We love dives. It's the feel of these places: the flaking-away booth chair, the wobbly stool, the Exile on Main Street on the juke box. And, oh sweet yes: late-night corn dogs. So, eat this Food Network: we sent our contributing photographer Jay Barker to capture one of Dallas' most lovable drunk characters -- the dive bar.

Check out his full essay and the joints he captured in our ol' slideshow section.