I know: sometimes I sound like a broken record. What can I say?

So there's this bar in the East Village that I've walked by hundreds of times. It's got the hottest, cheesiest name ever -- Sly Fox -- which just happens to be the same name of a dive bar in my hometown when I was growing up. Finally, this past weekend, the stars aligned and a friend and I went to the Sly Fox for a few drinks.

First, perhaps it was because it was the holiday weekend, but the place was not packed at all, which shocked me. A hip dive bar that's housed inside the Ukrainian National Home on Second Ave empty? I still can't believe it. All of the good dive bars east of 2nd Ave have been so overrun it's not fun to go to them any longer.

The place totally reminded me of the Dresden Room in LA. You know the one in Swingers? While not identical, the seats/booths with their tacky patterned fabric instantly brought the Dresden Room to mind. Dive bar, but with a bit of polish from not being totally worn down over the years.

The jukebox had some classics, but isn't one of the best in the city. You can play Bowie, Nirvana, and the Chili Peppers, but there are other bars that have much better selections. Note to the owner: step it up! The icing on the cake: the shared bathrooms you have to go out of the bar and down a set of stairs to get to. Once there, you never know who might have walked in off the street to use them. You've been warned.

If you're in the East Village and want to hit a dive bar, but don't want to deal with the crowds, check out the Sly Fox (140 Second Ave btwn St Marks and 9th Street). And if you see me there, buy me a drink!