After spending the weekend in Brooklyn, New York, it got me thinking a lot about dance parties. Of course Brooklyn (Williamsburg, in particular) is one of the hipster capitals of the world so dance parties abound. And not just 80s-themed or house music events, but there are really creative, pretty much constant dances parties going on.

Now I know to compare the two areas is a little apples and oranges, but Baltimore does have quite the scene despite its small size. We do have our fair share of dance parties in the city. TaxLo is about to turn 7, which makes me feel old, and they've been doing some awesome things lately (see upcoming appearances by MSTRKRFT and Simian Mobile Disco). Of course there's also Reaction!, Dig, and 80s Night dance parties at The Sidebar, Joe Squared, and The Depot, respectively. Red Maple throws creative events together and has a decent schedule of dancing from Wednesday-Sunday (everything from Middle Eastern to neosoul). And I know there are probably tons of other spaces hosting dance parties pretty regularly, so feel free to let me know in the comments section.

I guess my biggest complaint, in general, is there doesn't seem to be enough variety in town. I mean how many times can I go to the same Prince vs. Madonna vs. Michael Jackson night? Don't get me wrong, it was awesome at first. I went to a couple, but there's only so many times you can dance to "Borderline" and "Billie Jean" in one night. And, to top it all off, one of my (and many others') favorite dance parties recently changed venues, which negates a lot of the charm, intimacy, and dirt-cheap drinks that I liked about the event in the first place.

I say the more dance parties in this town, the merrier. But I would love to see some more unique themes (90s, disco, Motown, big band, to name a few) in more intimate spaces than big music venues or warehouses. What do you guys think? Could Baltimore's dancing scene use some improvements or is it doing just fine?

[Image: courtesy of icanhascheezburger.com]

Last night I got back to Baltimore just in time to catch the free Hold Steady show at the Recher Theatre in Towson. If you didn't know before, you certainly would have realized immediately that the event was sponsored by Jack Daniel's. Outside the Recher, they laid out a red carpet and had velvet ropes lining the entrance way. The girls taking tickets were all donning Jack Daniel's hats and shirts, and there was even a raffle for a guitar emblazed with the famous whiskey's logo. And obviously the drink menu was all Jack, all the time (whiskey and ginger ale, lemonade, and Coke drinks were being served).

Tennessee transplants J-Roddy Walston and The Business started the show off and they definitely set the tone. Their raucous southern rock was amplified by their headbanging, high-energy stage presence. J-Roddy Walston turbulently pounded on his piano and his raspy voice dished out lyrics like, "I got this gun, and girl it don't miss." They closed with the crazy infectious "I Used to Did," leaving the crowd incredibly amped for The Hold Steady.

This was the first time I've ever seen The Hold Steady, but I've always liked their music. They're like the happy-go-lucky love child of Bruce Springsteen and Social Distortion. And their stage show did not disappoint. You could tell that they all were genuinely having a blast up there and feeding off the crowd's energy. Frontman Craig Finn was swaying all around, dragging the mic stand with him, and pointedly rattling off lyrics to the faces of his fans. On keys, Franz Nicolay (who almost had an Edgar Allan Poe look to him) never let up, encouraging hand claps from the audience and even breaking out an accordion for a few songs. The highlights for me were "Constructive Summer," "Chips Ahoy," "Sequestered in Memphis," "Hot Soft Light," and "Party Pit" (which caused the whiskey-filled crowd to repeat "Gonna walk around and drink some more, gonna walk around and drink").

All in all, the show and atmosphere were very high-energy and positive. It was definitely the most crowded (and diverse) I've seen Recher on a Sunday in, oh, ever. I guess in this economy, a free show (especially with this lineup) is just too good to pass up.

[Image: courtesy of theholdsteady.net]

Despite the fact that we're totally bummed that Maryland and Morgan State are out of the NCAA tournament, we have to march (really bad pun, I know) ahead and still get drunk somewhere while we watch the sweet 16 and elite eight battle it out this weekend. Here are some great tournament deals and other NCAA-inspired events:

Always a good place to catch an Orioles or Ravens game, Camden Pub is also catering to the college basketball crowd. They're offering $3 Sam Adams drafts (both regular and white ale), as well as 1/2-off appetizers. Camden Pub, 647 W. Pratt Street, 410-547-1280.

For all of the remaining games up until the championship, Alexander's Tavern is offering 22-ounce Miller Lite drafts for $2 each. Plus, you get a Plinko chip with each Miller Lite, you so can go all The Price is Right during the game and win free T-shirts, food, or drinks. Alexander's Tavern, 710 S. Broadway, 410-522-0000.

You can get as rowdy as Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez with Padonia Station's deal during games. They offer a bucket of five Coors Light bottles for only $10. Padonia Station, 63 E. Padonia Road, Timonium, 410-252-8181.

Creativity is key at Baltimore Tap House because all month long they're running "Mustache Madness." It's pretty simple, anyone who comes in with a mustache (real or fake) and buys a domestic or an import, gets their second one for a penny. There are some ground rules, though: goatees don't count and ladies can definitely participate (just a hint: a helpful bartender told me they keep fake 'staches behind the bar in case patrons forget). The special ends March 31. Baltimore Tap House, 600 S. Potomac Street, 410-276-7553.

Join BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter) at Mother's Federal Hill Grille on Saturday. You can watch some of the elite eight teams battle it out on Mother's 18 flat screen TVs. They promise fun, games, and an open bar and appetizers, all while raising money for animals. The event runs from 6-9 p.m. in the new "Mother's on the Alley" room. Tickets are $50 pre-sale and $60 at the door. Mother's Federal Hill Grille, 1113 S. Charles Street, 410-244-8686.

[Image: courtesy of cbssports.com.]

Welcome to a new weekly column called "Fridays After Five," where, while paying homage to the famous Aquarium deal of the same name, we also give our two cents on what's cool to do this weekend:

"Patterns of Obsession" opens at Gallery Imperato on Friday, and there will be a reception from 7-10 p.m. The exhibit is a three-person show that highlights the visual and behavioral patterns of each artist. On display will be Dana Reifler Amato's three-dimensional drawings, Chris Bathgate's metal sculptures, and Matthew Kern's Polaroid collages. Gallery Imperato, 921 E. Fort Avenue, Suite 120, 443-257-4166.

Grammy-award-winning rapper Lil Wayne will be performing at 1st Mariner Arena Friday night, starting at 8 p.m. He'll be joined by T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes, and R&B singer Keri Hilson. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com for $85.75, $65.75 and $45.75. Last we checked, close seats were still available. 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore Street, 410-347-2020.

During the University of Maryland-Memphis basketball game this weekend, Stalking Horse is offering $1.50 Bud Light bottles to any patron with a koozie (and who's rooting for the Terps of course.) Stalking Horse, 26 E. Cross Street, 410-244-6722.

Talking Heads tribute band Psycho Killers plays at the The Ottobar Saturday night. Psycho Killers adds a little drum and bass vibe to Taking Heads classics like "Burning Down the House" and "Take Me to the River." Opening for the band are Shook!, Ms. Sarah, and JByrd. Doors at 8, show at 9. The Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard Street, 410-662-0069.

In a decidedly unique twist on the typical sports tournament, Ra Sushi is hosting Maki Madness on Sunday. In an NCAA-style bracket, ambitious players will go head-to-head and try to eat as many sushi rolls as possible in 15 minutes. Whoever scarfs down the most Tootsy Maki rolls (crab mix, shrimp, and cucumber rolled with tempura and topped with eel sauce) advances to the next round. The gorging starts at noon. Ra Sushi, 1390 Lancaster Street, 410-522-3200.

[Image: "Internal Tattooing" by Matthew Kern, courtesy of matthewkern.com]