At The People's Last Stand in Mockingbird Station, it's all about quality not quantity. Cocktails are handcrafted with homemade juices, syrups and infusions, using locally sourced ingredients when possible. Yes, it is a full bar, and they also serve craft beers and wine. But really, with award-winning cocktails on the menu, why not break out of your comfort zone? There's a bistro menu replete with pairing options. And for those who are interested, group cocktail classes taught by the experts behind the bar.

Boasting one of the biggest and most Instagram-worthy dance floors — think "Saturday Night Fever" — in the city, It'll Do is a cross-section of Dallas nightlife. This Deep Ellum favorite hosts some of the top touring performers in the electronic, EDM, dance and house scenes. With a large, open interior and spacious dance floor, It'll Do is one of the biggest dance clubs near the heart of downtown. It's served as a hot spot for dancing since its inception in 2012. And, in addition to resident and celebrity DJs who regularly sell out the place, you'll hear one of the best sound systems in town.

Matthew Urbanic is that rare bird of DJ who is not only technically adept behind the decks but truly excels at whatever genre he chooses to play. In the past year, he has been seen most often as a resident for Proton, but Urbanic has been an in-demand guest at spots with different crews at Wits End and Beauty Bar. Urbanic's deepest roots are in house music, but he has made a significant mark as a techno DJ in recent years. Not one to be pegged, Urbanic has also been on bills playing drum and bass, electro and disco. No matter what genre he's playing, his track selections are world class, and he possesses a rare ability to play accessible floor-fillers that can blow the roof off a club or traverse into the deeper, experimental and more forward-thinking tunes to keep music nerds in the back of the room nodding their heads. Oftentimes within the same set.

Three Links may seem to be just a neighborhood bar that happens to host some national, regional and local artists, but it's much more than that. From touring rock, punk and indie shows to local album releases, Three Links hosts some of the most memorable nights in Deep Ellum. With 16 beers on tap and 40 canned, and sliders available from the bar, enjoy the venue's open-air seating (with heaters during the cold months) beginning as early as 11 a.m. every day. The venue and bar celebrated its fifth anniversary back in March and continues to be a hot spot for Deep Ellum concertgoers today.

When the weather's just right, catching an outdoor show can be a real treat. And with ample seating, plenty of standing room to get intimate with the stage, picnic tables, a beautiful courtyard and a mix of local and touring acts, The Foundry is the best place to kick back on a cool night. It's got a large selection of draft and bottled beers, is dog-friendly and a great place to take a date. Long-time Oak Cliff residents will remember the space as formerly occupied by Jack's Backyard. With a shared outdoor area with Chicken Scratch, you can grab a plate of chicken and biscuits or mac-and-cheese during the show. But the best part? The venue's Friday and Saturday shows are totally free and have included acts such as Parquet Courts, AJ LeGrand and others.

Deep Ellum's newest music baby sits at the corner of Canton and Crowdus streets next to its older sibling, Bomb Factory. This state-of-the-art, 10,000-square-foot venue opened in October 2017. Proprietors Clint and Whitney Barlow, who also own Trees Dallas, took the space, once upon a time Deep Ellum Live, and transformed it into a top-notch, versatile venue with an aim to host both private and ticketed events. It's the Bomb Factory lite, and that's why we like it.

In the heart of Oak Lawn lives this unassuming dive, the aesthetics of which one would expect to find more on Harry Hines Boulevard. It's got a killer pool table and a deck that's great for catching incoming thunderstorms. Its most notable virtue, though, lies in the rare distinction of being a place where it's totally fine to just be alone and not feel judged. You're fine, everyone's fine. One recent night shortly after her passing its entire playlist was vintage Aretha. Fitting, for we too are natural people.

Dallas already knew Grand Prairie native Asia O'Hara was a great drag queen before she competed on "Rupaul's Drag Race" Season 10. But when all of America got to see how talented she was, we didn't need any more convincing. Winner of Miss Gay America 2016, O'Hara won two main challenges on "Rupaul's Drag Race," and after her time on the show, she released her first single, "Queen for Tonight," where she raps, "Welcome to my island, sky-dripping diamonds." It's a bop, and O'Hara is queen for tonight and queen of the year.

After a long night of killing brain cells at your favorite bar, telling the Uber to drop you off at Cafe Brazil is your best bet to gain your bearings before the sun assaults your sensitive eyes. Take advantage of their wide selection of coffees while you wait for your double vision to calm down enough to read the menu. Once the words stop moving, you'll find the prices won't put extra stress on your bank account. With so many locations available around the area, you can rest assured that no matter where you started the night, you can end it at Cafe Brazil.

Do you like to do karaoke but fear people will hate you if your voice sucks? Do you prefer a live band instead of singing to cheesy backing tracks? Then Punk Rock Karaoke DFW at Three Links is your best solution. You're backed by the Mumbles, a local band that knows a few hundred punk rock, new wave and post-punk songs. You don't have to think you're the next Whitney Houston. You only have to believe in yourself and sell it. Think of it as joining a band for a song before drama tears the band apart.