Best of Boston

A modest watering hole that islanders depend on after the day’s work is done and the summer crowds have evacuated to the mainland, this institution, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, has acquired the patina of legend. If it’s a dive, it’s one that argues there’s more to the designation than peeling paint and a well-worn bar. Located next to the shinier, chicer bars that now line Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs, the rough exterior might scare off the faint of heart. And while the aura is arguably friendly, it’s also a bit reckless, hinting at a long history of spirited delights: It wasn’t unheard of, for instance, for regulars to throw a fake wedding at a moment’s notice. Read more