Behold Arrow, the new bar that recently opened next to Sing Sing Karaoke, in the subterranean space formerly (and briefly) occupied by the Rook.

Never heard of the Rook? That's why it closed. I happened to discover it several months ago on a cold Friday night, after I found myself faced with two rather grim choices: Go join the rest of my loser friends at Sing Sing Karaoke, or jump off the Williamsburg Bridge. It was a no-brainer. But I was too lazy to walk to Delancey Street, so I made a beeline for the nearest non-karaoke booze vendor, which turned out to be the Rook.

It was pleasant enough but totally unremarkable, and obscured from the hustle and bustle of Avenue A (it's set in from the street, down a flight of stairs), in the absence of food, good music, or um, customers, its demise comes as no big shock.

Enter Arrow, which is stepping it up with big-name DJs, regular weekly parties (including Heavy Metal Happy Hour Fridays), and two-for-one drink specials til 9pm daily. A nice selection of bottled brews runs the gamut--from $5 Buds (which beat a $3 can of Hipster Juice any day of the week), to higher-end international suds like Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout (U.K.) and Japan's Hitachino Espresso Stout. Arrow also carries seven rotating beers on tap, and a menu of $10 specialty cocktails like the Vesper (Plymouth Gin, Stoli, Lillet Blanc, Cointreau and an orange twist) and the Wysteria (champagne, lavender liqueur and peach bitters).

(Photos courtesy of Arrow)