Phoenix dive bars going the way of the dinosaur...

[VivianRegan]

Ugh! The News Room is closing.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/0511newsroom0511-ON.html

It sat behind the Arizona Republic building, hence the name. Imagine going over some choppy copy whilst bent over your typewriter, 'round about midnight, when you finally say to the editor, "I'm going to the News Room!" And of course, he knows what you mean...

Not really charming in that seedy kind of way (a little too bright, as I remember), but full of character just the same.

Monumental change is happening to our downtown. ASU's arrival is doing what the sports venues could not: Disney-fying downtown.

Madison Bar. Gone.

Newman's. Gone.

King's Cocktails. Gone.

At least will still have the Bikini. If any of you Valley-ites haven't been there yet, you owe yourself the trip... lots of bamboo light fixtures, black vinyl booths, and a painting of a curvy topless gal in a grass skirt! Most of the place is circa 1947.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Yes, dive bars are hard to find anymore. That article was well-written. A dive bar I adored in Delray Beach, Florida was called the Phoenix. Now it's yuppified, along with the entire city. There are still a few good dive bars in my city. Cheap drinks and free ice water!

 

[Dixon Cannon]

But you can still find a stool at the 'Yucca Tap Room' in Tempe!

-dixon cannon