The term dive gets slathered quite liberally over any establishment that shows a little grit, has a storied history or caters to its neighborhood. Just because a bar carries enough charm to turn regulars into lifers, it's not necessarily a dive. When you find people who drink at a bar for years without being entirely certain of the name, well, then you have a real dive on your hands. This Edgewater spot is well loved by locals as one of the few joints in Chicagoland that serves Michelob on tap.

The Double Bubble is marked only by a green-tiled facade, three windows glimmering with neon beer signs, and a Bud sign dangling precariously above the entrance as a makeshift marquee. Affectionately referred to as "The Bubble," this Broadway haunt doesn't have much to offer outside of a frosty mug of Michelob, a barkeep nicknamed "Bacon" and a pleasant nook to kill a few hours.

Just a short stride away from the Red Line's Thorndale stop, the interior of The Bubble boasts an extra long bar and two lonely cocktail tables. If beer at 1970s prices isn't enough excitement, patrons can take turns at the Golden Tee and video poker machines. Using the juke costs more than your beer (a testament to bargain booze, not pricey tunes), but the stockpile of classic rock favorites might just tempt you to stay awhile. History Lesson: Check out the side of the building this storefront is located in; remnants of a two-story ghost sign barely reveal the words "Double Bubble. Michelob On Tap."

Centerstage Reviewer: K. Tighe