By Victor Block
During a recent visit to Hollywood, Florida, I enjoyed several meals at a restaurant — actually a "dive bar" — that both Oprah Winfrey and a writer for Gentlemen's Quarterly magazine have praised as serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Located in what once was a gas station, the name of Le Tub refers to the collection of claw-foot bathtubs scattered around the property, some filled with plants and flowers, others serving as unusual sofas.
Adding to the unique decor are driftwood objects displayed on walls and ceilings that were found along nearby beaches by the establishment's founder. Tables were made from reclaimed driftwood and sun-bleached dock boards.
The main feature on the menu is the highly touted 13-ounce charcoal-grilled burger, which is piled too high to easily get your mouth around. In addition to the fabulous fare, the setting itself is well worth a visit.
Neighborhood bars, sometimes referred to as dive bars, can offer more than places to meet up with friends and enjoy inexpensive food and beverages. Some provide trips back in time, immersions in local lore, spaces with distinctive character and perhaps introductions to some of their community's colorful people.
Speaking of history, some pubs trace their lineage back for more than a century. The First and Last Chance Saloon in Oakland, California, was built from timbers of an abandoned sternwheel paddle steamer and opened for business in 1874. It became a favorite hangout for a young Jack London, and it is mentioned in the author's semi-autobiographical novel "John Barleycorn." Reminders of its early days include the original gas lighting, a pot-bellied stove that for years was the only source of heat, a music box and other vintage items.
The Kingfish Pub and Cafe is also in Oakland and has also been in operation for more than a century. It was once threatened by encroaching apartment complexes, but a preservation organization saved the establishment by having it placed on a trailer and moved to a new location. Among clues to its past are carvings that have been etched into the bar by customers over the years.
The building that the Rail Pub in Savannah, Georgia, occupies has served as a boarding house, favorite drinking establishment for railroad workers and brothel. Among factors accounting for its continued popularity today are Free Fried Chicken Fridays and an all-day happy hour.
Many residents of Portland, Oregon, insist that the bare-bones, no-frills Reel M Inn serves the best fried chicken in that city. The beloved neighborhood bar has been open for more than 50 years, and while its name has changed several times, the neon lights, pool table and collection of knickknacks and novelties on display have remained the same.
Neon signs also are one of many attractions at the Thirsty Beaver in Charlotte, North Carolina. Surrounded by modern apartment buildings, the little nondescript brick-and-cinderblock structure offers customers pool tables and outdoor seating. An exterior wall is adorned by the painting of a large orange beaver with bright red eyes. The bar received national attention in 2021 when an image of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones enjoying himself there appeared on social media.
It's image after image of Abraham Lincoln that decorate napkins attached to the ceiling and wooden beams at Abe's on Lincoln located — where else but on Lincoln Street — in the National Historic District of Savannah. These sketches, made by customers, include depictions of Abe riding a bike, as a zombie and in the guise of SpongeBob SquarePants, the lead character in the animated TV series.
The gritty Northside Tavern in Atlanta, Georgia, had previous lives as a gas station and grocery store before filling its present-day role. It is known for playing an important role in the city's active music scene.
The people associated with some dive bars are ghosts. That's so at Lula's A Pub in Wilmington, North Carolina. According to local legend, an enslaved man who escaped from the plantation where he was held was executed on the site where Lula's now stands. Patrons have reported seeing his reflection in mirrors at the subterranean building, a location which accounts for its slogan: "If you can't find us, there's a reason."
Not to be outdone in the ghost department, Earnestine and Hazel's in Memphis, Tennessee, is located in what's said to be one of the most haunted places in the country. The story is that the skeletons of 13 people who died onsite continue to provide a creepy character to the place. When they're not checking out the resident spirits on a ghost tour, customers might be jiving to music from what's touted as "the greatest jukebox in the country."
If the ghosts of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote showed up in Captain Tony's Saloon in Key West, Florida, that would seem only natural. They're among famous writers for whom the iconic bar served as a favorite watering hole.
The tavern's founder was as interesting in his way as the authors who gathered there. Tony Tarracino was a fishing boat captain, gun runner, gambler and popular storyteller who was elected mayor of Key West, winning by 32 votes out of the more than 6,000 that were cast. In addition to identifying him with those references, his obituary described Captain Tony as a "ladies' man and peerless raconteur."
WHEN YOU GO
le-tub.com
heinoldsfirstandlastchance.com
kingfishpub.com
therailpub.com
reelminnpdx.com
charlottesgotalot.com
visitsavannah.com
northsidetavern.com
northsidetavern.com
wilmingtonandbeaches.com
earnestineandhazel.com
capttonyssaloon.com
Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Captain Tony's was once the watering hole of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote and was an early venue for Jimmy Buffett in Key West, Florida. Photo courtesy of Giancarlo Espinosa/Dreamstime.com.
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