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Northward Bound
At Outta the Way Cafe, a Derwood neighborhood institution, patrons, from left, Julie Kirklin, Jason Smith, Kara Johnson-Smith and Drew Kirklin sip some brews.
(Mark Finkenstaedt For The Washington Post)
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Even without live entertainment, Cafe Tacuba is a fun place. The bar, which has never met a Corona promotional item it didn't love, has plenty of seats and a foosball table, and the margaritas and frozen cocktails are crowd pleasers.
The Music Cafe
26528-B Ridge Rd., Damascus
301-253-1500, http:/
Lattes are the drink of choice at the Music Cafe, a year-old coffeehouse and performance space in Damascus. "We're in a dry town, so we can't serve alcohol," explains owner Kurt Esche, but he says the lack of booze hasn't hurt. "There's a lot of people that don't want to be in a bar atmosphere, so it does help with that."
Live music is featured every Friday and Saturday night, with bands setting up in a corner of the brightly lit room across from the espresso bar and next to bookcases holding well-thumbed paperback books and board games. There's a $5 cover, but children younger than 12 are admitted free, so families come in and find tables where they can sit and enjoy the music, stuffed animals and coloring books in tow.
Don't expect to hear any Wiggles, though. The Music Cafe has featured the likes of the Blues Vultures, a rootsy rock band led by former Kix guitarist Ronnie Younkins, and up-and-coming honky-tonk singer Ty Braddock. The bluesy Mary Shaver Band is headlining the cafe's first-anniversary celebration Aug. 18. "We don't have one set genre" of music, Esche says. "It's a lot of classic rock and country and blues, but it's a variety of everything. We're not stale."
Bands perform from 8 to 10:30, and the early start helps Mom and Dad catch the band before the kids need to go to bed. An open mike is held Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a charity Texas Hold 'Em tournament raises money for cancer research every Monday night.
Though the Music Cafe lacks the standard trappings of a rock-and-roll venue -- beer, dim lights, an 18-and-older crowd -- the sound is great, and the espresso and frozen frappe drinks are well-made. Don't forget to peruse the selection of local CDs while you're waiting for your drink.
Pelican Pete's
12941 Wisteria Dr., Germantown
301-428-1990
Pelican Pete's looks every bit the ideal of an Eastern Shore seafood restaurant, down to the large plastic sport fish hanging on wood-paneled walls. Keno plays on televisions above the bar alongside "SportsCenter," baseball games and poker tournaments, and waitresses deliver crab dishes to the high-backed booths.
Drink prices are just as un-Washington: The dirt-cheap happy hour means $1.50 domestic drafts and $2.50 bottles and mixed drinks from 4 to 7, plus discounted appetizers. On Sundays and Wednesdays, karaoke fills the air.
