International Bar: One of the East Village’s most beloved little dive bars is back, minus some of the grunginess. The new owners (longtime East Village residents Molly Fitch and Shawn Dahl) are promising a throwback to the old neighborhood vibe in the face of gentrification. International Bar originally opened in the 1960s on St. Mark’s Place between Avenue A and 1st Avenue, moved to 120 ½ First Avenue in 1986, and closed in 2002 when the original owners died. Improvements to notoriously tiny bar include sinks in the formerly toilet-only bathrooms, an energy-efficient beer tap with six lines, a CD jukebox, and an original mahogany wooden bar from the Raccoon Lodge. You won’t find any schmancy cocktails here. Look for cans of Schaefer and Yuengling on tap, and most neighborly of all—happy hour from noon to 8 p.m. |
