New in Pacific Beach after-dark entertainment - a combination music lounge and spa, where you slip on bikinis or trunks, hop into a hot tub and chill, or groove on the dance floor. Or both. Owner Elise Johnson describes her Spa Lounge on Garnet Avenue.

The co-owner (with Joe Austin) of Live Wire, (with Austin and Tim Mays) of the Turf Supper Club and the sole owner of the Whistle Stop talks about the enduring popularity of his neighborhood bars, and previews two new venues he's opening: the Station Tavern in Golden Hill and a Turf Club-like supper club in La Mesa.

Sarah Lavely, founder of a new "entertainment" venue downtown that allows customers to break things to express their emotions and manage their anger, visits (though she doesn't break anything on the air).

Duncan Sheik, who wrote the lyrics for the Tony Award-winning musical "Spring Awakening," talks about the ground-breaking showl, which will begin previews at San Diego's Balboa Theatre on Aug. 15 and will open on Aug. 20.

The W Hotel converts its Magnet Lounge space into the tequila-oriented Agave Lounge for the month of August and first couple weeks of September. Leah Corradino of the W chats about the Agave and about the etiquette of drinking tequila.

The singer-songwriter, who's been touring in Europe and who will be at AcousticMusic San Diego in Normal Heights this fall, talks about his influences (both literary and musical) and his songwriting process.

The Manchester Grand Hyatt downtown is getting into the rooftop-lounge derby. Hotel marketing manager Rachel Gianchini describes the new venue, which is opening this weekend.

San Diego Reader columnist Barbarella, author of the weekly "Diary of a Diva," plays Miss Manners (well, sort of), advising us on such sundry etiquette matters as weddings, dating and gift-giving.

Ed Decker, author of San Diego Citybeat's "Sordid Tales" column, fills listeners in on a battle of the bands event that is nearing its crescendo.

Jimmy Parker, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association, discusses the district's adaptation to the struggling economy, the foreseen impact of the return of Street Scene to downtown, and the future of the Quarter.

Local singer-songwriter Anna Troy returns and performs live two songs from her next album, due out in October.

Isabelle Ringer, aka Ringer, of the San Diego Derby Dolls talks about the life of a rollergirl and previews her team's upcoming contest at Skateworld in Linda Vista.

DJ Dex, who spins regularly poolside at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma, visits and spins three tunes that he deems ideal for lounging by the cement pond.

Kina Paegert of the San Diego County Fair previews the final four nighttime shows this weekend (Boston, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Joan Osborne and War) and fills us in on July Fourth plans at the fairgrounds.

It's been 22 years since Len Paul opened the first all-ages SOMA concert venue (downtown on Union Street). He reminisces about those 22 years and assesses the local music scene, including the changes in San Diego and globally in industry technology.

The frontman for the band The Shambles updates listeners on the group's summer itinerary and raves about why San Diego is the top city in the country - no lie! - for live music.

Brady Campbell, production manager at House of Blues San Diego since its opening, reminisces about HOB on the occasion of its third anniversary in town.

Host David Coddon and co-host/engineer "Big Lou" Montano spin tunes perfect for driving after dark during the summertime. Artists include Van Halen, Cracker, R.E.M., ZZ Top and the Offspring.

Standup comics Laura Jane Willcock and Jennifer Coburn visit, sharing details about their upcoming comedy showcase, "3 Women in One Night" at the Tentth Avenue Theatre, downtown. It gets pretty outrageous.

Whittaker, a local opera mezzo-soprano, rock singer (in the band Pruitt-Igoe) and performance artist, catches us up with her career and comments on the San Diego underground arts scene, such as it is.

"The High Tower," a 30-minute film about Chinese gangsters in San Diego, is the work of director/screenwriter Rusty Trevino and producer Seher Basak. They recount their odyssey of making the film and preparing to "festival" it locally.

Mark Anderson, formerly involved with The Improv comedy club in Pacific Beach, is now involved in "Cadillacs of Comedy," a show in Carlsbad that features three comics on stage doing funny but clean material.

Rebecca Webb, Art Power! Film Curator at UCSD, fills us in on the inaugural Up & Coming Student Film Fest, which will feature the work of 10 student filmmakers.

Chad Harris, owner-partner in the Keating Hotel project downtown, is celebrating that boutique hotel's one-year anniversary. He explains the appeal of the venue's Italian design and its basement-level night spot, Minus-1.

Shayna Wiseman is a musician - she plays an unusual percussion instrument called the hang - and a busker, who performs for spare change and applause at events like the North Park Arts Festival or in spots like Seaport Village. She talks about a busker's life and plays the hang for us.

One of San Diego's signature nightspots and hospitality destinations, the downtown W Hotel, is undergoing renovation of its popular lounges: the Living Room, Magnet, Wet, the Veranda Bar and Beach. The W's Leah Corradino explains what's changing and what we can expect from the "new" W, unveiling its changes May 31.

Ed Decker, a local bartender with 24 years' experience and a columnist for San Diego CityBeat, talks about the life and travails of being behind the bar in America's Finest City.

The author of "Poisoned Love" and the novel "Naked Addiction" discusses her new true-crime book, "Twisted Triangle," about FBI agent Margot Bennett and her affair with mystery writer Patricia Cornwell.

The Union-Tribune arts/entertainment writer reminisces about her days as a musician herself - the band was called The Squirrels - and weighs in on San Diego nightlife and the music scene.

The DJ/man about town shares some new music he's excited about and chats about the city's after-dark open air venues.

The standup comedian, in Vegas for a weeklong gig at the Riviera Hotel, talks about her career, about the state of standup, and about riffing on relationships.

Guest nightlife guru Mendoza catches us up with the hottest neighborhoods for after-dark activity, in this case North Park.

Howard Berkson, the CEO and owner of Anthology, a fledgling music supper club in Little Italy, updates us on the progress of his lavish venue, which has been open just nine months, and talks about the future of live jazz in San Diego.

Singer-songwriter Michael Tiernan of Del Mar, a cancer survivor, joins David Coddon in the studio and talks about his career; he brings his guitar along and plays a couple of tunes live, including one from his upcoming fourth album.

Local blues guitarist/songwriter Anna Troy has survived a teen-pop-punkette experience to become one of the emerging musical stars on the San Diego scene. She talks about her new album and about the "Staring at the Sun" musical showcase, coming up on March 30.

Choreographer Patricia Rincon previews "The Myth Project III," a collaborative multimedia presentation this weekend in Encinitas; then Bill Reynolds introduces us to The Tilted Kilt, a Celtic pub new to East Village that is sure to please Scottish or Irish Hooters fans.

Glover, who co-stars in Moxie Theatre's (in tandem with Diversionary Theater) production of "Bluebonnet Court," talks about the show, her role in it and the evolution of Moxie.

Mendoza, frontman of the local band The Shambles, and a San Diego-based writer on nightlife and pop music, chats about the city's nightlife scene and where it's headed.

The man who gave the San Diego nightlife scene one of its defining lounges, Air Conditioned, has expanded his empire to include an A.C. in Santa Monica and an A.C. supper club in Venice. He talks about his winning formula.

Ernie Scott of SeaWorld talks about the park's nighttime programming, which begins on Saturday. Next up, Lauren Ash Donoho of the Hotel del Coronado, offering advice on how to enjoy the premises after the sun goes down.

The longtime frontwoman for Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship has spent the last 10 years painting. Her works, which range from "Alice in Wonderland" knockoffs to portraits of some of the rock stars with whom she was a contemporary (i.e. Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix), are on display March 6-7 at Wentworth Gallery in downtown La Jolla.

Nikki Salvo spins music at the Blue Lotus Lounge in Hillcrest. She talks about her favorite tunes and her turntable style. Then Ethan Van Thillo, director of the San Diego Latino Film Festival, previews this year's cinematic extravaganza, which opens today, March 6.

Claire Caraska of the Museum of Contemporary Art Downtown previews MCASD Live, the museum's annual fund-raiser, which on March 1 will emulate Andy Warhol's famous Factory environment with music, filmmaking, performance art and more. Then Catherine Kineavy, spokeswoman for Eveoke Theater's "Voices" women's human rights film series, talks about the four short films that will be screened in March.

The man who brought San Diego Side Bar, Stingaree and Bar West talks about these successful clubs and his plans for the future, which include the opening of Universal, a new mega-club and restaurant in the Uptown/Hillcrest area.

Jazz sax, clarinet and flute player Chris Klich and his wife, blues and jazz singer Laura Preble, have been fixtures on the area music scene for over 20 years. They talk about their careers, their family and the music they make together and with their own separate bands

Also, Museum of Photographic Arts board member Chris Kozo talks about the Balboa Park museum's new "Pop Thursdays" event, which kicks off tonight with a screening of the cult classic "Harold & Maude."

That's just one of the questions posed to Union-Tribune theater writer James Hebert

Union-Tribune art critic Robert Pincus talks about the growing after-dark gallery and museum scene in San Diego, ignited by North Park's successful "Ray at Night" and the Museum of Contemporary Art Downtown's "Thursday Night Thing."

Fund-raiser Diane Michael previews tonight's Puppy Love Party at the Witherby downtown, which benefits the Humane Society

Nightlife maven AnnaMaria Stephens offers listeners suggestions for things to do tonight - Valentine's Day night - and romantic options in San Diego in general.

Michael Muehlhausen, program coordinator for the Museum of Contemporary Arts' "Thursday Night Thing" event, talks about bringing after-dark visitors to the museum.

No, it's a restaurant/lounge, located north of Broadway, downtown. Chef James Montejano guests and talks about this new, hip venue and what it hopes to accomplish.

Dancer Melli Charmin, who does her thing at the Ivy Hotel and who also has danced at On Broadway, Belo and other downtown San Diego clubs and discos, visits and shares what it's like to be a "go-go dancer"/performer on the local night scene.

Kendricks, who coordinates the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's film programs, talks about the latest spring series of movies, which range from Orson Welles' underrated "Touch of Evil" to the Mick Jagger vehicle "Performance."

Local music luminary Rob Crow (Heavy Vegetable) catches us up with Pinback, his current outfit, which is about to perform at House of Blues downtown. He also talks about Pinback's musical evolution.

The former Rugburns frontman, now a successful solo performer, visits and discusses the two albums he's releasing simultaneously. We also hear a couple of tracks from one of the records, "Traveling."

It's that time of year again - Mardi Gras in San Diego's downtown hub. Dan Flores of the Gaslamp Quarter Association prepares us for the Tuesday night festival.

A new Greek restaurant and lounge has opened downtown. It's called EXY. Owner George Katakalides, a former star on the San Diego Sockers, describes his new after-dark spot

Waiter on weeknights, singer on weekends, Jonathan Currant does it all at downtown's Athens Market Taverna. He's got a loyal following of ladies who loves his renditions from the Great American Songbook.

Local turntablist DJ Dex assesses the year ahead in electronic music, both on the club scene and in the record stores.

The founder of the bygone San Diego Blues Festival, Kinsman enlightens us about the emotional power of the blues and evaluates the thirst for more blues music in San Diego.

The brand-new Hard Rock Hotel downtown offers several nightlife options, including a street-level bar and an outdoor rooftop lounge. Randy Gerber of the Hard Rock has details.

The owner of Thin, its downstairs Onyx Room, and the new Pearl Hotel in Point Loma lets us in on the challenges and secrets of being a successful nightlife entrepreneur.

The widow of musician Jim Croce is an institution in the Gaslamp Quarter, having operated her restaurant and club almost from the very beginning of that neighborhood's rebirth. She looks back - and ahead.

Vega talks about her latest album, "Beauty and Crime," and weighs in on New York City, her inspiration, post-9/11.

No downtown destination is hotter right now than the Ivy Hotel. Co-owner Louise Kelly visits with "Into the Night" and shares the charms of the Ivy's various venues, including the lounge Envy and its rooftop site, Eden.

The author of "Poisoned Love," the true-crime account of San Diego's convicted murderess Kristin Rossum, Rother has now published her first novel: "Naked Addiction," which is set in Pacific Beach. We find out all about it.

North Park is going off, and one of the reasons why is the new Bar Pink Elephant. Co-owner Dan Nguyen visits and talks about this retro-lounge, one that Dean Martin would love.

The Union-Tribune's restaurant critic catches us up with the hottest new spots to dine in town, including Tim Mays' (The Casbah) Starlight Lounge in Middletown

Point Loma, never known for its buzz after dark, could be getting a shot in the arm from the new Pearl Hotel. Gerald Poindexter, spokesman for the Pearl, describes this new venue.

The theater critic for the Union-Tribune visits and talks about "Jersey Boy," which returns to town (at the Civic Theatre) for a national tour, having already conquered La Jolla Playhouse and Broadway audiences.