Club Directory

Mon: Metal-Head Mondays.

Tue: Live music.

Thu: Ladies' night.

Fri and Sat: DJ.

Sun: Hospitality Night. 501 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 480-967-3060.

PI: The owners of Boston's (RIP) kept the old strip-mall bar pretty much the same way it's been for 25 years -- pool tables, shuffleboards, dartboards. But at night, the lights dim for live entertainment in a lounge atmosphere.

Thu: Blunt Club, featuring spoken word, poetry and open mike with DJ spinning acid jazz and trip-hop.

Fri-Sat: Live music. 5014 S. Price Rd., Tempe, 480-897-1466.

Rhythm Room: Local blues impresario and killer harmonica player Bob Corritore's passion for roots music attracts legends such as John Hammond and other touring acts to his intimate, energetic Rhythm Room that would otherwise skip town. That passion also attracts the Valley's most diverse audience -- old, young, black, white. Doors open at 8. 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, 602-265-4842.

Rodeo Nights: Grab your boots and hat and take a swing on this enormous dance floor. Or walk a few feet to one of the seven full-service bars. Or try the pool tables, or slip away for a quieter rendezvous under the flashing lights of a saddle covered in mirror-ball tiles.

Thu: Male revue.

Sat: Male revue plus country dancing lessons. 4029 N. 33rd Ave., Phoenix, 602-279-3800.

The Rogue: The jukebox spins both Gene Vincent and Motörhead, which may explain why skateboarders, cowboys, and Vespa and Harley riders are all drawn to this dark roadhouse.

Mon: Fifty Cent PBR.

Fri: Live music.

Sat: Punk rock DJ. 423 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-947-3580.

Rustler's Rooste: A real live bovine inhabits a large pen next to the entrance, a variety of beers flow from the tap, and a nice view of the East Valley are some of the amenities at this popular tourist destination with a ranchlike feel.

Tue-Sat: Peso Dollar Band. 7777 S. Pointe Pkwy. West, Phoenix, 602-431-6474.

Sky Lounge: Part of Sports City Grill, the popular two-level eatery hosts various themed nights beginning with Progress Thursdays with DJs spinning drum and bass; and Friday Latin nights, which feature Afro-Cuban band Cascabel downstairs and salsa dancing upstairs until 3 a.m.

Sat: Rainbow Room Night. 132 E. Washington St., Phoenix, 602-229-1110.

Sugar Daddy's: Here, Old Town Scottsdale meets Bourbon Street and turns blues at the corner with local and national R&B acts. And there's a roomy outdoor patio where you can enjoy Sunday brunch with your live entertainment. Live music 7 days a week.

Sat: Live reggae. 3102 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-970-6556.

TJ's Bar & Grill: TJ's is a small, intimate neighborhood country-rock bar with pool tables and other standard barroom fare. Live music Saturday nights features Billy Wyatt and the Night Wind band, and there's also an open jam session on Sunday afternoons.

Tue, Wed and Fri: Karaoke.

Sat-Sun: Live country music. 1734 E. Main St., Mesa, 480-833-1950.

Wink's: Three words sum up Wink's: drag, drag and drag. Four nights a week, the bar is home to some of the best female impersonation acts in the Valley, including (his promo, not ours) America's favorite blonde, Barbra Seville, Pussy LeHoot, and Devina. The bar is decorated with class: Zebra-print carpet lines the floors, a chandelier hangs from the ceiling, silver and black curtains frame the stage, and lovely flower arrangements adorn the front window. Also notable is that Winks is home to the Gay World Series softball team.

Tue-Sun: Drag shows.

Sun: Brunch. 5707 N. 7th St., Phoenix, 602-265-9002.

Yucca Tap Room: Tucked away in a grungy Tempe strip mall, this casual bar evokes a small-town atmosphere with its crowd of working-class regulars. College kids come by for alternative rock, karaoke and open-mike nights, while a more diverse bunch shows up for live bluegrass and country.

Mon: Open mike.

Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: Live Music.

Thu: Karaoke. 29 W. Southern Ave., Tempe, 480-967-4777.

Ziggy's Sports Grill: A playground for old-school punks (even those who grew into tattooed professionals), Ziggy's offers shows ranging from scorching ska and gutter garage bands to '70s rock and hardcore; a jukebox that contains all that is loud, lewd, and not likely to be found anywhere else (The Plasmatics, The Dwarves, Gun Club); and a spectacular view of Mill Avenue from the ladies' rest room. And it's got to be the only place in Tempe where you can sip a rum and Coke while watching GWAR on two video screens. 414 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 480-557-8093.

LOUNGES

Drift Polynesian Restaurant and Tiki Lounge: This is the ultimate Scottsdale tiki lounge, with big Easter Island heads, surfing flicks on the tube, and huge, highly alcoholic Polynesian-styled drinks like the Evil Bastard and the Grotto. Kick back in the beautiful, big-assed bar and lounge area, where you can pretend you're in Maui while you listen to a mix of electronica, rock and hip-hop. Food is served until midnight. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m. 4341 N. 75th St. (75th St. and Stetson Dr.), Scottsdale, 480-949-8454.

Furio: The owners are so proud of the decor of their lounge that they openly give its designer credit. Judith Testani crafted the fabulous, violet-lighted bar furnished with chunky ottomans and a couch stacked with leopard-skin pillows. But real attention focuses on the handcrafted martinis, a boutique wine list and more than 15 specialty drinks like mojitos, an Italian ice-lemon (lemon gelato, Ketel One Citroen, Triple Sec, sweet and sour, and lemon juice in a sugared-rim martini glass), or a Bellini (champagne, peach purée, vodka and peach schnapps). Recorded music is inspired (Gipsy Kings, Sinatra, jazz, acoustic guitar), and the cuisine is, too (amazing dusted hearts of palm, calamari, osso buco).