Nightlife in Phoenix

Today's side deal slides your funny bone a tall, calcium-rich glass of milk. For $10, you get one ticket (a $20 value) to see acclaimed joke-jockey Marc Maron fling cutting witticisms and acerbic satire from the stage of MADCAP Theaters in Tempe. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to pick up your tickets at the will-call area.

At Stand-Up, Scottsdale! bellies ache from a rotating selection of nationally known comedians seen on Comedy Central and late-night talk shows. The intimate 180-person venue, where such local legends as David Spade got their start, beckons a cast of talented funny persons that changes regularly. Voted Best Comedy Club this year by Arizona Foothills magazine, the ha-ha hot spot has recently hosted performances by noted names including Dana Carvey, Frank Caliendo, and Norm Macdonald. With a recent appearance on Spike TV's "Bar Rescue," they now boost a full menu of pub-food appetizers and entrees keeps would-be hecklers otherwise occupied, and Wednesday evening open-mic nights allow rookie comics to test their mettle.

The clatter of pool balls melds with the cheering from sports fans at Skip & Jan's Sports Bar, where 24 pool tables tempt those not busy watching the game on one of 20 flat-screen televisions. During time-outs, patrons nibble on tavern fare, such as potato skins, third-pound burgers, and tuna melts. The bar’s wings, which are served with nine different sauces, earned the eatery a feature in the Arizona Republic as one of the area’s 20 best places for wings not including a chicken farm.

The Phoenix New Times pick for Best Rock Club in 2010 and 2011, this live-music venue draws crowds that huddle around indoor and outdoor stages to groove and wail every night of the week. Concerts and festivals stage local bands, indie rockers, and national acts playing genres ranging from bluegrass and reggae to jam music and rock 'n' roll. Amid the big-name acts, the house upholds beloved traditions; Grateful Dead fanatics and people with tie-dyed flesh emerge to party on Sunday nights, and each Thursday, burgeoning starlets perform karaoke with the support of a full live band. Beside the outdoor stage, a spacious patio facilitates mingling under the sky's star-freckled firmament. At the indoor bar, barkeeps fill glasses with mixed drinks and brews while colorful lights flash against walls. Black leather couches and huge art canvases line the lounge area, and a dance floor carved before the stage affords up-close views of the passport stamps canvassing rock star's wrists. AZCentral noted: "Not far from Mill Avenue, the Sail Inn offers a whole different scene, with a cool vibe and laid-back people."

WineStyles showcases the diversity found throughout California's wine country at a small wine bar on the Coronado peninsula. More than 300 wines line its shelves, including national and international varietals sourced from small, boutique vineyards. Most bottles cost less than $25, and the shop also sells customized gift baskets and wine-lover accessories such as T-shirts, bottle openers, and fireplaces for dramatically hurling a glass into.

Live music underscores weekly wine tastings, where guests sample and learn about different wines from resident experts. The list of house wines includes fruity and bold reds, such as malbec, and creamy whites, including chardonnay. WineStyles also stocks a selection of craft beers from Germany and all over California for beer lovers. Gourmet cheese boards and imported Italian meats are also available to be added to any wine tasting or private event.

As its neon-flamed exterior would suggest, Cactus Moon Sports Grill is a lively establishment. Chefs prepare eclectic dishes, such as Wachos, their Southwestern twist on nachos, in which they douse crisp waffle fries in a hearty sauce. From the sports bar outfitted with 48 HDTVs, bartenders pour a selection of beer and wine, which includes sudsy drafts from Four Peaks, Stella Artois, and Sam Adams. On some nights, the clacking of pool balls on 15 billiards tables and the rattling of foosball kickers orchestrate rhythmic background sounds, and on others, a late-night DJ incites hip swivels and 360-degree head turns with an infectious track list of danceable tunes played out over a 1,000-square-foot dance floor.