I visit the Nest for two reasons: the bartenders are friendly and attentive (with minor exception), and it's a low-key place where I can always enjoy a cheap beer and a nice chat with a NE neighbor. I haven't noticed the "hipster crowd" so many lament, but I also avoid any place on Alberta during "peak times" and certainly during the sadly overblown last thursdays. In fact, I find the mix of young and old patrons, from all walks of life, etc. here is refreshing, and yes, it is stinky but the outdoor patio is big and has... horseshoes! wheeee! the Nest, you are my stinky friend!

In a neighborhood (Alberta) where there are over eight places to get your hair done, a bar on average every block, and countless boutiques, but no book or music shops...once again providing evidence that being hip is more about style that substance...The Nest, and it's counterpoint, The Know, are inevitable. It is amusing to watch the stylistic unstlyed compete for each other's attention. Speaking of irony. Irony is dead, long live irony. Guess what Hipsters. You are Disco. In any case. As far as hipster/yuppie (whats the difference?) bars go its not that bad. The waitstaff, thank god, don't feel that have to prove they are cool and aloof by being rude assholes. There is one bartender there (older fat blond woman) that was very pleasant to me at first and the started being a jerk because I didn't tip as well as I had in the past. She went so far as to call me insane. Yikes. The other bartenders looked at her and looked at me and then told me later that I should just ignore her. I don't go in when she is in there any longer. One last thing. If you are not a smoker bypass the place. I recently stopped smoking and spending more than ten minuets in there makes my eyes water. Good pinball, pool, and ping pong.

The bartenders are friendly and the drinks are strong! Love the patio once the weather gets nice. Try the OWL NUTS...

the people that work there are phenomenal. they remembered me right away and are the reason i go there. they never claimed to be anything they're not so don't get so shitty over the fact that it's a bit divey. clean food and drinks are served with a good attitude. want snotty service ia place where you have to worry how you're seen? please, be my guest.

I can never put my finger on exactly why The Nest never feels "cozy"-- maybe it's the high ceiling, spartan decor, or the total lack of booth seating At any rate, several of my friends have pointed out that the late night crowds here seem to have abated, just a bit, since the Bye And Bye opened up just a few blocks towards MLK. So maybe that skimmed off the more....shall we say polished types? Fine with me. Fewer yuppies-in-training to muck up my chance at getting a table.

the nest is a place where you can go just to hang out and grab a quick drink. the bartenders are always nice. i go in frequently and love the service. and the christmas lights have been up since they opened two years ago, it's not just for CHRISTMAS. joe still owns the building, you people need to stop stressing

I love the nest. The bartenders are great...and I frequent the bar several times a week. I avoid last thursday...most all locals do...but if you go a few days in a row, you will see the same crowd. Also great to see the bar close for the evening and watch the drunks ride their bikes...Lidell is the best door guy ever.

I used to live around the corner (briefly) but never went to Joe's but i popped into here to get a cab and it seemed like a typical hipster bar. Not bad, but nothing really special. Oh, the door guy (Lendell?) was cool. Hmmm, i smelled no "piss" by the way ...

Seriously, I am a local and do go to The Nest on a regular basis. There used to be a pee smell IN the bathroom but they finally got a new cleaning person. If you spend a couple minutes to be nice to the staff or don't go on last Thursday you will see that it is a fun place. Don't like the smoke smell, go outside to the patio with the fresh air and quit complaining. Where else can you get cheap drinks and fun people everyday that is within walking distance to your house. People need to relax... try opening your own bar first...

So much potential, but too abrasive. It's rarely anything but totally packed to the gills with your typical hip NE residents. Believe me, that's not bad-- but when the stereo's cranked, everyone is shouting, and you can barely walk from one end of the bar to the other without spilling half your drink, it makes for a lousy time. I can't remember the last time I actually had a place to sit there.

Maybe a couple more dive-y bars is what Alberta needs to lighten the load.

"Whiskey Peppers!" a special item not on the menu.Go ahead order them--Mind blowing!

I swung by there yesterday. My missions were two-fold: sell an ad so that I could afford to spend money at bars that want to charge me in exchange for me doing favors for them, and secondly to check out Renegade Run. I digress...my grandmother has a ton of cats and they piss everywhere in the house. And that's the smell that I kept smelling when I was there.

In regards to the the review below........It probably smells like urine whever you go cause you're the one creating the pee smell. Check the front of you pants for a peed-on situation retard. The place is way dope and you wouldn't understand cause you're too busy trying to figure out a way to pee your shirt too. I gotta go. -b

Upon entering this place I was punched in the face with the smell of urine. If not for that, I might have stayed. Seemed like a lively crowd, and the door guy was a character. Too bad I don't enjoy inhaling pee fumes when I drink...I must be getting old.

Bring back joe's! So what if it's new management, joe's place was awesome!

The bar has bad vibes, the servers arent very good. there is nothing neighborhood about this shit hole, except the 2 inches of "water" that are always on the bathroom floor. Skip this bar.

seriously, this place is great. since che what has closed down (boo hoo hoo), if you miss it, this is a good place to go.

A neighborhood bar in an unlikely spot - pretentious Alberta Street. Thank god there is one place you can get a cheap drink and hang out with real people. I love The Nest. Especially nice on summer days when you can sit in the shade on the giant patio out back.

A smoke choked dive for the obnoxious and the clueless. If it were to close tomorrow, the local neighborhood would cheer.

Please remind the owners of The Nest to take down their christmas lights. Thank you!