Two Drinks: Crazy Fox Saloon

Krista Mefford, head bartender at the Crazy Fox Saloon in Newport, makes a "Green Fairy" with absinthe. (Credit: Jeff Swinger | Metromix)

The look: The Crazy Fox is one of Newport's classic neighborhood bars, an optimal watering hole for residents of Washington Avenue and Ninth Street. Belly up to the bar or take up the table near the piano.

You will find the second room to be more spacious, though. It has local art for sale and a noteworthy jukebox, with Rufus Wainwright, Talking Heads and the "Rushmore" soundtrack in the mix. Golden Tee Live and PowerPutt, another arcade game, are next to the dart boards.

And open-air lovers can pray for a vacant table on the patio.

The crowd: As someone who visits Crazy Fox every few months to kill my friends in a Cricket-style darts game, I've seen this bar packed with patrons on several occasions. Like, to the point where my friends and I barely had room to throw darts or play pool without ramming a stick into someone's leg by accident.

But on a recent Sunday, a friend and I arrived at 10 p.m. and the Fox was pretty sleepy, a given because Monday wasn't a holiday. We had the second room to ourselves, so the sole bartender obliged when my friend requested Sunday Night Baseball on the HD TV.

The two drinks: I had just finished playing outdoor soccer, so a draft of Original Sin Hard Cider ($4.75) went down smoothly - like frosty water, actually. I moved to Newcastle ($4.75) later, and my friend stuck with Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA ($4.75). During happy hour, draft beers are 50 cents cheaper.

The grub: No food is served here, so I asked for a mini Slim Jim ($1) and a bowl of pretzels, which are free. FYI: Pompilios is three blocks away.

The verdict: Innocuous and welcoming, the Fox will be attractive for years to come. Not only does the staff want you to drink here, but also at Rivershores Ball Park in Hebron. The Dial-a-Shots, its team name, has been promoting its Tuesday night games.

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