Occasional Honky-Tonk Hangouts

Sometimes regular bars will morph into honky-tonks one night a week. Here are three such places:

WEDNESDAYS: Ned Devine's Irish Village in Sterling. Wednesdays are Country Night, with half-priced steaks and free line-dancing lessons from 7:30 to 9 p.m. About once a month, Ned's brings in a major-label country band to perform. (The other weeks, music is provided by a DJ.) 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling, 703-444-7873, http://irishvillage.neddevines.com.

The same Country Night happens every Tuesday at Ned Devine's Centreville location (minus the live bands). 6208 Multiplex Dr., Centreville, 703-266-2194, http://www.neddevines.com/centreville.

THURSDAYS: Sunset Grille in Annandale. The self-described "inland beach bar" hosts two Texas Hold 'Em tournaments every Monday at 7 and 10 p.m. (no entry fee), plus Johnny Castle's Thrillbillys perform rockabilly almost every Thursday ($4 cover). 7250 Columbia Pike, Annandale, 703-658-0928, http://www.thesunsetgrille.com.

SATURDAYS: Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring. With its old-school nondigital jukebox and the giant stuffed boar's head above the bar, the Quarry House is inheriting Maryland's honky-tonk mantle from the soon-to-be-closing Chick Hall's Surf Club in Bladensburg. Every Saturday at the Quarry House is Crybaby Saturday ($5 cover), which features rockabilly acts starting between 8 and 9 p.m. (Occasional forays into psychobilly or country music are possible.) 8401 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 301-587-8350, http://www.quarryhousetavern.com.

-- Dan Zak