The twist happens inside, where the concept of dive bar graffiti has been elevated to a new level. Black ceiling tiles and dark painted walls provide canvas to graffiti that looks to have been applied with liquid chalk, like a bistro menu crossed with classic dive bar scrawls. The theme extends throughout the space, maybe best felt in the pool room in back where floor to ceiling dark walls and the ceiling itself host densely packed, multi-colored messaging, a phenomenon that even extends to a few scribbles on the light suspended over the pool table.
Just inside the front door, Third Street Dive’s iconic red neon sign casts a glow that mixes with a similar skull and crossbones piece to cost a glow over the bar area tucked into the corner of the room. Behind, a decent selection of draft beer is complemented by all of the requisite bar materials and local artwork available for purchase. In the room’s opposite corner, a small elevated stage complete with lighting rig provides a well-stickered backdrop to live music and karaoke nights that frequent Third Street Dive. Bits and pieces of hand-drawn art mingle with stickers on and around the walk-in cooler just off the bar area providing a little visual stimulation for those sitting that the bar.
Aside from the thick graffiti throughout, the largest visual element in the space is an homage of sorts to the Batmobile. No real reason was given and I suppose no real reason is required. A series of alcoves dot the rear of the space, one of them home to a pinball machine that is Batmobile-adjacent. Taking the turn around the corner from the bar amplifies the divey backbone of Third Street Dive where some of the gloss of a modern-looking bar counter dissolves into scuffed-up floors and pleasantly unruly graffiti.
