Nightlife Agenda

Stuck on Salsa events bring out some of the friendliest dancers around, so novices and veterans alike will enjoy tonight's Stuck on Salsa Social at the D.C. Dance collective. It's a chance to go out, hit the dance floor and practice your moves without the social pressure and dress codes you'd find at most nightspots. Beginners and intermediate dancers can learn new steps from instructors Earl Rush and Mr. Mambo between 8:15 and 10, then get down to DJ Neo until 1:30 a.m. The $10 cover includes both snacks and lessons.

Monday, February 11
Cool Cee Brown (listen) is the smartest, righteously belligerent, mature, underground hood emcee that you don't yet have in your music collection. As one half of Dirty Water, he's crafted a handful of releases that feature his humorous outlook on life along with battle-ready verses dipped in a hint of anger and tons of swagger. Whether it's faux-emo crooning to an annoying love interest or a brutal dismantling of a lyrical foe, Cool Cee Brown is a rapper's rapper who can't be penned in by the tired backpacker/thug binary analysis. Brown's pedigree on the local hip-hop scene goes back more than a decade, but his mixtapes have traveled much further courtesy of the Internet. You can get familiar with him at Bar Nun tonight as he headlines the legendary weekly open mike with Asheru's band The ELs.

Tuesday, February 12
This one just seems ... wrong. Well, maybe not wrong, but certainly weird. If you've seen the Jack Black comedy "School of Rock," you have at least a basic idea of what Paul Green's School of Rock is all about. The best of the batch are the School of Rock All-Stars, high-school aged (sometimes younger) musical virtuosos in training, who can shred, groove and bash away with the best of them. They've played with musical luminaries such as Jon Anderson (Yes), Adrian Belew (King Crimson) and Peter Frampton (inflatable pig dude). But none of those could prepare us for their latest collaborator -- Gibby Haynes. Yes, the frontman of abrasive, experimental, vulgar punk rock weirdos the Butthole Surfers. The same Gibby Haynes who was known to run around nightclubs naked, while tripping on acid, setting instruments on fire back in the band's '80s heyday. The same Gibby Haynes who named his band's first three albums "Psychic ... Powerless ... Another Man's Sac," "Rembrandt Pussyhorse" and "Locust Abortion Technician." That's who will be leading this band of minors tonight on the Rock and Roll Hotel stage, and they will be playing Butthole Surfers songs, to boot. We have no idea what to expect; we just hope the kids' parents are on hand to make sure things don't get too out of control.

Wednesday, February 13
Don't ever think that we aren't suave, romantic types. (We may not be, but we don't want you to think it.) Of course, we have nothing on the French. Tonight's Soiree Carte Blanche happy hour at the Alliance Francaise, could have just been a Valentine-themed affair, but no, the French have to get all philosophical about it. Guests are invited to attend "dressed in the color you think best represents this thing called amour," watch romantic short films, read and write poems for their special someone -- which can be delivered by a slam poet if you don't want to share it in public -- and bring an iPod to spin love songs for the crowd. (Oh, and they're giving away really nice Belgian chocolates from Leonidas.) Admission is $8 in advance; R?pondez s'il vous plait to 202-234-7911, ext. 16 or 31.

Thursday, February 14
Now, onto the big night itself.

Two of our favorite D.C. Valentine's Day traditions go head-to-head tonight, as they have for the last five years. First up is the delightfully wicked Voodoo Valentine's Day party at Leftbank, which hands out voodoo dolls and pins at the door and invites you to, uh, imagine that you're extracting revenge on your favorite ex. (Don't stab too hard or you might accidentally stick yourself -- not that any of us would know.) It's a good chance to meet other bitter and/or fun-loving singles, though some couples do show up, too. Admission is free when you RSVP to voodoovalentines.com and show up by 11. Need incentive to arrive early? How about free champagne between 9 and 10?

Meanwhile Chad America's Rock & Roll Dance Party is in its ninth year at the Black Cat. Couples and singles alike turn out to listen to Glenn, Max and Handsome B. Wonderful spin old rockabilly, jump blues and '50s R&B songs, have a beer and chat with one of the Black Cat's coolest bartenders. There's no cover, no pressure -- just show up to the Red Room and hang out.

Fritz has raved about Birreria Paradiso's amazing beer selection before, and tonight, there's magic in the air at the Georgetown beer bar: The Un-Valentine's Day Special includes a personal pizza and any beer on draft for $14. (We recommend Bells' amazing Hopslam, the refreshing Blanche de Bruxelles or Fuller's classic London Pride.) Quite a wonderful way to drown your sorrows or celebrate being single. (We should note that this special is also in effect at both Pizzeria Paradiso locations, but we have a soft spot for the Birreria.)

H Street Martini Lounge seems to be in two minds about this whole Valentine's Day thing. Tonight's happy hour and party is called "Valentines 'For Singles Only,'" but the invitation points out that "couples are welcome also." Hmmm. No matter your status, though, the party features a "meet and greet" happy hour from 5 to 7 with half-price martinis and $5 margaritas, plus romantic tunes and dance music spun by DJ Andy "Hynotik" Yorke. If you arrive after happy hour, there's a $10 cover.