The Earl

With lurid candelabra, yard-sale art and urban artifacts, the Earl is the perfect gathering place for post-punk locals. The hard-partying crowd, ranging in their late 20s to early 40s, knocks back paper-cup shots in between pints of Pabst Blue till the wee hours. Meanwhile, a serious small-time indie-music scene flourishes in the back. The Earl boasts a great booking agent, a reliable sound system and a terrific lineup almost every night of the week. Long on bar atmosphere, but with plenty of space devoted to dining, the Earl specializes in unpretentious, competitive bar chow. Particularly notable are the standout bacon cheeseburger, the tempting but messy vegetable-chevre pita, a pleasantly spicy tomatillo-poblano chicken sandwich, and the worth-the-drive skinny fries. The bar has a moderately extensive beer selection and respectable hard liquor pours. Open late, it's a perfect first or last stop.