Entertainment in Central Coast
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A
Red's Espresso Bar and Gallery
With Ring of Fire on the stereo, a concrete floor underfoot and scruffy barflies at the counter, Red's is just your typical small-town bar. 'Cept this is Santa Barbara, so make that your typical small-town coffee bar with local art hanging on the very red walls. In the heart of the Funk Zone, east of the tracks, the vibe is cool and the java cheap. Live music on the weekends.
reviewed
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B
Muddy Waters
A yard sale's mix of cosy furniture? Check. Pool table? Check. Internet access? Check. Live music on the weekends and a kick-ass backyard patio? You got it. Seems Muddy Waters has everything required for the quintessential indie coffeehouse. And the coffee's darn good too. Great place to escape the State St hordes.
reviewed
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C
Brewhouse
Perfect for a rowdy reunion or a night on the town, ever-popular Brew House crafts its own beer, serves wines by the glass and has cool art and awesome fries. It's raucous good fun, with live music Wednesday to Saturday from 21:00 to close. On Wednesday it serves all-you-can-eat ribs; arrive early.
reviewed
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D
EOS Lounge
Ladies love the lighting at this trendy nightclub currently hot with SB's martini-sipping scenesters. The sexy décor - rippling waterfall, glimmering fireplace, twinkling patio - is on par with the hippest of Hollywood lounges. Small dancefloor for those wanting to get their groove on.
reviewed
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E
Dargan's
Settle in for the craic at welcoming Dargan's Irish pub, where appreciative crowds listen to lively Irish bands in the back room on Thursday nights. Up front, shoot pool and sip Guinness just past the big green leprechaun waiting by the door.
reviewed
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F
Arlington Center for the Performing Arts
Aside from being home to the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Arlington Center for the Performing Arts is a drop-dead-gorgeous, old-fashioned movie palace when the orchestra isn't playing. Great place to catch a flick.
reviewed
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G
Sportsman Lounge
Tucked on a low-traffic corner just west of tourist-heavy State St, this dark and cozy watering hole is a plain-old dive bar with no higher pretensions. Great jukebox.
reviewed
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Granada Theatre
This restored 1930s Spanish-Moorish-style theater is the new home of several arts institutions, including the ballet, the opera and the symphony.
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Soho
This unpretentious brick room located upstairs behind a McDonald's has live bands nightly, from indie rock, funk and folk to jazz and blues.
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Crown & Anchor
Descend into the basement of this British pub and the first thing you'll notice is the red plaid carpeting. Perhaps not the most authentic decor imaginable, but these blokes do know their way around a bar, with 20 draft beers and the peninsula's best selection of single malts, not to mention the damn fine fish'n'chips.
reviewed
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K
Farmers Market
Thursday is a good day to visit SLO, when the famous Farmers Market turns Higuera St near Mission Plaza, the main drag, and adjacent lanes into a giant street party. Barbecues belching smoke, strolling families and live music and entertainment make this one of the liveliest evenings you'll have anywhere in California.
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Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon used to be a gay dance club till girls started coming to escape the agro stares of straight dudes, but the dudes soon followed, and now there's hardly a gay boy in sight. The crowd varies with the night's theme, ranging from hip hop to goth industrial. It's a fun spot for billiards too.
reviewed
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L
Press Room
Tiny but raucous Press Room can barely contain the locals, Brooks photography students and European travelers that cram the place to its seams. But there's no better place to catch the game or quaff some views with your tastebuds.
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M
SLO Brewing Co
A popular brewpub whose homemade beers go well with the burgers, barbecue and grilled seafood served upstairs for lunch Wednesday to Sunday, and dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Downstairs there's billiards and live music and DJs.
reviewed
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N
Red Room
Scenesters swill cocktails at Red. Upstairs is style-y, with moody lighting, big sofas and a fireplace; downstairs is grungier and looks like a vintage-50s mafia hangout. Signs say you can’t smoke, but many do.
reviewed
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O
Catalyst
With an 800-seat capacity, Catalyst is a major Santa Cruz music venue; over the years it's hosted national acts from Gillian Welch to Black Uhuru to Nirvana. When there's no music, the upstairs pool room remains open.
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Planet Gemini
All done up in red walls and purple velvet curtains, Planet Gemini draws a youthful crowd with its comedy shows (Friday and Saturday) and Latin dance nights (Wednesday and Sunday).
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Forest Theatre & Outdoor Stage
This venue was founded in 1910. Musicals, drama and comedies, as well as movie screenings, take place in a lovely setting surrounded by trees and anchored by two large fire pits.
reviewed
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Q
Performing Arts Center
This state-of-the-art facility, on the Cal Poly campus, is the town's main cultural venue and presents an eclectic schedule of concerts, theater, dance and other events.
reviewed
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R
Caffe Pergolesi
With its leafy sidewalk verandah, arty Caffe Pergolesi is the place to discuss conspiracy theories over strong coffee, organic juices or beer.
reviewed
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S
James Joyce
Santa Barbara's fun zone revolves around Lower State St where crowds usually pack the Guinness-soaked and peanut-shell-covered planks of the James Joyce pub.
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T
Frog & Peach Pub
This drinking spot wears the patina - and smell - of an old boozer with pride. Come for a pint of ale, a game of darts or the live music from reggae to rock.
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U
Mother's Tavern
An upscale pub that draws in the vaguely refined masses with good pub burgers, nachos and more plus frequent live music that include 'Big Band Sundays'.
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Monterey Coast Brewing
This upscale microbrewery is part of the new life downtown. It has an attractive dining room where there's the expected large burgers and more.
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V
Epiphany
Ideal for a glass of bubbly if you're wearing heels and a dress (or if you want to impress someone who is); it's also a chic little restaurant.
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