After Dark

OK, so you are a kid in the suburbs who loves loud rock and roll. Where do you go? Get your punk ass to SWAYZE'S, junior. It's everything a club should be. Loud, obnoxious and a helluva lot of fun. Yes, it's named for actor Patrick Swayze, and that's part of the kitschy appeal of the place. Booker Lee Satterfield runs it with the same tongue-in-cheek humor as he employs when he fronts the chaotic band Treephort. The all-ages, all the time place hosts several bands per night, so there is something there to enjoy, just stick around and watch. less...

With its "no alcohol" policy and well-organized venue management, LANIERLAND's Concerts in the Country is the sort of place you can safely take your grandma to enjoy a show. Plus, the attendees are some of the best behaved (and most sober) people in the state, having paid their hard-earned money to hear some real country music. Well worth the 45-minute drive out of town, the setting is beautiful, the sound is great, and the performing acts are a cross-section of old-timers such as George Jones and Tanya Tucker, and newer artists like Joe Nichols and Blake Shelton. less...

A blind date can be nerve-wracking enough, but at least at OCTANE COFFEE BAR & LOUNGE you can attribute the jitters on the jolt of caffeine you just chugged. What's better, this java joint offers free wireless Internet, so you can pretend to be reading Wonkette.com when the mystery screen name saunters up. Plus, you'll score points for suggesting a rendezvous on the trendy west side of town. Soon enough, the coffee won't be the only thing that's hot. less...