Things I rarely think about before breakfast: dive bars. In truth? Probably hardly ever. But a question on the Columbia Reddit got me thinking.
Best dives
What’s the best places to meet friends, meet up with pals and get some beverages that don’t break the bank?
An assortment of suggestions followed. One of them was for Pub Dog.
Pub Dog has inexpensive beer and pizza, and if you sit outside on a nice day you might meet dogs. They host trivia too I think.
Someone responded that Pub Dog was not A Dive. They explained:
Dives are a distinct entity. They’re like places that have a certain vibe as well as maybe no food. I can’t think of any place like that in Columbia.
This was where it became more interesting to me. There were two concepts at work here.
1. OP is looking for a place to meet up with friends that is not expensive.
2. OP is looking for A Dive, which is a specific genre of bar/pub/watering hole.
I’m beginning to think this may be a generational thing. My view of a dive is that it isn’t terribly clean, service is sketchy, and you probably wouldn’t go to one as a woman alone. It wouldn’t be too hard to imagine that your table will be sticky and that fights might break out not too infrequently.
“Why would anyone want to go there?” I wonder. But maybe that’s an old and cartoonish stereotype and I’m not getting the point.
If you’re wondering about the origins of the term - - of course I was - - here’s a hint from Rick Paulas of Pacific Standard:
In fact, even the word “dive” is outdated. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the first official use of “dive bar”—meaning a disreputable drinking establishment—comes from America in 1871. (A post on Chowhound claims that it first appeared in a 1871 edition of the New York Herald.) The “dive” part most likely points to the fact that these kinds of establishments were relegated to basements, so patrons had to duck to get in. Clearly, that’s no longer the case.
- - The Elusive Definition of a Dive Bar
I’d agree that we don’t have a ton of places locally that fit the bill.
There’s actually a place at Savage Mill called Dive Bar & Grill. One look at their website tells me it doesn’t meet the authentic Dive requirements. (I suspect that, if you call yourself a Dive Bar, you probably aren’t.) Not that I think there’s a problem with this. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this establishment.
There appeared to be a rather set ‘vibe” operating in this conversation about the definition of A Dive. I’m wondering if that holds true wherever you go. Would a dive bar in Columbia feel like a dive bar if one was visiting from Boston? Or Baltimore?
Now, here’s a thought:
Effort.*
You see, your true dive bar is not really making one. Or much of one. Or, perhaps a bit more generously, is not making much of an effort beyond the minimum required to service its guests with drinks. And that is it. That is the single, all-purpose litmus test definition for whether or not a bar is a dive.
Holy cow. It’s hard enough to keep any hospitality business afloat in HoCo when you are making an effort. Aside from operating costs, there’s always the attitude of HoCo Locals to consider. Many folks here get downright picky about how much effort you are putting in for them.
Don’t we deserve it? I’m from Howard County. Show me the kind of treatment I’m entitled to.
I’m not seeing how that meshes with The Vibe.
What do you think?
*What We Talk About When We Talk About Dive Bars, Knoefel Longest, Boston Eater
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