Nightlife in Concord

The Englander Sports Pub & Restaurant squeezes the entirety of the British Isles into its eatery—or so it would seem after seeing the 80 draft beers, plates of bangers 'n' mash and lightly fried fish, and the iconic red phone booth right outside the door. A lengthy menu disproves the myth that British food isn't real with choices such as hearty pot pies and 16 burgers topped with avocado, blue cheese, and house-made chili. To wash down the meaty fare, bartenders kick open the kegs and fill tall glasses with classic British ales and domestic beers that visitors savor from the dining room’s dark-wood furnishings or on the umbrella-shaded patio. Throughout the eatery, 21 TVs entertain the senses not involved in the task of chewing or sipping, and during the week, The Englander hosts open-mike nights, live music, and live viewings of sporting events that give visitors an excuse to hoist their brews in triumph.

Experienced comedians on Comedy Off Broadway Oakland’s black-swathed stage extract laughs with jokes honed during appearances on HBO, BET and Comedy Central. Veteran yucksters Joe Gleckler and Samson Koletkar host 90-minute shows three nights a week and recruit all-female and all-Southern lineups for Thursday theme shows. Chortling viewers can dig into plates of Cajun and Southern fare from the kitchen of Miss Pearl’s Jam House, which hosts the proceedings in a private dining area, or covertly film spit takes with wine and beer from a full bar.

The White Horse Bar has entertained San Francisco's GLBT community with happy hours, college nights, and live music for more than 75 years, making it one of the oldest gay bars in the country. After serving as a central hub during the community's tumultuous 20th century, the bar now opens its glistening dance floor every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for relentless displays of rhythm fueled by beers, martinis, and well drinks. The White Horse Bar also energizes crowds with a smorgasbord of events including trivia contests, drag shows, karaoke, and '80s nights, where guests are encouraged to quietly yearn for portable replacements for their landline telephones.

Have you ever seen someone smell a glass of wine and remark on its “lemony overtones” or “essence of plum” and wondered if they had any idea what they were talking about? Usually you're right, and they're pulling words from the 2009 Unabridged Wine Libs Dictionary. Pair one word from the "Obscure Fruits and Woods" chapter with another from "Vague Concepts" and you've got a smart-sounding wine description. How many times have we heard a Wine Libs poser foolishly declare that a wine resonated with "cedar echoes?" Too many times to count on one seven-fingered hand—eight times, to be precise.

In the most recent installment of Consumer Reports, stand-up comedy was named the far superior postural form of comedy, beating out sit-down, lying-on-your-side, spread eagle, Indian-style, running-in-place, crucifixion pose, hunched-over-out-of-breath, kneeling-on-your-right-knee-while-tying-your-left-shoe, Statue of Liberty, King Tut, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Heisman. The magazine's editors concluded that other comedy stances proved too distracting and greatly limited the comic's material (most jokes told in the King Tut pose went something like "Hey, somebody let me outta this coffin, I'm dyin' in here…").

Today's deal gets you $30 of wine, beer, fruits, and cheeses for just $15 at Hotel Biron. This cozy, relaxed Hayes Valley wine bar is a hidden gem with a combo of fabulous wines and great artwork from a new, local artist every month.