some surety.
My father taught me to appreciate dive bars, and he grew up in south side Chicago during and after prohibition. I seem to often end-up in dive-bars where ever I go in the USA and Europe. Often I ask my local contact to take me, but my wife and I can sniff them out. You know it is a dive when one of the locals comes over to "meet you", and to ferret out why your there. Plus, they want to find out if you're cool, or a nark. When I travel I also read up on dive bars to avoid, there are a couple in Soho- London, and Budapest that are notorious for robbing tourists. Thus my habit of using a trusted-local to provide me some surety.
