LAID-BACK LIBATION

BARS WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR NAME, ERYONE KNOWS YOUR BARS WHERE EV

STORY BY WILL MADDOX

PHOTOS BY DANNY FULGENCIO

And Your Drink

When you crack th e d oor an d wa l k in fo r h ap py hou r, eve ryone sees yo u b efo re you r eyes adjust to th e darkness, and chances are, you a re recog nized and chances are, you are recognized. You may hear a jukebox, a hearty chuckle among friends or perhaps some live music, but as your vision returns, the darkness becomes familiar. You have arrived in one of Dallas’ many neighborhood dive bars. These treasures have become even more valuable in a Dallas that often values the newest and shiniest, and provide a respite from the posturing and anonymity that plague many watering holes around town. Take the plunge and learn more about East Dallas dives.

The Goat

EVEN DURING the holidays, The Goat is hopping on a Tuesday night. For this neighborhood bar with live music every night, it’s no surprise. Tuesday is Delta Blues night, when acoustic musicians entertain guests with down-home songs of loss and love.

One couple saunters onto the compact dance floor between the tables and stage, eyes locked on each other, without a care for the guests. The two touch foreheads, hips swiveling and feet tapping to belie their dancing ability without showing off too much.

Loud conversations along the bar and a pool game are the backdrop to a man decked out in Dallas Stars regalia, including green Mardi Gras beads, a green top hat, bedazzled cane and sunglasses.

“You may see something you will remember,” says manager Adam Testa, tellingly.

That is the epitome of The Goat, where everyone is confident they will see someone they know. It is more surprising to not recognize anyone.

“There is never a dull moment,” says Testa, who has worked there for over a decade.

Despite the acronym, The Goat did not get its name from being the greatest of all time (though they would argue that they are). The bar derived the name from a former owner who owned a 1960s Pontiac GTO (nicknamed goat) and wanted to hang the front end of the classic car on the building’s façade. The city said she couldn’t do it, but the name stuck. It has been The Goat ever since.

Neighborhood regulars dot the bar during the day, but nightfall brings out the music-seeking crowd. Two nights of karaoke, two blues jams, a Delta Blues night and Friday and Saturday’s featured artists keep the evenings musical, where everyone fits in no matter how poorly they belt out Bruno Mars.

“This is a place where everyone drops pretensions, where people of all stripes become best friends for three to four hours,” says Testa.

The Goat is one of the few bars that can be found open at 7 a.m. While that might seem like a poor financial decision for the bar and a poor life decision for anyone else, it services the night shift workers, whose happy hour begins when the rest of the world is waking up.

Owner Bill Weiss took over the bar in 2004, but says he is “kind of foggy” on the exact history of who owned the bar when. He does know that back when Rhonda Nail, who now owns Dallasite (another East Dallas dive), was the owner, her husband died in the bar. “Right over there,” says Weiss, pointing to the end of the bar.

No matter the night or time, you will find neighbors, regulars and music lovers alike at The Goat.

DID YOU KNOW: The Goat doesn’t offer food, but you can bring in pizza and sandwiches from Cigarz next door (or anywhere else) to eat with the drinks and live music.

History is a big part of The Goat, from its clientele to its tables, where family photos have been preserved under layers of lacquer.

When a regular walks in, Weiss flings a coaster at her, both laughing as it spins away wildly. “We are blessed with a loyal clientele,” he says. “We haven’t managed to piss them off too much.”

The Goat

7248 Gaston Ave.

Open 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-2 a.m. Sunday

A Deeper Dive

SINGLE WIDE

2110 GREENVILLE AVE.

This Lower Greenville watering hole isn’t big on space, but a drive by on a weekend shows its popularity. It is the little brother of Deep Ellum’s Double Wide, and draws the crowds with Hump Day bingo, eclectic DJs and the Yoohoo Yee-haw.

Milo

BUTTERFINGERS

5645 SMU BLVD.

Generations of SMU students and neighbors continue to enjoy the no-nonsense food and libations at this tavern. Though it has changed locations since its founding nearly 50 years ago, it has remained a place to find cold beer and a friendly welcome.

Dallasite

4622 BRYAN ST.

For darts, shuffleboard and pool, folks head to this Old East Dallas spot. The Dallas skyline on the sign above the patio welcomes neighbors to an adventure in fairly priced drinks, burgers and karaoke.

LAKEWOOD’S 1ST

AND 10

6465 MOCKINGBIRD

LANE, #316

Regulars can take a load off, watch a match or two and chow down on sizable burgers at this neighborhood bar. There’s also a competitive trivia night at this East Dallas hangout with rare ample parking.

DID YOU KNOW:

Country music legend Charley Pride, who released 36 No. 1 singles in his career, was a semi-regular at the bar for a spell.