World Dive Bar Tour » Palms

March 18th, 2009: Irish Times

World Dive Bar Tour — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:41:41 +0000

WEDNESDAY, March 18th, 2009

Irish Times
3267 Motor Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90034 (Palms)
Map

Los Angeles has long been known for its poor emulation of the cultural trappings from other parts of the world, which is why if you’ve been to one Irish pub in LA, you’ve been to them all. We’ve been lead to believe that "authentic" Irish pubs these days are decorated with glossy, varnished bars, shamrock bric-a-brac, and plasma screens — the kinds of places that are packed to the brim every St. Patrick’s Day with underage college students who can’t hold their liquor. One trip to the land of majesty would quickly clear up this misconception…or you could just visit Irish Times with WDBT this week.

While all the amateurs are nursing hangovers and oxycleaning the vomit out of their clothes, WDBT is hitting up the only dive-worthy, authentic Irish pub in town. Capturing the ambiance of a quiet, Dublin watering hole, Irish Times offers Guinness on tap served by an acid-tongued Irish bartender (she’s really from Ireland, folks) in a dark , cozy space, where the pint is truly mightier than the game on TV. But, should you need additional entertainment, Irish Times provides some dive bar essentials like Golden Tee golf, 75 cent pool tables, and a juke box full of the best rock n’ roll.

As usual, the casual debauchery starts around 9PM and gets really interesting by 10:00. Come for one drink, or stay for one too many. Bring anyone and everyone, and join us for a great time in the middle of the week. If you arrive early or late, look for the people having a damn good time (it’ll be us), or start having a damn good time on your own (we’ll find you).

Carpe Drink’em!

Alex, Damien, & Travis - WDBT Co-czars

October 22nd, 2008: Rae’s Lounge

damien — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:47:33 +0000

WEDNESDAY, October 22nd, 2008

Rae’s Lounge
10939 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034

This Wednesday marks the last dive bar visit before a new President of the United States is elected. On November 5th, a number of our dive bar regulars will have a very big reason for hitting the bottle hard. Our nation will head in a new direction, and regardless of your views, some kind "change" is inevitable. It’s times like these that we should take comfort in the little things in life that don’t change, the little constants of our existence that we can always depend on come rain or shine. It’s times like these that we turn to our local watering hole, that dive around the corner that’s withstood the test of time, that has seen presidents come and go, yet has always managed to keep the drinks cheap regardless of high taxes.

This week we visit Rae’s Lounge, a bar that prides itself on consistency. Rae’s is the paragon of dive bars, featuring all the essentials from affordable stiff drinks to darts, pool, and karaoke. While some of our dives feature clowns or singing ninjas, Rae’s needs no gimmicks or calling cards. Rae’s is low-key, inconspicuous, and relies only on its strong character to build its reputation. There are only a few bars on the Tour that we can honestly label a "dive’s dive," and Rae’s Lounge is one of them.

Carpe Drink’em!

Alex, Damien, & Travis, WDBT Co-Czars

November 8th, 2006: Gabe’s Sports Bar

admin — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 01:01:36 +0000

WEDNESDAY, November 8th, 2006

Gabe’s Sports Bar
2965 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064 (Palms)

Ahhh ’tis autumn again, and in the midst of the football season, the air blooms with the thick, pungent scent of brats, charcoal grills, and the occasional beer fart. ‘Tis a time when men and women alike gather together at their favorite sports bar to enjoy the Monday-night game, or in the case of WDBT regulars, the Wednesday-night highlights. While many a sports bar in LA may bear the outward characteristics of a dive, few posses the character and comfort found inside Gabe’s, this week’s Wednesday retreat.

Unlike the "nice" LA sports bars, Gabe’s lacks the sea of pool tables, walls covered with plasma screens, $15 pitchers, cover charges, and college sluts at the door. Aside from the cheering patrons on game days, you’ll find Gabe’s to be an affordable, serene neighborhood watering hole, adorned inside with sports paraphernalia, a few modest TVs, and the obligatory big screen in the corner. A large whiteboard tracking the NFL season standings hangs in another corner among the trophies of different bar teams. Two pool tables and dart boards are available for your entertainment as well as a jukebox full of respectable dive bar music.

Plenty of parking in the back if you find none on the street. And, don’t forget to take a walk around the corner to Hamburger Habit for pre- or post-dive eats.

As usual, the casual debauchery starts around 9PM an gets really interesting by 10:00. Come for one drink, or stay for one too many. Bring anyone and everyone, and join us for a great time in the middle of the week. If you arrive early or late, look for the people having a damn good time (it’ll be us), or start having a damn good time on your own (we’ll find you).

Carpe Drink’em,

Alex, Damien, & Travis, WDBT Co-Czars

"Never show weakness. The only pain that matters it he pain you inflict."

Jon Voight, Varsity Blues

March 15th, 2006: Irish Times

admin — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 01:15:25 +0000

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15th, 2006

Irish Times
3267 Motor Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90034 (Palms)

As WDBT occasionally leaves us in a "haze," we neglected to check our calendars for important holiday that might land in proximity to our Wednesday gathering when creating the initial schedule. Not wanting to anger any Irishmen, we’ll celebrate St. Patty’s this week at one of LA’s finest pubs, Irish Times.

One could argue that if you’ve been to one Irish pub, you’ve been to them all. With the mandatory Guinness on tap, stained hard-wood decor, and Celtic music in the background, you have just about all you need to transport you to the land of majesty. However, complete with a Golden Tee golf, 75 cent pool tables, and a juke box full of the best rock n’ roll, Irish Times also brings together the best dive bar characteristics for the ultimate conglomeration of cheap entertainment and celebration of another culture through excessive drinking.

As usual, the casual debauchery starts around 9pm and gets really interesting by 10:00. Come for one drink, or stay for one too many, bring anyone and everyone, and join us for a great time in the middle of the week. If you arrive early or late, look for the people having a damn good time (it’ll be us), or start having a damn good time on your own (we’ll find you).

Carpe Drinkem,

Alex, Damien & Travis, WDBT Co-Czars

"The problem with the world is that everyone is few drinks behind."
- Humphrey Bogart