Night Life in Traverse City & surrounding areas

Night Life

Your guide to what's going down after sunset

Last update: April 16, 2009

Antrim County

Back Porch Coffee House, 7 p.m. third Sat. of the month, with Swan Creek April 17; performance followed by open mic and jam session, family friendly, smoke- and alcohol-free, suggested donation $5 each or $10 families at the door to benefit the performers, light refreshments included; Front Porch Cafe, 9235 Main St., Ellsworth; 622-2944.

Short's Brewing Company, open mic 7:30 p.m. every Tues.; l121 N. Bridge St., Bellaire; events, dates and times subject to change, call to check, 533-6622; www.shortsbrewing.com.

Benzie County

Cabbage Shed, Open Mic Night 8 p.m. Thurs.; 198 Frankfort Ave., Elberta; 352-9843.

Crystal Palace Lounge, Pool League Mon.; Texas Hold 'Em Tournament Tues.; Bean Bag Wed.; Karaoke with Wayne York Thurs.; Ron The King DJ and Karaoke Fri.-Sat.; 17170 Vondra Road at M-115, Thompsonville; 378-3104 or www.crystalpalacelounge.com.

Laughing Horse Saloon, DJ Fri.-Sat.; 15888 Lindy Road, Thompsonville; 378-4876.

Lumberjacks Bar and Grille, ladies' night, DJ and karaoke with Emotionally Impaired Thurs.; 10919 Main St., Honor; 325-2262.

Thompsonville Bar & Grille, DJ 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; Thompson Avenue, Thompsonville; 378-2554.

Emmet County

Odawa Casino Resort, O Zone Night Club, opens 7 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. with Funny Business Comedy 8-9:30 p.m. Sat. ($5 admission); Rendezvous Lounge, Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. Fri.; 1760 Lears Road, Petoskey; (877) 442-6464, www.odawacasino.com.

Grand Traverse County

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge, entertainment in the lounge 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat. featuring John Pomeroy; GT Resort & Spa, 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme; (800) 748-0303.

Bayview Inn, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Thurs. Karaoke by the Bay with BDJ's; 5074 U. S. 31 N., Acme; 938-1610.

Bud's of Interlochen, live music (acoustic, folk and rock) 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thurs. with singer/songwriter Jim Hawley; 3061 M-137, Interlochen; 276-9090 or www.budsville.com.

Cafe Crema Coffee & Sandwich Shop, live Latin music by Rojo Loco 4:30-7 p.m. Thurs., with free Latin dance lessons and demos; Open Mic with Host Laura Cai 4:30-7 p.m. Fri.; live music with Doug Hansen 1-3 p.m. Sun.; free coffee cupping (exotic coffees) 5-6:30 p.m. second Tues.; 300 E. Front St., TC; 421-JAVA or www.crematc.com.

Cherry Stop's Uncorked Wine Bar, 5-7 p.m. Fri. "Unwined @ Uncorked" with drink and appetizer specials; 6-8 p.m. Sat. "Unplugged @ Uncorked," with live music and drink specials; 211 E. Front St., TC; www.cherrystop.com or 929-3990.

Crow About It Coffee and Cakes, live entertainment Sat. 8-10 p.m. with Open Mic Night first Sat., Creative Expression Night second Sat., Poetry Open Mic Night third Sat., Concert Night with featured musicians fourth Sat.; 1990 U.S. 31 North, corner of Four Mile Road, TC; 421-3799.

Dillinger's Pub/Bootleggers, Trivia Live 7-9 p.m. Thurs.; Dillinger's, 121 S. Union, TC, 941-2276; Bootleggers, 119 S. Union, TC, 922-7742.

Ground Zero @ the Streeters Building, Smile Empty Soul and Soil April 7; Josh Thompson & Jocaine May 14;1669 S. Garfield Ave., TC; www.groundzeroonline,com or 932-1300.

Hayloft Inn, open mic night 7:30 p.m. Thurs. for musicians, poets, comics, hosted by Bill Dungjen; 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. live country and western entertainment; M-72, TC; 941-0832.

Hide Away Bar & Grill, DJ music by Hot Traxx 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri., and karaoke 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Sat.; 211 E. Main St., Kingsley; 263-4059.

Horizon Books, live music 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. with David & Paxton Duo April 9; John Bentley April 10; 243 E. Front, TC; 946-7290, (800) 587-2147 or www.horizonbooks.com.

Kilkenny's Irish Public House, Mon. is Trivia Night; 8 p.m.-midnight Tues. Levi Britton; Thurs. is Ladies' Night with a live DJ until 1:30 a.m.; live music 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Fri.-Sat. with Sweet J Band April 9-10; basement level, North Peak Brewing Company, 400 W. Front, TC; www.kilkennyspub.com.

Lake Street Cafe at Oryana Natural Foods Market, Robert Abate 3-4 p.m. Wed.; 260 E. 10th St., TC.

Lil Bo, 7-9 p.m. Tues. Irish music with TC Celtic; 7-10 p.m. Wed. blues with Getz-Tarcson-Wire; 8-11 p.m. Thurs. Bo Bossa; also First Friday 5-7 p.m. and Jazz North 8-11 p.m. April 9; Fresh Fossils 8-11 p.m. April 10; 540 W. Front, TC; 946-6925 or www.lilbo.com.

The Loading Dock, Sun. Open Mic Night; Mon. 6-9 p.m. TC Celtic, and 9 p.m.-close Ladies' Night; open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-2 a.m. Sun.; 205 Lake Ave., TC; 941-4422.

Mt. Holiday lounge, open 5-8 p.m. Wed.-Fri., and 3-8 p.m. Sat., through spring; Mt. Holiday, 3100 Holiday Road, TC; www.mt-holiday.com.

Park Place Hotel, Tom Kaufmann (piano) 8:30-11:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Piano Bar in the Beacon Lounge; 300 E. State, TC; 946-5000.

ParkShore Resort, Open Mic Night 8-11 p.m. Wed., for information, participants should call 313-2434; live DJ 8 p.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat.; 1401 U.S. 31 N., TC; 947-3800.

Phil's on Front, live entertainment Tues.-Sat. evenings; 236 E. Front St., across from the State Theatre, TC; 929-1710 or www.philsonfront.com.

Sail Inn Bar & Grill, karaoke 8 p.m.-midnight Thurs.; 1104 Barlow, TC; 946-4195.

Schelde's Traverse Bay Tavern, Ronnie Hernandez 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tues.; Cheryl and AJ of Madison Straw 8:30-11 p.m. Sat., no cover; 714 Munson Ave., TC; 946-0981.

Side Traxx Video Dance Bar, Monster Monday and Terrific Tuesday with free pool and darts; Wild Wednesday featuring music videos with Scotty; Megan's Thrifty Thursday; Fun Friday with DJ/VJ Mike King's Dance Party, happy hour 5-9 p.m., $5 cover after 9 p.m.; Sonic Saturday with DJ/VJ Mike King's Dance Party, $5 cover after 9 p.m.; also darts, pool, jukebox, seasonal full-service patio; gay-owned/operated, straight-friendly atmosphere; 21/older; 520 Franklin St., off East Eighth Street, TC; 935-1666.

Steven's Place Nightclub, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. lunch Tues.-Fri.; 6 p.m. Tues.-Sat. fine dining; "Chance to Learn Dance" package-Tues. Swing, Wed. Tango, Thurs. Ballroom, includes demonstration, lessons, practica and Margarita $15/person; 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. live music with the Doc Woodward Band, modest cover; 738 S. Garfield, TC; 929-8945 or www.stevensplacenightclub.com.

Tastes of Black Star Farms, live music 7-9 p.m. Wed. by Ronnie Hernandez; The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, TC.

Traverse City Senior Center, Saturday Night Dance 8-10 p.m. each Sat., live music, refreshments, $3/members, $5/non-members; 801 E. Front St., TC; 922-4911.

Turtle Creek Casino, in Level 3 Lounge -- Team Trivia 7-9 p.m. and comedy 9 p.m. every Thurs.; DJ Ricky T. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. every Friday; plus 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Dal Bouey April 9-10; Turtle Creek Floor -- 8 p.m.-midnight Pete & the Parrotheads April 9-10; 7741 M-72, Williamsburg; 534-8888.

Union Street Station, open mic night 10 p.m. Tues.; 117 S. Union TC; 941-1930.

Wilderness Crossing, live music 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat. in the Wild Pony Saloon -- couples dancing 7 p.m. Mon.; line dancing 7 p.m. Tues.; karaoke 8 p.m. Wed.; 1355 Silver Lake Crossings Blvd., U.S. 31, one mile west of Chum's Corner; 943-9200, www.wildernesscrossing.com.

Kalkaska County

Dingman's Bar, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat. karaoke; 11021 M-72, halfway between Kalkaska and Grayling.

Gio's Trattoria Grille, ladies' night and karaoke 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Sat. with Connie; happy hour 4-7 p.m. Mon-Fri.; U.S. 131 North, one block north of Rite-Aid, Kalkaska; 384-4444.

Kiootee's Bar & Grill, DJ and ladies' night 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.; 4556 County Road 571 N.E., Kalkaska; 258-1276.

The Roadhouse, 8 p.m.-midnight Tues. open mic night, sound system and mics provided; 8 p.m.-midnight Thurs. karaoke; U.S. 131, halfway between Kalkaska and Mancelona.

Leelanau County

Cedar Tavern, karaoke 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Fri.; 9039 S. Kasson, Cedar; 228-7445.

Leelanau Sands Casino, in Elements Lounge -- team trivia 7-9 p.m. and comedy 9 p.m. every Wed.; euchre tournament 7-10 p.m. Mondays; 45th Parallel Polka Band 1-5 p.m. Thursdays; Wii and Game Night 9 p.m. and DJ 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays; Sports TV 3-10 p.m. and DJ 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays.; Peshawbestown; (800) 922-2946.

Maple City Benchwarmers Sports Bar, 7 p.m. Mon. County Leelanau Celtic Session; Tues. free pool; 7 p.m. Wed. euchre; Thurs. free pool; 8 p.m. Fri. live music with Big Rand; 9 p.m. Sat. All Star DJ & Karaoke; 172 W. Burdickville Road, Maple City; 228-4688 or www.mcbenchwarmers.com.

O'Keefe's Firehouse Pub, open mic 9:30 p.m. Thurs.; 303 N. St. Joseph, Suttons Bay; 271-2999.

Otsego County

Stampede Saloon, happy hour 3-6 p.m. Mon-Thurs.; Mon. Ladies' Night with wine special, Tues. NBA/NHL night; Wed. Men's Night and NBA/NHL; Thurs. free juke box; also live music Fri. Sat. with Audio Circus April 9-10; 3885 Old U.S. 27 South, Gaylord; (989) 705-7100, www.stampedesaloon.com.

Timothy's Pub, DJ/karaoke mix 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; 110 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord; (989) 732-9333.

-- Compiled by Stephanie Beach