thanks everyone…I hadn’t expected such a great, worldwide response! And to think our list consisted of mostly bars in Pennsylvania and New York before this! Keep em coming!
Name: The Green Mill
Address: 4802 N. Broadway
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Prices: I don’t know. It’s not the priciest place in the city, for sure, but it ain’t real cheap, either.
Why it’s a great place to drink: It’s the home of some of the best jazz in Chicago, and that’s saying something. It was Al Capone’s hangout. You can go in early, get a booth near the front and drink Liquor 57 and coke out of fishbowl glasses all night, waiting until after 200p for the drunk hipsters to come in and pay cover. Stays open until 400a in a 200a town, playing amazing live music all the while. Just as comfortable in jeans and a tshirt as full-on glam.
Good stories: To me or to other people? Yes, to both questions.
Website: UkeIke speaks sooth. I may even stitch that on something.
Name: Pop’s
Address: 2053 W. Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Prices: Fairly expensive. $6 cover during the week, $10 on the weekends. $5 for a bottle of Beck’s and up to $400 for a bottle of champagne. Mostly because…
Why it’s a great place to drink: It’s a champagne and jazz bar. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a gorgeous room that also plays great jazz. You can get champagne by the glass or bottle, vintage or non, plus they have full service on beer, other wines and mixed drinks. The clientele is usually quiet and classy and the service is excellent. Very low-key during the week, hopping on the weekends.
Name: The Artful Dodger
Address: 1734 W. Wabansia
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Prices: Cheap for Chicago, small cover charge on the weekends
Why it’s a great place to drink: One of my favourite bar-type bars. A great selection of beer and wines that switches all the time. Check the HUGE chalkboard to see what’s new. Friendly bartenders that know their shit and can not only pour you a great single malt with style, but will make your jailbait girlfriend a froofy drink with a glow-stick in it. Postage size dance floor in the back that is mostly ignored except on the weekends.
Submitted by: A Chicago bar afficionado. I may post more later. This is a GREAT city for drinking.
Name: The 6740
Address: 6740 Greenleaf
Location: Whittier, California, USA
Prices: $2.50 to $5.00 for pints ($5 is for high-end micro brews, $2.00 happy hour every weekday from 3-6 pm)
Why it’s a great place to drink: Great food, nice little neighborhood bar, friendly bartenders
Good stories: They’ve just recently put up a “drink board” for the regulars–when someone wants to buy you a drink, but you’re not up for it, they put it up on the board, so when you come in the next time, you have a drink ‘waiting’ for you.
Website: don’t think so
Submitted by: JavaMaven
nice to get somme Chi-town bars in there, as well as expanding the California list. I haven’t heard anything from the plains states (i.e. Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa)…perhaps they don’t drink or are populated with less people who’d be interested in a site like The Straight Dope.
the historic Wabuska Bar, in downtown Wabuska, Nevada. hell, its about the whole town! it is the only original standing structure. it was built in the 1880’s and been a bar/hotel/whorehouse since then. located 12 miles north of yerington on state hiway 95 alternate (right on the RR crossing), northern nevada, lyon co… they have a good selection of beers and spirits, happy hour specials, darts, pool, live music and general fun. prices are good for the middle of nowhere, with drafts about a buck.
too many good stories to type with one hand (i’m holding a sleeping baby), but there have been ghost sightings!
i liked it so much, i married the bar keep and stole her away! now her dad runs the joint since he’s slowing down some (old well driller)
only web they got are ones the spiders leave!
check it out if you are in the area…
I’ll second the capybara’s endorsement of the Horse Brass. A couple of Dopefests were held there.
I’ll also add one to the Portland list, a place I recently discovered recently that has become a favorite of mine.
Name: Laurelwood Public House & Brewery
Address: 1728 NE 40th Ave.
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Prices: $3 pints, $2 daily specials, all pints $2 on Wednesdays; good selection of liquor, which I have not priced yet.
Why it’s a great place to drink: They make their own beer, and it’s damn good! Good food, also. Plus there’s a play space for the kiddies, with free crayons and paper.
Good stories: Not yet. I’ve only been a few times so far, but it’s a nice place.
Website: http://www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com/index.htm
Submitted by: Ferrous
Mainly at my home, not often but I feel more comfortable there and don’t have to worry about dwi.
also occasionally
Name: (4:01)
Address: (starts at 34th st)
Location: (NYC, NY, USA)
Prices: (beer?$1-$3 Mixed drink??)
Why it’s a great place to drink: (to relax on the way home)
Good stories: (Lots of things happen but nothing I care to share right now)
Website: ( http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/ )
Submitted by: (k2dave - straightdope poster)
Wrong, and wrong again! I for one do drink (though alcohol laws are a little more stringent here), and I dig the SDMB.
Trouble is, I live in TOPEKA, Kansas, where there are no good bars. 
There are a couple of cute little places I like in Lawrence, but not as much as I like the Highland Tap in Atlanta. 
Hehehe…I know Auntie Em. Just trying to light a spark under you plains states folks.
Actually, I know a few people in Lincoln who are some pretty cool peeps…
There must be ONE good bar in Topeka!
Well, um… define “good”. There are certainly bars in Topeka that SOME people think are good, but none that coo my name and sing, “Welcome, Beloved…” with open arms (as any good drinking establishment should). 
Besides, the OP said, “favorite place…” and it ain’t here, lemme tell ya! But I’m not partial to:
a) bars with more televisions than varieties of beer and/or
b) bars with fluorescent lighting,
and Topeka seems replete with those summa bishes.
If you’re gonna twist my arm, though, St. Gregory’s ain’t bad; it has cozy little couches, a nice private loo, and the bartender bought me a drink last time I was there (oh, how it pays to have boobies, even if they’re little). 
Darn it, capybara beat me to the Horse Brass pub, and he doesn’t even live here. waaaah…
Okay, so then a couple more:
Raccoon Lodge
7424 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy
Portland OR 97225
503-296-0110
Prices are pretty standard for microbrew in Portland, $3.50 or so a pint, something’s usually on special and they do have a full bar and restaurant.
Why it’s good–microbrewery that makes one of the creamiest porters I’ve ever had the joy of drinking, a Copper Ale that kicks much ass and they do a mean plate of french fries smothered in cheddar and onions, mmmmm…
Best place to get totally tanked:
Sewickly’s Addition,
51st and SE Hawthorne
Portland OR
This place has no atmosphere, no charm, nothing but the strongest damned drinks in the world–no frills, just kick ass booze for cheap. I don’t know how they do it, but they hand you a drink that has only a passing familiarity with mixer and it still tastes good, it’s a mystery… So basically, you have two drinks here and then go to the music places all around that have way too spendy prices. Oh, and they don’t charge for the soft drinks your designated driver drinks, either…
Good point…and you’re right, I did say “favorite.”
Bars with fluorescent lighting should be illegal.
The Horse Brass Pub must be a sweet place as it’s been mentioned by a few dopers now. If I’m ever in Portland again (last time I was there I was about 7, not quite legal), I’ll have to remember to check that out.
Thanks for your response.
Aleq-- I USED to live there, so don’t fret. Lived very close to Sewickly Addition and had the very greasy food there at the restaurant many mornings.
Ferrous-- did the Laurelwood used to be called the Laurelthirst Pub (in Laurelhearst neighborhood, ha ha)? I once had a “rose ale” there which sort of had a hint of rose petal-- very odd. Wonder if they’d just tossed some rosehips in?
Capybara,
Nope. Different animal. The Laurelwood just opened last year, and the Laurelthirst is still around.
how bout some good places to have a brew in Arizona or New Mexico? Haven’t heard a thing from that part of the country yet…of course, any spots will do…
Name: The Khyber
Address: 56 S 2nd St.
Location: Philadelphia Pa
Price: $3 or More.
Why it’s great: Great selection of beer, my company gets a discount of happy hour prices all the time, outside seating, bands, food, simpsons…you get the idea.
Good Stories: Can’t think of one off the top of my head.
Website: I know there is one but I have no idea what.
Submitted by: Me.
I’ve been there a few times…my friend’s band played there once or twice. We’re having some technical difficulties with the site right now, but I’ll get that up as soon as we come back up…
Name: Chilcoot Charlies
Address: I think it’s off Minnesota or something.
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Prices: Standard
Why it’s a great place to drink: The atmosphere and individuals are unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been. It’s kind of a biker/Rock-n-roll/sports bar with loads of character. There are usually two bands playing, sawdust on some of the floors, it’s all wooden with rafters and balconies, fireplaces, horseshoes, etc and loads of interesting people.
Good stories: There are a couple of plaques from guys in off the slope or a fishing boat that bought the house a round to the tune of 7 or 8 thousand dollars. That’s 1970’s and 80’s dollars.
Website: Yep, in every corner. It’s not a real clean place.
Submitted by: I was a slope geologist. Now I’m 5000 miles away and missing the damn place.
Name: John Stone’s Inn
Address: 179 Main Street
Location: Ashland, Massachusetts
Prices: average - $3 - $5 a beer, domestic/import
Why it’s a great place to drink: John Stone’s has amazing atmosphere, great British beer on tap, excellent live blues, a fireplace, low, low beamed colonial ceilings, decent pub food (homemade English Pasties!), and super friendly owners and staff. There is even a patio for drinking outside in the summer. It’s small and townie, but the townie’s actually speak to you if they don’t know you! Overall, a kick-ass place to have a beer. And, the owner (his name is Vernon) is from England but spent many years in New Orleans. He’s a very cool guy to talk with.
Good stories: OH, and did I mention the ghosts??
Website: http://216.156.15.238/johnstonesinn.htm
But good God, skip the cheesy videos!
Submitted by: Morgainelf
Wow, capybara, a plug for Onder de Ooievaar! Excellent! I lived for a short time at the Prinsengracht and the Reguliersgracht, just down the street, spent some time on the Utrechtsestraat.
My addition to this list is The Dry Creek
Location: Mt Bonnell Road Austin Texas
Prices: Cheap, generally serves only longnecks
Why it’s great: The owner (Sarah, who may have passed away by now) who is mean as a snake, the jar of pickled eggs at the bar, the view from the balcony that’s about to collapse any minute, the coupla mangy black dogs in front, the jukebox that contains numerous favorites like Bing Crosby’s version of “Hey, Jude” and “The Ballad of the Green Berets”, the hill country air and fireflies at dusk.
Submitted by: Erofeev