.38 Special and 38 Specials

Name: South
Coordinates: 3001 Wilshire Blvd., 90403
Neighborhood: SaMo -- ok, only tools say that. Santa Monica.
Happiest Hours: Plenty, but for starters, M-F 3-8pm. Read the review, jerks!

There's no shortage of urban dwellers who have strange and often misguided opinions about the rest of the country. Not me, of course. I'm the very apogee of fairness and judiciousness. I have perfectly accurate, healthy, and informed views about other parts of this great country, this hemisphere, and the world at large.

But alas, not everyone can be as cosmopolitan and well-informed as me. In fact, it's been to my horror and chagrin that I've realized that most people AREN'T that way.

For example.

My beloved wife, who grew up here in Los Angeles, took a road trip across the Deep South a couple of years ago. While she found the scenery beautiful, the company delightful, and the time off relaxing, she kept running into attitudes that horrified her beyond words. Like the time she and her friend asked a woman convenience-store clerk for directions, and were told, "You know, I don't rightly know. Y'all should ask a man."

I like to imagine that, in the wife's head, a record screeched to a halt.

My point here (and of course I have a point) is that while I, great respecter of cultural differences that I am, would have found that to be a charming throwback to a more genteel time and place. My wife, on the other hand, didn't quite see things that way.

I guess I just have more innate tolerance for cultural differences.

While the above story might well accurately represent The South, it doesn't really do justice to South, the LA-area's version of our neighbors below the Mason-Dixon Line. But then again, it's a certain version of The South -- less mint juleps, seersucker, and gentlemanly duels for honor and more General Lee, Southern Rock, and shooting guns in the air to celebrate major holidays and life occasions.

Oh, and specials. Amazing Happy Hour specials.

And not just Happy Hour specials.

The Vitals: South has, near as I can reckon, one of the finest Happy Hours on the Westside, going from 3-8pm Monday through Fridays, during which all pitchers of draft beer are $10, well drinks are cheap, and certain appetizers are half-off. But it doesn't stop there -- not by a country mile. South ALSO has (as it was my enormous pleasure to discover) Trivia Night on Wednesdays! It's hosted by owner Adam Milstein -- who does a fine job -- and features a pretty robust prize structure. Moreover, during said quiz, the Buffalo Wings are 20 for $5! Now that's enough to get me to darken any door more than once -- wings, beer, and trivia? Come on. I'm only human. But South ALSO has a "Recession Thursdays," featuring the usual Happy Hour deals until midnight, PLUS $1 grilled cheese, $2 "mystery shots, and $3 sloppy joes. Toss in a nice open layout, plenty of TVs, a decent staff and ownership, and solid food and drink all around, and you've got (docking the requisite points for being a University of Michigan-affiliated bar during the College Football season) a yee-hawin', Dixie-whistlin', gator rasslin' good time.