Regina & Joe's

This place has been completely renovated and cleaned up, rendering the previous reviews irrelevant.  The windows were replaced and cover the entire front entrance, the walls freshly painted a bright orange.  I can't imagine any definition of the word "dive" that would include this place.  What hasn't changed is the Polish character- the jukebox is entirely Polish (try playing the Seweryn Krajewski CD for something accessible).  Saturday night here is fairly lively, if incomprehensible- a Polish folk singer on guitar sings lively and anthemic tunes from the homeland.  When the regulars (mustached and presumably Polish) begin stamping their feet and singing along, you know it's a hit.  I believe the Mexican section of the bar (who tend to sit on the east side) don't sing along because they are straining to listen to the Ranchero across the street at Buen Aroma.

A REAL dive.

Enter through a door in the alcove. Grills (not bars) over the dark windows. You have no idea what to expect before walking in.

Only seating in the joint - stools at the bar. And theres a pool table.
Otherwise its eerily empty.

No heat.
Garbage on the floor.
Row of gruff-looking older men eye you.
No english spoken.

Welcome to Jackowo.

Dirty and angry Polacks (and a few nice ones), weird baby boomer swingers, awesome old bartenders (Joe and Ewa), pool table, accordion-playing, Polka dancing, Jabrufka Vodka, Bud Light girls posters, guitar/keyboard/mic behind the bar, and.... ONE DOLLAR STEINS OF OLD STYLE.

There is a really long story about why this bar kicks ass (on top of what I already wrote) but it's so sweet it will have to be told in person.  Suffice it to say, I drank about 25 free Old Styles here.

Welcome to the Old Country.