I like the cheap bars in the east village, like around the saint marks area. (Lots of good Japanese food there too, if you are interested...)and the west village near NYU. There are also decent ones on down on the LES that my friends and I go to occasionally.

(I've always assumed that people wore grey and black all the time because things are kind of grubby and then even if you get grit on you, it won't be noticed. At least that's my reasoning...)