You can often tell a lot about a bar simply by checking out the bathroom, and Celina's Corner is no exception. The bathroom is DIY-kitsch and cramped, complete with High Life box floor mats. It is also, however, meticulously cared for, clean and welcoming.

The motif continues throughout the rest of the bar, where wood paneling and living room-quality lighting, complemented by year-round Christmas lights, make you feel like you're drinking in a Midwestern basement. The walls are decorated with old, black-and-white photos that feel like actual memories instead of affectations, and dotted throughout with the requisite neon signs.

Celina's is the archetypical neighborhood bar, opening its doors to Humboldt Park/Ukrainian Village patrons for the last thirty-five years. And you'll find, soon after arriving, that a good number of your fellow bar-goers have been going there for a large chunk of that time. The owner, Celina, is a beloved octogenarian who seems to inspire smiles from the surliest customers, and fierce loyalty from her regulars.

Celina's biggest drawback is its beer selection, which hovers somewhere between house party and tailgating. The bar does its best to make up for it in pricing though, with $2 High Life, Miller and Bud working hard for your forgiveness.

The weeknight crowds are sparse, and you'll often find yourself watching the news with a diverse group of drinkers opining freely on Daley, Bush, and everything else. On the weekends Celina's tends to get a bit rowdier, as the younger crowd stomps in and the Sinatra/Elvis-filled jukebox comes to life, mixing with discussions in a myriad of languages and the click-clack of the pool table. It's an easy place to feel comfortable quickly, and last call always seems to come too soon.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jesse Jordan