Nightlife in Creve Coeur

For more than 25 years, The St. Louis Funny Bone has hosted national touring acts and local comedic talent in its cozy club for diverse 90-minute stand-up sets. While headlining jokesters dominate weekend slots, humorous hopefuls can sign up for Tuesday night open mics. During open mics, 12 to 20 performers test out their material in four-minute slots. The club strictly adheres to the time constraint, reprimanding participants who exceed 240 seconds with a month-long ban from the club and a nuggie administered by the nearest carrot top. Up to 300 attendees per show can witness these plunders and successes while sitting in either the VIP or general admission areas. Both sections offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, along with appetizers such as pizza slices, chicken wings, and toasted raviolis.

Unlike the poolrooms of old, which required a skilled artisan to cut and paint new billiard balls after every game, each of Pink Galleon's locations offers modern conveniences such as flat-screen televisions, air hockey tables, and chicken-strip technology. Amidst underwater murals at the Creve Coeur location, a giant shark swims over the pool tables with an eight ball in its menacing mouth. Though not all locations offer a giant shark, each of Pink Galleon's cue-sports centers offers a full bar and tons of snacks, such as breaded inferno wings ($4.75), mozzarella sticks ($4.75), a chicken strips basket ($5.45), or a 12-inch deluxe pizza (with ham, sausage, pepperoni, and green peppers, $7.80). Every location shows UFC fights on multiple flat-screen televisions, so you'll have enough entertainment without bare-knuckle boxing your companion in his handlebar moustache and breaking a monocle. If two hours of pocket billiards and a bacon cheeseburger ($5) whet your appetite for more, Pink Galleon offers tons of arcade games, air hockey, ping-pong, darts, and more.

The classically focused Alexandra Ballet entertains audiences with a well-rounded dance diet ranging from contemporary original pieces to traditional masterworks. The company’s agile dancers have pirouetted their way to uproarious applause in past performances that include The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Peter and the Wolf. Since 2003, the company has enriched the community through its educational-outreach programs, which provide youngsters with free learning materials and ballet performances throughout the school year.

STL Cinemas' quartet of movie houses mingles the vibrant pageantry of the early film industry with the technological sophistication of modern studio projects. Chase Park Plaza exudes the essence of this retro-contempo coupling, earning it the Riverfront Times 2010 Best Movie Theater award. With five intimate auditoriums, an all-digital sound system, and state-of-the-art projection, Chase Park Plaza coaxes movie-goers deep into the film's plot lines, characters, and 3-D effects easier than an underseat package containing a plaid dress, a little dog, and a magical Kansas twister. Before one of Chase’s shows, bask in the sights of the lifelike trompe l'eoil murals, and soak in the sounds of a live organist who serenades the crowds with show-tune favorites such as "Phantom of the Opera," "Goldfinger," and "I’m a Little Tea Pot (The Remix)."

With its striking architectural ceiling, focal finishes of bamboo and recycled butcher block bar, Vino Nadoz is the ideal retreat for indulging in savory small plates, salads, oven fired focaccia pizzas, crepes, decadent desserts, and American Fusion entrees that are perfect for sharing and pairing with wine.

Through an elegant menu and an extensive wine list, founders J. Kim Tucci and Joseph Fresta make it easy and delicious for Missouri locals to celebrate the regional traditions of Italy. With each week punctuated by a special Sunday-brunch menu, Tucci & Fresta’s regular offerings range from its trademark pork chops milanese to Italian-style grilled cheeses at lunch. Traditional drinks and desserts, including lemoncello and pistachio gelato, lend meals a sweet finish.:m]]