best bars in america

The Duke · Jun 28, 2006

Rathskeller in State College, Pa.

Huggy · Jun 28, 2006

One I forgot to mention:

Spike's Keg O' Nails in Grayling, Mich.

Might be the best hamburger I've ever had.

Songbird · Jun 28, 2006

The Duke said:

Rathskeller in State College, Pa.
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Rathskeller?

Is that you?!

Bubbler · Jun 28, 2006

All sentimental choices, and I haven't visited some of these in years ...

Heorot - Muncie, Ind.
Outlook Inn - Louisville
Alley Cat - Indianapolis
Club Tavern - Menasha, Wis.
- any neighborhood bar in Milwaukee
- the place I went to in Marion, Ind. (for a bachelor party) that had strippers walking around with coin cups.
Blue Oyster Bar - Police Academy Series

Gillette237 · Jun 28, 2006

Some of my favorites include: Brian Boru, Portland, ME
The Rail, Oneonta, NY
Pearl Street Brewery, Buffalo, NY
Muchanschnabels, Rutland, VT

Songbird · Jun 28, 2006

Gillette237 said:

Muchanschnabels, Rutland, VT
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Is that the one downtown next to the establishment with, umm, quarter machines and dank-smelling, gooey stalls?

Moderator1 · Jun 28, 2006

sportschick said:

The Dixie Chicken in College Station, Texas -- my mom's fav bar from college
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I can verify it is a fine place. Of all the college towns I've visited, College Station ranks among my favorites.

Jones · Jun 28, 2006

Del_B_Vista said:

I almost wrote up something for Esquire's query for public input for their favorite bars. Woulda gone something like this ... [wavinghandsgoing"doodleydoodley"alaGarthandWayne]

Legend had it that Timothy O'Sullivan's -- called TO's by everything but the sign out front -- had been a bunkhouse on Keesler Air Force Base during World War II, something that might have been seen in Biloxi Blues. That might have been the last time the bar had actually been cleaned, too. There were dust bunnies who'd fucked like the real thing, creating webs of smoke, grime and God-knows-what in every corner and hanging from the ceiling (at least in places bras or panties hadn't been randomly stapled).

TO's had a different crowd almost every night, young hipsters, fishing rodeo-ers, high school reunion crowds from the 1960s on, oldtimers, fake IDers, casino and service industry types, Wednesday night with Eddie Miller playing and the leftovers from Hump Day secretary gatherings while a former Miss Mississippi takes a whirl barefoot on the dance floor. Beer was cheap, mixed drinks usually overpoured, hot dogs were hot on NFL or NASCAR Sundays and Waffle House was right next door. Buses were chartered to go to chicken drops, a bar's family visiting another bar to visit, drink and wager on where a bird took a crap. On St. Paddy's Day, TO's parking lot looked like a fleet of beer trucks had exploded.

It looked like an explosion of another kind of Aug. 29. After Katrina left Gulfport envying the beauty of Skid Row, there were the shattered bits of four-foot cinder block pilings the old bunkhouse sat on strewn across the lot -- and not much else. Somebody eventually found a barstool and plopped it back down where Norman, who'd show up hammered from his law offices after work and growl at men but talk Faulkner with pretty women (or write them dirty notes), woulda staggered onto.

Imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, but I hope nobody tries it with TO's. It can't be intentionally recreated, and for that reason, it'll always be my favorite bar.
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Del, please send this in to the magazine at esquire@hearst.com.

I once got my nose broken at the Brunswick House, even though I was jolly and wearing a Santa hat. I say we go back there in July and kick some ass.

carrie · Jun 28, 2006

Some of my faves:

Club DeVille - Austin, TX
Casino el Camino - Austin, TX
White Elephant Saloon - Fort Worth, TX
Tanqueray's - Orlando, FL

pallister · Jun 28, 2006

I went to a bar in Chicago once where you actually had to announce your arrival through a slit in the door, like a speakeasy. I believe it was called the Gaslight Club or something.
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Sure this wasn't a crack house?

And SC, I was at the bookstore today and saw book title "I hate Texas A&M." Damn, I wish I would have checked it out.

cranberry · Jun 28, 2006

This is an unflattering photo of what was Eugene O'Neill's favorite place in New London, CT. I've always been fond of the place. Remarkably untouched, at least the last time I was there. But I also like Rudy's on Ninth Ave., so what do I know.

DyePack · Jun 28, 2006

Bubbler said:

All sentimental choices, and I haven't visited some of these in years ...

Heorot - Muncie, Ind.
Outlook Inn - Louisville
Alley Cat - Indianapolis
Club Tavern - Menasha, Wis.
- any neighborhood bar in Milwaukee
- the place I went to in Marion, Ind. (for a bachelor party) that had strippers walking around with coin cups.
Blue Oyster Bar - Police Academy Series
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You stole the Blue Oyster joke I was going to make. In college, there was a guy who thought many people were gay, and when he saw someone he suspected, he would whistle the song from those scenes.

I would back the Alley Cat.

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