New Old Crow
Sometimes you just want to go to a bar that doesn't make you want to die. No bouncer, no scene, no rager. Just a simple neighborhood spot where you can throw a few back with your friends and make it home in time to sleep off any under-eye punching bags that may be lurking.
And in Silver Lake, a 'hood strewn with fantastic neighborhood dive bars, that's usually an easy order. But not so much for those who don't want to imbibe in a room that carries the stench of vomit (or hipsters in need of a shower).
Welcome to The Thirsty Crow, which, since April, has been offering Eastside dwellers a classier neighborhood watering hole that smells, well, quite pleasant, if we do say so ourselves.
We've been by on a Saturday and a Thursday. This is what we found:
The Buzz: The Thirsty Crow is a step up from Stinkers, the faux dive bar that was open in the space until February and created by the same owners. They decided to do away with the trucker stop vibe in favor of something more polished. And the goal was achieved with a nice, neighborhood spot that serves as an easy go-to for an Eastside drink date.
The Scene: Like the neighborhood it lives in, the bar attracts a plethora of diverse patrons. There are clean-cut hipster wannabe types who look like they likely joined a frat in college, leather-clad rockers, girlfriends sharing cocktails and conversation and groups of friends the bartender knows by name. The atmosphere is laid back and not at all stuffy, and it's pretty easy to get lost in your own little world without worrying much about the crowd if you don't feel like playing with strangers.
CIRCLE GAMES: A massive wood and marble bar serves as the centerpiece at the Thirsty Crow and features fun such as a "Booze Barometer" from the 1950s that actually works.
The Visuals: The bar is a throwback to the 1930s and, unlike some of the more gimmicky "speakeasies" of downtown, actually feels like an authentic bar of yore (or what we would assume a neighborhood bar would feel like in yore; we were born in 1984, after all).
When you enter you'll be greeted by a curio cabinet filled with vintage bottles of booze and other various liquor-centric trinkets. Wood is everywhere — on the walls, on the massive circular marble bar and even beamed, on the ceiling. And of course, there are old school crow figurines scattered throughout, some with peeling paint for effect. A jukebox from 1935 fills the moody, low-lit room with tunes ranging from Sam Cooke to instrumentals you'd hear during World War II.
The Dress Code: Of course there are the handlebar mustaches and irreverent glasses integral to Silver Lake style. And obviously, there's plenty of plaid. But the majority of fashion here is of the un-trendy variety. Ladies sport leggings and boot-cut jeans, T-shirts that could have come from Abercrombie and the flats they most likely wore to work that day. We even spotted some, uh, rhinestone hair barettes. Guys are a bit more diverse in their sartorial selections, opting for leather biker jackets, cardigans and short sleeve polos. You don't really need to dress to impress here. And if you do, there's a good chance you'll feel like one of the cutest drinkers in the place.
The Hot Seat: It isn't super easy to score a table and the bar stays quite crowded until about midnight. But if you can, grab one of the four tops by the front window overlooking Sunset Boulevard.
SUNSET BLVD. SCARECROW: Upon entering the bar from Sunset Boulevard, an antique letterbox and old school window fonts give you a sense of the vintage treasures waiting inside.
The Drink: The Thirsty Crow has one of those creative drink menus that makes you want to sample everything. Luckily for the people sitting in our immediate vicinity, we exercised some self control. But we did try a Mole Manhattan, a sexy, south of the border-inspired version of the classic rye cocktail with just a hint of chocolate and cinnamon ($12). A sparkling wine and absinthe concoction ($10) is an ode to Ernest Hemingway. And the most popular liquid in the joint is a Thirsty Crow, a delicious bourbon citrus ginger drink that comes served in a jar ($12). Fans of less fussy libations will enjoy an extensive offering of whiskey, bourbon, scotch and beer, too.
The Door: No door drama here — just have your ID ready and walk inside.
The Parking: The bar offers $5 valet. But if you don't mind not parking right in front of the entrance, meters are plentiful on Sunset.
The Eavesdrop: "This is why I love being a bartender. People will walk in wearing a blinking red nose in the middle of May."
The Thirsty Crow, 2939 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-661-6007. thirstycrowbar.com