L.A. - Happy Hour
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- Soler
Girl @ work's last day is Friday and I have the task of selecting the Happy Hour location.
I'm new to the area.
Anyone know of a good happy hour in the valley/hollywood/burbank?
- nick0
why would they ask somebody who doesnt know the area to pick the spot?
your company is full of fools
- Soler0
it's her. Thats why I'm going on a forum rather expend any energy researching it.
- machito0
htere's a chuck e cheese in Burbank
- Soler0
perfect, check e cheese will be perfect
- bumblefuck0
"Eastside Divebars
The Black Lite Cocktail Room
Be very, very afraid. Put the hubcaps in the trunk, activate the alarm system, attach the Club and pray, pray, pray. Don't go alone, and don't go drunk--walking into the Black Lite is enough of a mind-altering experience.The ceiling looks like an upside-down float at a small-town parade. Thick red plastic crumples across the roof, and foot-long silvery-gold fringe hangs down from the borders. In the center of this "art" is a forest-green cellophane-ish circle, edged by white trim, from which dangle small icicles. Sound bizarre yet?
Turns out the green circle used to have a spiral staircase attached to it, so that strippers/hookers could saunter up and down, enticing customers to use the bedrooms conveniently located on the second floor.
Now known as the hangout for transvestites, the Black Lite is a place where the people and the mood are volatile. Even on a mild night, the jovial attitude can't mask bleak undercurrents. There's a sense of desperation that clings to the expressions of the customers. The tension is palpable, making the Black Lite a true adrenaline rush. Anything can happen here, and it just might.
(The Black Lite, 1159 Western Ave., open every day from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., 213-469-0211.)
Ye Olde Rustic Inn
Sick of the resurgence of '60s and '70s paraphernalia--lava lamps, polyester, platform shoes--in mainstream culture? Well, Ye Olde Rustic Inn, tucked into the blah hell of a typical L.A. mini-mall, features a jukebox full of all the critically panned '80s bands.Tease your hair and rock out to the soft-metal of Bon Jovi and Whitesnake, or go back further in time, throw on some painter's pants and thump your hands to the beat of J. Geils' "Freeze Frame." Sure, they have some Barry Manilow tunes too, but what jukebox doesn't?
Dark and slovenly, Ye Olde Rustic Inn is the perfect American joke. It's got a goofy British name that doesn't mesh at all with the '80s music, the decor (dark brown semi-circle booths, straight out of '70s-era McDonalds), the food (ballpark munchies like nachos), or the clientele (middle-class college kids, thirtysomething men, the occasional hipster). It's a funny, boisterous dive, the type of place where a group of inebriated friends can be found singing offkey to the songs of yesteryear.
(Ye Olde Rustic Inn, 1831 Hillhurst Ave., open every day from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., 213-662-5757.)
Smogcutter
For Karaoke, dive bar-style, Smogcutter is the place to be. One long, narrow room, filled almost entirely by the bar, this little hole-in-the-wall has a comprehensive song book, so no one has an excuse not to sing. Since there's no stage, the microphone is passed from barstool to barstool, a nice touch for those who are a bit too shy or a bit too sober. Towards the end of the evening, someone always sings "New York, New York," at which point the entire bar joins in a raucous and deafening rendition of the classic.The accompanying videos for each song are so poorly made and badly acted that they should win Oscars for Camp. It's even funnier after a couple of drinks, so get there early, find a seat at the bar, and enjoy.
(Smogcutter, 864 N. Virgil St., open every day from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., 213-667-9832.)
Westside Divebars
The Red Garter
Venice's best-kept secret, The Red Garter (or, as we've fondly nicknamed it, the Gutter) doesn't have more than 20 customers on a busy night, making it much easier to hobnob with the regulars over a feisty game of stick. If your pool talents are lacking, there's always a friendly soul to hand out pointers.Sometimes, though, it's important to just relax and enjoy the ambience. Blood-red carpets and gold wallpaper with raised red-velvet signias give the Garter that faux bordello/saloon look, and the jukebox offers a wide selection of songs (everything from Sinatra and Heart to Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin and the Smashing Pumpkins).
A beer costs less than $3 here, and the white wine comes in a screw-cap solo-size bottle, just like they serve on airplanes.
Stay away from the mixed drinks, though--the base alcohol typically tastes like moonshine. Don't worry about missing last call, because the bartender will repeatedly yell out the countdown ("Last call--in three and a half hours").
(The Red Garter, 2536 Lincoln Blvd., open every day from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., 310-306-8300.)
The Town House
Located in the heart of Venice Beach, the Town House is often called the "Piss House" due to the overwhelming stench of urine. Despite the awful smell and drabbiness, there's something appealing about this dungeon.There may be a million better places to be and things to do in L.A., but there you are, at the Town House. It's sort of liberating to consciously while away precious moments of your life. Transients, beach dwellers and stoned surfers pass in and out, creating crowds that grow and diminish constantly like a drive-thru restaurant. You don't want to spend an entire evening here--stop in for a quick beer to begin the night or to top it off.
(The Town House, 52 Windward Ave., open every day from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., 310-392-4040.)
The Joker
How this place stays open could be fodder for an Unsolved Mysteries segment. No more than ten people will show up on an entire Saturday night, sometimes not even five. What that means, however, is that you could practically have a private party without renting the place or paying for the booze. It's simply a matter of convincing all your friends to actually go there.There's nothing particularly seedy about The Joker. There's nothing particularly interesting about it, either. It just sort of exists, like bar purgatory. It has all the stuff a good dive bar needs--pool tables, a jukebox, alcohol, two spacious rooms--but it has no character. Sometimes, though, that's precisely the point.
(The Joker, 2827 Pico Blvd., open every day from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., 310-828-9235.)
- machito0
Cool. I'll be there as Chuck-e. For $20 I'll pinch your co-workers ass.
- pepe0
yo theres a place in northhollywood called the Noho i think that was rad, was more of an evening place tho. also what about any of those places near ikea? burbank bar and grill or some shit?
- Soler0
i was thinking closer to the Moho side of Burbank.
Are you sure there's a bar called noho? is it on lankershim? haven't seen it and i live up in there
- pepe0
shit i forget.... it was something like that, a real dive but in that sort of scenester los feliz sorta way
- Soler0
north hollywood billiards maybe? nobar? nobar is pretty ghetto, but fun.
- Nac0
pig N whistle
- pepe0
noBar thats it i liked it quite a bit the vibe was rad
- jimeeboy510
maybe Bordners. Not sure what their happy house scene is like. World Cafe in Santa Monica has some sweet as Mojitos, but not until 11pm.