Please note that in the interest of fairness, the names of DJs and staff are listed in alphabetical order. Are we missing a dance club? Click to ADD it now! Added by bedwards Happy Medium was THE place to be as far as disco in Chicago went. Great music, unbelievable dancers and beautiful people. It was NOT a 'black' club. Even the bouncers were attractive. WOW! I am from Chicago. Although I was too young during this era(10 yrs old in 1979) to have experienced the disco clubs, I am quite the enthusiast when it comes to Chicago discos! Does anyone have PICTURES OR VIDEO of these parties? It was an amazing time...I was the kid who was ALWAYS sitting by the stereo, waiting for the dj to play my tune or announce the name & artist of a tune that I was trying to buy. YES, I used my allowance to buy tunes at the age of 10!!! If anyone can turn me on to the names and locations of other Chicago discos, PLEASE reply! I know about the BBC club on Division. Has anyone been there? this club was and offshoot of the Poison Apple chain one of the best dance clubs of the south side. I had the good fortune to work there as a bartender. The Happy Medium was my mom spot. When she got off of work at the Continental Plaza now called the Westin Hotel on Michigan Ave. after working the 3 - 11pm shift, her friends and my God mother Kitty Neely (RIP) who became a radio personality on wjpc would hit this club every weekend back in the late 70's. My mom told me Arsenio Hall use to hang out there when he was a struggling comedian, and Mr.T, and many more people who were stars or who became stars. Rush street use to be so live back in the 80's when I started hanging out there. A lot of people talk about South Beach in Miami, when I went there it reminded me of Rush St. back in the 80's. The only thing South Beach have on Rush St. is the great weather all year round, and women, but the atmosphere don't come even close. I am from England but in 1979 I visited the happy medium night club in June and danced all night long. I know it sounds corny but the clientle' threw money at me on the dance floor and I had a standing ovation. Not bad for a skinny white guy with red hair, what a night I was on cloud nine all the way back to north kedvale where I was staying. I visited 42 states on my tour of the us, danced in many clubs and got great feed back from the audience but nothing compared to that night in the happy medium. Great dj I remember up the sky!! back in the day. dancing kept me out of a lotta trouble in help me dance off. a lot off a lot of strees. now daze they just step it's ok but they do it to show off. we dance to express our selfs. in we let it all loose. also the kids think dancing aint cool i guess killing each other really is. peace black ppl bring back jammin in more pece in the world. dj willie. mc.tom joiner frazier the bouncer was a cool dude once you get to know him. this club had.. a nite club downstairs it once was a club that had plays like dont bother me i cant.cope. dj willie was a great dj the happy medium was a good place to go if you wanted to get a way from the hood 4 a lil while. the people were professionals.after work hours in to the early am i meet my first love there we are not a item now but are still friends ilove the 80's they were so cool with some of the best music of my life is there anyone out there who feels the same about the happy medium, those hour long dance partys's were great oh while back to the future.any peace in love happy daze this club. was the best black nite club all over chicagoland. the black ladies of the 80's were comin out as the sophistcated ebony ladies all shades of beauty when i first walk in that place in the early 80's tom joiner was the mc he was at his best the brothers was so cool with every one ican swear he was like a home boy i grew up with all kind of black stars walk in that place.rick james tina marie the whispers sugar ray leonard. in there wher so many more every friday god i wish i could go back to that time. on friday nites were lady nites man were there ladys friday nite was bahama.mama contest the were in their swim suits. lord sunday's were beat the clock you can drink all the drinks you want in a hour time frame with ten tickets they who give you i love that place meet my first love there. the happy medium closed in 1983 no on was able in my book to make up for that club thier were some good one's. but no happy medium 2 dis day.

WHAT: "A Night at The Riviera." WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Through Feb. 2. WHERE: Fort Lee Museum, 1588 Palisade Ave., Fort Lee. 201-592-3580, thefortleehistoricalsociety.org. HOW MUCH: Free. Back when there was no business like show business, there was no club like Bill Miller's Riviera in Fort Lee – which closed its doors 60 years ago today. It was so good you could almost forget how bad it could be. "First of all, they were serving dinner while you were telling your jokes, " says comedian Larry Storch, who played The Riviera in its heyday. He'll be hosting a holiday tribute, "New Year's Eve at Fort Lee's Riviera Nightclub, " tonight at Fort Lee's In Napoli restaurant. While the $100-a-plate event (legendary "Raging Bull" boxer Jake LaMotta will also be attending) is already sold out, you can still get an eyeful of the old Riviera stardust at the Fort Lee Historical Society, whose commemorative exhibit "A Night at The Riviera" runs through Feb. 2. They've got menus, photos, artifacts and instruments. "When you did well there, you really felt you deserved a couple of medals, " says Storch, 90, proba- bly best remembered for his role on TV's "F Troop." "It was a big stage, " Storch recalls. "It was like being in Yankee Stadium." Back then, Fort Lee was bracketed by two landmarks on the Palisades cliffs. South of the George Washington Bridge was the late, lamented Palisades Amusement Park, which folded in 1971. On the north side of the bridge was Bill Miller's Riviera, whose big red sign beckoned to New Yorkers across the river with the promise of swank galore: starlight dancing, valet parking and a roster of A-list stars that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Prima, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor. Though the approximately 1, 000-seat venue closed in 1953 to make way for the Palisades Interstate Parkway – portions of the concrete foundation and steps can still be seen today — it lives on in the memory of many North Jerseyans. "It was a gorgeous art deco building, " says Judith Miller, the well-known reporter, formerly of The New York Times (she's now a Fox News contributor), who was a 5-year-old growing up in Englewood when her father ran North Jersey's showplace supreme. "It would never have been torn down today, " Miller says. "It was the Penn Station of nightclubs." Among the lavish features of Bill Miller's Riviera: a revolving stage, a revolving dance floor and a retractable roof for dancing under the stars. "Remember, this was before air conditioning, " says Tom Meyers of the Fort Lee Historical Society. "You would get all these breezes from the Hudson. It was almost like you were dining outdoors." The big yellow art deco club with the red sign, which opened in May of 1937 (it replaced an earlier venue that burned down in 1936), was considered the last word in Moderne luxury. It was certainly an eyeful for at least one toddler who had the run of the place in the early 1950s. "I remember the elegance of the place, and the glitter, and the showgirls, " Miller says. "These huge kind of Amazonian gorgeous babes." Like Palisades Amusement Park, The Riviera was a huge local employer: Many a Fort Lee youth got his first job as a waiter or busboy. Unlike Palisades, the entertainment was of a distinctly adult variety. Including – for a time – illegal gambling, which drew many of New York's highest rollers, chased out of the city by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's anti-vice crusades. It's unclear whether this happened on Miller's watch, or only during the tenure of the previous owner, Ben Marden. "You would walk through a janitor's closet, " Meyers says. "In the closet was a big stand-up fan. You could plug it in, and then the big opposite wall would open up, and there was a secret entrance ... to gambling on the second floor." That was before World War II, Meyers says; it was gone by the time Storch was performing there, in the 1950s. For Storch, the stakes were high enough without it. "You had to be boisterous, loud, " Storch recalls. "I did impressions, various Hollywood personalities. I did a crazy tango, all by myself, with an imaginary partner. And I was beginning to do a yoga bit. I had studied yoga. I would show the audience how to do the lotus position. And I couldn't get out of it. Waiters had to come from the audience to carry me offstage." Storch was one of many younger performers nurtured by the late Bill Miller, known for his keen eye for talent, and his loyalty to the people who had it, regardless of race, creed or circumstance. It was at Miller's Riviera in 1953 that Frank Sinatra, considered a washout in the early 1950s, rolled out his new sound, new style and new arranger, Nelson Riddle: the beginning of the legendary Sinatra comeback. "Frank was so grateful to have the opportunity to play again, " Miller says. Years later, when Sinatra — by then a monster star — worked for Bill Miller at another venue, he only charged Miller what he had charged for that Riviera gig in 1953. "Every year we got a bottle, or a case, of the best wine or the best scotch, " Miller recalls. "Sinatra was somebody who remembered." Someone else who remembers: Storch. He'll always be grateful to The Riviera, and the other 1950s clubs – most long gone — that allowed him to hone his skills as a clown and a mimic. His "Judy, Judy, Judy, " uttered in a Cary Grant voice when he spotted Judy Garland in one of his audiences, instantly became the standard-issue Cary Grant impression. He later took his skill set to TV, where he won fame as a sitcom actor and cartoon voice-over talent (Mr. Whoopee in "Tennessee Tuxedo, " The Joker on "The Batman/Superman Hour"). Storch will receive the Fort Lee Film Commission's Barrymore Award tonight for lifetime achievement in film and television. But his time in North Jersey, at the Riviera and elsewhere, must have made an impression on the master impressionist. When his "F Troop" character, Corporal Agarn, was asked in the show where he was from, Storch blurted – it wasn't in the script — "Passaic!"

As the birthplace of dubstep and the modern club scene, London keeps upping the ante in an ongoing cold war to boast the best nightclubs in the world. This is the city where electronic-pop sensations like Nero got their start and where genres like rock and house grew up to take Europe by storm. The city caters to every kind of music and scene, so it's no wonder why producers like Mark Ronson and James Blake call London home. Whether you're looking to meet someone new, dance to the biggest DJs in the world or just want to have the kind of legendary night you'll keep secret until the day you die, you'll find it all in London. But with thousands of bars in London, and with the hundreds of popular clubs, it's easy to get lost in the clutter of the city's nightlife. So save yourself some time and find exactly what you're looking for with Party Earth's list of five great clubs in London, where you can drink like a fish and dance like a crazy person. Fabric If you're looking for incredible music, make sure you check out Fabric, a 25, 000-square-foot Camden Town club that attracts loads of partiers looking to shake and shimmy the night away. The two-floor space is highlighted by top-of-the-line DJs who spin everything from the heaviest drum and bass to deep house. Located in the heart of London's hippest social scene, there is always a glut of hot locals looking to let loose on the dark dance floor. Just make sure to fill up on caffeine and cancel your brunch, because Fabric stays open until the sun comes up. Proud Camden A former horse stable, Proud Camden is now a popping nightclub, art gallery, live music venue and all around fun party. An artsy clientele comes to Proud in droves to shake it out with some of the UK's hottest emerging indie rock and electro artists. The stables, meanwhile, have been transformed into semi-private nooks, each featuring different themes and design styles - think stripper pole in one and video games in another. Add a rooftop lounge into the mix and you quickly realize that horsing around has never been so fun. Ministry of Sound The Ministry of Sound is one of the most famous clubs in the world and London's top club for the biggest DJ acts. Trance lovers unite under the visually stunning LED lights, laser shows and deepest sound systems in the city. If you're looking for one of the most incredible clubbing experiences in the world, you'd be hard-pressed to find better. Also, if you want to give your eardrums one of the most intense workouts ever, slip into The Box, a soundproofed room that will vibrate every internal organ of your body. Just make sure you get there early to guarantee entrance, because even with six major rooms, side lounges and multiple dance spaces, this premier South Bank spot fills up really, really fast.

Unique, diverse and unapologetic, West Hollywood is a city with a life of its own. Don't be thrown off by the spirited locals and one-of-kind shops, bars and restaurants, this town takes partying seriously. Wedged between the luxury of Beverly Hills and the trendiness of Hollywood, WeHo offers a come one, come all atmosphere, with a nightlife portfolio that appeals to L.A.'s mix of live music lovers, groove seeking club hoppers and laidback loungers. West Hollywood knows how to reel in patrons, with several nightclubs catering to the city's broad clientele. A blast from the past, Revolver, a video bar that made a splash in the 1980s, is back for a second round, complete with nightly variety shows and the sexiest staff serving the best drinks at any gay bar in the area direct competition for neighborhood favorite Micky's. With over the top glitz and old school Hollywood glamour, Greystone Manor Supperclub is the ultimate celebrity playground where you might spot Rihanna or Bruno Mars swaying to one of their tunes on any given night. For those who would prefer live music over a DJ, the legendary venue The Troubadour continues to showcase both up-and-coming and established singer-songwriters. And winding down in WeHo is surprisingly simple with the help of relaxed bars like The Surly Goat and Barney's Beanery. Whether you're up for non-stop dancing or endless karaoke, however you decide to spend your night is completely up to you. That's the beauty of West Hollywood. - Shontel Horne

1/4 MIXX at Borgata 2/4 Photograph: Helen Norman 3/4 Photograph: Courtesy of Revel Resorts Ivan Kane's Royal Jelly at Revel 4/4 House of Blues at Showboat When the sun goes down, the scene heats up at The Pool After Dark, the aquatic party playground at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City Weekly recently sent a slew of superlatives the Pool’s way, including Best Dance Club, Best Place to Pick Up a One-Night Stand and Best Club to Fist Pump. That final triumph could have a little something to do with the resident DJ: Jersey Shore alum Pauly D. Up the VIP ante by reserving a poolside table, cabana or private hot tub, with premium bottle service provided by bikini-clad waitresses. When it comes to options, Borgata offers a veritable smorgasbord of unique nightlife experiences, from a rock & roll tequila bar to a swanky ultra lounge. For dance floor-seekers, there’s MIXX (Sat, Sun 10pm–4am or later), a high-energy bi-level nightclub that has attracted the likes of Rihanna and Cee Lo Green. Behind it is the more intimate—but in no way low-key— mur.mur (Fri, Sat, Mon 10pm–4am or later) , which features 30 bottle-service tables and a VIP area smack-dab in the middle of the dance floor. A.C.’s newest player, HQ Nightclub , located in a stand-alone structure at Revel offers two levels of party space and commands sweeping ocean views. With its ongoing lineup of internationally known DJs and state-of-the-art suspended performance stage, HQ is helping A.C. re-create the Vegas experience much closer to home. The sports bar has gone upscale, courtesy of Jay-Z, at the Atlantic City outpost of the music mogul’s 40/40 Club. More than 30 flatscreen TVs mix with memorabilia (including a number of autographed jerseys donated by players who have sported the number 40) to fill the walls of this 15, 000-square-foot ultra sports lounge, which boasts not one, but two VIP sections and a premium cognac room. Musical stylings go well beyond the Delta at Showboat’s House of Blues , the Atlantic City location of the world-famous music club. The venue can pack in a crowd of more than 2, 000 fans; they’ll need the space for upcoming shows by Megadeth (Nov 16), BB King (Nov 23), Mac Miller (Dec 26, 27) and The Roots (Dec 28). To make like a true high roller, hit the artifact-filled Foundation Room. The once-private club is now open to the public (as long as you’re dressed to impress) and has a welcoming fireside lounge, VIP “Prayer Rooms” and stunning views of the Atlantic.

Here at Chicagoist we love to dance but we don't need bottle service and other attendant drama to do so. Give us a good DJ spinning some solid beats and some space on a dance floor and we can handle the rest; you won't find us hanging in River North waiting in line for overpriced drinks and bad music. We've compiled for you our picks for the best dance clubs in Chicago that don't suck. These are the seven venues that come correct and know the score. Dolphin “Just Joey” Swanson has transformed the former Green Dolphin Street into a state-of-the-art dance club with LED lights, lasers, projection screens and everything else needed to rival Chicago’s top-rated clubs. The music ranges from local DJs to internationally recognized talent, with Swanson's long-running "Boom Boom Room" a familiar anchor. —Chuck Sudo and Katie Karpowicz Danny's Tavern Okay, technically Danny's is a tavern but don't let the Schlitz sign outside fool you—this Bucktown bar boasts one of the most raging dance floors in Chicago with DJs spinning a high-energy mix of music guaranteed to get the hips of even the most staid people moving. The staff encourages the party atmosphere and books their DJs accordingly but be warned—the line to get in most weekends starts early and doesn't let up until last call. —Chuck Sudo Danny's Tavern is located at 1951 W. Dickens Ave. Baby Atlas Hidden in the basement of Matilda, down a (seriously, hold on to the railing) treacherous staircase, is Baby Atlas. This tiny room channels memories of college apartment parties in size and intimacy, and the vibe is decidedly low-key with a focus on fun over fashion. The DJs play a truly esoteric mix of music, often completely disavowing any beat matching or higher turntable skills in favor of simply playing music people want to dance to from all eras and flavors of the pop spectrum. The drinks are cheap and despite the small space the bartenders are pretty quick to serve, so there's plenty of chance to get properly lubricated for the dance floor (should you require a bit of liquid courage). Dress however you feel like—everything from fancy-schmancy to torn t-shirt and jeans is accepted without the bat of an eyelash—but make sure whatever you're wearing won't get in the way of your getting down with the party around you. —Tankboy / Jim Kopeny Berlin One of our picks for the best gay and lesbian bars in Chicago also makes this list for its eclectic DJ lineup and its welcome, accommodating vibe. Regardless of your sexual orientation, all are welcome on the dance floor, as has been the case for 30 years, and the scene picks up significantly here after midnight, when the 24-hour party people converge to dance until the morning light. —Chuck Sudo Smart Bar Back when I considered staying out until sunrise a badge of honor Metro's subterranean sister was one of the venues I would use to bridge last call futility and a greasy diner breakfast. A makeover a few years back removed a lot of the grunge that was a hallmark of the club but the spirit and the dance tracks remain, with a lively mix of local and touring DJs spinning house, techno, dubstep, EDM and New Wave. —Chuck Sudo The Shrine If your dance music tastes veer towards R&B, hip-hop and Afrobeat then you need to check out this South Loop/Motor Row venue. The dace floor here is always packed with guests bringing their A-game to match the tunes spun by the DJs. Come ready for a workout—there's no parking on this dance floor. —Chuck Sudo The Shrine is located at 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Beauty Bar If you’re one for theme nights-outside of the general theme of “cutting a rug”-Beauty Bar hosts a slew of them. From 90s playlists to rap karaoke to its Wednesday night “Lemonade” party with oldies and Motown tunes, there’s always dancing happening at this small but cozy West Town spot. Let’s face it, Chicago is saturated with dance clubs that charge you double digits for a well vodka cranberry and overcrowd themselves. The fact that you can get a martini and a manicure for that same price and find a corner to take a breather in once you've worked up a sweat from dancing should clue you into why Beauty Bar carved out a spot for itself on our list. BONUS: Heels? Totally not required. — Katie Karpowicz

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting outside a Manhattan nightclub that killed a mother of a 3-year-old boy out celebrating her own birthday with her best friend early Monday, authorities say. Ida Siegal reports (Published Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015) A 26-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting outside a Manhattan nightclub that killed a mother of a 3-year-old boy out celebrating her own birthday with her best friend early Monday, authorities say. Dalone Jamison, who has an extensive arrest record, faces second-degree murder, second-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges, police said. As he was led in handcuffs from a police stationhouse Tuesday night, he told reporters he didn't fire the bullet that killed Walikque Grace Faussett, whom Jamison claimed was a friend. It's not clear if he has an attorney. Police said the alleged shooter was booted from Motivo, a club at Fifth Avenue and East 21st Street in the Flatiron District, after arguing with another patron. They say he told bouncers he'd come back with a gun. He allegedly returned some time later, began shooting and fled in a car, authorities said. 1 Arrested in NYC Nightclub Shooting That Killed Young Mom Police say a 26-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting outside a Manhattan nightclub that killed a mother of a 3-year-old boy out celebrating her own birthday with her best friend early Monday. Lori Bordonaro reports. (Published Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015) Faussett, who had been at the club for a belated celebration of her 24th birthday with her best friend, was shot in the back as she tried to hail a cab home around 4 a.m. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. Her 25-year-old friend was shot in the hip and foot but is expected to be OK. Another woman, who is 30, was shot in the shoulder and is also expected to be OK. Witness Dennis Farrell was about half a block away when gunfire erupted; he said he thought he heard six or seven shots. "I turned the corner. It was mayhem, " Farrell said. Authorities say the suspect knows Faussett, but she was not his intended target and he allegedly didn't know he had shot her. It's not clear who he allegedly intended to shoot. Young Mother Shot Dead Outside Manhattan Nightclub, 2 Others Injured; Family Pleads for Justice A mother of a 3-year-old boy out celebrating her own birthday was shot and killed outside a Manhattan nightclub early Monday as she tried to hail a cab to go home. Ida Siegal has more. (Published Monday, Oct. 12, 2015) Meanwhile, Faussett's parents want their daughter's killer brought to justice. Mother Wendi Rodriguez said following Jamison's arrest Tuesday she was "angry" and "really, really frustrated, " but was too upset to speak further. The victim's brother, Prince Fausesett, said he was glad Jamison was arrested "but my sister's still gone." Jamison claimed to be friends with Walikque on social media, but Prince Faussett said he was no friend. "I don't know who that is, " he said. "He's a monster." Jamison is from the Bronx, but he was hiding out in Brooklyn when police found him, authorities said. "A lot of times gang members are on the run, they hang with other gang members and that's how we found him, " said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. The victim's parents say their daughter, who worked at Nordstrom in White Plains, was a good person who didn't have a mean bone in her body. She had a 3-year-old son named Alexander. "They got the guy that did it, yeah. So the rest of his life is easy in jail. He gets to eat free, " said father Walter Faussett. "We gotta take care of Alex. Where does our support come in?" An outpouring of sadness and disbelief swelled on Faussett's Instagram page as friends expressed shock over her death Monday. "Grace stop playing we just agreed that you get to see zi today just call me and tell me I can come over, " one person wrote. Others wrote they would always miss her and said they would help her son if he ever needed anything. Motivo's management did not immediately respond to phone and email messages. The club is generally open Fridays and Saturdays, but it was open to the public for a special party Sunday night, according to its website.

You're a dance maniac. A cocktail special and conversational atmosphere aren't enough to attract your patronage. You're the type that needs the exhilaration of flashing lights, hair-raising sound, and an adequate space to show off those moves. While this beat-chasing schedule might sound exhausting to normal people, the real work for a socialized species like yours comes with keeping up with the weekly changing landscape of Twin Cities nightlife. But turn down that squelching bass for a second and listen up! Gimme Noise did all the heavy lifting for you so all that's left to be done is to fetch that headband out of the dryer and go freak out at the local discos. Here are our top 10 places to go dancing in the Twin Cities. See Also: Photo by Denis Jeong Plaster 315 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis It's the opposite of a megaclub with a million-dollar light rig, but its character makes it unique. By day, it's a little bar in Dinkytown with a lot of beautiful sitting room and a quiet vibe, but by night, it whips off its glasses and pours on the glitter. The tables are cleared out to transform the room into a charming music venue with an events calendar packed with the most discerning local DJs. Dance nights like Hotel and Blackout offer forward-thinking party music in a venue that bridges the gap between friendly and hip. If you work up an appetite to dance until 2, you can walk across the street for your choice of cheese-covered late-night eats. It's comfortable and lively rolled into one great package. 15 4th St. NE, Minneapolis Ground Zero does not care what you think of its aging exterior. The club has been a mainstay in the Northeast neighborhood for decades, and it has outlived so many downtown pop-up clubs that it feels like it exists in its own universe. It's still darkish and gothic inside, and yes, Bondage-A-Go-Go lives on for those who own a closet full of PVC catsuits. Miraculously, newer dance nights are starting to appear on the club's schedule - oddly impossible to find online - introducing a whole new crop of clubgoers to its unique feel. Maybe the club's resistance to change is the reason it's so beloved, since it seems like it will be playing loud music and letting its freak flag fly forever. Photo by Anna Gulbrandsen 315 First Ave. N., Minneapolis Note: Insert Coins is now closed. From the ashes of the embattled old Karma club came Insert Coins, where "game" means something very different than it does at every other club in the city - we're looking at you, Aqua. Old-school arcade cabinets and brand-new video games are tucked into a neon wonderland with an array of dance nights, so you can get in that crucial game of Tetris after you're finished tearing up the floor. The games offer a great break from all the regular nightclub activities, so even if you lose the dance-off, you can still conquer the top score on Ms. Pac Man. Hell, have a martini while you're at it. Now all they have to do is reopen that awesome patio for summer. 408 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis A GLBT club with a welcoming attitude towards anyone who wants to enjoy an absurdly strong drink or three, the 90's is nothing short of a Minneapolis institution. The Dance Annex is an enduring shrine to golden-era club hits, and if you get the urge to watch other people dance - on a stage in a next level dress and falsies - the La Femme Lounge is a legendary drag experience. For those under 21, finding a dance night that doesn't feel cheesy can be a huge feat, but the 90's has a real authenticity that comes from catering to the 18+ crowd every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday for an eternity in club years. The GLBT scene has seen its share of defeats and triumphs since then, but the Gay 90's has been an equal-opportunity dance floor from the start. 711 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Barfly itself can feel bloodless, but parties upstairs at the Loft and next door at Skyway always seem like a secret clubhouse filled with pounding drums. At the Loft, an elevator transports you to a fifth-floor space with an awesome view of the Minneapolis skyline, seen best from the rooftop smoking deck. This venue of choice for higher-profile dubstep and trap events attracts the 18+ crowd with more success than probably any other space in the city, plus there's tons of room for the furry-booted, glowstick-toting masses to get as wild as they'd like (even going so far as stripping down to get graffiti'd by local artists). While this pair won't win awards for best decor, it packs enough bass to melt your face clean off. 513 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis If the Gay 90's doesn't feel sexy enough, try the Bolt Underground, situated just under the Minneapolis Eagle. There are no windows in the basement space, which means that patrons can feel free to get a little risque. For the gay community there are underwear parties and athletic burlesque from the Booby Trap Girlz, and the club goes outside its comfort zone a bit to host SYSTEM on Fridays to become the best techno club night in the Twin Cities. Two-for-one rail drinks, a super-dark look, and an insane sound system all make sure that everybody minds their business to tear up their own piece of real estate on the floor.

Few pursuits tap into the pleasures of nightlife more than dancing. Giving yourself over to the rhythms, the lights, and the energy is a total release. When you want that feeling, here are some of the best dance clubs in Philadelphia. Voyeur 1221 St. James St Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 735-5772 voyeurnightclub.com Voyeur is said to be one of the top dance clubs in the city. A multi-level venue whose main draw is its versatility, the hip clientele can choose any number of ways to spend their time here — competing in trivia contests, sipping cocktails or taking in the scene in the Ruby Lounge. DJs at voyeur spin everything from house to 70s disco. 700 Club 700 N Second St Philadelphia, PA 19123 (215) 413-3181 Local Directory 700 Club is a bi-level Northern Liberties hotspot that’s a great place to get drinks after work and an even better place to dance until the lights come on. The club features first-rate DJs who effortlessly turn each night into a terrific party scene–one that features great music and a refreshingly laid-back attitude. Fluid 613 Sth. 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 fluidnightclub.com Constantly hailed as one of the best places in Philadelphia to get your groove on, Fluid boasts a veritable who’s who of the city’s top DJs. From new electronica to jungle or trance to hip-hop, this underground, side-street club delivers great sounds in digs that are so dark, you almost miss the cool Mediterranean design aspects. Brazil’s 112 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA. 19106 brasilsnightclub-philly.com If dancing the salsa and merengue are your thing, you can’t miss Brasil’s. This Olde City club is located a floor above the popular Posh Lounge and features some of the city’s hottest music and dancing each week. Brasil’s also offers lessons on Wednesdays for around five bucks and one complimentary drink. Silk City Diner & Lounge 435 Spring Garden St Philadelphia, PA 19123 215-592-8838 silkcityphilly.com If you’re looking to rock out and let loose, it’s hard to resist the beats and sweaty bodies you’ll find packed into Silk City every weekend. With live DJ’s spinning every night of the week, Silk has become one of the premier dance destinations for Philadelphia.

Merrymakers spilling into bars tonight might have to show more than proof of their age. Some nightclubs will pass a metal-detecting wand over customers to make sure they’re not carrying weapons. SEAN SIMMERS, The PATRIOT-NEWSRuss Kane, head of PR for Kamionka Entertainment, says he only occasionally uses a metal-detecting wand at the Bourbon Street Saloon in Harrisburg. Long a staple at airports, courthouses and some schools, detectors are the newest tool for flagging dangerous bar patrons. For the most part, bars use them voluntarily. “We use them in our Advance clubs and any outlet that tends to have more urban appeal. Our regular [bars] downtown, we do not, ” said Ron Kamionka, president of Kamionka Entertainment Group, whose city properties include Harrisburg Hardware Bar, Tom Sawyer’s and Bourbon Street Saloon. John Mathias, state police liquor control enforcement office supervisor, said there has been a jump in detector use. “We see them often. It has developed over the last five years. Generally, you find them in places that draw the larger crowds, ” Mathias said. Part of the reason may be that the state Liquor Control Board increasingly is telling bars that can’t control customers that it will withhold their licenses unless they use metal detectors, he said. “We tailor each conditional licensing agreement to the establishment and, while it’s not unusual to place that stipulation on an establishment, you’ll commonly see that as part of an agreement where there is behavior that necessitates it, ” LCB press secretary Stacey Witalec said. In fact, the LCB told a Carlisle bar this month that if it doesn’t check customers for weapons every Friday and Saturday, it will lose its liquor license. The Liquor Control Board on Dec. 13 ruled that Fast Eddie’s Billiard Parlor and Saloon must use a metal-detector, along with instituting other practices. It’s not a guarantee that the bar will be violence-free. “Wands and other screening devices are helpful. But they’re only as successful as the character and integrity of the person [or] establishment using them, ” Harrisburg Police Lt. Robert Fegan said. Friends who met for a beer after work Thursday at Bourbon Street gave the practice mixed reviews. The men didn’t give their last names, saying their employers wouldn’t want them publicly commenting on the topic. Aaron, of Upper Allen Township, doesn’t mind when bar security wands him. He said younger customers are the most likely to be put off by weapon checks.