"We only recently found out that this near-perfect dive bar on St. Marks has a luscious, string-lit backyard filled with inexplicably tall trees. So the next time you and some friends want to drink in the sunshine in the East Village (without having to deal with the East Village), retreat back here. It’s also a useful place for a casual date in the area, since a lot of other neighborhood spots fall into the “cocktail bar” or “going-out bar” buckets." - hannah albertine