A DJ mixes tracks on a Saturday night at Pearl Nightclub in the city.
Steve Pfost

Men and women go to nightclubs for different reasons. Dane Cook probably explained it best: “Guys go to clubs to meet chicks ... only women go there to dance. They get all ready in the mirror with their friends and they’re like ‘I just ... I need to go. I just need to dance! “ Both sexes would agree, though — we all go to nightclubs to have fun.

If you haven’t noticed, Rochester has been looking more like the set of March of the Penguins than an actual city. So why not stay warm by cutting some rug? Here are a few clubs that will surely make your happy feet feel right at home.

Pearl

Location: 349 East Ave.
Ages: 18+ Thursday, 21+ Friday-Saturday

What sets Pearl apart from the rest is the music; their DJs spin what might be the most potent concoction of house, electro, techno, funk and the occasional hip-hop Rochester has ever seen. You can thank RIT’s own Nickel Bag of Funk, a super-duo consisting of Mikhail Budhai and Antonio Aresco (both third year Industrial Design majors), for the eclectic beats you’ll hear on Thursday nights. Internationally known DJs are also known to stop by every once in a while.

The club is set up in a rectangular, straightforward fashion. The bar takes up a majority of the right-hand wall and is aesthetically pleasing in its layout. The bartenders are rather friendly as well. Jenna, who has been serving drinks at various bars across Rochester for two years, said, “What I like most about Pearl are the regulars — I’ve become such good friends with them. Plus, my boss and coworkers are amazing!” With that, she served me a Grape Bomb shot — and on the house. Talk about service with a smile.

Steve Pfost

Soho East

Location: 342 East Ave.
Ages: 18+ Thursday, 21+ Friday-Saturday

Soho has seen its popularity wax and wane irregularly over the past few years. This old gem of East Avenue now seems to be littered with a sense of immaturity — ridden with skin-tight Ed Hardy shirts and high school kids with fake IDs. If I had a dollar for every fight I’ve seen at Soho within the past year, I’d be sitting back on a private jet with Steve Jobs and Lil Wayne.

Barfights and McLovins aside, there are many positives during a night out at Soho. If dancing truly is your thing, then the club’s abundant dance floor will easily accommodate your needs. The music is an enjoyable mix of hip-hop with a dash of electronic. During Rochester’s few warm months, the club’s immense balcony is a great spot to mingle and meet new people. Entrance is free on Thursday nights if you’re over 21, but the cover is usually cheap on regular nights compared to other clubs. Hey, the smallest thing can help in these trying economic times.

Tribeca

Location: 233 Mill St. (High Falls)
Ages: 18+ Thursday, 21+ Friday-Saturday

Although it’s only been in session for just under a year, Tribeca already seems to be leaving the other clubs in its wake. Week after week, it manages to stay vibrant amongst the corpses of previous High Falls nightclubs, namely Saddle Ridge and Tiki Bob’s, that were shutdown due to liquor licensing issues. The club aims to keep things a bit classier, and, judging by the caliber of well-dressed ladies, I’d say they’ve managed quite well thus far.

If you’re not a fan of being trampled, getting your toes stomped, or having drinks spilled on you, then you’ll come to appreciate the floor layout of Tribeca, which gives off a more spacious vibe than the rest. The well-sized dance floor is set off to a corner leaving just enough room to frolic free of claustrophobia between it and the two bars, one of which is lofted above the floor. A third bar lies hidden within a swank private room that can be reserved for private parties. If you and a group of friends would rather sit back and watch the crowd go by, there are many neatly kept VIP booths that can be booked in advance. Just be prepared to open your wallet for this one.

It has a great vibe in general. Recent graduates of Jailbait State should know that the eighteen-and-over Thursday nights are a real blast, but plan on arriving early to avoid the long lines.

Steve Pfost

Syxx Bar & Lounge

Location: 359 East Ave
Ages: 18+ Thursday, 21+ Friday-Saturday

The problem with Syxx is that its facility isn’t built to handle large crowds. Everything just seems to be positioned awkwardly and you’ll end up spending half your time in a human traffic jam. The dance floor is about the size of a corner room in Sol Heumann and is surrounded by railings with only two narrow exits. Watching people cram themselves on the floor is like watching a size 12 bridesmaid fitting into a size eight gown on a wedding day. What’s worse is that one of the exits leads outside; brace yourself for many an unpleasant chill when dancing the night away during the harsh winter season.

Like Soho, things do get a lot better during the summertime. The outdoor bar and patio clear out the human traffic and everyone gets a lot friendlier when the wind chill isn’t arctic. Both Soho and Syxx are owned by the same parent company so they alternate the Thursday festivities from time-to-time. If hip-hop and Top 40 are your thing, be sure to stop by.

Honorable Mentions: Venu, Tilt, Vinyl, Liquid