Firedance Lounge

The atmosphere you find at the Firedance will depend on what time of day you slip into its dark, cozy recesses. Before 4PM, it's a mellow place for locals -- not too quiet, though. The digital jukebox has more than 10,000 songs; only a few places in Sacramento offer such a wide selection. You can also watch sports on the seven TVs. But if that's not your cup of grog, amuse yourself with the bar-top video-game system or play in a dart tournament while you schmooze with your chums. Want more action? Around 9PM, Firedance lights up the fire pit, and a mid-thirties clientele comes ready for karaoke (four nights a week). The college crowd comes next, packing the joint from around 10PM to closing. -- Trish Stokell