It takes serious (and sober) detective skills to find this Lincoln Square, gay-friendly dive bar—its name is nowhere to be found. Look to the "Michelob Light" sign at the corner of Western and Eastwood Avenue for your only clue.

When you do finally locate the door, prepare yourself for a wave of second-hand smoke, which you'll find swirling under the pool table's green light covers. The pool table sits in the front of the bar surrounded by well-worn benches for those wanting to watch a match, and a couple of dartboards hang in the rear. Beer posters and liquor advertisements cover the walls in place of formal decor, save for the three Marilyn Monroe posters located on the west wall. The bar itself is simple and serviceable, with a dozen barstools sitting next to the wood countertop and a full range of hard liquor on display. No need to use a menu here: Order up your usual martini, or trust the well-seasoned bartender to create a concoction for you.

Weeknights find regulars milking the cheap drinks ($4 cocktails and monthly beer specials), but on weekends, the patrons include those daring enough to sing in front of a crowd. Every Friday and Saturday evening at 9 p.m., the place transforms into a karaoke bar, decked with a complimentary buffet to feed the crooning drunkards. While the space is divided into two rooms, the back half is currently under renovation—but you can count on a fireplace and flat-screen TVs when it's completed.

Centerstage Reviewer: Eve Ardell