They never even offer change for your dollar so it's a bit pricier than advertised, but we still can't complain. The 83¢ margs were originally in honor of plans to remodel the restaurant, but they've been available since at least January, when we would bundle up and brave it out on the patio, the only place you can get 'em. Last we heard, the special price was still valid on Fridays.

1530 Barton Springs Rd., 476-8141

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An award-winning documentary film producer (Eyes on the Prize, Vote for Me), a film professor, and the head of UT's Radio-Television-Film production department, Stekler has already made an impact on the greater Austin film community. He has offered support and advice to filmmakers and has helped initiate the monthly documentary film series at the Alamo. Most important, he is serving as a catalyst to all kinds of filmmaking.

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We see him at Emo's and at Antone's. At the Music Hall and the Continental. At Liberty Lunch and at Steamboat. He pays cover at the door and for his own drinks. He shoots pool, often brings his wife Linda, and he actually watches bands. His name is Bill Lodwick, and most members of the music press know him because he's the only other person who goes out as much as they do. A respected member of the medical profession by day, Bill Lodwick is a band's dream. And he won't ask to get on the guest list.

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"Honey, I'm at the Office- Yes, dear, I'll be a little late-"Need we say more?

The Office
3526 E. Seventh
512/385-8511

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Cedar Street's reputation for martinis, cigars and jazz is clearly the big draw every weekend. In exploring much of the bar's drink menu, we've found another bragging right for the popular club - their Bloody Marys. Consistently excellent, the perfect mix isn't simply in the glass. Sink into one of the sofas inside and enjoy not only your drink, but also the people-watching opportunities.

Cedar Street Courtyard
208-C W. Fourth
512/495-9669
www.fb.com/cedarstreetcourtyardaustin

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The Austin Film Society shows movies and gives money to filmmakers. It offers consistently interesting programming, whether it is an Abbas Kiarostami festival, a film noir series, the films of Powell & Pressburger, or a Satyajit Ray retrospective. The Film Society supports local and regional independent filmmakers by giving them money, by showing their films, and by screening such eclectic works. The Film Society is the brainchild of Richard Linklater, but the hands-on work is done by Elizabeth Peters, who has turned the Film Society into a clearinghouse for contacts and information about the local independent film scene, and by Jerry Johnson (who is leaving in a few weeks), the programmer whose tastes have served the Society well.

Austin Film Society
1901 E. 51st
512/322-0145
austinfilm.org

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Club Deville could probably take home an award for "Best Underlit Bar," but the intentional darkness has a better effect: highlighting the city's best doorman. Local poet and Deville gatekeeper Matt Baker is in fact the only face you're likely to see, in full, all night, and he's invariably smiling. He's also got a quick memory, which means once you've been I.D.ed - even some six weeks or more earlier - he'll likely remember, spare you the trouble again, and share a line that's become a club classic, "Welcome home." And should you leave the club to perhaps run by Stubb's and return, he'll offer a quick "Welcome home again" on your way back in. That's a bright guy.

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aGLIFF
1107 S. Eighth
512/406-9699
www.agliff.org

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Be you a recovering alcoholic or just someone who enjoys camraderie sans alcohol, High Time is the place for you. Owner Phil has had a couple of other locations for the business before settling into this cozy corner. All along he's maintained an excellent ambience. The patrons are encouraged to hang out, get to know each other in this intimate space, and play any of the many board games offered on the games shelves.

1501 S. First, 445-5405

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Sxip is the "world's premiere industrial flutist and tampon applicator player." Performing with PeACh (Performance Art Church) and solo, he presents his bizarre mix of music/activity/puppet show/glorious stuff. He is a man with a vision. His music defies definition, but let's just say it's real percussive and involves lots of heavy breathing. Definitely first date material.

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It started as just a one-night stand at the Electric Lounge - a record release party for Fume Records' Prince compilation Do Me Baby. But with a packed house happily celebrating the Man In Purple and an all-star cast, host John Riedie decided he had a good thing on his hands. So it carried over to an SRO crowd at SXSW and another celebration on Prince's birthday. It may be over now, but Riedie's found no shortage of Eighties acts to celebrate. Now where did we put our eyeliner?

Fume Records, 326-1823

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The casual, informal weekly wine tastings at this pleasant suburban wine shop are one of the best kept secrets in Austin. Leonard and Sue Carter always offer interesting samplings and are generous with their knowledge and wry British humor. Whether it's a comparative tasting of reasonably priced sparkling wines or the first exposure to the red wines of Spain, the tastings are always educational. We discover something new and wonderful in their inventory every time we visit.

The Cellar
3520 Bee Caves
512/328-6464
www.thecellar.ausinfo.com

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The grassroots name of this bar devoted to the fine art of the "empty orchestra" ain't for nothing. Here you'll witness everyone from the feathered-hair woman singing Pat Benatar with her eyes closed, to yucksters belting out "Danke Schoen" off-key, to very serious patrons gifted with actual vocal skill rendering soul classics. If the occasional group of sorority girls singing modern country favorites is just too much, you can cool out in the side room with a game of pool, or warm up for your upcoming number with the more private, pay-as-you-sing karaoke machine.

Common Interest
8440 Burnet
512/453-6796
www.ciaustin.com

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If you're a single lesbian and you haven't heard of Club Skirt, get out of the house, girlfriend. The hugely successful event, held once a month at the Zilker Clubhouse, benefits the Cornerstone Gay & Lesbian Community Center and brings out the kind of gal you wouldn't mind taking home to meet mama (unless of course, she's single and shopping, too). Heck, even the bar flies are starting to make it over to Club Skirt.

1117 Red River, 708-1515

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As the only purveyor in town, the Bitter End wins this category by default. Mead, which most are probably acquainted with solely by name from reading Beowulf back in high school, is essentially just honey, water, and yeast. Left to ferment it works itself into a potent little potion. What is at first a peculiar taste becomes an obsession after just a couple of rounds. Yes, beware the vicious hangover; but, with the right partner, the wonderfully libidinous drunk is well worth paying for in pain.

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Something about this tony new jazz venue in the busy downtown beef emporium just screams "Sinatra" to us. It's one of the only small rooms in town actually designed for listening to music and the simple, classy decor is very inviting. We expected the Rat Pack to drop in all evening long. This is a saloon in the very best sense of that word.

Ringside at Sullivan's
300 Colorado
512/495-6504

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Sometimes we're a little cash poor. Does that mean we must suffer bad beer? Does that mean we can only afford to go out on certain nights of the week? Not at Lovejoys! Here we can enjoy a freshly poured pint for $2.00 any and every night of the week - pitchers just $7.50. They've got over 20 fine beers here on tap, including an ever changing menu of their own brews - all priced cheap until 10pm.

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A fine watering hole in its own right, the Horseshoe boasts a top-notch shuffleboard pit, a friendly disposition, and a bar shaped like a- like a- well, like a great big U. The jukebox here is one of them newfangled CD contraptions, and it'll give you four plays on the dollar. Now, some say George Jones ain't George Jones without the pop and hiss of worn-out vinyl, but we're not so sure: drop a quarter, pop a beer, and wait for those digitally encoded chills to start running up your spine. You'll be crying in no time.

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The P-Dog may have something of a rough reputation, but in truth they're just a big bunch of pussycats. Just don't tell 'em we said so. The CD jukebox in this roomy, swaggering pool hall has a wide selection, but last time we were in there, Miles Davis didn't sound quite right. Melissa Etheridge either. Then we tried Van Halen! Panama! Barkeep, another roll of quarters and another can of Schlitz.

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After a hard fought game of giant Jenga, there's nothing quite like saddlin' up to Charlie's bar for a juice pitcher full of Shiner and a plate of salted-in-the-shell peanuts. As you eat, take care to throw the empty shells on the floor - Charlie would be hurt if you didn't. Charlie likes to keep his place littered with peanut shells - some ground into the floor, others piled high in the corners - and it's an ungrateful guest indeed who won't drop a shell for the cause.

5420 Airport, 454-0381

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Shag carpets, free popcorn, and a drink called the "Train Wreck," sway us in Donn's favor, but it's the shimmying senior singles that make this one of our favorite places to cut a rug. This way, we when get shown up on the dance floor, we can chalk it up to years of experience (not our own).

Donn's Depot
1600 W. Fifth
512/478-0336
www.donnsdepot.com

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It's a chain, and it's on Sixth Street, but between the wings and the reasonably priced beers and the giant screens and the ergonomically shaped stools on a balcony that puts you at eye level to the action, it's hard not to endorse BW3 for watching the game, or on those weak nights on ESPN2, the World's Strongest Man competition. And no one there is wearing orange shorts.

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A longstanding tradition on small-town radio stations around Central Texas is the Sunday-morning polka show, catering to the many area residents of Czech, Moravian, and German descent. Thanks to KOOP, us city folk can wake up dancing as well, as enthusiast Thomas Durnin spins the Tex-Czech hits and reads off a calendar of upcoming dances at local SPJST halls.

KOOP 91.7FM
3823-B Airport
512/472-1369
koop.org

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The Alamo outdoes itself. It’s a pleasure to see that this great concept for dining and movie watching been implemented so well. And it’s pure pleasure watching movies there, as well. Before the feature, viewers are seated, offered menus, and treated to some of the coolest trailers in the biz. Where else are you going to see original faded, crackly previews for Jaws or Superfly? Hmm? The midnight and concept movie nights are a hoot, like the night the ‘Mo offered 40 oz. Schlitz Malt Liquors for its showing of The Mack (or was it Superfly?). The waitstaff is impeccable, unobtrusive, and always helpful. And the food is really terrific and reasonably priced. So when you’re looking for an unusual movie night, (please forgive us…) Remember The Alamo.

Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse Village, 2700 W. Anderson #701, 512/861-7030
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, 1120 S. Lamar, 512/861-7040
Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane, 5701 W. Slaughter, 512/861-7060
Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline, 14028 Hwy. 183 N., 512/861-7070
www.originalalamo.com

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Bowling, video games and pool; it sounds like the bane of middle class teenager-dom. But if the day is shot by lousy weather, you could do worse than act 15 again. With low volume on the music and good lighting all the way around, the Union basement is far less threatening to your senses than most similar venues. They've also remodeled some and installed a Texadelphia for eats.

24th & Guadalupe, 475-6636

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With the swanky swingy and loungey arrangements of rock & roll tunes your grandparents will have no idea that they are dancing to AC/DC and the Beastie Boys. It's the perfect touch of surreality to add to your wedding reception.

Booking: Eric Calistri, 322-0096

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