Cape After Dark: Variety of bars have something for everyone

Port Cape / Yacht Clup

Located on the corner of Water and Independence streets, Port Cape is an historic restaurant and lounge on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. They house a full-service restaurant and bar, two banquet facilities, including the River City Yacht Club upstairs overlooking the river.

Vibe: High-class and historic

Live music: Always some form of great blues or acoustic music going on here. Normally the bigger local music events are done at the Yacht Club, where local legend Bruce Zimmerman can be found singin' the blues every Sunday.

Price: $$$ / $$$$$

Food: Bar. B. Cue. These guys could barbecue their famous ice cream and it would be good.

Specialty: See above cause I'm lickin' ribs off my fingers.

Buckner Brewing Co. / Ragsdales

With Buckner's above and Ragsdale's below, this legendary venue takes up an entire block on Broadway from Main to Water streets. It's Cape Girardeau's only microbrewery. The staff is friendly, and the view from the second level of Buckner's is great. The third level hosts parties and the occasional art show. Ragsdale's has bar games and one of the area's only shuffleboard tables.

Vibe: Laidback and dimly lit.

Live music: Almost every Friday and Saturday in Buckner's. House band Fill plays the second Thursday of every month in Ragsdale's.

Price: $$$ / $$$$$

Food: A full menu with great cheese fries.

Specialty: The beer.

The Pour House

About to be redesigned to be more user-friendly, The Pour House — on the corner of Broadway and North Main Street — has great bartending and an extremely full house every weekend.

Vibe: A cross between sports pub and dance club.

Live music: You might find a rock band crammed in a corner once a month.

Price: $$$ / $$$$$

Food: It's kind of hard to eat when you're dancing all night .

Specialty: Cocktails.

Breakaway's

If a stiff drink and a loose game of pool are what you're looking for, then Breakaway's — 15 N. Main St. — is your answer. The bartenders are always friendly and fast and you can play casino-style games along with darts and pool.

Vibe: A cleaner version of the dirty pool hall you've seen in movies.

Live music: Not much, but every once in a blue moon they'll bring in a classic rock cover band.

Price: $$ / $$$$$

Food: Not unless you consider vodka food.

Specialty: Games, games games!

Rude Dog

Right across the street from Buckner's, the Dawg has one pool table, four dart boards and a lot of loud music for the audiophile in you. One interesting characteristic here: You walk right through the middle of the band to enter the bar.

Vibe: Much like an extremely crowded house party that no one is excluded from.

Live music: A variety of local and touring bands can be heard Thursday to Saturday. A cover is always charged.

Price: $$ / $$$$$

Food: Eat somewhere else, no grub can be found here.

Specialty: Crazy, sociable atmosphere without the fights.