Goodfoot Lounge   

The Goodfoot has had a hard time remaining one of Southeast's best-kept secrets, since its opening in March 2001. Word of mouth is enough to pack the basement-level lounge and dance floor with devoted denizens. Taking over the space of the former lesbian bar Choices, the Goodfoot draws a casual, mixed crowd of hip and happy 20-and-30somethings who share a love for the music. The owners favor live musicians who are willing to experiment and improvise -- weekly acts include funky jazz, electric bluegrass and reggae groups. DJs spin old soul, funk, dub, hip-hop or jazz on Fridays to an ecstatic crowd. A well-stocked jukebox takes up the slack on quieter nights, offering The Meters, Guided by Voices, The Orb and everything in between. Though it has the potential to become a scenester's paradise with its mirrored walls and earth tones, cushy leather seats and underground cachet, the Goodfoot is cool without trying too hard. Its friendly attitude and low cover charge set nothing upstage the music. Unpretentious touches include an express beer bar (for those paying cash only), a dart lane and 50-cent pool tables. Upstairs is a pool shark's paradise. -- Jessie Hensley