Sample seasonal drinks from around the city and talk about it? Yes, please. Check out some of fall's most creative and tasty sippers. We did the heavy lifting — all you have to do is raise a glass. A pickle martini, anyone?

[Maple Manhattan, $9, Franklin Cafe / Photo by Courtney Hollands]

He's the resident DJ for the Beastie Boys. He's won the DMC World DJ Championships multiple times. He's often credited for inventing the tweak scratch technique. Yep, Mix Master Mike is kind of a big deal. Catch him Thursday at Underbar with DJs Frank White and Silent Partner. Ch-check it out.

The party is 21+ and kicks off at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $18.50.

A documentary about Boston's music scene, circa 1988. Awesome.

- Emily Sweeney

Looking for top 40? You won't find it at Move Fast, the new Thursday downstairs dance party at Wonder Bar. DJs Beyonder (part of the Bladerunners DJ team) and Turbz promise to spin underground electro, 90s house, disco, and "beats you won't be able to find at any other venue." How unique are the tunes? You be the judge.

[Love how DJ Beyonder coordinates his watch with his headphones.]

There's a new club in town: the Stork Club.

This swank new jazz lounge is located at 604 Columbus Ave. in the South End - the former home of Bob the Chef's. Last night was the grand opening party, and the place was packed. It's open seven days a week, serving food until 1 a.m. and drinks until 2 a.m., and live jazz and blues each night. The club is also on Twitter and Facebook.

Now here’s a dance party that sounds…well, rather intriguing. Actually, no. Definitely intriguing. And slightly scary.

C.R.E.E.P. is a “party for party monsters” that’s happening Saturday night at Machine (1254 Boylston St., Boston). Brought to you by the kids behind Thunderdome and <3throb, the lineup includes Red Foxx, Mistaker, and Torcher, plus live performances by Mademoiselle Lena. The cover is $5 (or $3 if you’re “dressed to kill!")

Lemon Magazine is celebrating the launch of their latest issue tonight. The party starts at 7 p.m.....I really wanna go.

Hey... wait a minute... what are those giant red building blocks doing on the waterfront by the ICA? Surely, it can't be more condos! Don't fret, my well-heeled friends: the shipping containers emblazoned with a Puma label actually house a temporary store, bar, and event space. And this pre-fab structure will host some fabulous parties over the next three weeks.

DJs Brek.One, Bladerunners, Roy Barboza, and Rich Medina will all stop by. Spinners from Hearthrob and Thunderdome are slated to throw down. Check out the whole schedule here and get ready to dance those pants off.

[Will partying at Puma City give you "Cat Scratch Fever?" Just curious.]

This isn't an April Fool's Day joke. I swear.

I've just been informed that Castillo’s (355 Ferry St., Everett) hosts a monthly rock fetish night, and this Friday (April 3) they're throwing a fetish karaoke party.

It's being billed as the first fetish karaoke night Boston has ever seen. (I don't doubt that. I wonder if it's the first in the state...or even the whole world?)

The Myspace invite says:"THIS IS NOT A SMALL DIVE BAR KARAOKE! THIS A BIG CLUB WITH A BIG STAGE!"

Leather and vinyl-clad club-goers will take turns singing at the mic.....and DJ Paulie will be spinning rock tunes (i.e. Motley Crue, Guns & Roses, AC/DC, The Cars, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.) throughout the night.

The club is 21+ and there’s a $ 10 cover. Strict dress code, too: leather, latex, vinyl, goth, all black clothes, or shiny club wear. No jeans allowed.

The PUMA MP3 Beatdown resumes this Thursday (March 18) at the Middlesex, where teams will compete to dominate the dancefloor by playing the dopest songs. The first round took place at the Enormous Room on Feb. 11, and we hear that Lab Boston's team emerged victorious after knocking out Team Hearthrob in the finals. Time for a rematch. Starts at 9 p.m., 21+, no cover.

Just a quick note to let you know that Boston's own old school metal band Bang Camaro will stop by Conan O'Brien's show tonight. "Bride Wars" bombshell Kate Hudson will also be yukking it up with our favorite late night host on tonight's show — wonder if she's a Camaro fan?

One question: Where will the band's 20-odd lead singers sit? The show starts at 12:35 a.m. — if that's too late for you, sleepy, you can watch the entire episode on Conan's website Wednesday.

Tonight Canadian mixmaster DJ Mayday will be spinning at the SO DOPE! dance party @ dbar in Dorchester. It starts at 10 p.m., and there's no cover.

If you go, be sure to say happy birthday to Jay K the DJ.

According to the flyer, he is turning 85 years old...

Looks good for his age.

-- Emily Sweeney

[You won't find these moves at Paper.]

The bumpin' club life not for you? (Me either.)

You might as well try a dance from an earlier decade that emphasizes class over crass. This Saturday, check out Uptown Swing Dance, a new monthly dance night hosted by the Hop to the Beat dance studio at Brookline Tai Chi.

Admission is $15 ($10 with a student ID), and you are welcome to show up solo. As for beginners, no need to be scared. From 8:15 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be lessons. By the time the DJ and the live music kick in, you'll be ready to impress. (Or, at the very least, you'll cut down on the number of toes you step on. Your potential Jitterbug partners thank you.)

If you've selected Billy Idol, the members of Devo (pictured), or the cast of "The Breakfast Club," as inspiration for your Halloween costume this year, you're in luck. Tonight, the Milky Way Lounge in Jamaica Plain is hosting a free "80s Halloween Dance Party" starting at 9 p.m. DJ Mike Stankovich will spin while you (hopefully) find a Molly Ringwald to match your Anthony Michael Hall. Check out the Milky Way website for all the details.

There's a new dance night in Dorchester...it's called SO DOPE! It happens every Thursday night at dbar, and there's no cover. Definitely worth checking out.

Like peanut butter and jelly, soup and crackers, and of course, Blair and Serena, wine and cheese have been bosom buddies for some time. At Vinalia's Wine & Cheese Wednesdays, starting at 6 p.m., the restaurant offers complimentary samples from the bar's wine list. Throw in some cheese and fruit, and ta-da! — you've just classed up another night out on the town. And for someone who doesn't know a Merlot from a glass of Yellow Tail (like me), there's be a professional wine connoisseur on hand to present the wines and offer info on region, flavors, and pairing recommendations. Best of all, there's no admission fee. Check the website for all the details.

[Nothing says, "Hey, I've got class," like wine and cheese.]

[Erik Jacobs for the Boston Globe]

Let's face it, Boston's gay and lesbian nightlife scene isn't always known for its variety. For alternative ways to party — whether that means singing, dancing, or just sharing some poetry — browse our picks for events and venues for a good time without boundaries.

[Think your moves can top this guy's?]

It's no secret that dance parties are kind of my thing. (See my bio at the right.) Check out our picks for some local dance spots to keep you moving throughout the week.

If you need further inspiration, this weekend's packed with opportunites for rump shaking and robot walking:

Tomorrow at the Roxy, stop by Latin Fridays, where DJ Lus and DJ Andy Panty start spinning at 10 p.m. Women on the guest list get in free before 11:30 p.m. You can call host Tomas Soto at 617-848-8117 to save yourself a spot - and that's a safer bet than shilling out the $15 cover.

Not keen on crowded clubs? Head to Project MUM: Somerville's Final Frontier, where you'll get the chance to shake your groove thing in the open air, right under the McGrath Highway on Saturday. The party starts at 9 p.m. and there's no cover, but the suggested donation is $10.

Every fourth Tuesday at the Milky Way Lounge in Jamaica Plain, catch ...And Don't the Kids Just Love It, featuring indie pop and power pop. There's no cover. Bonus: Half-price bowling after 9 p.m.

I'm breaking a sweat just writing about it.

I'm a recent trivia convert. So far, I've sat in on two trivia nights at local bars. No wins...yet. Questions at local quiz nights typically span all subjects from sports to science. Coincidentally, sports and science are two good reasons why my win tally remains empty. I need to put my extensive knowledge of useless pop culture, well, to use!

Thankfully, the Brattle Theatre's "Trivia Night!" promises movies-themed questions only, which means I won't be stumped by Terrell Owens' receiving stats or the process of photosynthesis.

If you're someone who always thought that cinema-centric questions were only for the critics, guess again. Head to the Brattle in Harvard Square this Thursday at 9 p.m.. Invite a few friends (teams must have between two and six members), and register online.

Need plans this weekend? Run — do not walk — to Assembly Square's Good Time Emporium (Good Times to those in the know). The slightly sketchy arcade is closing for good on Monday.

Now where am I going to get my Skee-Ball fix? This is not O.K.

Good Times opened in the square 16 years ago. It has bumper cars, Dance Dance Revolution, Whac-a-Mole, beer, pool, and oh-so-much more. The cavernous entertainment center is like a Chuck E. Cheese for grown-ups. All that's missing is the ball pit.

Soon, the arcade will be demolished to make way for an IKEA, meatballs and all. And while I love Bjursta tables and Norvald chairs as much as the next gal, a small part of me will die when they take away the Skee-Ball lanes and pinball machines. I'll miss the nights of mindless fun fueled by cheap brews and the need to horde prize tickets for a coveted bouncy ball or stuffed animal.

[Globe Staff photo]

(We hear that Good Times is looking to move to a larger building in Brockton. So you may have to travel just a little further to get your kicks.)

Karmaloop celebrated the grand re-opening of its store on June 6th with a bash on Newbury Street followed by another party at a secret location in Chinatown. The hush-hush venue turned out to be Chau Chow City...I had no idea that Chau Chow's had such a huge banquet hall upstairs. Great space for a party. The soundtrack of the evening was provided by DJ Red Foxx, Team Facelift, Kid Cudi, Bladerunners, and DJ Jayceeoh...

I shot some video that night, but unfortunately my footage didn’t turn out that well, because it was pretty dark in there. So here are some highlights, courtesy of Karmaloop TV:

Some other cool events on my radar:

Circus @ Privus
New electro dance night in Allston. DJ MayDay, Jef Gil & John Barera will be spinning there tomorrow (6/28) night. No cover....and LAB will be hosting a pre-Cricus event from 7 to 10 p.m.

Hearthrob
This Basstown bash happens every other Tuesday at the Middlesex. It's free. Just get there early if you don't like waiting in line. I went a few days ago, and had a blast.

My favorite bar in all of Boston is having an open mike night? What??

Oh, Silhouette Lounge, it's been too long since I drank cheap beer in your cozy corner of the world, watching drunk Allstonites play dahts and bad pool. You were my first Boston bar. And now you're having live music? And maybe even a game show? The times they are a'changin.

You can sign up for the Monday night open mikes here.

I went to the Achilles Project last weekend (clothing store and restaurant in Fort Point), and tore my Achilles tendon two days later. Coincidence? Discuss.

Ghouls in the Garage is a new 18+ monthly night at TT the Bear’s that features “cheap pool, stiff drinks and vintage horror flicks projected all night long!”

It happens on the third Thursday of every month....which means this month's Ghouls party is only hours away.

DJs Mary Widow and J. Cannibal spin an array of ‘60s-era rock, punk, psychobilly, surf, and, of course, garage music. So you can expect to hear a broad range of stuff...they play The Stooges, The Sonics, The Cramps, Thee Headcoats, The Monkees, G.G. Allin, and everything in between.

They'll have go-go dancers, too....this month’s lineup includes Ama Alaria (owner of Rock City Body in Allston) and Devilica (aka Miss Firecracker, founder of Black Cat Burlesque).....and you won't want to miss the special psychedelic belly-dancing (?) performance by one of the Babes in Boinkland.

And one more thing -- this installment of Ghouls in the Garage will also be the official birthday party for underground art scenester Katrina Galore of Grindhouse Marrionette fame.

Doors open at 9 pm, cover is $5.

Vanilla Ice not likely to make an appearance tonight.

Nostalgic for the days when Eminem ruled the Top 40? Get your white boy rapper fix at the Middle East Downstairs tonight for its "Irish Hip-Hop Throwdown" featuring Irish MCs Rob Kelley and Sullee (of VH1's 'The (White) Rapper Show').

Boston native Danny Jamieson, of "the Real World: Austin", and former LFO frontman Rich Cronin will be on hand as hosts. Some of the proceeds will benefit the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation, which supports leukemia research.

Show starts at 8 p.m., and $25 will get you in the door. No word on whether there will be a pop-meets-hip-hop collobo.

Free bands. Free bowling. Free pizza. Do I have your attention yet? Tonight at the Milky Way you can get all three at the Dewars Candlepin Bowling 3: Repeal Day Celebration.

Punk dance band The Chinese Stars and "ghost-punkers" These Are Powers provide the live soundtrack; DJ Etan does the rest.

Here's how you get in: E-mail Ben Sisto at ben@milkywayjp.com with "Dewars Repeal Day RSVP" as the subject. Include your full name and the full name of up to 2 guests. And do it before 6 p.m. And know that if there's a line, you might not get in.

The party is 21+ and starts at 9 p.m. The pizza buffet starts at 9:30, and apparently it goes fast. So forget about being fashionably late and just show up fashionably hungry.

Probably best known for his fling with Claire Danes, Ben Lee might be considered the least famous of the sensitive, singer-songwriter "Bens" (Ben Folds and Ben Kweller round out the bunch).

But that might change with his seventh disc, "Ripe." With guest spots from Benji Madden of Good Charlotte and Mandy Moore, this indie rock troubadour looks like he's making a break for the mainstream.

See him tomorrow night at the Middle East Downstairs with openers Carey Brothers and Kate Voegele. Doors open at 7:30 and tickets are $15.

For a brush up on Lee's pop rock gems, check out www.ben-lee.com.

I discovered something new about myself last weekend: I really stink at laser tag.

A bunch of us went to the Good Time Emporium in Somerville for a friend's birthday party, and it was an eye-opening experience. So many games to play, so little time.

Besides laser tag (which I hate, by the way), there's go-karts and pool and batting cages and video games and every kind of sport you can imagine on TV. There's even a club for bands and wrestling matches.

But the best part was the crazy old arcade attractions, like the saloon shoot'em-up and the whack-a-mole type game involving chickens with detachable heads. I also really enjoyed the virtual-reality roller coaster that took us careening through a haunted mine.

It's a little run-down, and there are a zillion teenagers there on a Saturday night, but it's a fun place. And it's open 365 days a year.

Oh, and they serve beer.

But we mean that in a good way.

If you're feeling a little introspective, or even having a full-blown identity crisis, maybe you just need a good laugh. Head down to Inman Square, where ImprovBoston presents The Wasteland Comedy Hour, a post-modern variety show hosted by T.S. Eliot.

Tonight, just for all you navel-gazers out there, the show is on the Topic of The Self, with videos, sketches, music and guest interviews. Looks like someone's self is feeling not-so-fresh.

There's a new installment each Friday through mid-December, with upcoming topics such as Intimacy, Money, The System, and War & Aggression. But tonight it's all about you, you, you!

Thanks a lot, Beehive. You've got to be the reason Darryl Settles is closing the legendary Bob's Southern Bistro (formerly Bob the Chef's). Sure, the Beehive is hip and happening, but it's a little too hip and happening for people who just want a comfortable place to eat fried catfish and collard greens while they listen to live jazz. I've never had to stand in line to get into Bob's, which was founded as a lunch counter in 1957 by Robert and Dottie Morgan. I've never felt like I was wearing last year's fashions at Bob's ...

Sure, there will still be Bob's catering, and Settles deserves to spend more time on other interests and with his family, like the press release says, but I still blame that dang Beehive, where there is jazz, but no soul food, and no laid-back atmosphere, on the menu.

Nov. 25 is the last day at Bob's. I heard on the radio this morning that someone is going to turn the space into a lounge aimed at college students. I recommend getting in there one last time before the trendy masses suck the soul right out of it.

Anyone with a soft spot for mix-tapes and wistful top-five lists is sure to have a soft spot for Nick Hornby. In 1995, the British author of “High Fidelity” shone a light on the charming side of neurotic and compulsive audiophiles; over a decade later, on this side of the pond, he'll celebrate the release of his ninth book. Hornby reads from "Slam" tonight at 6 at the Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner. Tickets are $5 - save the rest of your money for dinner nearby (maybe at the Paris Creperie across the street) and books, of course. Published earlier this week, “Slam” is Hornby’s first work of young-adult lit, narrated by a boy from North London whose world goes awry when his girlfriend gets pregnant.

If you're unfamiliar with Hornby's other work, I suggest you start with “Songbook,” a collection of short stories the New York Times Book Review called the “prose equivalent of a mix-tape.”

Heard coming from the stage at Saturday's Architecture in Helsinki concert at the Paradise:
- luscious Australian accents
- a blaring rendition of 80’s new wave hit “Live It Up,” by Mental as Anything
- “Have you seen ‘Trapped in the Closet?’”
- Red Sox banter – predictable, yet earnest
- “You’re nicer than those New York people.”

The indie sextet hit all the right notes, clearly, and electrified the crowd on Saturday night by igniting a full-on dance party. Maybe it was synth-pop openers Lo-Fi-Fnk who warmed us to the idea, or the cold weather outside, but after 10 minutes, the girl to my right was whipping me ecstatically with her wild hair and limbs mid-dance, and I hardly cared. Architecture sang and shouted songs from their new album, “Places Like This,” skipping “Underwater,” a dreamy throwback to less urgent and funky times. The soft moment I hoped for never came, but I had no leftover energy to lament the loss of vintage tracks like “Souvenirs” or “Imaginary Ordinary.” The dance was unstoppable, except for one grave second when Gus Franklin literally blew part of his trombone across the stage. It was repaired immediately, just in time for another song.

For a rigorous dance experience of your own, keep watch in the next year for a work-out video courtesy of Architecture and YACHT, a one-man purveyor of electronic pop music.

If waxing self-conscious is the way to your heart, you should find some room deep down (or in your evening, at least) for editor and author Jonathan Messinger, a Chicago native whose debut book was released last month. At 7 p.m. tonight, Messinger is swinging by the Lorem Ipsum bookstore in Cambridge to promote "Hiding Out," his collection of short stories that captures the universal nervousness of adolesence and adulthood. Occasionally profound and often familiar, "Hiding Out" is tiny enough to slip in your jacket pocket for a rambling autumn walk. Lucky, since its stories feel made for this season.

Don't forget to keep your hands warm en route to the bookstore - I recommend a stop at the 1369 Coffee House in Central Square.

Hey guys, looking for a shirt to wear out to the clubs this weekend?
How about this one?

That'll show those girls in tight shirts who's really to blame for your wandering eyes.

If this old guy can get away with it at a car show in Vermont, anyone can.

You can order a similar one here.

Despite the humid, summer-like temperature, last night's Matt Pond PA show at the Paradise Rock Club embodied the perfect autumn evening, combining Pond's slow burning croon with a stage decorated with fall foliage. My colleague Danielle and I danced and jived through Pond's hour-plus set, which mostly included songs from its new, meatier album, "Last Light" and 2005's "Several Arrows Later."

Though Pond & Co. delivered a top notch performance (the songs felt more layered than prior shows I've seen), the stoic crowd (who mostly seemed of the bro-dude persuasion) didn't move a muscle. Unless you count the obnoxious group of kids who kept shouting "New Hampshire!" in between songs.

To my disappointment, Pond obliged.

Sweden has been good to us, and evidence is all around: chewy red fish, two cinematic Bergmans, Smörgåsbords, H&M, Ikea, the zipper and Abba. Now it sends Jose Gonzalez our way, an indie-folk virtuoso whose original songs are matched by his extraordinary covers - he transformed Kylie Minogue’s “Hand on Your Heart,” for instance, from uninspired retro-pop to an earnest plea for love. Swing by the Paradise on Sunday, Sept. 30, to catch Gonzalez on tour for his new album, “In Our Nature.” Not familiar with his music? Visit his MySpace to hear the album for free.

* 123 Party! Casting Call -- The renegade dance troupe plans to hold auditions soon...

* Bye Bye Axis -- DJ Manolo and Taner K will bid farewell to the Lansdowne clubs on Sept. 29....

* Go Big Time -- No Sweat, a local retailer that sells sweatshop-free clothing, is offering to sponsor bands...

* Chez Vous Lives! - Cheers to Sprinkler Fitters Union Local 550 for stepping up to save Boston's only rollerskating rink. The Boston Herald reports that union leaders have pledged to upgrade the sprinklers at good ol' Chez Vous and bring the place up to code so the rink can stay open. And Lindsay Crudele says that tomorrow night -- Wednesday Sept. 26 -- there's a community meeting at the rink from from 6:30-8 pm. She asks people to come out and show their support for the rink. There's also free skate session for the 18+ crowd happening there on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 7:30 - 10:30 PM.

-- Emily Sweeney

If you missed the first two weekends of "Sxip's Hour of Charm" at Zero Arrow Theatre, I feel truly sorry for you. Why? Because you missed Meow Meow, a lounge singer/comedian who made me laugh so hard I was in tears.

By the end of her act, she had half a dozen audience members holding her up in the air while she sang and barked orders between lines. Despite the fact that her crotch (fully clothed) was in some guy's face, she somehow remained glamorous -- and hilarious.

The good news is, Sxip Shirey's variety show has one weekend left, Sept. 28-30. Shirey will be performing his strangely beautiful compositions once again, including one with something called an "obnoxiophone," along with performances by a rope-spinning cowboy, a storyteller, an acrobat (who did a heart-in-mouth-inducing ceiling walk last weekend), and two singers.

I highly recommend checking it out. You never know who you might end up holding upside down onstage.

Are you a fan of physical comedy and smoke-and-mirrors special effects? Then you'll love how that scene in the photo above was staged.

The comedic Hitchcock adaptation "The 39 Steps" has a run at the Huntington on its way from London to Broadway. I just caught a preview, and thought it was fabulously entertaining and clever. Four actors play countless roles, in gorgeous costumes, while pulling off physical stunts. Trunks, tarps, hats, smoke, flashlights and even a shower curtain are used to cinematic effect. This cast stars Charles Edwards from the London production, which won a Laurence Olivier Award for best new comedy.

Boston Club Kid Fashion: 1995

Bustin' a move at Axis. (Globe Staff photo, January 1995.)

Van Gomes, Miss Claudia, and Jezebel on Lansdowne Street. (Globe Staff photo, February 1995.)

The dancefloor at Venus de Milo (Globe Staff Photo, February 1995.)

-- Emily Sweeney

It seems like there have always been nightclubs on Lansdowne Street.

But you know who actually constructed that big building that houses Avalon and Axis?

Eban Jordan -- the daddy of the Boston Globe. Hellz yes, he built those garage-like buildings about 100 years ago.

Avalon's website provides this interesting historical backgrounder on the history of the building, and the Lansdowne club scene:

Over the years, the building at 15 Lansdowne Street has served many different purposes. At the turn of the century, retailer Eban Jordan, of Jordan Marsh and founder of The Boston Globe, built 13-15 Lansdowne Street to house his delivery horses, carriages and trucks.

In 1969, 15 Lansdowne Street entered the entertainment arena as a psychedelic club called THE ARK. Soon after, the legendary BOSTON TEA PARTY, managed by Don Law, moved into the 15 Lansdowne Street address. Both the TEA PARTY and its predecessor THE ARK played host to many of rocks most celebrated acts such as Bob Dylan, The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Grateful Dead. Don Law would later become one of Americas premiere concert promoters. The rise of the disco era saw ownership of the space change hands once again. A young Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager with their partner Jon Addison bought the building and converted it into a glamorous discotheque aptly named 15 LANSDOWNE. A few years later they sold out to Addison and went back to New York City and opened the infamous STUDIO 54 and later MORGAN'S HOTEL, which would start the boutique hotel revolution.

Meanwhile, Addison hired a young hotshot, Patrick Lyons, to manage the venue now renamed BOSTON - BOSTON. In 1980, he and a group of investors bought the property, and eventually the rest of the Lansdowne Street clubs. BOSTON, BOSTON became METRO and after installing the domed roof in 1988, CITI.

The building at 15 Lansdowne Street has been called AVALON since 1992. Now the home of AVALAND, AVALON underwent a major multimillion-dollar renovation in 1999. The new AVALON includes and additional 7,000 square feet of space created by annexing the MAMA KIN MUSIC HALL, a 600-person club, which was located next door.

*****

Be on the lookout for Boston Nightclub History Lesson #2 ---> we'll look at old photos of Lansdowne, and look for the deeper meaning behind the big hair-dos, bad-ass dance moves and unusual fashion choices club-goers have made over the years. -- Emily Sweeney

I've been dying to know what's happening with Lansdowne Street. I'm still in denial that we're about to lose all of these nightclubs. Rumors have been flying for months, but it appears the end is near.

Avalon's website shows a bunch of events happening over the next couple weeks, but nothing past Sept. 22nd. The Boston Herald has reported that the clubs will close Oct. 1.

I've also heard that there are a few closing parties lined up:

* Armin Van Buuren will be the headlining DJ on Sunday Sept. 16 -- which is being advertised the "Avalon Closing Party" with invitations that scream out "This is the final show AVALON will EVER HAVE!"

* Then there's another Avalon closing party scheduled for Sept. 29: "Last Dance" hosted by Chris Harris and the Gay Mafia

* and then Dropkick Murphys will play Avalon on Sept. 30... (it's already sold out)

....but the question remains: who will play the very last song at Avalon?

That honor almost went to the David Crowder Band -- a Christian rock group from Waco, Texas. I'm not making this up. I've never heard of these guys, but apparently they had a gig lined up at Avalon on November 9. The venue has been changed to the Roxy.

So, from what I can tell, the Dropkicks concert will be the last show at Avalon. If anyone knows of any more closing parties, drop me a line. I'm going to make some phone calls later and try to find out more.

-- Emily Sweeney

It might seem silly for city dwellers to seek out nightlife in the suburbs, especially when it's taking place in a 250-year-old Colonial house, but you really can't judge a scene by its surroundings. The new Scarlet Oak Tavern is apparently the place to be in Hingham this summer, and when we arrived last Thursday night around 8, the bar area, which seats about 100, was mobbed with 40- and 50-somethings. There were polo shirts as far as the eye could see, and even a pair of salmon-colored shorts -- on a man -- but there was no denying it was a happening spot. The drinks were flowing, the pizzas and burgers were flying out of the kitchen, and the bar was packed all night. Who says the suburbs don't have it going on?

For more on the Scarlet Oak Tavern, check out the Sauce column in Friday's Weekend section.

[Any excuse to post a Pat Benatar photo...]

Long ago and far away, the minute after graduating from Boston University, I swore off Lansdowne Street forever. Aside from an occasional show at Avalon, I rarely venture to the chaotic co-ed drunk fest that is Lansdowne on the weekends.

However: after having one too many brews at the Lower Depths (a great beer bar on Comm Ave. in the old Deli Haus space... check it out!) on Saturday night, I was persuaded to head to the hallowed ground of hedonism for "Heroes" at Axis, the club's electro, retro, new wave, and punk night. For $6, we were treated to ridiculous dancing and '80s punk and retro hits. Be warned that it's more Joy Division than Hall & Oates -- but accommodating DJ Chris Ewen did spin our request: "West End Girls," of course. And we definitely tore up the floor when "Love is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar played. "We are young..."

The downtown Boston waterfront is a surreal place on a Saturday night in the summertime. We were there last weekend to go on a Rock and Blues cruise with the Samples, and the place was buzzing. Tourists and families willing to wait an hour and a half to be seated were swarming Legal Sea Foods, and out on the dock, 20-something guys in long airbrushed T-shirts and women in tight shorts and high heels were swarming the boardwalk. They milled around the outdoor bar and sausage stand, trying out their best pickup lines. Apparently there was some sort of MTV cruise that night hosted by a "Real World" star, which definitely contributed to the nightclub hookup vibe.

The Samples crowd was on the older and mellower side, but it didn't stop a bloody fistfight from breaking out during "Did You Ever Look So Nice." I'm telling you, these booze cruises have it all. And the booze ($4 for a can of beer, $5 for a mixed drink) isn't prohibitively expensive. Just watch out for the social smokers who crawl out of the woodwork when you whip out a pack of cigarettes; after the third or fourth stranger bummed a smoke from a friend, he started charging. (The profit margin got even greater when the same friend discovered that a bartender had given him accidentally given him a $100 bill as part of his change).

When we got tired of the repetitive, bouncy Samples beat, we escaped to the deck, where we danced to the Who and the Beatles between sets. The boat traveled a lot farther out to sea than I thought it would, and on the way in and out of the harbor, the lights of Boston were truly stunning. Better yet, none of us got seasick. And the experience only cost everyone $33 apiece -- not counting the guy who had to take his blood-spattered shirt to the cleaners.

For more information on Rock and Blues Concert Cruises, click here.

A night-out suggestion from new Flip Side blogger Joan Matelli:

Locals tend to avoid tourist-heavy spots like Quincy Market during the high season. But in these balmy last days of summer, you can catch a nice breeze and some great people-watching from one of Wagamama's outdoor tables, and the crowds aren't bad on a weeknight. For dessert, stick with the Asian-themed foreign imports and pick up some Beard Papa cream puffs on the other side of Quincy Market.

This just in from brand-new Flip Side blogger Jeff Miranda, a Northeastern student working at the Globe this semester:

Last night I donned my favorite pair of checkered Vans and tightest Hot Topic jeans and headed over to the Middle East Downstairs for a healthy dose of high school nostalgia. Mae (above), an emo-pop-punk outfit from Virgina, blazed through an hourlong set, alternating songs from its new album, "Singularity," released Tuesday, with crowd pleasers like "Suspension" (see the video here) and "Summertime," which of course, elicited hearty group singalongs from the mostly tween audience. (Think Chris Carraba of Dashboard Confessional with a head cold.)

The loudest singing came from me, of course.

Don't know what you're doing on Saturday night, but I'm going on my very first booze cruise -- er, make that my very first Rock and Blues Concert Cruise in the harbor. The Samples are playing -- a jam-band-flavored alt-rock band that takes me right back to my early '90s college days in Boulder. Sean Kelly's (above) high voice straining through "Feel Us Shaking" is like the soundtrack to those first years away from home: "I'd like to stay, but I couldn't stay with you. I have to go, I have a lot I want to do." I don't have it on CD, but I do have it on a well-worn mixtape. Sigh ...

If you have the same nostalgia for the Samples, go to rockandbluescruise.com for more information about Saturday's cruise. Maybe I'll see you onboard.

Lucretia’s Daggers just played at the opening of some new fetish/go-go dancer/party night called "Escape" at Max's Hideaway in Brockton over the weekend. Take a look at the spooky Escape flyer -- that's the scariest club promo I've ever seen. Hands down.

In other news, Lucretia X. Machina and her band are also on the growing bill for the Skybar's Farewell Finale Show on July 15...and here’s what the lineup looks like so far:

Skybar Farewell Show Schedule
(as of July 5)
12 noon - doors open
2:00 - CrowfeatheR (unplugged, unprepared and unpanted)
2:30 - Foxtrot Etiquette
3:00 - Ouch
4:00 - Mortalis
4:30 - The Shadows Smile
5:00 - One Last Run
5:30 - Stephie Peeka & The Seeking 7
6:00 - The Liz Borden Band
6:30 - Tara White
7:00 - Leon Rich
7:30 - Soul Remnants
8:30 - Mindshot
9:30 - Exhale
10:15 - Lucretia's Daggers
10:45 - Dreamchild
11:15 - Lily Holbrook
11:45 - Julianne Dous
12:15 - headliner TBA

Sorry for not linking to every band here -- I'm a lazy blogger today.

-- Emily Sweeney

It appears that Skybar -- the Somerville rock club that shares the name of my all-time favorite candy bar -- is closing.

The Alewife reports that the final blow-out bash is planned for July 15th.

-- Emily Sweeney

Ladies, start your engines, because Aria is holding another sex toy party Thursday night. "Toys of Interest" will be raffled off, "exotic" shots will be handed out, and the "dress to impress" policy will be strictly enforced, according to the press release. What does that mean, anyway? That women whose halter tops are deemed not skimpy enough will be thrown to the curb?

Women get into the club (236 Tremont St.) for free until 11:30 p.m., which I guess means men are invited, too.

To RSVP: text 617-542-9800 or e-mail clubaria@aol.com.

Enter at your own risk.

The Noise is one of the best 'zines around. Legendary publisher T Max put out the first issue waaaaay back in 1981, and it's been going strong ever since, covering the local music scene like no else...



...and to celebrate the mag's 25th anniversary,
T Max is throwing a huge par-tay:

The Noise 25th Anniversary
Holiday Bash

Saturday, Dec. 16
@ The Abbey Lounge

featuring....
Uncle Shoe & VoigtDog, Angeline, A.K.A.C.O.D., and The Rudds...
$10 cover...doors open at 8pm

- Emily Sweeney

In just a few short hours I'm heading out to Love Night at Common Ground in Allston. I must say, I walk past the place every day, but not once have I been moved to go inside. A friend swears Love Night -- the bar's '80s-themed night -- is worth braving the cold. We'll see about that.

Given Common Ground's location on Harvard Avenue and tonight's new-wave feel, it should at least be a great place to play hipster bingo.

As I've said before, I can't always rely on my friends for the best way to get to know the city's nightlife. Instead, I am hoping to embark on a Beantown Safari to get better acquainted with what's out there.

Here's where you come in.

I'm all about giving the power to the people, so e-mail me at rhankinson@globe.com with any suggestions. I'm up for every dive bar, chic lounge, and dank pub this city has to offer. Also, feel free to suggest any particular food and drink I should try while I'm there. I want the good, bad, and ugly, so go ahead and send your best and worst picks.

Still looking for the perfect stocking stuffer? Now there's a chance to bring home the nightly jazz sounds of Bob's Southern Bistro with a new CD. The 14-track disc features local artists including Ray Greene, Ashanti Munir, Athene Wilson, and James Aldridge. For now, the album is only available at Bob's for $10.99.

Know what I hate? Nightclubs where the same $#@! songs are played over and over again, and DJs who refuse to play any kind music that falls outside of their standard format.

I used to complain to my friends about this all the time. And then I became an annoying back-seat driver of DJ booths. I’d poke my face into the DJ’s nook, and make honest (and usually inappropriate) requests: if I was at a gay club, I’d ask the DJ to play punk music. If I was at a rock club, I’d want rap... Or Madonna. More often than not, the DJs would respond by shaking their heads “no,” and then I would shimmy across the dancefloor to the bar, to knock back another drink and start complaining again to my friends.

But I can’t complain anymore....at least not on Wednesdays. That’s when my DJ pal Punketta Doilie takes over Redline in Hahvad Square, and makes it Shift:

The DJs at Shift spin all kindsa music: electro, indie rock, techno, hip-hop, even an occasional hair-metal hit or top 40 anthem.

You might hear Missy Elliott, New Order, Goldfrapp, Hot Chip, Le Tigre, KMFDM, Interpol, Justin Timberlake, Motley Crue's "Smoking In the Boys Room," blended seamlessly with local bands like Infrastructure and Freezepop.

Punketta will be on the decks tonight, along with DJ Ionnokx and special guest DJ Static.

Shift is a great opportunity to listen to cool music in a swank setting, and Redline serves food too. All ages are welcome.

No dress code + no cover = YAY

You can dress like a freak, or rock the powersuit you wore at work all day. Your choice.

www.myspace.com/shiftboston

Still itching to rock the vote after midterm elections? Here's another chance to get heard. AOL City Guide is compiling its "City's Best" listings for 2007. It's a great place for newcomers to the city (or those of us finally old enough to enjoy Boston's nightlife, like myself) to see what's out there. Users can vote on their faves in categories including conversation bars, dive bars, and happy hour. Voting ends January 12 and winners are announced on January 29.

Cast your votes here.