Nightlife & the Arts in New York City

The nightlife scene still resides largely downtown—in dives in the East Village and Lower East Side, classic jazz joints in the West Village, and the Meatpacking District's and Chelsea's see-and-be-seen clubs. Midtown, especially around Hell's Kitchen, has developed quite the vibrant scene, too, and plenty of preppy hangouts dot the Upper East and Upper West sides.

Keep in mind that when you go is just as important as where you go. A spot sizzles only when it's hopping—a club that is packed at 11 might empty out by midnight, and a bar that raged last night may be completely empty tonight. These days, night prowlers are more loyal to floating parties, DJs, and club promoters than to any specific addresses.

For those of you trying to give N.Y.C. its "Fun City" rep back, Paper magazine has a good list of the roving parties. You can check their online nightlife guide, PM (N.Y.C.), via their Web site www.papermag.com. Another streetwise mag, The L Magazine (www.thelmagazine.com), lists what's happening day by day at many of the city's lounges and clubs, as well as dance and comedy performances. Be sure to scour industry-centric Web sites, too, like Eater and Grub Street, which catalog the comings and goings of many a nightlife impresario. The New York Times has listings of cabaret and jazz shows, most comprehensively in their Friday and Sunday Arts section. Bear in mind that a venue's life span is often measured in months, not years. Phone ahead to make sure your target hasn't closed or turned into a polka hall (although you never know—that could be fun, too).