Double Down Saloon   

A haven for the artistically inclined, alternative music fans, working stiffs and regular Joes, the Double Down Saloon's four walls are always welcoming, never pretentious and a little offbeat. Its insides are covered head-to-toe with murals that have seen better days, and the videos that scream out at you from the corner televisions make you look twice -- is that a midget porno? Still, the place proclaims itself to be the happiest place on earth, and evidenced by the throngs of smiling faces, the Double Down seems to be delivering. On Fridays and Saturdays, punk, metal, hard rock bands -- whatever cool outfit the management can pull in -- take the stage, usually three a night (although a 10PM start time is advertised, most tickets don't begin before 11PM). And the best thing: All the music is 100 percent free-of-charge. At minimum, happy folks are happy to have a 24-hour joint were they can chain smoke, rack up a game of pool are drink 'til the sun comes up. The jukebox's eclectic music selection is another plus. Most anything goes here, but be forewarned: you vomit, you clean.