A dive is Roadhouse.

See, I would think the live music would automatically preclude it from being a dive bar.

My dive bars have no bands.

What do you consider your local, amych? If I went to bars anymore, mine would probably be Jo and Joe's or The Federal. Actually, when I do go to bars anymore that's where I go.

My local is the Green Room -- great bottled beer selection and they let the dog in.

I probably go to Fed or Jo and Joe's more often these days, because I very seldom go to bars for a drink that's not attached to getting food anymore. Love 'em both, but they're just enough further away that they feel more like going out than just stopping in for a beer.

I only sloped off on 45 minutes - that's okay, right?

Totally okay.

I prefer my establishments to be without live music, because it's distracting and loud and generally not that good. I'm generally there to talk to someone, and I like to be able to hear them.

I think you can have live music at a dive bar as long as there's no cover. If you have to pay to hear the music, it's not a dive.

If you have to fence off the live music--dive.

there are 3 bars in our neighborhood( there used to be 11 at one point)

The derby- dive, small , bad screwdrivers, and people who are more open to all kinds of people give it a sideways look.

The mexican place that I can't remember the name of - mostly spanish spoken there. there is a sign on the door ( in spanish ) that says no guns, knives, or farm implements.There are lots of bar fights and they hire sequrity gards. I'd call it dive, but they serve a very specific group of people so some of it is neighborhood bar.

The florence - been there forever and ever amen. Biker bar. pool tables . not a place to order scotch , because they don't have much that is good. people are a fraid of it because it is a " biker bar" - but we know who owns all the harleys. They have food on special occasions, the usuals police the behvior of each other and strangers, and they have bands. They have a bike drive every year at xmas time and get bikes for kids at xmas ( not motorcycles). neighborhood bar.

I don't think there are any bars with swank in Fremont.

Actually, I think of that as more of a honky-tonk.

ETA: That being live music, no cover

I might be out $2740.00 for a few days....

no guns, knives, or farm implements.

I hate it when people bring their manure spreaders into the bar.

The florence - a honky-tonk? - too small, no danceing.

I just thought of a swanky bar in fremont - across the road is Papillon, a french restaurant. actually has a real nice bar- with good wine and themake a cosmo right. I really should be able to guess the name of whatever orange liquor is in the cosmo.

never mind - you weren't talking to me...