State of the Union

The particularly patriotic may be somewhat put off by the paintings of Lenin and Rasputin that adorn the stage and door of this establishment, but a closer look will reveal that State of the Union is at heart a downtown dance club.

Located in the heart of the "New U" district, the club-restaurant is open every day of the week and draws large, extremely diverse crowds on the weekends. The club, which is divided into two rooms, features live bands five days a week in the front room. Performances are very well attended, so arrive early to stake out your spot on the dance floor. At 11:30, the bands stop playing and deejays take over both rooms, spinning a wide variety of house, hip-hop and jungle music.

The club, which strictly enforces its 21-and-over age policy, charges no cover during its happy hour (5 to 8:30) and Tuesdays feature free admission as well. Otherwise, the cover can be as high as $7 on the weekends. State of the Union's drink prices are about average for a downtown club, with shooters running about $5 and a bottle of domestic beer costing $3.25.

-- Jamie Krents