Bob and Barbara's

BeverlyGeesin

Jazz, Drag, and Cheap Drinks 12th November 2007

6 found this helpful

It seems that I'm posting the first review in Philadelphia...

Then it's fitting that it should be for Bob and Barbara's.

It's kind of like if the TV show Cheers had been directed by David Lynch. It's that good!

Bob and Barbara's is easily my favorite bar in all of Philadelphia. It's dingy and tattered in that way where it's just letting you know that you can come however you like. Take your shoes off, make yourself comfortable, pass out on the dance floor. Nobody will mind, everyone's your friend.

Friday, Saturday and Monday it's Nate Wiley and the Crowdpleasers doing the jazz thing. I've been countless times and I've never been bored by the jamming on the Hammond organ. Generally old friends or random strangers show up with an instrument and join in. It's that kind of place.

Thursday is the super famous and popular drag night. It's an equal opportunity affair and brings in all sorts of people. There's always a Cher but maybe also a Nancy Sinatra. Hostess Miss Lisa pulls men from the audience on stage to show their underwear, gets women to flash their chest and, if it's your birthday, you get dragged on stage and the whole club screams "Fuck You". The night ends with the DJs taking over and everyone gets together for a bit of drunken dancing to end the night.

This is the quintessential Philly experience. Better than a cheesesteak.

The Bob and Barbara's crowd is about as diverse as you're ever to find in the US. All ages, races, sex and subcultures hang out here. Oh, did I mention that the drinks are also insanely cheap? I like a whiskey sour, myself, served in a pint glass and goes for about $5.

Philly's really been changing a lot over the past few years. I'm glad that Bob and Barbara's always stays exactly the same.

mazphd at 19/11/07

if i'm ever in Philly i'm making it my mission to go to B&B's!

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