IMAGE: vivianjohnson.com

The Lion’s Eye Tavern (5919 SE 82nd Ave., 774-1468) has risen from the ashes of previous bar Becken’s Winning Hand to become a much-needed neighborhood hotspot at the corner of Southeast 82nd Avenue and Woodstock Boulevard. Mike—a self-described regular who jokingly introduces himself as “Norm,” à la Cheers—tells me horror stories about the club’s previous incarnation, and a notice at the top of the bar, a no-nonsense introduction to the Lion’s Eye, proclaims: “Any patrons attempting to buy, sell or use drugs will be permanently 86’d.” Beyond the sign, the transformative effects are subtle but promising: Local artwork is displayed on the walls; a range of beers, including a surprising number of local and regional picks, sell from $2; and the Lion’s Eye hosts barbecue Sundays on the back patio. The club’s liquor license is still pending, but the Lion’s Eye tides customers over with a dangerously tasty line of $4 “sake-tinis.” Styx tends to blare from the digital jukebox, and pool is free (for now). This dimly lit, comfy corner dive knows how to have a good time, and it would rather invite the neighbors in than scare them away.