New York

Very few bars can boast a dock-side location with the Statue of Liberty just a hop across the water. Then again, few bars in New York are anything like Sunny’s. Tucked away from the scrutinizing eyes of the many hipster-zones of Brooklyn, Sunny’s is a locals’ spot for familiar Red Hook-ers. It’s been around since the area’s dockworker heyday—and it shows. Sunny’s has the feel of a dive, the warmth of a relative’s cabin, and it’s never too dirty or bad-vibed to be unpleasant. The regulars are the real life of this place, so be wary of busting in with some kind of “This is nothing like Lit! I want to dance!” attitude. Beers are decent at $4 a bottle ($3 for PBR), and the Irish coffee is a snowed-in-traveler’s dream. The best bits about the place: the frequent, friendly, and oh-so-good live shows. Come lovin’ that southern twang!

Photo:  Christopher D. Salyers