Music at local pop-music clubs ranges from easy-on-the-ears rock to edgy alternative fare from San Diego's finest up-and-coming bands. Dance clubs and bars in the Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, and at Pacific and Mission beaches tend to be the most crowded spots in the county on the weekends, but don't let that discourage you from visiting these quintessential San Diego hangouts. Authentic country-western music is also an option. Should your tastes run to softer music, there are plenty of piano bars in which to unfrazzle and unwind. Smooth jazz and classic jazz also fill the air at waterside venues and in crowded clubs. Trendy Hillcrest pulses with the majority of San Diego's lesbian and gay bars. And coffeehouse culture thrives in San Diego, especially downtown, in Hillcrest, and in the beach communities.
Check the Reader (it comes out every Thursday) -- San Diego's free alternative newsweekly -- for the 411 on nightlife, or San Diego magazine's "Restaurant & Nightlife Guide" for further ideas. Also, the San Diego-Union Tribune publishes a weekly (Thursdays) entertainment insert, Night and Day.
State law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages after 2 AM; last call is usually at about 1:40. You must be 21 to purchase and consume alcohol -- be prepared to show ID. California also has some of the most stringent drunken-driving laws in the country; sobriety checkpoints are not an uncommon sight. Also, unless operated exclusively for private members, all bars, nightclubs, and restaurants are smoke-free -- although many have patios or decks where smoking is permitted.
National touring companies perform regularly at the 3,000-seat Civic Theatre and Golden Hall, and in Escondido at the California Center for the Arts. Programs at San Diego State University, the University of California at San Diego, private universities, and community colleges host a range of artists, from well-known professionals to students. The San Diego Union-Tribune lists attractions and complete movie schedules. The Reader weekly devotes an entire section to upcoming cultural events. San Diego magazine publishes monthly listings and reviews. Those in the know rely on San Diego's many community micromags found in most coffeehouses.
Book tickets well in advance, preferably at the same time you make hotel reservations. Outlets exist for last-minute tickets, although you risk either paying top rates or getting less-than-choice seats -- or both.
