Chicago's Best Dive Bars : Drinking and Diving in the Windy City (Chicago's Best Dive Bars)

Rating:
Summary: More narrative than not
Review: On one hand, this book truly shines in uncovering hidden gems throughout the city that more mainstream bar guides completely disregard. Mr. Stockton helps provide a means to access areas and aspects of the city that are nearly impossible to find information on. For that, I commend him. Taverns are a dying breed in this city, especially ones that don't serve food or cater to some niche, and in some respects, Mr. Stockton's book will contribute to ensuring their survival.

I have been to the majority of bars that are mentioned in the book and some of his reviews are excellent. However, I should warn that especially regarding the South Side, his lack of neighborhood understanding is more than apparent. He seemed to choose his bars at whim from the midst of many solid candidates--based on sheer anecdote rather than character. This sort of approach also applied to his treatment of the Southwest and the Far North, which I think he tried to portray as much more stereotypically Polish than they are. However, he really excelled in finding great forgotten bars on the North Side and downtown.

He is undoubtably a good writer, and has a comedic touch that sent me laughing more than once. However, a lot of times he resorted to a narrative style of writing that seemed to poke fun at the customers and I worry that other people might be influenced by his cynical voyeuristic tone, and then try to go to those bars to "have an adventure". That slightly condescending attitude would destroy the fabric of the bars that he purportedly glorifies.

Overall, despite a few quality reviews and readability (his transportation pointers and pictures are extremely helpful), the tone of the book ends up being more than a little insulting and the scope of the material falters.

(I also wonder how he manages to get into so many odd skirmishes as I have never had a problem in such areas, and have never witnessed a bar fight in Chicago.)





Rating:
Summary: looking for the real chicago?
Review: this isn't faux-dive... this is a dive

for those Chicago residents sick of the yuppie bar onslaught or visitors looking for the real Chicago (in the nelson algren sense), this book is a must have. stockton understands hemingway's "sweat on a wine bottle" in his descriptions of the peeling paint, fading Sox posters, anemic lighting, buzz-in bathrooms, etc. of Chicago's best kept secrets.

the tavern is a dying animal in our town, and this wide-ranging look across all North/South/West/Southeast sides may help put them on the preserve. if you aren't afraid to come in contact with "real people," read this book. otherwise, enjoy your $6 budweiser.