Skylark
image & captions by: Chicago Dive Diva
Is today's headline fake news or deep fakes? It's difficult to discern what or who is real anymore. The photo booth and the neon sign may be broken, but the realness of the dive bar brings me happiness. This isn't some manicured corporate wannabe hotspot. There are jail bars on the window outside. You won't get the flashy, blindingly gorgeous Instagram photo here, but I see beauty in that dirty, worn-in dive bar. Beauty in the bartop adorned with cigarette burns. Beauty in the sloppy spilling of drinks. Beauty in the artful placement of graffiti over the urinals.
A dive bar delivers the authenticity and connection that we all crave, now more than ever. It represents the heart and soul of a neighborhood. For me, the true test of a dive bar is whether or not it makes me feel at home, even if it’s my first time there and I am alone. Skylark in Pilsen, Chicago is one of those dive bars. A mini graffiti heart smiley face with wings greets you at the doorknob. The intimate dark den is the place to escape the pressures of daily life. Pour your heart out to the bartender and leave a little lighter. It's a hideaway club where you can wear whatever, drink whatever, and be whoever. There’s no application needed because the second you walk in the door you have already been accepted.
The kitschy cafeteria style chairs are uncomfortable, but who needs comfort when you have personality and an eccentric taste of history? Who had a chance encounter on this torn vinyl barstool? Whose heart was viciously broken in this vintage booth? The sauced scene is a mixture of artists and neighborhood regulars. There is thrift store art and quirky secret society flag decor to appease the odd bird hipsters. It's a rarity to find a divey gem that is also a respectable restaurant, but this bird can attest to the tasty fried whole pickles. The bleary eyed patrons rave about the fast and hot tater tots while sipping on stiff well drinks.
Dive bars are notorious for curious smells and nasty bathrooms. For the record, Skylark doesn't feature the smell factor. In terms of bathrooms, the cleanliness is above average and it claims to have the oldest functioning urinals in the city of Chicago. The urinals are said to be dated from the 1900s, but this is difficult to verify. For the trivia buffs, Vince Vaughn's character in The Breakup found solace in the cozy, eclectic wings of the Skylark. Fun fact for the hop heads, the building was built in 1910 for Birk Bros. Brewery, a north side brewery that opened in 1886, and closed in 1950.
Come for the jokes with the cast of mixed characters and jam to your go-to 80s tunes on the jukebox. Take that shot of Malört to forget your problems. Nurse that Old Style beer to heal your soul. It's a momentary respite. Nothing in this world lasts, but I want to hang onto the hope that the Skylark will keep singing.
Editors Note:
Skylark remains closed due to COVID-19. You can help keep the dive alive by donating.