Sunday, April 02, 2006

Dive bar - Snug Harbor



(Sorry readers, I must have deleted the lead in paragraph last night when I posted this) Let me preface what follows with this: I collect odd things, signs being one of them. I happened to be in the parking lot of the Del Amo Center waiting while my sons were fitted for tuxedos. The wait was considerable. I grew board, restless, and then started to look for something to photograph. I had been sitting in my truck for almost half an hour when boredom overcame common sense. What follows is typical for me, I collected a story as well as a few photographs.

I grew bored after a round or two of Tetris so I ventured outside with my camera. I happened to see the sign for Snug Harbor affixed to a dirty stretch of faux stone, and started shooting. I am normally oblivious to the happening of the world when taking pictures. I like to concentrate, it take a certain amount of focus to make a good photograph. The sign for the bar was so 1960s retro, I had to capture it for my odd signage collection. Normally, my activities would attract little attention, but apparently, Noon on a Sunday is prime time for this little dive bar. A few patrons noticed my activities. I was watched closely by two old men who were visibly staggering. I shot a few more pictures, and then went back to my truck. I waited….

Time passes slowly, I was waiting after all, and time seems to pass very slowly when one is waiting. I noticed one old rummy come out of the Snug Harbor and jot down my plate number on a slip of paper. He made a great show of it, he actually tried to be covert (very hard for a drunk). The bar patrons must of thought that I was some kind of not-so-subtle private investigator – After all, I was standing in the middle of the parking lot at Noon with a very large camera.

More time passes, I’ve been in the parking lot for an hour now. I am very bored. I notice a sheriff’s black and white pull up behind me, and then another off to my side. The rummy old barfly had called the cops! The police officer was nice enough – I told him what I was doing, he determined I was no threat. He asked what I had been shooting, when I told him it was old signs he looked at me funny, but was professional enough not let the obvious “what the hell for” past his mildly sarcastic smile. Yep – he thought I was nuts (I know the look). The funny thing is, I had had the exact same conversation with a young bar punk in the parking lot of the White Rooster Pub in Cypress just the day before. He thought I was nuts too, only he did not posses the sheriff’s self-control.




btw - the White Rooster Pub is behind Grandma's Chicken House. Grandma's is run down but boasts some damn good broasted chicken! The attached pub has a white trash skinhead kind of feel to it. I did not go in. I was happy enough with chicken and a few pictures.

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19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think the rooster pub is white trash at all. The bar is retro! I play pool there every week. Sorry you had to come across a bar punk. Usally the patrons are older professionals taking advantage of the cheap beer.

Anonymous said...

The rooster pub is all white trash! They are apparently a bar that alows its patrons to smoke and do shots of various types of alcohol out back- they serve only beer! Its very cheap- and the patrons do not seem to me to be professionals. Older yes, professional no. More like truck drivers or homeless people. Although I have only been there a few times- the cheap beer and good music has brought me back there.

Anonymous said...

As a Bartender at the White Rooster I would agree the most with the first comment...if you don't give the bar a chance you will never grow to love it. The reason why the people don't seem so professional is because you didn't get a chance to know them. I know about 99% of the people that walk into that bar and they mostly are professionals looking to get out and have a few beers and have a great time. They leave their "Professional" attitude at work. Also the reason why a lot of different kinds of people come in is you are ALLOWED to smoke it is LEGAL. We have a licence for it so the owners are not just letting people smoke at random...this is one of the few bars left with a license to let patrons smoke inside. Yes we do have cheap beer and we are a beer and wine bar but sometimes that is all someone needs. So if you are looking for a friendly bar, nice people, good music, cheap beer, where smoking is legal then the white rooster pub is the place to go.

Mojoey said...

OK - I give - I will be over for a drink and a smoke at my next opportunity!

Anonymous said...

I'll buy your first round!

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Dive Bar,
As one of the owners of this bar I resent that you would use the term white trash to describe our customers. We would appreciate it in the future to refer to us as a redneck bar. Being the easy going person I am I will even buy a drink for you.

Sincerely,
Tessie

Anonymous said...

Tessie, You are the owner of this bar and you prefer the term Redneck bar as opposed to White Trash bar is there a difference between the two? If you were smart you would want to advertise your place as a sports bar instead. Sounds like you are just as trashy as your patrons. Get some class lady! Apparently you and your bartenders consider professionals to be blue collar workers who make more than $10 per hr. and put on their fancy button up shirt for a night at the local white trash bar! Why dont you try to attract people who have more than $20.00 in thier pocket- it would be more profitable for you as well- that is if you were smart! Maybe you are just a trashy redneck that has been rode hard-

Anonymous said...

O.K., so there are some white trashy folk that go into the Rooster, just like any other bar, who can turn down cheap beer and football? most of the "locals" do earn more than $10.00 /hr. I have been going there for over 9 yrs and the "locals" do have their drama, but it's a great place to have fun & people watch. It's actually funny reading some of these comments from people who have never been there.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Baby!! CHEAP BEER & FOOTBALL. you can smoke while your playing pool. great place. It's not so bad since they 86'd the king & queen of white trash- danny & toothless Tina..

Anonymous said...

The White Rooster Rocks Baby!!!!

Anonymous said...

the place blows

Anonymous said...

bunch of drama queens and 3 beer wonders im surprised it still stands

Anonymous said...

I am proud to be a patron of the White Rooster Pub.

Each time I go there, I always encounter friendly people who always have an interesting conversation going. The folks behind the bar are entertaining and know how to treat customers right.

The music selection on the DIGITAL jukebox is excellent. I mean, come on, they have DAVID ALLAN COE!

Nothing's better than gulping down an ice-cold (and delicious) brewskie and listening to stuff like DAC, CCR, and Waylon Jennings at the White Rooster Pub.

I also prefer the term Redneck over White Trash. We are all laid back folks enjoying life with pleasurable company.

So come on down and see what kind of conversation you will find yourself getting into at the White Rooster Pub!

Anonymous said...

Oh and I would rather be around a bunch of blue-collared workers than some white-collared douche bag who cant hold his alcohol consumption and act like a jackass after 3 beers.

linda said...

WOW - THIS IS THE MOST WHITE TRASH PLACE, THE OWNERS, JOEY THE BARTENDERS MARC (WHO IS REALLY A MEXICAN DUDE FROM HAWAIIAN GARDENS NAMED MARCO ANTONIO HERNANDEZ) VALARIE THE DUDE/CHICK WHO HOLDS THE LEASH OF MARC AS HE LICKS HER BOOTS AND WIPES HER FUNKY SMELLING ASS/COOCHY AND THEY LOOK FOR HOOKERS LIKE THE MIDGET AMY TO BRING HOME FOR THREESOMES. WHITE TRASH DOES NOT EVEN PUT IT INTO WORDS. LOSERS AND ALCOHOLICS - COYOTE UGLY CHICKS WHO ARE READY TO GO AT ABOUT 3 IN THE AFTERNOON AND FREE BLOWJOBS IN THE PARKING LOT. WHOOOOO COCK A DOOODLE DOO.... OH YEAH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TRUCK, PREFERABLY BIG, TO GO HERE AND YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SLEEP WITH ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND THEIR GIRLFRIENDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS AND THEN GOSSIP ABOUT IT FOR LIKE A DAY THEN BUY THEM A BEER AND START ALL OVER......FUN SHIT. AND EVEN IF THEY DO MAKE OVER TEN BUCKS THEY SPEND IT ON CHEAP BEER AND DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS - PATHETIC LOSERS ALL OF THEM. IT SHOULD BURN DOWN - BUT THEN WE'D LOSE SOME GOOD CHICKEN.....DAMN.

linda said...

dump

Anonymous said...

I know a guy who gives free blow jobs from 4-9 pm every friday and saturday.

ask for MARC. (sexy mexiwhitindian dude)

Give him your COCKCARD and he'll give you a happy ending!

Ask for the tranny special!

ANYTHING YOU LIKE HE DO FOR YOU!

He's been in practice for over 10 years.

He love you long time! (:

Anonymous said...

Oh my god. Marc has to be one of the best providers i have ever gone to!

i give him 5 stars excluding his specials and happy endings!


ill see you next week baby! <3

chaaaooowwww!!!!!

Anonymous said...

some of the best crack cocain ive ever purchaced was there the free pussy was questionable the blowjobs made up for having to smell the funky stank, great jukebox beer pries are great and get to smoke crack in the bathroom white trash rocks