A veteran drinker's virgin post

I don't know about the rest of you, but at the end of a long grueling day... sometimes just a ridiculously boring one... the first thing on my mind and the minds of my fellow cohorts is one or several drinks.

SIDENOTE: We are not here to talk about vices or how anyone should or should not drink... no moral judgments please. If you are a member of AA, NA, MADD or any other soapbox approach to life, please navigate to the address bar at the top of your screen and type yourself toward a more self-aligned blogspot.

We wake up, breathe, live and drink in Dallas, Texas.

Being that our favorite pastime is drinking in Dallas, I think it is only fair to share our thoughts, reviews and general knowledge of drink specials with our fellow drinking Dallasites. What I hope to offer more so than some of my other favorite informational nightlife sites is an uninhibited honesty about why we choose - our favorite spots and why, our most hated spots and why... and brace yourselves - the crowd you can expect to encounter. (That last part is key.) Sure, we'd like to like everyone and live in a blissful state of drunken peace but the truth is that a crowd at any particular establishment is #1 in making or breaking the experience.

Being that I'm a virgin blogger, I feel that it is only appropriate that my most frequented spot pop my figurative cherry....

ZUBAR
2012 Greenville Ave. Dallas
www.zubar.com

This could be a controversial first pick, but I will remain loyal. Further, I am willing to admit that this is one of my / our favorite spots because of numerous acquaintances. But doesn't that just illuminate my original point? It's the people that make or break any experience (how existential, right?).

So, let me speak on the crowd that frequents Zubar. During the low-key weeknights, there is not much of a crowd type. Moreover, you will find your average 20s to 30s hip, urban professionals often working in a creative facet, service industry or the like. There are no color lines at Zubar, but I will say that depending on the scheduled music, you will find a predominately black crowd on the weekends. Now, I want to be real here. I am not a person of African American descent. I am a white, 30-something female. Truth be told, I have found myself at various times in my life with varying degrees of discomfort surrounded by people unlike myself (i.e. not white)... Zubar creates an atmosphere that transcends the color boundaries we all often encounter. I appreciate this. The black crowd that you may find on a Saturday night does not make me uncomfortable... I just often don't like A. how crowded it is... and B. the music that draws this particular crowd. (It varies from kind of a trip hop freestyle to an urban reggae...)

Moving on... I prefer Zubar on weeknights. Weekends - it's hit or miss because as mentioned above, it can get quite crowded... as in line at the bar, line at the bathroom, lots of elbows to navigate from front to back of the bar and just the general annoyance of too many humans in one place. Also, on the weekends, there seems to be an agreement among patrons that dancing is in order. However, there is very limited space for getting jiggy wit it... I find this irritating.

So what do I love about Zubar? Lighting is key for me and you will read my rants about the subject in future posts. Zubar has great lighting - low and inviting. The general decor is also modern, clean-lined, hip... the front of the house has open yet semi-private half-moon booths as well as a stool-lined bar - beware, the bar stools disappear once the crowd appears - and high ceilings. The back of the house has another bar and an overstuffed couch area that begs to be made out on... And of course, these days - with the everpresent NO SMOKING - a patio is a key to the survival of any Dallas drinking establishment. Zubar has a decent, comfortable patio.

Music is diverse at Zubar and I have to admit that I am not a music Nazi. I like anything from chilled out (think Thievery Corporation) to catchy-loud (think Lady Gaga), just depends on the scene. Zubar is known for featuring local DJ's and usually offers different DJs from front to back of the house. Check out their event calendar: www.zubar.com.

Drinks are fairly priced but not the cheapest. I hear Chance has mastered the straight up Stoli martini with a twist... way to go, dude. :) There is rarely a cover. No food served, but who cares when you're drinking your dinner...

This next bit opens an entire new can, depending on who you are and how long you've lived in Dallas: Zubar is located on lower Greenville. I can't get into all nuances of this location and all the pros and cons... but for those of you who know what I'm talking about, read this... absorb this... There is something to be said for a bar that's lasted YEARS on lower Greenville.

Something to say? wheredallasdrinks@gmail.com

Happy drinking...

Until next time....

Sarah