The Colorado is a dive bar on the east end of Pasadena. It’s not much to look from the outside. Its not much to look at from the inside for that matter. As all dive bars go the charm isn’t in the decor it’s in the patrons. It’s the really people with real souls that make this place come alive. A few miles down the road, on the west end of Pasadena, there are countless high end restaurants. At these places stranger don’t talk as they drink their over priced under poured drinks, but not at the Colorado. At the Colorado you can drop the facade of class you think you might have, leave your pretense in the car and just be yourself. On any given day you may here phrases like “thats a boob grabbing song”, but just relax and go with it. It truly my favorite bar. The outside is wrapped in non-descript black and green matte paint with the words “the Colorado” painted on the side in red script. Walking its black matte metal door you will see the usual beer and liquour sponsored decorations hanging on its dim lit dark painted walls. Towards the front is a juke box, which is a real juke box not one of those internet connected imposters. Towards the front sits its long wooden bar. Behind the bar is a mirrored wall of spirits. The selection of scotch might disappoint James Bond, but the average human walking around will have no problem finding your favorite poison here. Also behind the bar, just to the left of the shelves of bottle sits a selection of candy bars and snacked sized bags of chips. Classy I know, but like I said this is a real bar for real people and real people eat snacked sized bags of Doritos when the drink. If you are offended by its out dated juke box selection, or its offering of snaked sized bags of chips then you don’t belong here. In front of the bar, in the main room pf the bar, is a collection of mismatched tables and against the far wall are four booth upholstered in dark vinyl. The vinyl was probably once a distinguishable color, but year of wear and tear has faded it something close to black. Just through the main room is the back room with a dart board and two pool table. This room is painted in institutional green decorated by blue neon beer signs and pictures of album covers from 70’s rock bands. There also its women’s and men’s restroom. I can’t speak of the women’s restroom, but in the men’s you’ll find a condom machine. I know I’ll say it again, classy right? Who cares little like this make this bar feel like a really bar and not a sterilized soulless piece of crap like your local Chilis. I’ve never actually bought a condom from this bar, but it stares me in the face every time I use the urinal. You only have three selections of condoms. I couldn’t tell you what the other two are called but the middle one sticks out. It’s titled “Ben Wa Balls” and has a disclaimer not for actual use. This has captured my imagination on many a drunk nights here. Anyway back to the bar. In the far corner of the back room sits a large metal door with the sign titled “Emergency Exit Only” on it. Funny thing is this door doesn’t close and in fact is used by the patrons constantly for a quick exit for their smoke break. It may not sound like much but it is one my favorite places in the world, but not because it is one of the best dive bars in Los Angeles (and I love dive bars). It’s my favorite place because this is our place, mine and Ivy’s. We usually come here on a Sunday afternoon when it’s empty, except for a few local regulars. We sit at the bar and drinking our whiskey cocktails and watch football or basketball depending on the season. Yes, you heard me right, Ivy drinks Whiskey, Bourbon, and Scotch. There is something so sexy about a woman that can handle a real drink. Subconsciously there are probably some sexual undertones to this but I have never wasted too much exploring this one. I just sit in silent admiration as I watch this beautiful women order her favorite cocktail. “Jameson and Ginger,” she orders. I fall in love again and again as I hear those words. This place is our hyperbaric chamber. Relieve from the pressures of the world and the people we know we can be ourselves. So here I am another Sunday at the bar waiting for this beautiful woman. She just texted me she just got out of the shower and is running a little late. Usually this would bother me, but not with her. Good things are worth waiting for, and she proves this true. Also I never like her waiting at a bar for me. If I leave her alone for more than five minutes a man someone will try to hit on her. I can’t blame the men of the world for trying. Even a blind man can see she is special. Today is an empty day. There are four people in the bar, including the bartender. After about twenty minutes she walks in. God she is beautiful. She really is the most beautiful thing I will ever see. I think this every time I see her. I know men say you eventually get tired of a women, but I know I will never get tired of this one. Each time I see her she is more beautiful that the last. I will never love anyone like the way love her. This I have always known. If I ever told her this it would terrify her, but I’m sure she sees it in my eyes. “Hi,” I say as I give her a hug. We sit at the bar talking about our day for about twenty minutes before making our way to the backroom. This is our favorite place. I love it because I like the way she looks in the blue neon lights. She likes it because I beat her at pool and according to her its the only thing I can beat her at. I think she just likes seeing me in control. As the night progresses,,,