Well, it's been crazy as usual this holiday season and with everyone being fiscally cautious, it's almost seemed a bit more like an old fashioned yuletide. People are concentrating more on family and family values, and giving thanks for what they have, rather than worrying if they've purchased a nice enough present for someone, or if they've spent an equally generous amount on each of the kids. Many people are without jobs this season and the next year looks sketchy at best. This is when Americans really tend to shine. They rise to the occasion and show what they are made of, in adverse conditions. Lisa and I are feeling the pinch just like everyone. Neither of us received Christmas bonuses this year and we are cooking and serving Christmas dinner for 50! We're thrilled that so many of our friends and family chose to spend their Christmas with us. It is going to be a joyous day of love and celebration. We would like to thank everyone who has touched our lives this year and wish only the very best to you and yours. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
Lisa and Greg
P.S. My band Lone Star Floyd will not be performing on December 26th, at Skillman Street Pub, as originally scheduled. We will however, be playing on February 28th at O'Riley's, on Forest Lane. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A Meal Fit For A "Duke" - John Wayne's Favorite Casserole
John Wayne, a long-time resident of Southern California, was a fan of Southwestern cooking and co-owned a large feed ranch in Arizona. Lauded as his favorite casserole, this recipe appeared in the L. A. Times, back in the '70s and every swingin', fondue-loving family apparently had a copy of it. I know we did, as it was a once-every-other-week meal at our house. The caserole comes out of the oven, looking like a soufle, but then it falls and that's OK, so don't worry. The recipe reportedly came from a cook on a movie catering truck, who used to make this for "The Duke," by request. Whether or not this is true, the recipe is still great today.
Like my Mountain Man quiche recipe, this one is heavily laden with cheese, and will be of questionable edibility for the health-conscious reader, but oh, it's soooo good! Check it out...
JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE:
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound coarsely grated Jack cheese
1 pound coarsely grated cheddar cheese
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles
4 eggs, separated
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tomatoes, sliced
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325°.
Combine cheeses and chiles and spoon into a well-greased 11-by-9-inch or similar-size baking dish.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
In another bowl combine egg yolks, milk, flour, salt and pepper and mix until well blended. Fold beaten egg whites into yolk mixture. Pour egg mixture over cheese in casserole. Using a fork, swirl egg mixture through cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and decorate with sliced tomatoes. Bake 30 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let stand a few minutes to set; serve.
Serves 6-8
PER SERVING: 525 calories, 34 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 40 g fat (25 g saturated), 223 mg cholesterol, 880 mg sodium, 1 g fiber.
So, whatcha waitin' for Pilgrim? Oh... great Idea! This would be an excellent side dish for Thanksgiving!
Greg
Like my Mountain Man quiche recipe, this one is heavily laden with cheese, and will be of questionable edibility for the health-conscious reader, but oh, it's soooo good! Check it out...
JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE:
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound coarsely grated Jack cheese
1 pound coarsely grated cheddar cheese
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles
4 eggs, separated
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tomatoes, sliced
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325°.
Combine cheeses and chiles and spoon into a well-greased 11-by-9-inch or similar-size baking dish.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
In another bowl combine egg yolks, milk, flour, salt and pepper and mix until well blended. Fold beaten egg whites into yolk mixture. Pour egg mixture over cheese in casserole. Using a fork, swirl egg mixture through cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and decorate with sliced tomatoes. Bake 30 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let stand a few minutes to set; serve.
Serves 6-8
PER SERVING: 525 calories, 34 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 40 g fat (25 g saturated), 223 mg cholesterol, 880 mg sodium, 1 g fiber.
So, whatcha waitin' for Pilgrim? Oh... great Idea! This would be an excellent side dish for Thanksgiving!
Greg
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Baby Doe's Matchless Mine Beer Cheese Soup - Not as Cheesy as it Looks
Baby Doe's Matchless Mine Restaurant, Dallas
Many of you probably remember Baby Doe's Matchless Mine, on Harry Hines, overlooking lovely I-35, behind the famous waterfall billboard. The building is gone now, but the memories remain. The restaurant was named after Baby Doe Tabor, who, through a scandalous marriage, was the wife of Horace Tabor, one of the wealthiest men of the late 19th century. When Horace died penniless, after silver prices dropped as a result of the gold standard, Baby Doe moved into one of their holdings, the Matchless Mine where she eventually died from old age.
Baby Doe Tabor
Back in 1986 I was the DJ down in the mine and became friends with some of the managers. I used to love their beer cheese soup and was able to talk the kitchen manger out of the recipe, but was kind of startled when I saw the ingredients, due to their "cost effectiveness," but you can't argue with great taste. This is a really simple, great Fall/Winter recipe to warm to cockles of your heart.
Here it is...
Amount Ingredient
-------- -----------
8 cups Milk
2 ts Tabasco sauce
4 ts Worcestershire sauce
4 tb Chicken base (powder or granules, I like Knorr)
16 oz Cheez Whiz
6 tb Cornstarch
1/3 cup Warm Water
1 cup Beer (Baby Doe's used to use either Shaefer or Lone Star)
Cayenne pepper to taste
Combine the milk, Tabasco, Worcestershire, and chicken base in a stock pot. Bring it to a boil, stirring frequently.
Add the Cheez Whiz, after warming it up in hot water or in the microwave. Mix in well.
Dissolve the cornstarch completely in the 1/3 cup of warm water. Add it to the soup, which should start to thicken almost immediately. Reduce the heat a bit and stir in the beer.
To serve, ladle into bowls and dust with cayenne pepper and top with some chives. Croutons do quite well in the soup as well.
Greg
Friday, October 24, 2008
I've Finished! "Best Dive Bars in Dallas" is Posted.
Hey all,
It took longer than I thought, but I've just posted the "Best Dive Bars in Dallas" article. When composing articles with this blog software, the date that you begin writing the article is the date that it publishes, so you need to either click on this link http://eatdallas.blogspot.com/2008/06/hot-dive-into-best-dive-bars-in-dallas.html, or look down the page to the June 24th entry. Give me your feedback please! You're looking at the blog, but not contributing. Talk to me!!!!
Greg
It took longer than I thought, but I've just posted the "Best Dive Bars in Dallas" article. When composing articles with this blog software, the date that you begin writing the article is the date that it publishes, so you need to either click on this link http://eatdallas.blogspot.com/2008/06/hot-dive-into-best-dive-bars-in-dallas.html, or look down the page to the June 24th entry. Give me your feedback please! You're looking at the blog, but not contributing. Talk to me!!!!
Greg
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I'm Still Here... I Think
Hi all,
I know that it's been a while since my last post, but Saturday will be my first day off since September 20th! I'm really looking forward to it. State Fair, here I come, so do your fried best to take me out! I'm almost finished with my article on Dallas' best dive bars (25 bars and counting). I've had a few late additions and still have a few photos to take, but there are only about four more clubs to write up and then I'll post. I'm currently writing a Burger article as well, so keep checking back. All is well with wife and dogs. Lone Star Floyd is in full rehearsal mode and we hope to be playing by the middle of November. Check out our MySpace page for details. Everyone's getting ready for the Haunted Pirate Halloween party at Dina and Lenny's (I'll be DJ-ing)! And no, I won't tell you what I'm going as. Share the love! Peace.
I know that it's been a while since my last post, but Saturday will be my first day off since September 20th! I'm really looking forward to it. State Fair, here I come, so do your fried best to take me out! I'm almost finished with my article on Dallas' best dive bars (25 bars and counting). I've had a few late additions and still have a few photos to take, but there are only about four more clubs to write up and then I'll post. I'm currently writing a Burger article as well, so keep checking back. All is well with wife and dogs. Lone Star Floyd is in full rehearsal mode and we hope to be playing by the middle of November. Check out our MySpace page for details. Everyone's getting ready for the Haunted Pirate Halloween party at Dina and Lenny's (I'll be DJ-ing)! And no, I won't tell you what I'm going as. Share the love! Peace.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Must See Sinema
OK, while we're on the subject of movies... a few months ago I was asked, by a friend, to compile a list of "must see" films and, with the help of Dave Tosh and several others we put together this list of films that should be seen. A few of them need to be seen solely for their contribution to the cinematic arts, while others are classics. Some of them are the worst that Hollywood has to offer, and some are just downright funny. Z and B-grade movies, horror, sci-fi, musicals, blockbusters, and virtually unknown independent films comprise the 160 movies on the list, and some are on there just because I like 'em. Enjoy and let me know of any that I have missed. By the way, these are not in any particular order.
1. Dr. Strangelove (1964, Slim Pickins, Peter Sellers, one of the all-time classics)
2. Six-String Samurai (1998, Starring Jeffrey Falcon, post-apocalyptic rock n' roll samurais, Elvis, and Satan's rock band!)
3. Repo Man (1984, Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, A search for decaying aliens in the trunk of a stolen car)
4. Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill (1966, Tura Satana, directed by Russ Meyer, race car driving she-thugs out for laughs)
5. I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968, Peter Sellers, Hippie fun at it's best)
6. This is Spinal-Tap (1984, Rock Band Mockumentary starring Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Bruno Kirby, Harry Schearer, tons of star cameos)
7. Harold and Maude (1971, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort, A suicidal youth falls in love with a septuagenarian, very sweet and funny)
8. Forbidden Zone (1980, Danny Elfman, Hervé Villechaize, Very Weird!)
9. Bubba Ho-Tep (2002, Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Elvis and JFK battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy)
10. 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953, Hans Conreid, based on the Dr. Seuss book, fun and strange)
11. Brazil (1985, Robert DiNero, Jonathan Pryce, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Directed by Terry Gilliam)
12. A Boy and His Dog (1975, Don Johnson, post-apocalyptic talking dog, Jason Robards is the dog's voice)
13. Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988, Directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring John Neville, Oliver Reed, Eric Idle, Uma Thurman, Jonathan Pryce, Robin Williams)
14. Brewster McCloud (1970, Bud Cort, Sally Kellerman, Shelly Duval, Stacy Keach, Directed by Robert Altman)
15. The Warriors (1979, Michael Beck, Futuristic gang wars in N.Y.C.)
16. Escape From New York (1981, Kurt Russel, Donald Pleasance, Harry Dean Stanton, Lee Van Cleef, Isaac Hayes, Adrienne Barbeau)
17. Eraserhead (1977, David Lynch's first film, hard to watch, very creepy)
18. Dazed and Confused (1993, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Afleck, Milla Jovovich)
19. Clerks (1994, Directed by Kevin Smith from Austin, First appearance of Jay and Silent Bob)
20. The Big Lebowski (1998, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, a classic comedy)
21. This Island Earth (1955, classic 50s Sci-Fi, was the subject of the movie "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" which is also really fun)
22. Manos, the Hands of Fate (1966 - one of the worst films ever made)
23. Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959 - another worst film ever made, directed by Ed Wood)
24. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, John and Joan Cusak, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, and Hank Azaria, Dueling Hit Men at a high school reunion)
25. High Fidelity (2000, John Cusak, Jack Black, and Tim Robbins)
26. Barbarella (1968, Jane Fonda, the band Duran Duran got their name from this movie)
27. I Wake Up Screaming (1941, Film Noir starring Victor Mature, Carol Landis, and Betty Grabel)
28. Forbidden Planet (1956, classic Sci-Fi starring Leslie Nielsen in a serious role)
29. A Clockwork Orange (1971, Malcom McDowell, very twisted, bleak, futuristic film, me little droogies)
30. El Topo (1971, Aka The Mole, Mexican surrealistic splatter spaghetti Western)
31. Phantom of the Paradise (1974, Directed by Brian DePalma, starring Paul Williams, modern take on Phantom of the Opera)
32. Tommy (1975, Oliver Reed, Anne Margaret, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltry, The Who, Tina Turner)
33. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987, Bruce Campbell, Directed by Sam Raimi)
34. Army of Darkness (1992, Aka Evil Dead 3, Bruce Campbell, Directed by Sam Raimi)
35. Groove Tube (1974, Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer, A collection of skits that make fun of 1970s television)
36. Kentucky Fried Movie (1977, Series of short, highly irreverent, and often tasteless skits)
37. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978, scientists band together to save the world from mutated tomatoes that KILL!)
38. Killer Clowns From Outer Space (1988, Aliens clowns from outer space terrorize a small town)
39. Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979, P. J. Soles, rock-loving students, and the Ramones, take over their high school)
40. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984, Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd)
41. Streets of Fire (1984, Michael Pare, Willem Dafoe, Rick Moranis, "A Rock and Roll Fable")
42. Better Off Dead (1985, John Cusak, Curtis Armstrong, David Ogden Stiers)
43. Real Genius (1985, Val Kilmer, Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities at college, while developing a laser)
44. Big Trouble in Little China (1986, Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, A trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown)
45. Amazon Women on the Moon (1987, a number of stars appear, Spoof of 1950's sci-fi movie, interspersed with comedy sketches)
46. House of Games (1987, Joe Mantegna, A look into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men, great twist ending!)
47. Raising Arizona (1987, Nicholas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Childless couple decides to steal one of another family's quintuplets)
48. Three O’clock High (1987, Coming of age comedy, amazing camera work)
49. Akira (1988, one of the best Japanimation films of all time!)
50. Hairspray (1988, Sonny Bono, Ricki Lake, Deborah Harry, Jerry Stiller, Divine)
51. Hard-Boiled (1992, Aka "Lat sau san taam", Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung, Directed by John Woo)
52. The Usual Suspects (1995, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Pollak, Won 2 Oscars)
53. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1988, Mike Nelson and his robot companions watch and give their comments about "This Island Earth")
54. Office Space (1999, company workers who hate their jobs, decide to rebel against their greedy boss)
55. Dark City (1998, William Hurt, Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly)
56. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, Michael Rennie, Classic 50s sci-fi)
57. Carnival of Souls (1962, After a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival)
58. Metropolis (1927, Directed by Fritz Lang, One of the first sci-fi films, a classic!)
59. Head (1968, The Monkees, Jack Nicholson, surrealistic Beatlesesque musical)
60. Death Race 2000 (1975, David Caradine, Sylvester Stalone, brutal futuristic cross-country car race where pedestrians are run down for points)
61. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, One of the first horror films, "A horror film that surpasses all others")
62. The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997, Bill Murray, spies and mistaken identities, great Saturday afternoon fluff)
63. Real Men (1987, Jim Belushi, John Ritter, spies, espionage, and aliens, great Saturday afternoon fluff)
64. Blackula (1972, Interior decorators buy the coffin of an African prince bitten by Dracula and bring it back to Los Angeles... Great Blaxploitaion)
65. Logan's Run (1976, Michael York, Peter Ustinov, An idyllic sci-fi future has one major drawback: life must end at 30, nominated for 2 Oscars)
66. Westworld (1973, Yul Brenner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin)
67. Night of the Lepus (1972, Janet Leigh, Rory Calhoun, Deforest Kelly, Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the Southwest!!)
68. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964, Pia Zadora, The Martians kidnap Santa, The Worst!)
69. Shaolin Soccer (2001, Mystical Kung-Fu Soccer action!)
70. Tron (1982, Jeff Bridges, A hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced into gladiatorial games, very early computer generated effects)
71. Casino Royale (1967, Peter Seller, David Niven, Ursula Andress, Orson Wells, Woody Allen, William Holden, John Huston, an early 007 spy spoof)
72. Mystery Men (1999, Too many amazing stars to list, A group of inept amateur superheroes must take down Casnova Frankenstein aka Geoffrey Rush)
73. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983, Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on townsfolk)
74. Rollerball (1975, Jame Caan, In a corporate controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world)
75. Soylent Green (1973, Charlton Heston, Chuck Connors, Edward G. Robinson, Living in an overpopulated future)
76. Fahrenheit 451 (1966, Written by Ray Bradbury, Directed by Francois Truffaut, In the future, A fireman whose job is to destroy all books questions his task)
77. Twelve Monkeys (1995, Directed by Terry Gilliam, Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, In the dying future, a convict is sent back in time to find out about a man-made virus)
78. The Omega Man (1971, Charlton Heston, a doctor, due to an experimental vaccine, is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons)
79. Donnie Darko (2001, A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny bringing apocalyptic news)
80. Zachariah (1971, Don Johnson, Joe Walsh, Two gunfighters separate and experience drug induced rock n' roll visions on their journey through the west)
81. Attack of the Mushroom People (1963, aka "Matango," Shipwrecked survivors slowly transform into mushrooms, a bizarre, imaginative, nightmarish fantasy)
82. Flesh Gordon (1974, Candy Samples, Emperor Wang (the Perverted) is leader of the planet Porno and sends his mighty "Sex Ray" towards Earth)
83. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958, An abused wife grows after an alien encounter and aborted murder attempt, then she goes after cheating husband)
84. Wizards (1977, On a post-apocalyptic Earth, A wizard and his faire folk comrades fight an evil wizard who's using technology in his bid for conquest)
85. Fantastic Planet (1973, animated, On a faraway planet, giants rule, and tiny humanoids, kept as pets, must fight for their lives and their equality)
86. 20,000,000 Miles to Earth (1957, classic 50s monster movie, The first spaceship to visit Venus and return, lands in the sea, freeing a small Venusian creature)
87. Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971, Vincent Price, Dr. Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death)
88. Cat People (Both the 1942 and 1982 versions, Both are excellent and stand on their own merit)
89. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976, David Bowie, Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet)
90. The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980, A tribesman in the Kalahari desert encounters technology for the first time--in the shape of a Coke bottle)
91. Brother From Another Planet (1984, A mute alien is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem in this thought-provoking cult classic)
92. My Dinner with Andre (1981, Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory share their lives over the course of an evening meal at a restaurant, Known for being filmed almost entirely in one shot)
93. Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers (1956, Classic 50s sci-fi about aliens taking over Washington DC)
94. Ed Wood (1994, The mostly true story of the legendary director of awful movies and his strange group of friends and actors)
95. Fist Full of Dollars (1964, Clint Eastwood plays two rival families against each other in a small Mexican town. The first spaghetti Western?, great soundtrack)
96. Freaks (1932, the deformed friends of a side-show performer discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance and mess her up. A classic cult film)
97. The Legend of Drunken Master (1978, Jackie Chan, An undisciplined boy must learn the Drunken Fist style of Kung-Fu in order to stop an assassin, Awesome!)
98. My Name is Nobody (1973, Terrence Hill, Henry Fonda, A young, easygoing gunman (Hill) worships and competes with an old retiring gunfighter - Fonda)
99. THX 1138 (1971, George Lucas's first film, 25th century man and a woman rebel against their rigidly controlled society)
100. Cool Hand Luke (1967, Paul Newman, A man refuses to conform to life in a rural prison)
101. Not of This Earth (1957, An alien agent from planet Davana is sent to earth via a high-tech matter transporter, the two later versions are good as well)
102. I was a Teenage Werewolf (1957, troubled teenager seeks help through hypnotherapy, but his evil doctor uses him for regression experiments)
103. I was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957, Professor Frankenstein steals body parts of dead athletes and builds a monster which goes on a campus killing spree)
104. Curse of the Cat People (1944, mostly unrelated sequel to the 1942 Cat People)
105. The Hunger (1983, David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon, Egyptian vampire subsists on blood from her lovers who don't age)
106. Reefer Madness (1936, features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana)
107. Time Bandits (1981, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelly Duval, Michael Palin, David Warner, A young boy accidentally joins a band of dwarves as they jump from time-period to time-period looking for treasure to steal)
108. Kiss Me Deadly (1955, Ralph Meeker, Cloris Leechman, A doomed female hitchhiker pulls Mike Hammer into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue)
109. An American Werewolf in London (1981, Griffin Dunne, Two American tourists in England are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists)
110. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970, Directed by Russ Meyer, Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs, and sleaze)
111. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2001, A dedicated scientist, aided by his clueless wife, rolls up his shirt sleeves and tries to save the world from a radioactive monster. A campy classic!)
112. Invaders From Mars (1953, great campy 50s sci-fi)
113. Shaun of the Dead (2004, After Shaun breaks up with his girlfriend Liz, his world is changing dramatically. One night he is drinking in the pub the next he is saving the human race from blood curdling zombies
114. Hot Fuzz (2007, Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence. A great lampoon of buddy cop films! Good soundtrack)
115. The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961, A defecting Russian scientist is transformed by an atomic test into a hulking monster, Starring Tor Johnson)
116. The Brain from Planet Arous (1957, A powerful criminal brain from the planet Arous, Gor, assumes the body of scientist Steve March)
117. Cherry 2000 (1987, In the future, a man travels to the ends of the earth to find that the perfect woman is always under his nose and she’s a robot)
118. Braindead (1992, A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors)
119. Fiend Without a Face (1958, A Scientist, experimenting with telekinetic powers enhanced by a nearby nuclear power plant succeeds in creating a new form of life, classic 50s Sci-Fi)
120. Frankenhooker (1990, A medical school dropout loses his fiancée in a tragic lawnmower incident, and decides to bring her back by rebuilding her with body parts from prostitutes)
121. The Giant Claw (1957, Global panic ensues when it is revealed that a mysterious UFO is actually a giant bird that flies at supersonic speed and has no regard for life or architecture)
122. Greaser’s Palace (1972, A very strange Western parable, based on the life of Christ. This ain't your father's Bible story)
123. Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962, A U.N. space expedition to the planet Uranus discovers a bizarre and sexy world, right out of their own heads)
124. The Killer Shrews (1959, On an isolated island, a small group of people is terrorised by giant, voracious shrews (dogs wearing carpet remnants) in the midst of a hurricane)
125. Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974, Count Dracula journeys to a remote Chinese village in the guise of a warlord to support six vampires, Vampire Kung-Fu action)
126. Meet the Feebles (1989, Heidi the Hippo discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her, and all of her co-stars must contend with drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, drug dealing, and murder. While this is happening Trevor the Rat, wishes to exploit the young hippo starlet for use in his porno movie business, X-Rated Muppets!)
127. Message From Space (1978, Japanese Star Wars rip-off, stars Vic Morrow and Sonny Chiba)
128. Motel Hell (1980, Farmer Vincent kidnaps unsuspecting travelers and buries them in his garden, but unfortunately for his victims, they are not dead. He is fattening them up to make his famous fritters, stars Rory Calhoun and Wolfman Jack)
129. The Monster that Challenged the World (1957, An earthquake in the Salton Sea unleashes a horde of prehistoric mollusk monsters, campy 50s Sci-Fi)
130. Psycho Beach Party (2000, Spoof of 1960's Beach Party/Gidget surfing movies mixed with slasher horror films, very fun to watch)
131. Nude on the Moon (1961, A rich rocket scientist organizes an expedition to the moon, which they discover is inhabited by nude women)
132. Santa Sangre (1989, From the man that brought you El Topo, A colorful, horrifying and hallucinatory masterpiece. Many have compared it to "Psycho", "Freaks" and "Fellini”)
133. Radioactive Dreams (1985, After an atomic war Phillip Hammer and Marlowe Chandler have spent 15 years on their own in a bomb shelter, stuffed with junk from the 40s and old detective novels. Now, 19 years old, they leave their shelter to find a world full of mutants, freaks, cannibals, Disco, and George Kennedy!)
134. Reptilicus (1961, A portion of the tail of a prehistoric snake is discovered in Denmark. It then regenerates into the entire reptile and wreaks havoc)
135. The Resurrected (1992, Charles Dexter Ward's wife enlists the help of a private detective to find out what her husband is up to in a remote cabin owned by his family for centuries, Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story)
136. Robot Monster (1953, The Robot Monster has been sent to Earth in advance of an impending alien invasion. Looking remarkably like a gorilla in a diving helmet, he has destroyed all but six people on Earth and spends the entire film trying to finish off these survivors)
137. Santa Claus (1959, With the aid of Merlin, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil, Pitch, to ruin Xmas, a really weird twist on Christmas!)
138. The Shape of Things to Come (1979, Planet Earth is a devastated wasteland, and what's left of humanity has colonized the Moon in domed cities. Humanity's continued survival depends on an anti-radiation drug only available on planet Delta Three, which has been taken over by Omus, aka Jack Palance, amazingly weird film)
139. Phantom Empire (1989, A man-eating cave creature appears with a fortune in diamonds around his neck, so Denae hires adventurers to find the underground source of the gems and they discover a tribe of Amazon women, headed by Sybil Danning, at her bra-busting best, many props from old Sci-Fi films were used)
140. Starcrash (1978, Epic action in outer space when the good guys set out to track the evil Count's secret weapon. The movie lacks any sense of reality, is rife with ridiculous dialog, and filled with special effects that are extraordinarily cheesy)
141. It Conquered the World (1956, An alien from Venus, bent on world domination, is guided to Earth by disgruntled scientist who tells it which humans it should attach mind control devices to, great, campy 50s Sci-Fi)
142. Story of Ricky (A young man with superhuman strength is incarcerated at a prison run by corrupt officials and seeks to use his martial arts to clean up the system, one of the goriest Kung-Fu films ever made!)
143. Tarantula (1955, Starring John Agar, A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants)
144. Terror of Tiny Town (1938, An evil gun-slinging midget comes to terrorize the good little people of Tiny Town, a Western cast entirely with midgets)
145. Comedy of Terrors (1964, An undertaker who hasn't had any 'customers' in a long time is forced to kill people in order to pay one year's back-rent, stars Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Basil Rathbone)
146. Monolith Monsters (1957, When a storm exposes fragments of a strange black meteor to water, they grow into skyscraper-sized monoliths which then topple and shatter into thousands of pieces and any humans in the way are crushed or turned into human statues, very cool!)
147. The Tingler (1959, Vincent Price, a pathologist discovers and captures a creature that lives in every vertebrate and grows when fear grips its host, When the film was originally released in theatres, shock devices were installed in some of the seats, to scare the hell out of the moviegoers, hence the name)
148. Uninvited (1988, George Kennedy, A mutated killer cat finds its way on-board a yacht and wreaks havoc)
149. Vampire Men of the Lost Planet (1970, Start with footage of vampires doing their thing in back alleys. Mix with a no-budget science fiction film about a rocketship landing on another planet. Finally, wrap the entire thing with a Filipino caveman film and bake)
150. The Trip (1967, Written by Jack Nicholson, starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Bruce Dern, Paul (Peter Fonda) takes LSD and experiences visions of sex, death, strobe lights, flowers, dancing girls, witches, hooded riders, a torture chamber, and a dwarf, Go with it, man!)
151. Two Thousand Maniacs (1964, Six people are lured into a small Deep South town for a Centennial celebration (of civil war ghosts) where the residents proceed to kill them one by one as revenge for the town's destruction during the Civil War)
152. The Blob (1958, Steve McQueen, An alien life form consumes everything in its path as it grows and grows)
153. Day of the Triffids (1962, A shower of meteorites produces a glow that blinds anyone that looks at it. As most people were watching, 99% of the population goes blind. Space alien plants whose spores have arrived in the meteor shower come to life and start killing people)
154. Night of the Comet (1984, A comet wipes out most of life on Earth, leaving two Valley Girls to fight the evil types who survive)
155. War of the Worlds (1953, The film adaptation of the H.G. Wells story told on radio of the invasion of Earth by Martians, great and classic Sci-Fi)
156. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, An alien and his robot, Gort, land in Washington D.C. and tell the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets, Klatu Barada Nikto)
157. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956, aliens come to Washington DC and schedule a meeting with the leaders of Earth with the intention to invade Earth without panicking the population. A Dr. develops an anti-magnetic weapon that becomes that last hope of human race against the hostile aliens)
158. Valley of Gwangi (1969, Cowboy James Franciscus seeks fame and fortune by capturing a Tyrannosaurus Rex living in the Forbidden Valley and putting it in a Mexican circus)
159. How to Make a Monster (1958, When master monster make-up man Pete is sacked by the new bosses of American International studios he uses his creations to exact revenge)
160. Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957, A teenage couple making out in the woods accidentally run over an alien creature. The creature's hand falls off, but comes alive, and, with an eye growing out of it, begins to stalk the teens. Meanwhile, Joe the town drunk stores the body in his refrigerator, but some of the alien's buddies inject Joe with alcohol and he dies).
Whew, what a list! I hope that you get a chance to check some of these "masterpieces" out. Copies of some of these films are very dificult to find. So, if you find them, share them!
Happy movieing,
Greg
1. Dr. Strangelove (1964, Slim Pickins, Peter Sellers, one of the all-time classics)
2. Six-String Samurai (1998, Starring Jeffrey Falcon, post-apocalyptic rock n' roll samurais, Elvis, and Satan's rock band!)
3. Repo Man (1984, Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, A search for decaying aliens in the trunk of a stolen car)
4. Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill (1966, Tura Satana, directed by Russ Meyer, race car driving she-thugs out for laughs)
5. I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968, Peter Sellers, Hippie fun at it's best)
6. This is Spinal-Tap (1984, Rock Band Mockumentary starring Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Bruno Kirby, Harry Schearer, tons of star cameos)
7. Harold and Maude (1971, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort, A suicidal youth falls in love with a septuagenarian, very sweet and funny)
8. Forbidden Zone (1980, Danny Elfman, Hervé Villechaize, Very Weird!)
9. Bubba Ho-Tep (2002, Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Elvis and JFK battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy)
10. 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953, Hans Conreid, based on the Dr. Seuss book, fun and strange)
11. Brazil (1985, Robert DiNero, Jonathan Pryce, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Directed by Terry Gilliam)
12. A Boy and His Dog (1975, Don Johnson, post-apocalyptic talking dog, Jason Robards is the dog's voice)
13. Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988, Directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring John Neville, Oliver Reed, Eric Idle, Uma Thurman, Jonathan Pryce, Robin Williams)
14. Brewster McCloud (1970, Bud Cort, Sally Kellerman, Shelly Duval, Stacy Keach, Directed by Robert Altman)
15. The Warriors (1979, Michael Beck, Futuristic gang wars in N.Y.C.)
16. Escape From New York (1981, Kurt Russel, Donald Pleasance, Harry Dean Stanton, Lee Van Cleef, Isaac Hayes, Adrienne Barbeau)
17. Eraserhead (1977, David Lynch's first film, hard to watch, very creepy)
18. Dazed and Confused (1993, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Afleck, Milla Jovovich)
19. Clerks (1994, Directed by Kevin Smith from Austin, First appearance of Jay and Silent Bob)
20. The Big Lebowski (1998, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, a classic comedy)
21. This Island Earth (1955, classic 50s Sci-Fi, was the subject of the movie "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" which is also really fun)
22. Manos, the Hands of Fate (1966 - one of the worst films ever made)
23. Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959 - another worst film ever made, directed by Ed Wood)
24. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, John and Joan Cusak, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, and Hank Azaria, Dueling Hit Men at a high school reunion)
25. High Fidelity (2000, John Cusak, Jack Black, and Tim Robbins)
26. Barbarella (1968, Jane Fonda, the band Duran Duran got their name from this movie)
27. I Wake Up Screaming (1941, Film Noir starring Victor Mature, Carol Landis, and Betty Grabel)
28. Forbidden Planet (1956, classic Sci-Fi starring Leslie Nielsen in a serious role)
29. A Clockwork Orange (1971, Malcom McDowell, very twisted, bleak, futuristic film, me little droogies)
30. El Topo (1971, Aka The Mole, Mexican surrealistic splatter spaghetti Western)
31. Phantom of the Paradise (1974, Directed by Brian DePalma, starring Paul Williams, modern take on Phantom of the Opera)
32. Tommy (1975, Oliver Reed, Anne Margaret, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltry, The Who, Tina Turner)
33. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987, Bruce Campbell, Directed by Sam Raimi)
34. Army of Darkness (1992, Aka Evil Dead 3, Bruce Campbell, Directed by Sam Raimi)
35. Groove Tube (1974, Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer, A collection of skits that make fun of 1970s television)
36. Kentucky Fried Movie (1977, Series of short, highly irreverent, and often tasteless skits)
37. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978, scientists band together to save the world from mutated tomatoes that KILL!)
38. Killer Clowns From Outer Space (1988, Aliens clowns from outer space terrorize a small town)
39. Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979, P. J. Soles, rock-loving students, and the Ramones, take over their high school)
40. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984, Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd)
41. Streets of Fire (1984, Michael Pare, Willem Dafoe, Rick Moranis, "A Rock and Roll Fable")
42. Better Off Dead (1985, John Cusak, Curtis Armstrong, David Ogden Stiers)
43. Real Genius (1985, Val Kilmer, Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities at college, while developing a laser)
44. Big Trouble in Little China (1986, Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, A trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown)
45. Amazon Women on the Moon (1987, a number of stars appear, Spoof of 1950's sci-fi movie, interspersed with comedy sketches)
46. House of Games (1987, Joe Mantegna, A look into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men, great twist ending!)
47. Raising Arizona (1987, Nicholas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Childless couple decides to steal one of another family's quintuplets)
48. Three O’clock High (1987, Coming of age comedy, amazing camera work)
49. Akira (1988, one of the best Japanimation films of all time!)
50. Hairspray (1988, Sonny Bono, Ricki Lake, Deborah Harry, Jerry Stiller, Divine)
51. Hard-Boiled (1992, Aka "Lat sau san taam", Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung, Directed by John Woo)
52. The Usual Suspects (1995, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Pollak, Won 2 Oscars)
53. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1988, Mike Nelson and his robot companions watch and give their comments about "This Island Earth")
54. Office Space (1999, company workers who hate their jobs, decide to rebel against their greedy boss)
55. Dark City (1998, William Hurt, Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly)
56. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, Michael Rennie, Classic 50s sci-fi)
57. Carnival of Souls (1962, After a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival)
58. Metropolis (1927, Directed by Fritz Lang, One of the first sci-fi films, a classic!)
59. Head (1968, The Monkees, Jack Nicholson, surrealistic Beatlesesque musical)
60. Death Race 2000 (1975, David Caradine, Sylvester Stalone, brutal futuristic cross-country car race where pedestrians are run down for points)
61. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, One of the first horror films, "A horror film that surpasses all others")
62. The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997, Bill Murray, spies and mistaken identities, great Saturday afternoon fluff)
63. Real Men (1987, Jim Belushi, John Ritter, spies, espionage, and aliens, great Saturday afternoon fluff)
64. Blackula (1972, Interior decorators buy the coffin of an African prince bitten by Dracula and bring it back to Los Angeles... Great Blaxploitaion)
65. Logan's Run (1976, Michael York, Peter Ustinov, An idyllic sci-fi future has one major drawback: life must end at 30, nominated for 2 Oscars)
66. Westworld (1973, Yul Brenner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin)
67. Night of the Lepus (1972, Janet Leigh, Rory Calhoun, Deforest Kelly, Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the Southwest!!)
68. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964, Pia Zadora, The Martians kidnap Santa, The Worst!)
69. Shaolin Soccer (2001, Mystical Kung-Fu Soccer action!)
70. Tron (1982, Jeff Bridges, A hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced into gladiatorial games, very early computer generated effects)
71. Casino Royale (1967, Peter Seller, David Niven, Ursula Andress, Orson Wells, Woody Allen, William Holden, John Huston, an early 007 spy spoof)
72. Mystery Men (1999, Too many amazing stars to list, A group of inept amateur superheroes must take down Casnova Frankenstein aka Geoffrey Rush)
73. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983, Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on townsfolk)
74. Rollerball (1975, Jame Caan, In a corporate controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world)
75. Soylent Green (1973, Charlton Heston, Chuck Connors, Edward G. Robinson, Living in an overpopulated future)
76. Fahrenheit 451 (1966, Written by Ray Bradbury, Directed by Francois Truffaut, In the future, A fireman whose job is to destroy all books questions his task)
77. Twelve Monkeys (1995, Directed by Terry Gilliam, Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, In the dying future, a convict is sent back in time to find out about a man-made virus)
78. The Omega Man (1971, Charlton Heston, a doctor, due to an experimental vaccine, is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons)
79. Donnie Darko (2001, A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny bringing apocalyptic news)
80. Zachariah (1971, Don Johnson, Joe Walsh, Two gunfighters separate and experience drug induced rock n' roll visions on their journey through the west)
81. Attack of the Mushroom People (1963, aka "Matango," Shipwrecked survivors slowly transform into mushrooms, a bizarre, imaginative, nightmarish fantasy)
82. Flesh Gordon (1974, Candy Samples, Emperor Wang (the Perverted) is leader of the planet Porno and sends his mighty "Sex Ray" towards Earth)
83. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958, An abused wife grows after an alien encounter and aborted murder attempt, then she goes after cheating husband)
84. Wizards (1977, On a post-apocalyptic Earth, A wizard and his faire folk comrades fight an evil wizard who's using technology in his bid for conquest)
85. Fantastic Planet (1973, animated, On a faraway planet, giants rule, and tiny humanoids, kept as pets, must fight for their lives and their equality)
86. 20,000,000 Miles to Earth (1957, classic 50s monster movie, The first spaceship to visit Venus and return, lands in the sea, freeing a small Venusian creature)
87. Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971, Vincent Price, Dr. Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death)
88. Cat People (Both the 1942 and 1982 versions, Both are excellent and stand on their own merit)
89. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976, David Bowie, Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet)
90. The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980, A tribesman in the Kalahari desert encounters technology for the first time--in the shape of a Coke bottle)
91. Brother From Another Planet (1984, A mute alien is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem in this thought-provoking cult classic)
92. My Dinner with Andre (1981, Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory share their lives over the course of an evening meal at a restaurant, Known for being filmed almost entirely in one shot)
93. Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers (1956, Classic 50s sci-fi about aliens taking over Washington DC)
94. Ed Wood (1994, The mostly true story of the legendary director of awful movies and his strange group of friends and actors)
95. Fist Full of Dollars (1964, Clint Eastwood plays two rival families against each other in a small Mexican town. The first spaghetti Western?, great soundtrack)
96. Freaks (1932, the deformed friends of a side-show performer discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance and mess her up. A classic cult film)
97. The Legend of Drunken Master (1978, Jackie Chan, An undisciplined boy must learn the Drunken Fist style of Kung-Fu in order to stop an assassin, Awesome!)
98. My Name is Nobody (1973, Terrence Hill, Henry Fonda, A young, easygoing gunman (Hill) worships and competes with an old retiring gunfighter - Fonda)
99. THX 1138 (1971, George Lucas's first film, 25th century man and a woman rebel against their rigidly controlled society)
100. Cool Hand Luke (1967, Paul Newman, A man refuses to conform to life in a rural prison)
101. Not of This Earth (1957, An alien agent from planet Davana is sent to earth via a high-tech matter transporter, the two later versions are good as well)
102. I was a Teenage Werewolf (1957, troubled teenager seeks help through hypnotherapy, but his evil doctor uses him for regression experiments)
103. I was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957, Professor Frankenstein steals body parts of dead athletes and builds a monster which goes on a campus killing spree)
104. Curse of the Cat People (1944, mostly unrelated sequel to the 1942 Cat People)
105. The Hunger (1983, David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon, Egyptian vampire subsists on blood from her lovers who don't age)
106. Reefer Madness (1936, features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana)
107. Time Bandits (1981, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelly Duval, Michael Palin, David Warner, A young boy accidentally joins a band of dwarves as they jump from time-period to time-period looking for treasure to steal)
108. Kiss Me Deadly (1955, Ralph Meeker, Cloris Leechman, A doomed female hitchhiker pulls Mike Hammer into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue)
109. An American Werewolf in London (1981, Griffin Dunne, Two American tourists in England are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists)
110. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970, Directed by Russ Meyer, Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs, and sleaze)
111. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2001, A dedicated scientist, aided by his clueless wife, rolls up his shirt sleeves and tries to save the world from a radioactive monster. A campy classic!)
112. Invaders From Mars (1953, great campy 50s sci-fi)
113. Shaun of the Dead (2004, After Shaun breaks up with his girlfriend Liz, his world is changing dramatically. One night he is drinking in the pub the next he is saving the human race from blood curdling zombies
114. Hot Fuzz (2007, Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence. A great lampoon of buddy cop films! Good soundtrack)
115. The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961, A defecting Russian scientist is transformed by an atomic test into a hulking monster, Starring Tor Johnson)
116. The Brain from Planet Arous (1957, A powerful criminal brain from the planet Arous, Gor, assumes the body of scientist Steve March)
117. Cherry 2000 (1987, In the future, a man travels to the ends of the earth to find that the perfect woman is always under his nose and she’s a robot)
118. Braindead (1992, A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors)
119. Fiend Without a Face (1958, A Scientist, experimenting with telekinetic powers enhanced by a nearby nuclear power plant succeeds in creating a new form of life, classic 50s Sci-Fi)
120. Frankenhooker (1990, A medical school dropout loses his fiancée in a tragic lawnmower incident, and decides to bring her back by rebuilding her with body parts from prostitutes)
121. The Giant Claw (1957, Global panic ensues when it is revealed that a mysterious UFO is actually a giant bird that flies at supersonic speed and has no regard for life or architecture)
122. Greaser’s Palace (1972, A very strange Western parable, based on the life of Christ. This ain't your father's Bible story)
123. Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962, A U.N. space expedition to the planet Uranus discovers a bizarre and sexy world, right out of their own heads)
124. The Killer Shrews (1959, On an isolated island, a small group of people is terrorised by giant, voracious shrews (dogs wearing carpet remnants) in the midst of a hurricane)
125. Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974, Count Dracula journeys to a remote Chinese village in the guise of a warlord to support six vampires, Vampire Kung-Fu action)
126. Meet the Feebles (1989, Heidi the Hippo discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her, and all of her co-stars must contend with drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, drug dealing, and murder. While this is happening Trevor the Rat, wishes to exploit the young hippo starlet for use in his porno movie business, X-Rated Muppets!)
127. Message From Space (1978, Japanese Star Wars rip-off, stars Vic Morrow and Sonny Chiba)
128. Motel Hell (1980, Farmer Vincent kidnaps unsuspecting travelers and buries them in his garden, but unfortunately for his victims, they are not dead. He is fattening them up to make his famous fritters, stars Rory Calhoun and Wolfman Jack)
129. The Monster that Challenged the World (1957, An earthquake in the Salton Sea unleashes a horde of prehistoric mollusk monsters, campy 50s Sci-Fi)
130. Psycho Beach Party (2000, Spoof of 1960's Beach Party/Gidget surfing movies mixed with slasher horror films, very fun to watch)
131. Nude on the Moon (1961, A rich rocket scientist organizes an expedition to the moon, which they discover is inhabited by nude women)
132. Santa Sangre (1989, From the man that brought you El Topo, A colorful, horrifying and hallucinatory masterpiece. Many have compared it to "Psycho", "Freaks" and "Fellini”)
133. Radioactive Dreams (1985, After an atomic war Phillip Hammer and Marlowe Chandler have spent 15 years on their own in a bomb shelter, stuffed with junk from the 40s and old detective novels. Now, 19 years old, they leave their shelter to find a world full of mutants, freaks, cannibals, Disco, and George Kennedy!)
134. Reptilicus (1961, A portion of the tail of a prehistoric snake is discovered in Denmark. It then regenerates into the entire reptile and wreaks havoc)
135. The Resurrected (1992, Charles Dexter Ward's wife enlists the help of a private detective to find out what her husband is up to in a remote cabin owned by his family for centuries, Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story)
136. Robot Monster (1953, The Robot Monster has been sent to Earth in advance of an impending alien invasion. Looking remarkably like a gorilla in a diving helmet, he has destroyed all but six people on Earth and spends the entire film trying to finish off these survivors)
137. Santa Claus (1959, With the aid of Merlin, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil, Pitch, to ruin Xmas, a really weird twist on Christmas!)
138. The Shape of Things to Come (1979, Planet Earth is a devastated wasteland, and what's left of humanity has colonized the Moon in domed cities. Humanity's continued survival depends on an anti-radiation drug only available on planet Delta Three, which has been taken over by Omus, aka Jack Palance, amazingly weird film)
139. Phantom Empire (1989, A man-eating cave creature appears with a fortune in diamonds around his neck, so Denae hires adventurers to find the underground source of the gems and they discover a tribe of Amazon women, headed by Sybil Danning, at her bra-busting best, many props from old Sci-Fi films were used)
140. Starcrash (1978, Epic action in outer space when the good guys set out to track the evil Count's secret weapon. The movie lacks any sense of reality, is rife with ridiculous dialog, and filled with special effects that are extraordinarily cheesy)
141. It Conquered the World (1956, An alien from Venus, bent on world domination, is guided to Earth by disgruntled scientist who tells it which humans it should attach mind control devices to, great, campy 50s Sci-Fi)
142. Story of Ricky (A young man with superhuman strength is incarcerated at a prison run by corrupt officials and seeks to use his martial arts to clean up the system, one of the goriest Kung-Fu films ever made!)
143. Tarantula (1955, Starring John Agar, A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants)
144. Terror of Tiny Town (1938, An evil gun-slinging midget comes to terrorize the good little people of Tiny Town, a Western cast entirely with midgets)
145. Comedy of Terrors (1964, An undertaker who hasn't had any 'customers' in a long time is forced to kill people in order to pay one year's back-rent, stars Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Basil Rathbone)
146. Monolith Monsters (1957, When a storm exposes fragments of a strange black meteor to water, they grow into skyscraper-sized monoliths which then topple and shatter into thousands of pieces and any humans in the way are crushed or turned into human statues, very cool!)
147. The Tingler (1959, Vincent Price, a pathologist discovers and captures a creature that lives in every vertebrate and grows when fear grips its host, When the film was originally released in theatres, shock devices were installed in some of the seats, to scare the hell out of the moviegoers, hence the name)
148. Uninvited (1988, George Kennedy, A mutated killer cat finds its way on-board a yacht and wreaks havoc)
149. Vampire Men of the Lost Planet (1970, Start with footage of vampires doing their thing in back alleys. Mix with a no-budget science fiction film about a rocketship landing on another planet. Finally, wrap the entire thing with a Filipino caveman film and bake)
150. The Trip (1967, Written by Jack Nicholson, starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Bruce Dern, Paul (Peter Fonda) takes LSD and experiences visions of sex, death, strobe lights, flowers, dancing girls, witches, hooded riders, a torture chamber, and a dwarf, Go with it, man!)
151. Two Thousand Maniacs (1964, Six people are lured into a small Deep South town for a Centennial celebration (of civil war ghosts) where the residents proceed to kill them one by one as revenge for the town's destruction during the Civil War)
152. The Blob (1958, Steve McQueen, An alien life form consumes everything in its path as it grows and grows)
153. Day of the Triffids (1962, A shower of meteorites produces a glow that blinds anyone that looks at it. As most people were watching, 99% of the population goes blind. Space alien plants whose spores have arrived in the meteor shower come to life and start killing people)
154. Night of the Comet (1984, A comet wipes out most of life on Earth, leaving two Valley Girls to fight the evil types who survive)
155. War of the Worlds (1953, The film adaptation of the H.G. Wells story told on radio of the invasion of Earth by Martians, great and classic Sci-Fi)
156. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, An alien and his robot, Gort, land in Washington D.C. and tell the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets, Klatu Barada Nikto)
157. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956, aliens come to Washington DC and schedule a meeting with the leaders of Earth with the intention to invade Earth without panicking the population. A Dr. develops an anti-magnetic weapon that becomes that last hope of human race against the hostile aliens)
158. Valley of Gwangi (1969, Cowboy James Franciscus seeks fame and fortune by capturing a Tyrannosaurus Rex living in the Forbidden Valley and putting it in a Mexican circus)
159. How to Make a Monster (1958, When master monster make-up man Pete is sacked by the new bosses of American International studios he uses his creations to exact revenge)
160. Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957, A teenage couple making out in the woods accidentally run over an alien creature. The creature's hand falls off, but comes alive, and, with an eye growing out of it, begins to stalk the teens. Meanwhile, Joe the town drunk stores the body in his refrigerator, but some of the alien's buddies inject Joe with alcohol and he dies).
Whew, what a list! I hope that you get a chance to check some of these "masterpieces" out. Copies of some of these films are very dificult to find. So, if you find them, share them!
Happy movieing,
Greg
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Drive-in me crazy!
I practically lived at the Gemini, at Forest Lane and Central Expressway (I-75), during high school. I mean, what can beat stuffing your friends into the trunk of the 70' Chevy Impala (with a case of cold beer), yelling at them to "Shut-Up!" when you got close to the entrance, and then waiting to let them out until they're really good and pissed at you. The agenda? Drinking beer, throwing some Frisbee, kicking the hacky-sack around, and scopin' out chicks! What movie was showing was of no consequence; you just always went to the center screen. That's where the cool people hung out.
The only pics I could find of the old Gemini Drive-In on I-75, in Dallas.
With cover prices so low, drive-ins really make their money from snack bar sales. Consequently, no outside food or drinks are allowed into the theatre. But, the Galaxy has a very reasonable snack bar with loaded cheeseburgers going for only $2.75, State Fair Corn Dogs and hot dogs for $1.25, Nachos starting at $2.75, and Pizzas for $4.25. Drinks are $1.25 to $2.50. So, pack up the kids, friends, wives, or girlfriends and head out to the drive-in! Lets keep these venues open and thriving as an alternative to the $50 night at the local multi-plex.
The only pics I could find of the old Gemini Drive-In on I-75, in Dallas.
The demise of the drive-in in Texas, once a bastion for this type theatres, was a slow but steady inevitability. As the property value of suburban sprawl increased, the demand for these large tracts of land outweighed their earning potential and car dealerships and fast food joints soon won out.
In July of 1934, the third drive-in theatre in the United States opened in Galveston, Texas and by the mid-50s, there were over 400 of them in the Lone Star State. Holding onto the tradition in true Texas fashion, there were still over 200 well into the 70s. Unfortunately, that number has dwindled to only 18 theatres in the state now. On a high note, 7 of these have been built in the last five years, giving hope to all of us al fresco movie aficionados. For a list of many of these theatres check out http://www.driveinmovie.com/TX.htm.
Now, the closest drive-in to Dallas is the Galaxy Drive-In in Garrett, Texas, on I-45, just north of Ennis at exit 255. From Dallas, go 20.5 miles south of the I-20 & I-45 interchange, and at exit 255 for FM 879. They are open seven nights a week and they always show two features for the price of one. They even have a miniature golf course, complete with neon palm trees! Tickets are only $6.00 for adults and $2.00 for children from 5 to 11 years old. Their web site is http://www.galaxydriveintheatre.com/. You can call 972-875-5505 for more information.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Music in My World
Well, as many of you know, I have been a musician and lead singer for the Dallas-based band Casting Shadows for the past 20 years.
We played the Annual Beach Party at Dina and Lenny's on June 14th and had an absolute blast! I will be posting an article on that party soon, but this was the last show that Casting Shadows would play, with the this line-up. Several of us are contemplating a new party band and everyone is currently exploring other musical projects.
Dallas has always been influential as a hot bed of live music. The trends in club bands is ever-changing. For example, from the mid 80s and into the 90s, original music and the Deep Elum scene were the order of the day. Then "A" club dance bands such as Emerald City, Random Axis, Professor D, and the like took over the club scene. Currently the trend is towards tribute bands, dedicated to one particular group. They are everywhere and many of them are very impressive. Several of my favorites are Queen for a day (Queen, obviously), The One Percent Band (Lynard Skynard), Anthem (Rush), and Fearless Floyd (Pink Floyd). The first time I went to see Fearless, I was stunned and excited to discover that Doyle Maston, Casting Shadows old bass player, was handling the low-end for them. Lisa is one of the biggest Pink Floyd fans on the planet and Fearless Floyd quickly became one of our favorite local bands.
We went to see them on Saturday, June 21st, at the Flying Pig Roadhouse in Lewisville (appropriate club name for a Floyd band) and during their first set, they announced that they were taking a short hiatus and a reorganization was in the works. You can't imagine my amazement when they asked me to become the new vocalist for them! I was floored, honored and a bit nervous, as these guys simply kick ass. Our first gig is scheduled for Saturday, August 30th, at the Flying Pig (http://www.flyingpigroadhouse.com/). A new name for the band is eminent, but check out the current website for the band at http://www.fearlessfloyd.com/index.cfm, or our MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/fearlessfloydtribute. Needless to say, I am feeling "Comfortably Numb!"
We played the Annual Beach Party at Dina and Lenny's on June 14th and had an absolute blast! I will be posting an article on that party soon, but this was the last show that Casting Shadows would play, with the this line-up. Several of us are contemplating a new party band and everyone is currently exploring other musical projects.
Dallas has always been influential as a hot bed of live music. The trends in club bands is ever-changing. For example, from the mid 80s and into the 90s, original music and the Deep Elum scene were the order of the day. Then "A" club dance bands such as Emerald City, Random Axis, Professor D, and the like took over the club scene. Currently the trend is towards tribute bands, dedicated to one particular group. They are everywhere and many of them are very impressive. Several of my favorites are Queen for a day (Queen, obviously), The One Percent Band (Lynard Skynard), Anthem (Rush), and Fearless Floyd (Pink Floyd). The first time I went to see Fearless, I was stunned and excited to discover that Doyle Maston, Casting Shadows old bass player, was handling the low-end for them. Lisa is one of the biggest Pink Floyd fans on the planet and Fearless Floyd quickly became one of our favorite local bands.
We went to see them on Saturday, June 21st, at the Flying Pig Roadhouse in Lewisville (appropriate club name for a Floyd band) and during their first set, they announced that they were taking a short hiatus and a reorganization was in the works. You can't imagine my amazement when they asked me to become the new vocalist for them! I was floored, honored and a bit nervous, as these guys simply kick ass. Our first gig is scheduled for Saturday, August 30th, at the Flying Pig (http://www.flyingpigroadhouse.com/). A new name for the band is eminent, but check out the current website for the band at http://www.fearlessfloyd.com/index.cfm, or our MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/fearlessfloydtribute. Needless to say, I am feeling "Comfortably Numb!"
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Hot? Dive into the best Dive bars in Dallas
Well, it's finally done! Here's the first in a long line of "Best Of" lists, and man, do these take a long time to write! Especially when you are as passionate about the subject matter as I am. Dive bars are the topic, and there are plenty to choose from in Dallas. Now, just what kind of bar do we consider to be a "dive?" Well, we think of dives as places that, for the most part, are comfortable and dimly lit (a great place to nurse a hangover), well used (tape on the bar stools, carpet remnants on the floor, and sometimes questionable restrooms), unpretentious (they don't really care if guests are coming in or not, and have never used an interior decorator), and that serve an inexpensive, good, stiff drink or a really cold beer. These are usually good places to chat with locals and often have regular barflies that can be real characters. Many of these establishments serve good bar food, often including a very tasty burger. There are a couple on our list that are almost too nice to be called "dives," but they are certainly funky enough to earn a mention. We'd love your input on this, as we know that there are plenty of small neighborhood clubs that we have overlooked, or simply just don't know about. Please fill us in!
Sharky's (Reopened!)
7402 Greenville Ave. #320 (Upper Greenville at Pineland)
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-801-9797
Hours of operation: Still up in the air...
Website: http://www.use2bsharkys.com/
I have started this article with Sharky’s, because it’s our home bar. A while back some friends took the place over and did an extensive remodel, unfortunately, the cost of the rennovations was more than the new owners could handle, and after 27 years of continuous operation (the longest run of any bar on Greenvillle) Sharky's closed their doors. It's always been the kind of place "where everybody knows your name" and we have made some very good friends there. I've been going to Sharky's since 1986 and they've been one of the premiere dart bars in the Metroplex for decades. Last year some other friends and former patrons of "The Tank" (as we affectionately call it), Hiedi and Shane, puchased the place took on the momentous task of bringing the old girl up to code (daunting at best). They have done a great job just getting it back open and are putting in a full kitchen to boot! They expect to have the chef driven bar food menu available in early June. They currently have six dartboards, four pool tables, and several video games. They still pour a good strong drink and have 7-8 tap beers. Shane has been a drummer for various groups in and around Dallas for years, and is bringing in local original bands on the weekends. They're also trying some karaoke on Wednesday nights. Come by and see the "new" old place and have a beer and re-partonize a long-time staple of upper Greenville. "Norm!"
Adair's Saloon
2624 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: 214-939-9900
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: http://www.adairssaloon.com/
The graffiti capital of Dallas – you can write on damn near anything in here and they provide the markers! This honky-tonk/burger joint has been a staple in Deep Elum ever since I was a child. When I worked for the Stroh’s Brewery, back in the late 80s, "me an da guys" used to come here after work, for some cold suds and a big, greasy burger. There is a juke-box with a decidedly country flavor and a pool table. They have a full bar and a usually friendly staff, with live bands and a blues/bluegrass jam on the weekends. It’s authentic, laid-back, and broken in, and has developed a long-time, regular customer base. Shuffleboard and $1.50 draft beers only add to the charm of this dive.
Bent Tree Grill
18110 Midway Rd.
Dallas, TX 75287 Phone: 972-248-3559
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 11am-2am; Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 6pm-2am
Website: http://benttreegrill.com/
I consider this one of the stranger bars in town, hence it’s charm and rating on this list. This was your parent’s bar. It tries to have an upscale feel, but just doesn’t quite make it. It has a very ambitious and somewhat pricey menu (steaks can run up to $25), but the regulars and the entertainment are what really push this place over the top. Carla Sherman and Skip Orlando trade off nights singing and playing instruments to programmed or pre-recorded soundtracks, as regular patrons flock around the piano bar. The place is like a septuagenarian meat market on the weekends. Look out young uns!
Club Schmitz
9661 Denton Dr.
Dallas, TX 75220 Phone: 214-350-3607
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 9 am-12 am; Sun 11 am-1 2am
Website: None
Originally opened in 1946, Club Schmitz has been serving great, greasy burgers for longer than just about any joint in town and it's hardly changed in over 60 years. This cinder block building sits on Denton Drive, about 50 yards off of Harry Hines. The interior is covered with what looks to be the original wood paneling and old neon beer signs. Regulars usually enter from one of the side doors instead of the front and come here for a conversation and a cold beer. They usually take a stool at the bar. Weekday lunch time finds the place totally packed. Despite the neighborhood, which has seen better days, Club Schmitz is frequented by a good number of female customers. They have a pool table and shuffleboard and a juke box churns out the tunes. Several TVs usually have sports on as well and they have a couple of old video games. The prices are cheap and you can pretty much wear whatever you want.
Club 777
777 S. Central Expy. Suite 2D
Richardson, TX 75080 Phone: 972-907-0777
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
Just north of Spring Valley, on Central sits an unassuming one story office complex and in the back of it, is Club 777, a darts and pool club. They run both dart and Pool leagues out of here. This is a no frills dive with tons of regulars. They serve large draft beers and strong drinks for a good price. You can get a small pizza (frozen), but that's about the only food offering. Ceiling tiles are sold for either advertising, commemorating anniversaries, or remembering friends. They have several TVs and a juke box.
Copper Spur
6524 E Northwest Hwy.
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-750-5833
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 10 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-12 am
Website: None
At NW Hwy. and Abrams, this honky-tonk used to be called the M & M Pouring Company and it's possibly the smokiest bar on the list. This is a good end-of-the-night club. You don't really have to worry about making an ass out of yourself, because someone else has usually beaten you to it. It's dimly lit, they have live country music on the weekends, line dancing, shuffle board, and they serve cheap, cold beer. The staff looks like holdovers from the previous decades of incarnations of the place and no matter what day of the week it is, many of the regulars have been there since 10:00 am.
Double Wide Bar
3510 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: 214-887-6510
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 5 pm-12 am
Website: http://www.double-wide.com/
A long time ago, this place was called Billy's Pub, but now it offers a thriving and hip scene with a nod to the mobile home, white trash lifestyle, complete with chipped plates as ashtrays, taxidermied animal heads on the walls, and tornado footage looping on one of the TVs. The two room dive does have a patio for outside drinking. One room contains the well rounded juke box and is also where DJs spin, in the evenings. The other room has a stage for local bands and a few traveling bands. The place is currently popular for as a spot for local musician's to hold their CD release parties, much like DaDa once was. The joint really gets hoppin' after 9:00 pm and they boast one of the widest selections of canned beer in the city, but while you're there, don't miss out on the signature drink, the "YooHoo YeeHaw," a white trash, white Russian made from Kahlua, vodka, and Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink. The other house specialties are the Hurritang, the Boone's Farm Martini, and the Twisted Tang. You can take a guess at the main ingredients.
Elbow Room
3010 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: 214-828-9488
Hours of operation: Sun-Sat 11 am-2 am
Website: http://www.elbowroomdallas.com/
The Elbow room sits just around the corner from Baylor Hospital, on Gaston. In the late 1980s, I used to work at the Stroh's Beer distributorship that was located across the street, where the condos are now. This was a dive back then but the Elbow Room's owners have breathed new life back into this little vintage building. Their menu is primarily Italian, with some very fine pizza which they deliver locally. The walls are always covered with art from local talent, they support live local music in the evenings, and they offer a five star juke box the rest of the time. There are dart boards and usually some good people watching to be had here. The service is iffy though; some nights are spot on and sometimes you're better off sitting at the bar, where they have some very nice bartenders as you can see from the photos. This is a great club to either start your evening or wind it down.
Hole in the Wall
11654 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75229 Phone: 972-247-2253
Kitchen Hours - Mon-Thurs 11 am-10 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-12 am
Website: http://www.dallasbluesclub.com/
If tidiness is you bag, stay clear of the Hole in the Wall. It is a dark, smokey den of burgers and blues bliss. You're more likely to find Harleys and pickups than cars in the parking lot, but the service is friendly, the music rocks (Friday and Saturday nights are somkin' and Hash Brown runs an open blues jam on most Wednesday nights), and the burgers are world class! The interior of the place reminds me of a redneck ski lodge, with a high pitched ceiling over the dance floor and Christmas lights strung up to accent the old beer neons. The stage is so small that occasionally a few of the musicians have to stand on the dance floor to play. The "back yard" is used during nice weather and has a much larger stage and horseshoe pits. They also have a pool table inside. The "Wall" has been open since I was a child and is a true Dallas experience.
King's X
9191 Forest Ln.
Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: 972-234-9064
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 12 pm-2 am; Sun 3 pm-2 am
Website: None
If you've never been here, you might have a hard time finding the place. This neat little dive is tucked away in the strip mall, just east of Greenville, on the north side of Forest Lane, next to Momo's Italian restaurant. The lounge was brought to my attention a few years ago as a hideout for some local celebrities. If you ask the bartenders, they can regale you with stories of Don "Nelly" Nelson (the old Dallas Maverick's coach) and Owen Wilson playing poker or dominoes in the back of the club, for $100 a game. They both used to be regulars here and stop by from time to time, when they're in town. There are a couple of TVs which usually have news or sports on. They serve a cold beer, a stiff drink, and usually have live music on the weekends. King Me!
Lee Harvey's
1807 Gould St.
Dallas, TX 75215 Phone: 214-428-1555
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am; Sat and Sun 4 pm-2 am
Website: http://leeharveys.com/
Your buddy calls and says that he's having a party. They'll be cooking great burgers, serving up cold beer, and a band will be playing in the yard. He's set up some pic-nic tables, strung up some Christmas lights, stoked the chimineas, and a lot of people are bringing their dogs over. Sounds like fun! Wait... This isn't your friends place, it's Lee Harvey's! Sitting in the shadow of Southside, off of Lamar, the old stone house, with original wood paneling and what look to be some of the original beer neons stands out in the warehouse-laden neighborhood. Cop a squat at one of the tables in the yard and strike up a conversation with some like-minded strangers, while Bacon, the house cat who has his own Myspace page, comes up for a rub. There is rarely a cover charge unless a big name act like Billy Joe Shavers is playing, and they seem to have solved the problem with the old guy that lived across the street. He used to call the cops every time a band started playing. They serve one of the best burgers in Dallas and also have some world class onion rings. The menu is small, but it's all good. The last time I was there, I met one of the chefs who gave us a taste of the new smoked sausage quesadillas and they were rich and very flavorful. Lee Harvey's was voted the Best Bar in Dallas by Observer readers in 2006 and is definitely worth a trip to the other side of the tracks!
Louie's
1839 N. Henderson Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-826-0505
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 4 pm-2 am; Sun 5 pm-10 pm
Website: None
Louie's is a stand alone building on Henderson, just west of Ross. On enetering, you can tell that the place has been here for a while. The original pressed tin ceiling, old stone fireplace, and brick walls scream "I'm older than you are." A brick archway, behind the well stocked bar, leads back to the kitchen where they make one hell of a Caesar salad and cook a predominantly Italian menu, including some of the best thin crust pizza in town. Louie is a good Greek boy from Chicago and his brother is the chef. They hand-cut their own steaks and grind their own Italian sausage evey day. Louie's Mom lovingly hand-makes all of the pies (don't miss out on the coconut! It's truly awsome). One little quirk; they only accept cash or American Express! They do serve a strong albeit pricey drink, but don't carry any draft beer. There are a number of TVs that usually display college or pro sports, while the usual gang throw out comments, from the bar. Hand-drawn portraits, of regular customers, line the walls, giving the place a similar feel to the old Joe Miller's, on Lemon (where The Loon is now). If you're longing for the feel of one of the old Irish bars in Chicago or New York, this place is certainly worth a visit. There's another nice review of the place here... http://metroplexeats.blogspot.com/2007/05/louies.html
Maple Point
5415 Maple Ave. Suite 103
Dallas, TX 75235 Phone: 214-688-5515
Hours of operation: Mon-Sun 11 am-2 am
Website: None
Sharon and her husband David (don't mess with him, he's an ex-pro wrestler!) have owned this place for a long time and have seen it through several fires, but still manage to keep the bar looking the same as it has since the '70s. They serve a mean burger and some tasty nachos. On Sundays they have live jazz from 3 pm to 6 pm, and with the $5 cover, they also set out a snack buffet. Four nights a week they have karaoke and you never know who's going to show up to sing. I've heard that from time to time Vinnie Paul and the Pantera gang will even drop by and belt out a few Carpenters tunes. The bar stools are usually filled with regulars and the beers are cold. Drop in and say hi!
Milo Butterfinger's
5645 Yale Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-368-9212
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am; Sat-Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
This SMU hangout tends to get pretty rowdy during major sports events, but can be a lot of fun. The place boasts two big screens and about twenty other TVs, three foosball tables, four pool tables, several dart boards, three Golden Tee machines, and a jukebox. They do have a patio with ten tables, but on nice days, these tend to go very quickly. During happy hour (daily, 11am-7pm) pitchers of Miller Light, Bud Light, and Shiner Bock are only $5. The Cheese fries, tacos, and burgers are always good. Parking can be difficult on busy days.
One Nostalgia Place
6521 Abrams Rd.
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-348-8407
Hours of operation: Sun-Sat 9 am-2 am
Website: None
Just a half a block from Skillman and Abrams, this mellow watering hole, that opens at 9 am (for those who like to get their drink on early), sports cold $1.50 mugs of draft beer and $6.00 pitchers from open to close. Longnecks are $2.25 during happy hour (9 am-3 pm). They have a big screen and 4 smaller TVs, shuffleboard, karaoke on Fridays, and even free wi-fi, so bring your laptop. The bartenders and waitresses are very cordial. A good place to start or end your evening, or day for that matter!
Ships Lounge
1613 Greenville Ave. (behind the used tire shop)
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-823-0418
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 10 am-2 am; Sun 10 am-12 am
Website: None
On very lowest Greenville, behind a used tire store and across the street from the Goodwill, sits Ships Lounge. An unassuming entry with a small sign is all that marks this Bukowski-esqe sliver of a bar. There is a “No Cussing” sign above the old electrical tape repaired, padded-railed bar, and the “real” jukebox (one of the best in Dallas), pumps out R&B classics and old-timey country tunes. The place is tiny. In fact it’s so small that the bathrooms share a common sink. There is typically an older, local crowd here and they only take cash. They also only sell beer and wine, but you can bring in your own bottle and they do sell set-ups.
The Slip Inn
1806 McMillan Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: 214-370-5988
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 7 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
Don't blink or you'll miss it. The Slip Inn is so tiny... "How tiny is it?" It's so tiny that the front entrance is also the back door! Just kidding. But the place really is small. This laid back lounge actually doesn't care how you dress, has virtually no attitude, and serves up inexpensive drinks! Unfortunately, they don't serve any draft beer. Built on the side of the Save-Way convenience store, the little "L"-shaped lounge has a pool table, a juke box, and several nights a week they feature DJs that spin an interesting mix of hip-hop, trance, and pop. The age of the patrons ranges from 25 to 80. Weekend parking here can be somewhat dicey.
Time Out Tavern
5101 W Lovers Ln.
Dallas, TX 75209 Phone: 214-956-9552
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-12 am
Website: None
This little dive is located just a few blocks east of Love Field Airport, on Lovers Ln. We are big Dallas Stars Hockey fans, and started coming here a number of years ago after we’d heard a rumor that the Stars would show up here for beers, when their plane landed at the airport, after an away game. The décor has a garage/first college apartment feel, with wooden picnic benches for furniture, graffiti on the walls, old hockey skates and gloves hanging from the ceiling, and old sports ticket stubs thumb tacked to the wall. They have a Golden Tee game, a basketball game (like the ones at Dave and Buster’s), and an air hockey table. We have yet to see a Star there but evidence of their patronage is abundant.
Trade Winds Lounge
2843 W Davis St.
Dallas, TX 75211
Phone: 214-337-9075
Hours of operation:
Website: None
Well, what can I say about the Trade Winds... It is a dive in the truest sense of the word. It has been an institution on Davis for almost 4 decades. This is my neighborhood hangout. The owners (very good friends I'm proud to say) Loretta and Dennis, are absolutely wonderful. Dennis worked at the club for 10 years before he bought the place and you can see Loretta's little homey touches all around the place, particularly in the ladies rest room. The crowd is very colorful and authentic to the area. Many of the regulars have been going to the "Winds" since they were old enough to drink. As it's in a dry area, membership is required. The drinks are inexpensive and on Friday and Saturday nights, David kicks out some of the best Karaoke in Dallas (he has over 250,000 songs to choose from!). There is a regulation size shuffleboard table, a pool table, a bar top video game, and an juke box with a good mix of tunes. It's evident that darts used to be a staple here, judging from the many awards on the walls. Dennis swears that the boards will be usable again, soon. Please stop in and say hi. Good times!
Windmill Lounge
5320 Maple Ave.
Dallas, TX 75235
Phone: 214-443-7818
Hours of operation: Mon-Sun 4 pm-2 am
Website: http://windmill-lounge.com/
You generally know a bar is good, if tons of "industry" people hang out there. Such is the case with the Windmill Lounge on Maple. Back when Herrera's #1 moved into the old Eckerd's Drugs location, off of Old Denton Drive, this place used to be the short-order diner, The Dutch Kitchen #3. Thankfully, the new owners have retained the original kitschy windmill neon sculpture, on top of the building. The interior has been treated to a black, grey, and red makeover which it wears well. There are a couple of antique tables for larger groups and a cozy corner with love seats and Japanese paper lanterns. A classic pinball machine is also tucked away in a corner. They have a great juke box, a very friendly bar top video game, and serve up good drinks for a fair price. The staff is also very nice and accomodating. They do have a small menu with panini's and apps like cream cheese topped with Pick-a-Peppa sauce or jalapeno jelly! Good vibes here.
Winedale Tavern
2110 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-823-5018
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 7 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
The "dive-y-est dive" on lower Greenvile, as one Yelp reviewer noted. This bar has been in business for nearly a quarter of a century, and with the hours that they keep, you're likely to find a friendly, but drunk and rowdy crowd as early as 8:00 am! You heard me right; you can start drinking here at 7:00 am. The patrons (some of whom look to be just a wee bit too young to be indulging in fermented beverages) are as friendly as the bar staff is. Lola, the owner occasionally drops in for a drink and some conversation. They offer inexpensive drinks, in fact $15 can get you three domestic beers and three well drinks. Can you say "cheap date"! Because the place is very small and narrow, with a bar running down the north side of the building, it feels very cozy and homey (if you were to live in a small dark bar with 40 loud, drunk friends). The stage is so small that three musicians are lucky to fit on it. The bar holds about 20 sober people or about 40 drunks, and they have a small pool table in the front. There is hardly ever a cover charge. Very eclectic.
So, that does it for now. I have included most of my favorite dives and look forward to hearing about yours. Happy drinking and slumming!
Greg
Sharky's (Reopened!)
7402 Greenville Ave. #320 (Upper Greenville at Pineland)
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-801-9797
Hours of operation: Still up in the air...
Website: http://www.use2bsharkys.com/
I have started this article with Sharky’s, because it’s our home bar. A while back some friends took the place over and did an extensive remodel, unfortunately, the cost of the rennovations was more than the new owners could handle, and after 27 years of continuous operation (the longest run of any bar on Greenvillle) Sharky's closed their doors. It's always been the kind of place "where everybody knows your name" and we have made some very good friends there. I've been going to Sharky's since 1986 and they've been one of the premiere dart bars in the Metroplex for decades. Last year some other friends and former patrons of "The Tank" (as we affectionately call it), Hiedi and Shane, puchased the place took on the momentous task of bringing the old girl up to code (daunting at best). They have done a great job just getting it back open and are putting in a full kitchen to boot! They expect to have the chef driven bar food menu available in early June. They currently have six dartboards, four pool tables, and several video games. They still pour a good strong drink and have 7-8 tap beers. Shane has been a drummer for various groups in and around Dallas for years, and is bringing in local original bands on the weekends. They're also trying some karaoke on Wednesday nights. Come by and see the "new" old place and have a beer and re-partonize a long-time staple of upper Greenville. "Norm!"
Adair's Saloon
2624 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: 214-939-9900
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: http://www.adairssaloon.com/
The graffiti capital of Dallas – you can write on damn near anything in here and they provide the markers! This honky-tonk/burger joint has been a staple in Deep Elum ever since I was a child. When I worked for the Stroh’s Brewery, back in the late 80s, "me an da guys" used to come here after work, for some cold suds and a big, greasy burger. There is a juke-box with a decidedly country flavor and a pool table. They have a full bar and a usually friendly staff, with live bands and a blues/bluegrass jam on the weekends. It’s authentic, laid-back, and broken in, and has developed a long-time, regular customer base. Shuffleboard and $1.50 draft beers only add to the charm of this dive.
Bent Tree Grill
18110 Midway Rd.
Dallas, TX 75287 Phone: 972-248-3559
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 11am-2am; Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 6pm-2am
Website: http://benttreegrill.com/
I consider this one of the stranger bars in town, hence it’s charm and rating on this list. This was your parent’s bar. It tries to have an upscale feel, but just doesn’t quite make it. It has a very ambitious and somewhat pricey menu (steaks can run up to $25), but the regulars and the entertainment are what really push this place over the top. Carla Sherman and Skip Orlando trade off nights singing and playing instruments to programmed or pre-recorded soundtracks, as regular patrons flock around the piano bar. The place is like a septuagenarian meat market on the weekends. Look out young uns!
Club Schmitz
9661 Denton Dr.
Dallas, TX 75220 Phone: 214-350-3607
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 9 am-12 am; Sun 11 am-1 2am
Website: None
Originally opened in 1946, Club Schmitz has been serving great, greasy burgers for longer than just about any joint in town and it's hardly changed in over 60 years. This cinder block building sits on Denton Drive, about 50 yards off of Harry Hines. The interior is covered with what looks to be the original wood paneling and old neon beer signs. Regulars usually enter from one of the side doors instead of the front and come here for a conversation and a cold beer. They usually take a stool at the bar. Weekday lunch time finds the place totally packed. Despite the neighborhood, which has seen better days, Club Schmitz is frequented by a good number of female customers. They have a pool table and shuffleboard and a juke box churns out the tunes. Several TVs usually have sports on as well and they have a couple of old video games. The prices are cheap and you can pretty much wear whatever you want.
Club 777
777 S. Central Expy. Suite 2D
Richardson, TX 75080 Phone: 972-907-0777
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
Just north of Spring Valley, on Central sits an unassuming one story office complex and in the back of it, is Club 777, a darts and pool club. They run both dart and Pool leagues out of here. This is a no frills dive with tons of regulars. They serve large draft beers and strong drinks for a good price. You can get a small pizza (frozen), but that's about the only food offering. Ceiling tiles are sold for either advertising, commemorating anniversaries, or remembering friends. They have several TVs and a juke box.
Copper Spur
6524 E Northwest Hwy.
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-750-5833
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 10 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-12 am
Website: None
At NW Hwy. and Abrams, this honky-tonk used to be called the M & M Pouring Company and it's possibly the smokiest bar on the list. This is a good end-of-the-night club. You don't really have to worry about making an ass out of yourself, because someone else has usually beaten you to it. It's dimly lit, they have live country music on the weekends, line dancing, shuffle board, and they serve cheap, cold beer. The staff looks like holdovers from the previous decades of incarnations of the place and no matter what day of the week it is, many of the regulars have been there since 10:00 am.
Double Wide Bar
3510 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: 214-887-6510
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 5 pm-12 am
Website: http://www.double-wide.com/
A long time ago, this place was called Billy's Pub, but now it offers a thriving and hip scene with a nod to the mobile home, white trash lifestyle, complete with chipped plates as ashtrays, taxidermied animal heads on the walls, and tornado footage looping on one of the TVs. The two room dive does have a patio for outside drinking. One room contains the well rounded juke box and is also where DJs spin, in the evenings. The other room has a stage for local bands and a few traveling bands. The place is currently popular for as a spot for local musician's to hold their CD release parties, much like DaDa once was. The joint really gets hoppin' after 9:00 pm and they boast one of the widest selections of canned beer in the city, but while you're there, don't miss out on the signature drink, the "YooHoo YeeHaw," a white trash, white Russian made from Kahlua, vodka, and Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink. The other house specialties are the Hurritang, the Boone's Farm Martini, and the Twisted Tang. You can take a guess at the main ingredients.
Elbow Room
3010 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: 214-828-9488
Hours of operation: Sun-Sat 11 am-2 am
Website: http://www.elbowroomdallas.com/
The Elbow room sits just around the corner from Baylor Hospital, on Gaston. In the late 1980s, I used to work at the Stroh's Beer distributorship that was located across the street, where the condos are now. This was a dive back then but the Elbow Room's owners have breathed new life back into this little vintage building. Their menu is primarily Italian, with some very fine pizza which they deliver locally. The walls are always covered with art from local talent, they support live local music in the evenings, and they offer a five star juke box the rest of the time. There are dart boards and usually some good people watching to be had here. The service is iffy though; some nights are spot on and sometimes you're better off sitting at the bar, where they have some very nice bartenders as you can see from the photos. This is a great club to either start your evening or wind it down.
Hole in the Wall
11654 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75229 Phone: 972-247-2253
Kitchen Hours - Mon-Thurs 11 am-10 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-12 am
Website: http://www.dallasbluesclub.com/
If tidiness is you bag, stay clear of the Hole in the Wall. It is a dark, smokey den of burgers and blues bliss. You're more likely to find Harleys and pickups than cars in the parking lot, but the service is friendly, the music rocks (Friday and Saturday nights are somkin' and Hash Brown runs an open blues jam on most Wednesday nights), and the burgers are world class! The interior of the place reminds me of a redneck ski lodge, with a high pitched ceiling over the dance floor and Christmas lights strung up to accent the old beer neons. The stage is so small that occasionally a few of the musicians have to stand on the dance floor to play. The "back yard" is used during nice weather and has a much larger stage and horseshoe pits. They also have a pool table inside. The "Wall" has been open since I was a child and is a true Dallas experience.
King's X
9191 Forest Ln.
Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: 972-234-9064
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 12 pm-2 am; Sun 3 pm-2 am
Website: None
If you've never been here, you might have a hard time finding the place. This neat little dive is tucked away in the strip mall, just east of Greenville, on the north side of Forest Lane, next to Momo's Italian restaurant. The lounge was brought to my attention a few years ago as a hideout for some local celebrities. If you ask the bartenders, they can regale you with stories of Don "Nelly" Nelson (the old Dallas Maverick's coach) and Owen Wilson playing poker or dominoes in the back of the club, for $100 a game. They both used to be regulars here and stop by from time to time, when they're in town. There are a couple of TVs which usually have news or sports on. They serve a cold beer, a stiff drink, and usually have live music on the weekends. King Me!
Lee Harvey's
1807 Gould St.
Dallas, TX 75215 Phone: 214-428-1555
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am; Sat and Sun 4 pm-2 am
Website: http://leeharveys.com/
Your buddy calls and says that he's having a party. They'll be cooking great burgers, serving up cold beer, and a band will be playing in the yard. He's set up some pic-nic tables, strung up some Christmas lights, stoked the chimineas, and a lot of people are bringing their dogs over. Sounds like fun! Wait... This isn't your friends place, it's Lee Harvey's! Sitting in the shadow of Southside, off of Lamar, the old stone house, with original wood paneling and what look to be some of the original beer neons stands out in the warehouse-laden neighborhood. Cop a squat at one of the tables in the yard and strike up a conversation with some like-minded strangers, while Bacon, the house cat who has his own Myspace page, comes up for a rub. There is rarely a cover charge unless a big name act like Billy Joe Shavers is playing, and they seem to have solved the problem with the old guy that lived across the street. He used to call the cops every time a band started playing. They serve one of the best burgers in Dallas and also have some world class onion rings. The menu is small, but it's all good. The last time I was there, I met one of the chefs who gave us a taste of the new smoked sausage quesadillas and they were rich and very flavorful. Lee Harvey's was voted the Best Bar in Dallas by Observer readers in 2006 and is definitely worth a trip to the other side of the tracks!
Louie's
1839 N. Henderson Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-826-0505
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 4 pm-2 am; Sun 5 pm-10 pm
Website: None
Louie's is a stand alone building on Henderson, just west of Ross. On enetering, you can tell that the place has been here for a while. The original pressed tin ceiling, old stone fireplace, and brick walls scream "I'm older than you are." A brick archway, behind the well stocked bar, leads back to the kitchen where they make one hell of a Caesar salad and cook a predominantly Italian menu, including some of the best thin crust pizza in town. Louie is a good Greek boy from Chicago and his brother is the chef. They hand-cut their own steaks and grind their own Italian sausage evey day. Louie's Mom lovingly hand-makes all of the pies (don't miss out on the coconut! It's truly awsome). One little quirk; they only accept cash or American Express! They do serve a strong albeit pricey drink, but don't carry any draft beer. There are a number of TVs that usually display college or pro sports, while the usual gang throw out comments, from the bar. Hand-drawn portraits, of regular customers, line the walls, giving the place a similar feel to the old Joe Miller's, on Lemon (where The Loon is now). If you're longing for the feel of one of the old Irish bars in Chicago or New York, this place is certainly worth a visit. There's another nice review of the place here... http://metroplexeats.blogspot.com/2007/05/louies.html
Maple Point
5415 Maple Ave. Suite 103
Dallas, TX 75235 Phone: 214-688-5515
Hours of operation: Mon-Sun 11 am-2 am
Website: None
Sharon and her husband David (don't mess with him, he's an ex-pro wrestler!) have owned this place for a long time and have seen it through several fires, but still manage to keep the bar looking the same as it has since the '70s. They serve a mean burger and some tasty nachos. On Sundays they have live jazz from 3 pm to 6 pm, and with the $5 cover, they also set out a snack buffet. Four nights a week they have karaoke and you never know who's going to show up to sing. I've heard that from time to time Vinnie Paul and the Pantera gang will even drop by and belt out a few Carpenters tunes. The bar stools are usually filled with regulars and the beers are cold. Drop in and say hi!
Milo Butterfinger's
5645 Yale Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-368-9212
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am; Sat-Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
This SMU hangout tends to get pretty rowdy during major sports events, but can be a lot of fun. The place boasts two big screens and about twenty other TVs, three foosball tables, four pool tables, several dart boards, three Golden Tee machines, and a jukebox. They do have a patio with ten tables, but on nice days, these tend to go very quickly. During happy hour (daily, 11am-7pm) pitchers of Miller Light, Bud Light, and Shiner Bock are only $5. The Cheese fries, tacos, and burgers are always good. Parking can be difficult on busy days.
One Nostalgia Place
6521 Abrams Rd.
Dallas, TX 75231 Phone: 214-348-8407
Hours of operation: Sun-Sat 9 am-2 am
Website: None
Just a half a block from Skillman and Abrams, this mellow watering hole, that opens at 9 am (for those who like to get their drink on early), sports cold $1.50 mugs of draft beer and $6.00 pitchers from open to close. Longnecks are $2.25 during happy hour (9 am-3 pm). They have a big screen and 4 smaller TVs, shuffleboard, karaoke on Fridays, and even free wi-fi, so bring your laptop. The bartenders and waitresses are very cordial. A good place to start or end your evening, or day for that matter!
Ships Lounge
1613 Greenville Ave. (behind the used tire shop)
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-823-0418
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 10 am-2 am; Sun 10 am-12 am
Website: None
On very lowest Greenville, behind a used tire store and across the street from the Goodwill, sits Ships Lounge. An unassuming entry with a small sign is all that marks this Bukowski-esqe sliver of a bar. There is a “No Cussing” sign above the old electrical tape repaired, padded-railed bar, and the “real” jukebox (one of the best in Dallas), pumps out R&B classics and old-timey country tunes. The place is tiny. In fact it’s so small that the bathrooms share a common sink. There is typically an older, local crowd here and they only take cash. They also only sell beer and wine, but you can bring in your own bottle and they do sell set-ups.
The Slip Inn
1806 McMillan Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: 214-370-5988
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 7 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
Don't blink or you'll miss it. The Slip Inn is so tiny... "How tiny is it?" It's so tiny that the front entrance is also the back door! Just kidding. But the place really is small. This laid back lounge actually doesn't care how you dress, has virtually no attitude, and serves up inexpensive drinks! Unfortunately, they don't serve any draft beer. Built on the side of the Save-Way convenience store, the little "L"-shaped lounge has a pool table, a juke box, and several nights a week they feature DJs that spin an interesting mix of hip-hop, trance, and pop. The age of the patrons ranges from 25 to 80. Weekend parking here can be somewhat dicey.
Time Out Tavern
5101 W Lovers Ln.
Dallas, TX 75209 Phone: 214-956-9552
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-12 am
Website: None
This little dive is located just a few blocks east of Love Field Airport, on Lovers Ln. We are big Dallas Stars Hockey fans, and started coming here a number of years ago after we’d heard a rumor that the Stars would show up here for beers, when their plane landed at the airport, after an away game. The décor has a garage/first college apartment feel, with wooden picnic benches for furniture, graffiti on the walls, old hockey skates and gloves hanging from the ceiling, and old sports ticket stubs thumb tacked to the wall. They have a Golden Tee game, a basketball game (like the ones at Dave and Buster’s), and an air hockey table. We have yet to see a Star there but evidence of their patronage is abundant.
Trade Winds Lounge
2843 W Davis St.
Dallas, TX 75211
Phone: 214-337-9075
Hours of operation:
Website: None
Well, what can I say about the Trade Winds... It is a dive in the truest sense of the word. It has been an institution on Davis for almost 4 decades. This is my neighborhood hangout. The owners (very good friends I'm proud to say) Loretta and Dennis, are absolutely wonderful. Dennis worked at the club for 10 years before he bought the place and you can see Loretta's little homey touches all around the place, particularly in the ladies rest room. The crowd is very colorful and authentic to the area. Many of the regulars have been going to the "Winds" since they were old enough to drink. As it's in a dry area, membership is required. The drinks are inexpensive and on Friday and Saturday nights, David kicks out some of the best Karaoke in Dallas (he has over 250,000 songs to choose from!). There is a regulation size shuffleboard table, a pool table, a bar top video game, and an juke box with a good mix of tunes. It's evident that darts used to be a staple here, judging from the many awards on the walls. Dennis swears that the boards will be usable again, soon. Please stop in and say hi. Good times!
Windmill Lounge
5320 Maple Ave.
Dallas, TX 75235
Phone: 214-443-7818
Hours of operation: Mon-Sun 4 pm-2 am
Website: http://windmill-lounge.com/
You generally know a bar is good, if tons of "industry" people hang out there. Such is the case with the Windmill Lounge on Maple. Back when Herrera's #1 moved into the old Eckerd's Drugs location, off of Old Denton Drive, this place used to be the short-order diner, The Dutch Kitchen #3. Thankfully, the new owners have retained the original kitschy windmill neon sculpture, on top of the building. The interior has been treated to a black, grey, and red makeover which it wears well. There are a couple of antique tables for larger groups and a cozy corner with love seats and Japanese paper lanterns. A classic pinball machine is also tucked away in a corner. They have a great juke box, a very friendly bar top video game, and serve up good drinks for a fair price. The staff is also very nice and accomodating. They do have a small menu with panini's and apps like cream cheese topped with Pick-a-Peppa sauce or jalapeno jelly! Good vibes here.
Winedale Tavern
2110 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214-823-5018
Hours of operation: Mon-Sat 7 am-2 am; Sun 12 pm-2 am
Website: None
The "dive-y-est dive" on lower Greenvile, as one Yelp reviewer noted. This bar has been in business for nearly a quarter of a century, and with the hours that they keep, you're likely to find a friendly, but drunk and rowdy crowd as early as 8:00 am! You heard me right; you can start drinking here at 7:00 am. The patrons (some of whom look to be just a wee bit too young to be indulging in fermented beverages) are as friendly as the bar staff is. Lola, the owner occasionally drops in for a drink and some conversation. They offer inexpensive drinks, in fact $15 can get you three domestic beers and three well drinks. Can you say "cheap date"! Because the place is very small and narrow, with a bar running down the north side of the building, it feels very cozy and homey (if you were to live in a small dark bar with 40 loud, drunk friends). The stage is so small that three musicians are lucky to fit on it. The bar holds about 20 sober people or about 40 drunks, and they have a small pool table in the front. There is hardly ever a cover charge. Very eclectic.
So, that does it for now. I have included most of my favorite dives and look forward to hearing about yours. Happy drinking and slumming!
Greg
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