Donahue’s Hourglass

I like to call this place «The Bar that Time Forgot», but in the most classic sense of the phrase. It looks like nothing has been updated since the late 70s, vintage yankees games on the TV (literally from the 70s), wood paneling walls, an old bar scuffed and knicked, a picture of President Taft down at the end and way up front, a whirlitzer organ that hasn’t been used in decades, but provides the perfect touch of charm. Its the way things used to be, and dog-​gone it, we liked it! To be fair, I’m in my early 30s, and never experienced the 70s, but this place is a spot on representation that I’d imagine a blue collar bar from that period to be.
It’s a page out of history, that feels like home. They serve $ 1 glasses of Genny Beer, and it’s a place I always looked forward to visiting when i’m in town playing music (which lately is far less likely than I’d prefer)
The place is opperated by their bartender Joe (and his wife works in the kitchen). He’s more than willing to strike up a conversation and tell you all about his time in the service, how much he loved spending time in New York City (where we come out from) and baseball trivia.
In a town that has changed so much in recent years, it’s nice to find a place that has the good sense to know it shouldn’t. Don’t you ever change a thing Joe!
Cold cheap beer, ample seating, and good company. Thumbs up in my book!

A dive of the ages. Joe is aged and awesome. He can talk about history for hours. Don’t expect anything fancy, and stick with beer.

The best bar in Wilkes-​Barre. A real bar. Not a douche-​a-​torium like the Hardware Bar or Mulligans. Not a fancied-​up bar with IPAs (whatever the hell that is) or micro-​brews or martinis with fruit. Limited beer selection. Two kinds of bourbon (if you’re lucky.) But most importantly, Joe the bartender/​proprietor holding court on politics, dispensing trivia questions and analyzing handwriting samples of awestruck customers.