Smokey’s Tavern

If you’ve ever been to Smokey’s you are saying to yourself, «5 stars, are you out of your mind?» But hear me out.
Smokey’s is cool as hell. Is it clean? No. Does it smell nice? No. Does it have anything fancy or modern? No, well the video poker is pretty new. Do they have the latest trends in local microbrews? Umm, I don’t remember because we had a bunch of cheap Rolling Rocks…
So, why 5 stars? Because Smokey’s has been there FOREVER, which I really respect. Also because in this day and age of trendy look-​alike places, full of trendy look-​alike hipsters I love to find a place with its own identity. Smokey’s knows what it is, and it’s fine with it. And so am I.
Now, is Smokey’s my regular hangout? Ok, ok, maybe not. But it’s comforting to know they are still there keeping alive memories of simpler, cheaper, less image-​driven times. «You want a cold beer after work? We got one. You wanna watch the game? It’s on.»
I hope they hang on as Foster reinvigorates itself. A reminder that there is more to the world (and even this city) than fixies, tight pants, silly mustaches, and herd «individuality.» Smokey’s is one of a kind.

I don’t know if I’d characterize Smokey’s as a dive bar. This place is in a league of it’s own.
Indoors smoking has been banned in Oregon for over a year now. However, this place still has the characteristic dive bar smell of stale smoke crossed with a smattering of mold. The bathroom is one of those that I wouldn’t even dare to take a piss in.
I love that the bartender carded us when we walked in (the only place that did that night). I’m pretty that sure he wasn’t interested in our ages as much as trying to figure out what the hell we were doing in his bar.
After it was determined that we were just a couple of guys out on a pub crawl, he was more than happy to chat us up about the NBA playoffs (playing on an old-​school tube TV behind the bar).
As far as I can tell, this is where the local «Leaving Las Vegas» crowd hangs out to drink cheap beer and play video poker. The owners are friendly and they currently have Rolling Rock on tap for only $ 1.50 a pint.

oh, she’s a dooz!
First of all, Smokey’s is a triangle-​shaped bar and the end of one of those slender blocks that force such a shape and I just adore that.
Secondly, they do serve lil’ Smokies… with toothpicks. It just feels right, doesn’t it?
Thirdly, everyone’s super cool to you even if you look/​feel like citykids dipping into this regulars bar.
love it.