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| - Bootleggers is my favorite bar in Oakland, and I don't know why. I guess it's cheap, but so is everywhere. It's usually not too crowded, but I tend to frequent on weekdays. It also is located almost directly across the street from my apartment...this may be the reason. Actually that's a rather large part of it.
But aside from convenience, I like Bootleggers because it's not trying to be something it's not. I mean Pcaf is alright but the "dancefloor" is a sad attempt at creating a club atmosphere and the outside area is simply pathetic. Peter's is WAY too crowded and it's only because they give out viking hats. Garage Door is huge but never that fun. Bootleggers is...dirty. full of creepers. uses only plastic cups and doesn't use a tumbler. will not give you an orange with your Blue Moon (they don't have any). has horrible karaoke regulars, trashy bartenders with fake boobs, and what looks to be a patched-up gloryhole in the bathroom. The list goes on. And I'm not afraid to admit that I love it and I almost always have fun here.
Note on those trashy bartenders...good luck getting served if you're a girl. They are usually too busy flirting with dudes or occassionally pole dancing on the support beams (no joke). My favorite night is Sunday...Ladies' Night! Dollar wells and beers for girls, and the bartender, the only dude bartender, is great. The door guys here are super friendly as well, despite having to deal with shitfaced students on a nightly basis.
Basically, while Bootleggers is still full of undergrad bros and hos, if you're looking for a place in Oakland that's fun, cheap, and you don't mind that it's the epitome of a dive, it's your best option.
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