Raleigh-Durham nightlife is varied and spread apart by large distances. Also, for the dance clubs there are some strange local laws depending on where you are. The oddest one is that you must be a member but you have to wait three days before you can get in. Huh?? A waiting period? Now you can get around this oddity by getting in as someone else's guest. Your mileage can vary here. I asked a group and they took me with them. One of the people in the group said they had the same problem the previous week and no one would take them in as a guest. So if you are in town for only a weekend don't count on gaining entry to the dance clubs. But there are plenty of alternatives...
Some bars and pubs on this list have live music. Noted where appropriate.
On the Page Road exit off Interstate 40. Primarily an after work hangout for the triangle. Free food every work day from 5pm until 8pm menu varies every day. Different events some evenings, occasionally sponsored by a local radio station. Nice place to kick back after work. A disproportionately high number of single guys (mainly computer geeks) here. More single girls in the triangle need to drop by and see whats available.
... St. A two bar establishment with live music. The rear bar is in the stage area. Drinks are priced at $3.25 per bottle weekends. Cover is normally $5-10 depending on the band. Top bands like Sugar Blue play here too. Musical style varies each evening and it doesn't seem like there is any pattern to what style is playing on a certain night. You'll hear everything including country, rock, blues, folk. Age group 21-55 but generally an older crowd.
...St. Rock venue. Some slammers (slam dancers) here. Cover is $7, drinks from $2.75 per bottle. Large venue, no airconditioning therefore very hot inside. Not much lighting and the music is very loud. What else could you ask for a fun evening out? Age group 21-25
... Franklin Street. A teeny tiny bar that has live music. But why? From the ads in the paper I was under the impression this was a fair sized venue. Not so.
Members only. A dance club with another underage floor under construction. The open main floor is large and well airconditioned. Membership is $10, entry charge is $8, drinks are 2.75 per bottle. Makeup is varied but a young crowd in the 21-35 age group. Some very eligible singles are here, of both sexes and in quantity. The music is top 40s, a little on the wishy-washy (romantic) side.
Return to Alexandre Polozoff's Home Page
Send mail to Alexandre Polozoff
PGP users, here is my 2048-bit public encryption key to use when sending
me email.
Copyright @ 1996 Alexandre Polozoff. Last Update May 4, 1996