Subtle Varieties of the Modern Bar - Bars

When it comes to bars, some people prefer a single location to frequent. Like the gang on Cheers, they enjoy the comfort of familiar surroundings and faces. Many others, however, choose their watering hole night to night, based on their mood. For these people, the variety of bars to be found in a large cosmopolitan city offers the freedom of a new experience almost every time out. There are web sites dedicated to helping people make choices based on research such as www.chibarproject.com for the Chicago area. Depending on the day, the mood, and the types of people involved, one may want to dress up for a high-class joint, watch a game at a sports bar, or hide away at a local dive.

The Chic

The upscale bar can be the object of both envy and of derision. Many people enjoy dressing up for a night out at one of these bars, and don’t mind the possibility of waiting in line or paying $15 or more for a drink. These bars are frequently harder to get into, but they sport immaculate design and ambience, and are usually the bars of choice for celebrities other assorted upper-class citizens. Some, however, might find that these bars lack a certain earthiness, that they accentuate the material over the personal, and will stay away.

The Sporty

The sports bar is frequented by all types, and when a big sporting even comes around, you can find the more popular spots packed to the brim with a long line of people outside. Today’s sports bar’s walls are lined with plasma TVs so you’re never at a loss for a view of the game. Get there early enough and you’re sure to catch a happy hour that’ll let you order drinks or appetizers at a significant discount. However, it’s a bad idea to bring a date here, since the frequent outbursts of cheers and applause are not conducive to a getting-to-know-you atmosphere.

The Dive

The local dive is a more intimate environment, with familiar faces, a jukebox, and very low overhead. It is an easier place in which to hold down a conversation, as you’re not likely to be drowned out by loud music or incessant cheering. In recent years, the image of the dive bar has been rescued from the stigma of a dark, sullen, depressing atmosphere. Today, they are the choice for many young people for an uncomplicated night out with friends.

These are only three basic types of bars. However, there are countless subtle varieties between them all and Sean Parnell of the Chicago Bar Project at www.chibarproject.com has one of the most extensive lists of bars in the Chicago area paired with detailed profiles to help visitors make informed choices. Most people know after a couple of visits whether they are the type to frequent an upscale bar, a sports bar, or a dive – or a combination of all three. But all people should know to frequent them responsibly, so as not to get themselves or others into trouble.