Unicorn is a unique and eclectic carnival-themed lounge with great music and fantastic beers on tap as well as delicious cocktails. Try their Mango Drop or one of their rotating flavors of house-made jello shots. The weird and wonderful decor creates a quirky and fun atmosphere. Head down the stairs and you will find yourself in Narwhal, filled with pinball and other arcade games to keep the good times rolling.

Oddfellows serves up delicious American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they're open late every night of the week. The tables are arranged in a breezy, open space with lots of light. Some of the dishes include: Brioche French Toast with Mascarpone and fruit, Roast Beet & Chevre Salad, Roasted Free Range Chicken with Savory Bread Pudding and Duck Leg Cassoulet. The bar does best with their list of inventive and affordable cocktails, including the Sriracha Margarita (amigo reposado, lime, Sriracha) and The Oddfellow (bourbon, cointreau, lemon, house bitters). Beer on tap is available as well. Happy hour is from 4p to 6p, where they offer food specials and discounted cocktails.

From the red walls, ceiling and booths to the white tablecloths, this restaurant offers old-school Italian decor. During the lunch and dinner hours, it is a great place for inexpensive dining and drinking on First Hill. You can choose from rich pasta dishes or splurge on a surf-n-turf combo. Late nights bring out the disco divas, and this place fills up early. Some nights it offers live music, others a DJ. Either way, the place will be jumping until closing time.

Not your typical multiplex, The Little Theatre is one of Seattle's last independent art movie houses, owned and operated by the same non-profit organization that brings us the Grand Illusion. Offering obscure documentaries, foreign films, the occasional lecture/film combo and mini-festivals that focus on particular genres and directors, this 49-seat theater features films that tend to be more thought-provoking than entertaining. The selection can vary wildly. Films often change several times a week, and it's often possible to see several different films here in one weekend. And yes, the theater sells popcorn. Admission: $4.50 matinee, $7 evening, $5 late night; prices may vary for special events. The theater accepts cash only.

New City Theater is a great place to see inexpensive shows. Performances, often in formative stages, are nonetheless entertaining and tend to be on the edgy side. The theater produces shows on an irregular year-round basis. Call for an up-to-date schedule. Like many the edgy experimental theater companies, this one lives on the financial edge. Formerly housed in a former funeral parlor, it now occupies space in First Christian Church.

Located in what looks like an old garage on a street near Seattle University devoted to old garages, this cafe called Animals is a refreshing surprise. Bright and airy with high windows and ceilings, wrought iron gates and a crackling woodstove, this coffeehouse combines casual with elegant in a remarkable way. It serves excellent pastries and espresso, plus a simple snack menu. Grab a seat by the mirror-backed antique bar, or sit at one of the marble-topped tables and admire the owner's glass art.

This beautiful mid-20th Century Ballroom boasts one of the largest dance floors in Seattle. With 2,000 square feet, there's plenty of room for everyone. Take lessons in salsa, lindy hop and East Coast swing, starting with the basics. Once you've got your moves, you're ready to attend the ballroom's full range of dance events, held year-round. The ballroom allows no smoking, and is restricted to those over 21. An on site cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Refuel your rhythmic body at the cafe on the premises.

The ornate building of Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center was once a synagogue, as is revealed by its Romanesque windows and symbolic stone tablets. Today, it's a temple to the arts, named after African-American poet Langston Hughes. The center offers a varied roster of activities, workshops and classes in such skills as marimba, African dance and self-defense. The well-produced high school musicals and literary readings have extended the center's reach beyond the immediate neighborhood.

Theater Schmeater has been around so long that it's practically mainstream now. But the blend of standard plays and bizarre serials like the popular Twilight Zone series is still a bit kooky, and the faithful wouldn't have it any other way. The group usually puts on a free outdoor summertime classic. The season is basically year-round. Occasional late-night shows are showcased too.

Opened in 1993, this bar became a nightclub in 1998 by adding a dance floor, full bar and full menu. Here there's a typical bar atmosphere complete with pool tables, darts and pinball machines. The facility actually consists of four bars, two with DJs, and there's also a cafe and patio. The food is Cajun, and even when the kitchen is closed you can still order cold sandwiches and wraps.