Hyperion Tavern
1941 Hyperion Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90232

Due to 4th of July holiday conflicts our dive bar plans will take an unexpected turn. Rather than celebrate the upcoming holiday just under the Santa Monica pier at Big Deans (which has been held until July 16th) we will sweep into Silverlake for a dive bar you might have driven by a million times without ever knowing it was there. Note the address and cross streets carefully, look for an old school barber shop pole light marking the door of what seems to be a firetrap of a garage one spark from an insurance payout, and duck into one of the most unique bars we have ever been to.

The Hyperion Tavern has it quirks. There is only a small selection of beers available and none of the hard stuff, the walls are lined with a full collection of classic law books (the reason for such eludes explanation), two ornate chandeliers light the space hung from exposed rafters, and a small rickety stage anchors the south end of the room. But it is this very stage which brings us here tonight, as it is on this stage where you will take on Guitar Hero Night. Starting around 10pm (allowing some time for some pre-game beverages) the bartenders will boot up the overhead projector and eager patrons will take a number deli style for a chance to compete for the best face-melting guitar solo of the night. And if you are lucky the bartender might let you use their custom made full size axe.

The queue might fill up quick, so come early if you want to get in before the real heavy hitters appear out the woodwork. If your fingers are bit rusty it would be good to get in early as just like any good Karaoke bar, the queue can fill up quick when the real die-hards show up and then hold the floor like Gordon Brown before parliament.

Other nights of the week the Hyperion Tavern offers hipster DJ’s and wacky live bands but on Wednesdays it really shines, and luckily this is the night we go out on our dive bar mission.

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

"I REMEMBER EVERYTHING! I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday. I was barely 17, and I once killed a boy with a Fender guitar. I don’t remember if it was a telecaster or a stratocaster, but I do remember that it had a heart of chrome and a voice like a horny angel! I don’t remember if it was a telecaster or a stratocaster, but I do remember that it wasn’t at all easy. It required the perfect combination of the right power chords and the precise angle from which to strike. The guitar bled for about a week afterward, and the blood was dark and rich like wild berries. The blood of the guitar was chuck berry red. The guitar bled for about a week afterward, but it rung out beautifully! And I was able to play notes that I had never even heard before. So…I…took my guitar and I smashed it against the wall! I smashed it against the floor! I smashed it against the body of a varsity cheerleader! I smashed it against the hood of a car. Smashed it against a 1981 Harley Davidson! The Harley howled in pain! The guitar howled in heat! And I ran up the stairs to my parents’ bedroom. Mommy and Daddy were sleeping in the moonlight. Slowly I opened the door, creeping in the shadows right up to the foot of their bed. I raised the guitar high above my head, and just as I was about to bring the guitar crashing down into the center of the bed my father woke up screaming, "STOP! WAIT A MINUTE! STOP IT, BOY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?! That’s not way to treat an expensive musical intrument!" And I said, "GOD DAMMIT DADDY! You know I love you. But you got a HELLUVA LOT TO LEARN ABOUT ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!"

– Meat Loaf

Babe’s & Ricky’s Inn
4339 Leimert Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90008

In preparation for this week’s extension, I struggled to come up with a clever theme, a comedic riff, a piece of wit to astound and entertain you all. Alas, I found all of my attempts at humor unworthy of our destination. I am even ashamed that I could even consider being snarky about this place.

Babe’s & Ricky’s is the real deal. A blues icon in L.A.. It has seen good times and hard times. It’s hosted the likes of Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Ike Turner, Eric Clapton and John Lee Hooker. Birthed by ‘Mama’ Laura Mae Gross in 1964, this joint has remained vibrant, lively and timeless.

Prepare yourselves for the Dive Bar event too big to fit on a Wednesday. For a meager eight bucks, you’ll be treated to a performance by the immortal Mickey Champion and a soul-food dinner. Drinks are cheap. And the vibe is free.

As usual, the casual debauchery starts around 9PM and gets really interesting by 10:00 . Come for one free 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,

Nate
Auxiliary Captain

"People, when you do find that special somebody, you gotta hold that man, hold that woman! Love him, please him, squeeze her, please her! Signify your feelings with every gentle caress, because it’s so important to have that special somebody to hold, to kiss, to miss, to squeeze, and please!"

- Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers

Kibitz Room - Passover Spectacular!
419 N. Fairfax Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90036

This Wednesday, as the predominantly goy and shichtza WDBT gears up for Easter Sunday — the Super Bowl of Christ — we pause for a stop on the tour to remember who really runs this town. As we celebrate Easter, our agents, lawyers, producers, and, in stark contrast, most of the town’s great comedy writers, celebrate something about a burning bush in a festival of lights called, "Passover". In the spirit of multiculturalism, we journey into the belly of the beast — the Fairfax District — and the Kibitz Room, adjacent to Canter’s Deli.

Although our understanding is that "kibitz" is a pickled herring jelly, meant for spreading on bagels or rye bread, the bar itself is Dive Bar Tour Kosher, with an old man serving up cheap drinks at a reasonable price, and a wide range of friendly clientele. The only reminder of the bar’s Jewry is the relentless singing of classic Hebrew drinking songs… "Have a tequila, have a tequila…"

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

"Five thousand years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Sandy Kaufax, YOU’RE GODDAMN RIGHT I’M LIVING IN THE PAST!"
- Walter Sobchak

The Cinema Bar
3967 Sepulveda Blvd.
The City of Culver City, CA 90230

To visit a place with a name such as "Cinema," depending on your knowledge of popular LA bars/clubs, one might assume that inside such an establishment a projector, large screen, and ample seating could be found in addition to the requisite trendy atmosphere and overpriced drinks. On the contrary the Cinema Bar is neither trendy nor overpriced and has barely enough room inside for a big screen TV let alone a movie theater. However, the bar still features live entertainment by squeezing a folk or country/blues band into the corner, making it a one-of-a-kind stop on the Tour.

Allegedly one of the oldest in the city so nice they named it twice, Cinema Bar gets its moniker because it’s situated within the borders of the crooked-street, red-light-camera-saturated, and arrogantly-christened "heart of screenland." The soft glow of Christmas lights on the walls and bartenders’ stiff drinks creates a cozy ambiance, crucial for such a claustrophobic space. As the seating is as limited as the standing room, expect to rub shoulders with fellow bar goers as the place fills up. And don’t worry, should either the stiff drinks or an dashing bar maiden/fella keep you from getting home, the Sun Burst motel across the street stays open late.

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

"You can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don’t mean just like in no paper cup, I’m talking about a glass of beer." - Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction