Friday, January 30, 2009

Best Dive Bar - High Point, NC

High Point used to have the king of all dive bars. It was a place called Triple B's and it was just about the crunchiest place I have ever been in. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, Triple B's was shut down for serving minors several years ago. I fondly remember drinking there when I was not quite yet 21. It was the only place I wasn't carded. Good times.

Now, High Point is at a loss for a dirty, dive bar. Most of the dives serve food and therefore are unqualified to be a true dive. So, I am left with one place and that is Triangle Billiards, or as it is now known:

"Club Triangle". I know that name makes it sound like a strip club, but it really isn't. It is pretty clean for a "dive" designation but it is the closest I have found in High Point (if you know of a place more worthy, email me and I will check it out).

Triangle hosts live bands every weekend and has a great selection of beer. They have a couple of pool tables for your amusement as well. For more info see their myspace site here: http://www.myspace.com/clubtriangle

*Other Notable Bars -
After Hours (formerly Finley's) on Main Street. It is a great relaxed place (dog friendly)to visit but way too clean to be considered a dive. They specialize in live music on Friday and Saturday. I suggest visiting on Sunday though. There are always colorful people at the bar to keep you talking and having a good time. www.myspace.com/afterhourstavern

Copperhood - The Copperhood (2619 South Main St. High Point, NC) could have gotten the dive designation, but they serve food. It is a great place, off of Main St., to visit. Even though it is off of Main, it is still considered off the beaten path because it is in the dying part of HP. It is a very low key and relaxed bar. The food isn't bad either.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Best Dive Bars - Greensboro, NC

Since I have lived in or near Greensboro my entire life, I am very familiar with the area. Greensboro has a very rich history of dirty dive bars and I am here to list the very best for you.

The Bench Tavern
The Bench Tavern is located on Lawndale across from Target(2614 Lawndale Dr). It is members only and they are very strict about this but if you are really nice, you can usually get someone to sign you in. It is Greensboro's oldest bar and it has a dedicated following. They usually have good drink specials and provide wings or some other food on Sunday's during football for free. There is even a pool table in the back for all you ADD folks.

College Hill Sundries
College Hill is located on the corner of Mendenhall and Spring Garden (900 Spring Garden St.) This is a favorite of the college crowd given it's close proximity to UNCG. You can always get a reasonable priced beer here and the bartenders are top notch. There is a pool table and a Foosball table along with several video games to keep you entertained. This place has special dive status because when they try to clean it up, they lose business. That is just proof, that everyone likes a good, dirty bar. (dog friendly)

<Westerwood Tavern
Westerwood is the coup de gras of Dives in Greensboro. Located at 508 Guilford Ave, it is definitely off the beaten path. They have a bar, a pool table, a Foosball table, a photo booth, a few video games, and a great little patio area for drinking, or jamming, or various other activities. They also have some of the best drink specials in Greensboro. If you are lucky enough to have Patty as your bartender when you visit, I promise you will be entertained. She is super high energy and just fun to be around. (Dog friendly)

You can view videos of jamming on the Westerwood patio here (RIP Mr. Benson):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Eipy9__4c
and herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYBAPeFRC28

HONORABLE MENTION:
All the bars on Walker St. There are 3 of them: Suds and Duds, Walker Street, & Wahoos. Be sure and check them out as well. They usually have great drink specials.

*Another place worth mentioning if you visit Greensboro:
Natty Greene's
This place is not a dive at all. They brew their own beer and it is awesome. Check them out. http://bigdraft.com/index2.html

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Best Dive Bar - Savannah, GA

My hubby and I love visiting Savannah. It is a quaint town with a cobble stone river front and a park oriented historic district. There is quite a lot of bar hopping to be done on the river front, but if you are looking for a real dive haunted by locals as opposed to today's tourist, then the river front is NOT the place you want to be.

The best dive bar in Savannah is, hands down,
The Rail Pub.

The Rail is a one room bar with a unisex bathroom. It is located one block away from the City Market on Congress St. in the historic district. On Fridays and Saturdays first drinks are full price and your second is $1. This works for everything from a PBR to a top shelf scotch, buy one and your next is only $1. Best time to hit the Rail is on a Friday around 4:30 - 5. They have free chicken wings at that time and boy are they tasty.

For more info on The Rail, check out their myspace site: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=125935745

Pinkie's Master Lounge
Located at: 318 Drayton St.
We found this place by accident one time, and by accident I mean walking around drunkenly at night trying to find our hotel! It took us a year to find it again, so here it is in print so we will never forget again. This is definitely a locals bar. They don't like tourists too much and aren't what you call welcoming, but they will serve you a beer and if you aren't an ass they will eventually warm up to you. The walls are decorated with signed pictures of a bunch of people you have never heard of before, but thats part of the charm. There are a few booths and a huge bar. Belly up! It's an experience.

Other places of to hit in Savannah:
* Moon River Brewing (some great local beer) http://www.moonriverbrewing.com/
* Vinnie Van Go Go's Pizza (best I have ever had) http://www.vinnievangogos.com/
* The Bar Bar (an underground bar, with a very hippie vibe during the day. They have tons of board games for you to play while drinking. FYI, it turns into a dance club late on Friday's and Saturdays and give off a completely different vibe. I suggest visiting before 8 pm on the weekend.) http://www.thebarbar.com/