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Michael Sklar's avatar

I never really thought about this, but dive bars host the most local of locals. The kind of place where everyone looks like they live there. Every time you walk in, you instantly feel like the foreigner. But when you start talking to them, they almost always welcome you in.

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Taylor Pipes's avatar

In Wisconsin, the best rural taverns always proclaim (in the style of an Irish pub in Dublin) that you enter strangers and leave family. I love a great dive bar and it's amazing how they are always sort of the same no matter where they are, but with slight regional differences that make them unique. Above all, they're always a welcoming place despite what they look like on the outside. And now, I want to write about Wisconsin taverns and dives.

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Claire Coley's avatar

Please do, I’d love to read that. In the UK you get two types of places – the ones that welcome you in and those with hostile locals (usually in small villages). The latter are unsurprisingly closing down

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Taylor Pipes's avatar

Ok, you convinced me. I will write a good Wisco Dive Bar essay. I also just interviewed a fellow who has visited 700+ dive bars in the state and has built an online following of 250k fans who watch his reviews. That is, umm, on tap as well. Cheers to that.

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Claire Coley's avatar

That is insane – but also, there are 700 dive bars in Wisconsin? Wow! Excited to read this.

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Taylor Pipes's avatar

There are 10,00 bars in the whole state.

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Matt Kramer's avatar

This piece really resonates with my own memories and experiences at my favorite dive bar. A good place with good people. Thanks for writing this!

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Claire Coley's avatar

Love that you’ve had similar experiences, Matt! People often look a tad freaked out when I say I love them so good to find another dive-bar soul

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CansaFis Foote's avatar

...all hail your "local" dive bar...one of the best homes on earth...

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Rachel Parker's avatar

Claire!! This is so beautiful. I was right there in Deep Ellum with you. So glad you shared this and can’t wait to keep reading your work ◡̈

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James Bailey's avatar

Home. Where the heart is. Because it, not your head, is what feels. If writing is about taking the reader on a journey and being there, feeling it, you knocked it out of the park with this one. 🙌🙌

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Matt Cyr's avatar

Claire! This read was so much fun. The smell in dive bars really is second to none. It’s all of life soaked into the bar, booths, and floorboards.

Loved the tip of the cap to EAYC - I used to live in Atlanta back in the day and was known to have a pint or five there, back when I was partaking in such fun.

If you’re ever in Chicago, hit up Kuma’s Corner. Hamburger joint with great burgers (couple veggie options if that’s your jam) and a healthy dose of metal that thankfully falls just short of Gwar.

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Claire Coley's avatar

Love it, Matt – such a small world!

Ah Chicago, I love it there. I missed Kuma’s corner though! Need to make a trip back to give that a go for sure.

Thanks so much for reading.

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