"Dive bars are the ultimate modern contradiction. The whole idea of a dive bar is that it should be unappealing, maybe vulgar, crass, and downright unpleasant for everyone except a few die-hard loyalists who keep it in business. Usually dirt cheap, it should be dark, dirty, and dingy. The counters should be sticky, the bathrooms should have broken tile, and the location should be somewhere that has never seen the light of day."
"As such, dive bars are difficult to define and seem to occupy a unique place in the American imagination, existing at the intersection of grit, comfort, and somehow, trendiness - despite the fact that they usually abhor trends. Unlike polished cocktail lounges, dives are unapologetically unpretentious, which may be the crux of the matter: Dive bars, in all their diversity, don't try to be something they're not."
Dive bars embody a deliberate contradiction: outwardly shabby, crass, and unappealing yet often beloved when paired with a welcoming spirit. Typical features include low prices, dim lighting, sticky counters, broken-tile bathrooms, and out-of-the-way locations. Dive bars resist trends and prioritize unpretentious authenticity, occupying a distinct place in American culture at the intersection of grit, comfort, and occasional trendiness. Every state contains at least one notable dive, and selections can be identified using customer reviews, professional reviews, and personal experience. Example: The Fox Head Tavern in Iowa City is rickety and bland but notable for visits from Kurt Vonnegut and Hunter S. Thompson.
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