Nightspot sampler

Here is a look at some of the nightspots visited during the past year by the Daily Herald and Beep. Information in this listing is subject to change, so it's a good idea to call ahead.

AULD DUBLINER, 619 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. (630) 783-1600. West Coast pub staple makes the trip to our suburbs, doing its best to be authentic with pieces of the bar imported from artisans in Dublin. The building offers a main seating area near the entrance, another beer-drinkers' realm by the bar and a rather confined study room with green walls and bookshelves. One odd thing is that the walls stop about 10 feet shy of the ceiling, as if you are on the set of a television show that takes place in a pub; another is a lot of alarm clocks scattered about. Cover bands typically play on Friday and Saturday nights. Service is great, and food options include Irish fare as well as sandwiches, wraps, burgers, soups, appetizers, steaks, chicken and fish. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Parking available in large lot nearby. (Featured 1-18-08)

D.O.C. WINE BAR, 326 Yorktown Center, Lombard. (630) 627-6666. Upscale, classy wine bar uses space well, with wooden floors, booths and a bar as well as couchlike seating arrangements and candles adding to its warm, comfortable atmosphere. The friendly waitstaff can answer questions and refer wines to guests. An extensive wine list will suit most visitors, who can choose a bottle or flights of selected wines, with bottled beer and mixed drinks also available. The full menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, meat and fish, sandwiches, side dishes and desserts. On our visit, the just-off-work office crowd dominated, and most of the seats were filled by women. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Parking available in mall lot. (Featured 1-4-08)

THE NEW BAMBOO ROOM, 614 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. (847) 592-5959. Newly managed and staffed remix of the Schaumburg dance club includes freshly buffed dance floors, new cocktail tables and reupholstered booths, and the once private, tiki-fied upstairs room has become a black-and-red relaxation space open to everyone. The dance floor still features a vibrant palm tree decor, and dress code rules haven't changed, so come dressed in your finest to enjoy DJs spinning popular dance, hip-hop and rock remixes. Other amenities include vast and exclusive bottle service options, a martini list, and plenty of high-end snacks and appetizers, although the new owners eliminated proper dining areas to concentrate on the club. Change will likely be in flux for the next year or so, but the spotlight will never leave the dance floor. Hours: 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays and Thursdays. (Featured 12-21-07)

PAULIE'S PUB AND GRILLE, 444 N. Eola Road, Aurora. (630) 499-8956. Comfortable, welcoming sports bar and grill works for all ages, whether they're looking to relax with friends or to watch a game. The space offers a respectable-sized wooden bar and a sit-down restaurant with tables and booths, as well as an outdoor patio. Paulie's features an above-average beer list for a sports bar, and the table-side service is excellent. Food includes burgers, sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads and appetizers. TVs, video games, an online jukebox and pay-per-views are other amenities -- just be wary of those who get a little too into whatever might be broadcasting. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Parking available in strip mall lot. (Featured 12-14-07)

BIG SHOT, 2 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. (847) 670-6890. Located in the former home of dance club The Boiler Room, Big Shot is the essence of a piano bar in every romantic, brick-wall, white-linen, dark-accented, and wine-and-cheese way. Down the stairs off of Vail Street, the small foyer opens up into a room of cafe tables and a well-stocked bar specializing in wine and martinis. In the far corner, pianists exude the kind of cool that makes the classy joint feel like a smoky urban standard, while equally jazzy tunes are played during breaks. A creative menu includes small and full Mediterranean-themed plates, but eating isn't mandatory, nor is it grossly pushed by the friendly and thoroughly sincere staff. The current crowd appears to reflect Arlington's empty-nester residents, but expect the demographic to shift younger as news spreads. Hours: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays through Sundays, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Street parking may be available, but free parking in the garage next door is recommended. (Featured 12-7-07)

SHARK CITY, 2240 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights. (630) 893-9346. Gigantic venue, recently remodeled and reopened under new management, attempts to multitask its tail off. Pool leagues are the focus, but even nonsharks can find a home with 20 tables and free pool all day Monday. The bar stretches for yards, offering a surprisingly good beer selection plus plasma TVs, arcade games and a number of tables. On weekends, the sizable music stage hosts live cover bands playing classic rock, alternative rock and '80s hair metal, while DJs spin on Thursdays and Fridays. The bar food is fairly standard, with $4 lunch specials available. Shark City also has a Pro Shop and a beer garden complete with outside bar. This bar is titanic, so if you're in the mood for something a little more low-key, better come back when you're ready. Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Parking available in strip mall lot. (Featured 11-30-07)

BLUES BAR, 2 W. Busse Ave., Mount Prospect. (847) 788-9977. Blues club with a Blues Brothers theme evident in life-size statues of Jake and Elwood and a replica of the movie's vintage cop car above the small performing stage where blues acts perform Thursdays through Saturdays. A balcony overlooks the downstairs bar area, with clear views of the stage and large projection screens. The full bar includes a handful of beer choices on tap, top-shelf bottles and a signature Blue Martini, and there's a fairly simple American menu available. Service was excellent for a relatively new establishment. Expect to see more families sharing a meal earlier, then a switch in clientele to nightclub swank as the night goes on. Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A few passes around the downtown area lots should get you a parking spot. (Featured 11-23-07)

LUNAR BREWING CO., 54 E. St. Charles Road, Villa Park. (630) 530-2077. Neighborhood bar brews its own beer in a small room in the back and serves it up in the equally small front room. While there's nothing overtly flashy about the long, wooden bar, Lunar's moon-man taps stand out as well as old wooden fridges containing beer selections. On weekends, bands perform at manageable noise levels on a stage in the back (no cover), while the first Tuesday of each month is open mic night. Bartenders are fast, friendly and knowledgeable about their beer. All of Lunar's beers are also available for carryout in half-gallon growlers, and on top of the house-brewed selection, other "guest" beers are offered on tap, and the bottle selection is a beer lover's dream. Though the pub serves bar snacks and can heat up a pizza, Lunar's specialty is not tons of food options. Hours: Noon to 1 a.m. Thursdays, noon to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. The medium-sized lot is accessible from St. Charles Road. (Featured 10-12-07)

TOMMY NEVIN'S, 3032 English Rows, Naperville. (630) 428-4242. This Irish pub welcomes patrons with a high-arched ceiling, leather chairs and a fireplace. Flat-screen televisions, an online jukebox, darts and a couple of arcade machines adorn the bar walls. An enclosed library room in the back corner features a table, books and a television. The patio has a lot of promise because of the bar that's steps away. Nevin's boasts an above-average beer selection that's about half domestic, half imports. The menu features soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and pub grub, plus a weekend brunch, a children's menu and desserts. Our waitress forgot we existed for half an hour, but it's hard to stay mad at a dark plaid skirt-clad waitress in knee-high black socks and a black T-shirt. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays. The medium-sized restaurant lot can get so packed that nearby stores' lots have to suffice. (Featured 9-28-07)

DISTINCTIVE CORK, 192 W. Gartner Road, Naperville. (630) 753-9463. Originally known as Twisted Cork, this spot is for amateur and experienced oenophiles who are looking for the wine bar experience closer to home. Bistro-sized tables with large wooden chairs reside beneath an open ceiling, while art from the Naperville Art League adorns the walls. Eight categories of wine from various regions are available by the bottle (roughly $20-$100), glass or 3-ounce tasting portion, as well as six flights in red and white varieties featuring clever names such as Cutting Edge Cabernet and Whites That Wow. The restaurant focuses on "Pairings and Sharings" of their wines with well-portioned entrees and selections of cheeses and meats, the menu offering contemporary American fare, salads and desserts. The staff is eager and knowledgeable, although perhaps a bit too eager -- they hovered while we were still conversing. Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays (martini night) and Saturdays. (Featured 9-21-07)

LUCKY STRIKE LANES, 100 Yorktown, Lombard. (630) 916-8681. Located inside the new section of Yorktown Mall, this is a classier version of the ol' standard that looks like a swanky club with futuristic lighting and a glowing bowling alley there for good measure. Patrons are greeted with the option to bowl, play billiards, eat or drink. Bowlers waiting in the wings recline on leather couches, while above the pins, video screens display anything from fashion photography and art to movie clips (beware: we arrived just before family bowling time ended at 9 p.m., and the screens were showing photographs of topless models). The full bar offers plenty of televisions and all the necessities as well as their own alcoholic creations. More than the usual finger foods, the menu features a breakfast sandwich, skewers, shrimp, blue cheese steak salad and hummus. The drinks and bowling are a little pricier than you might find elsewhere in the 'burbs, but the motif alone is worth it. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. (Featured 9-7-07)

RIZZO's, 6 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. (630) 305-4396. This two-level bar presents the choice to head upstairs to the big, wooden dance floor or stay in the downstairs lounge, with tall, black suede booths and tables. The dance floor attracts larger crowds and offers a smaller bar, with sweaty people pushing to get drinks. Loud current rap and pop hits from upstairs tend to consume the place, but it also features live music during the week. A large martini, mixed drink, wine and champagne list joins the usual beer selection. The menu highlights "eclectic American cuisine with an Italian influence," with pastas, steak, fish and more priced from $5 to $30. Best for 20-somethings seeking a high-energy, in-your-face dance party, as the place tends to get crowded. Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 to 11 p.m. Mondays, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; kitchen closes at 9:30 p.m. Street parking is scarce, so try the garages on Chicago or Van Buren. (Featured 7-20-07)

J & T's, 50 N. Barrington Road, Streamwood. (630) 372-2900. Larger-than-normal bar crams in a surplus of darts, TVs and video games without making the place feel cluttered. The large black rectangular bar has seating on all four sides, with plenty of other places to mingle. Drink specials that are actually special complement a menu with everything from pizza, wings and fish to pasta, tacos and hot dogs. Smoking is allowed, and Wednesday nights offer karaoke with prizes. The service is friendly and laid-back for the after-work crowd, but we're sure the staff pumps it up as the age-diverse night crowd grows. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Parking is available in an onsite lot. (Featured 6-22-07)

ST. CHARLIE'S PUB & GRILL, 312 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-4251. Downtown pub offers a two-story outdoor back porch as well as an extensive interior with a large bar, plenty of seats, pool tables, darts and televisions. Fast and friendly service brings the usual mix of beer and liquor to the crowd of local 20-somethings, with drink specials, including 50-cent domestic drafts on Wednesdays. The menu features bar food such as nachos, buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks. Cover bands play occasionally, with no cover charge. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. (Featured 6-1-07)

PINSTRIPES, 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook. (847) 480-2323. Upscale entertainment facility combines bowling alley, bocce courts, bistro and bar/lounge. The tall central atrium has a rustic but posh vibe, indoor bocce courts are furnished with comfortable teak lounge furniture, and glass-enclosed bowling lanes include black leather sofas and stools and LCD monitors showing vintage cartoons. Outside are more bocce courts and a patio outfitted with table umbrellas and a fireplace. The stylish but cozy bistro offers appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, flatbreads, pastas and main courses that can be delivered anywhere in the facility. Bowling is $5 per game per person before 5 p.m., $7 after. Bocce is $8 per hour per person before 5 p.m., $10 after. Hours: Bowling and bocce 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; dining 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. (Featured 5-25-07)

ELGIN PUBLIC HOUSE, 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin. (847) 468-8810. Up front, the Elgin Public House looks and feels like a restaurant. Walk through to the surprisingly large bar area in back, and you'll find darker walls covered with mirrors and alcohol signs, dartboards and other games. This is a neighborhood pub, where young and old are welcome to gather. It has a respectable beer list as well as wines, liquors, martinis and better than average "pub grub" including wings, salads, burgers, melts, kids meals and desserts. The friendly service makes you feel like you've been living along the Fox River your whole life. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Street parking is available, as well as a large garage across the street. (Featured 5-18-07)

CHEF PAUL'S BAVARIAN LODGE, 1800 Ogden Ave., Lisle. (630) 241-4701. Resembling a German mountainside lodge, the wood-paneled and dark beige-painted walls feature German and Belgian beer memorabilia as well as deer heads amid other stuffed animals. Patrons can choose the bar area or a larger dining room, both with plenty of large, wooden tables and booths. The restaurant serves homemade German food and varied American fare, and the incredible selection of German and Belgian beers (each served in a glass suited for it) is so vast that trying them all would require multiple visits. Recorded pop and lounge music play for a good mix of young and old patrons, and service is fast and friendly. Parking is available in an onsite lot. (Featured 5-11-07)

LANDMARK INN, 1352 Shermer Road, Northbrook. (847) 559-1919. Formerly known as the Cypress Inn, the Landmark Inn is not particularly flashy, but little things like windows behind the wooden bar and historic pictures of downtown Northbrook give it character. The bar includes a dining/sit-down area and an outdoor patio overlooking Shermer Road. Early crowds are composed of anyone from children to senior citizens, but as the day draws on, 20-somethings show up. Live music occurs every now and then on Saturday nights. Bathrooms are very small. The bar visibly flaunts its surplus of liquors, along with the usual assortment of drinks on tap. The restaurant's standards include burgers, wings, sandwiches, soup and salads. The service isn't always the quickest, but overall what one would expect from a neighborhood tap. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Cover: None. Free street parking is available. (Featured 4-20-07)

THE FUEL ROOM AT AUSTIN'S SALOON, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. (847) 549-1972. This concert space with a top-notch sound system and a sophisticated lighting system draws both national acts and local cover bands. It's a well-appointed room adorned with bad-boy props such as guitars autographed by rock musicians and custom motorcycles. The rest of the Austin's Saloon complex bears little resemblance to The Fuel Room, with the main bar area exuding a sports bar ambience and the comfortable restaurant (with good eats) seeming to have taken its design from a Wild West theme park. The crowd varies according to the musical performers, although between concerts, graying gents in sport coats who turn out for Vegas-style shows peacefully co-exist with the hoodie-wearing 20- and 30-something rock crowd. The Fuel Room's drink selection is stacked toward bottled beer, although at the large bar just a few steps outside of it, you can find a broader range of beverages, including an array of martinis, and a swift, attentive staff. The main bar's kitchen serves pizza, nachos and other snacks until midnight. Hours: Fuel Room hours vary depending on concert schedule. Restaurant and bar open at 11 a.m. daily and close at 2 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, at 10 p.m. Sundays. Cover: None for restaurant/bar, varies for concerts. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot, with shuttles assisting on busy nights. (Featured 4-13-07)

QUIGLEY'S IRISH PUB, 43 E. Jefferson St., Naperville. (630) 428-4774. Authentic Irish pub boasts multiple rooms, including a main entry room set with wooden tables and booths and a fancy cigar room in back, with an outdoor patio in warmer weather. The crowd is a mix of young and old, so don't expect a dance floor or a place to stand around and ogle. Drink selection includes the usual beers, Irish brands on tap and a seasonal drink menu. Sandwiches, burgers, wraps, soups and salads make up the majority of the menu, but there are authentic Irish foods like fish and chips, lamb stew, or bangers and mash. Speakers play recorded pop and traditional Irish music, while cover bands tend to perform on Thursday and Friday nights. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 11 p.m. Sundays. Cover: None. Free parking is available in the garage across the street. (Featured 3-16-07)

BLUR, 22W613 75th St., Naperville. (630) 985-2220. The site of teen dance club Zero Gravity has grown up into a rocking hot spot with strong but tasty drinks and several rooms with different decors on Friday nights. The chill, couples-friendly room near the front includes several booths each equipped with its own TV set, while the bar area has its sets mostly tuned to music videos. A pair of dance floors feature revolving DJs spinning music to serve tastes from top 40 to house. The owners closed off part of the massive club with the correct idea that when people go clubbing they want to be around people, not wide-open spaces. A lot of the crowd has graduated from Zero Gravity, getting dressed up to party. Recommended drinks include the Mud martini, sour apple martini and brightly colored test-tube shots. Hours: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays. Cover: $5 for men. Parking is available in the free lot. (Featured 2-23-07)