Even though this safari style live music club is called Sounds of Brazil, you can expect to dance to all different types of music here. There’s reggae, hip-hop, R&B, jazz and salsa just to name a few. In a nutshell, S.O.B’s embraces NYC's diversity, and is a quality place to get your groove on. S.O.B.’s was opened by owner and director Larry Gold way back in 1982 with the purpose of exposing the musical wealth and heritage of the Afro-Latino Diaspora to as many people as possible. True to its mission, it has become renowned as the premiere venue not only for World Music, but all genres, in New York City and the world over. In its early days, SOBs existed on a barren stretch at the corner of Varick and Houston Streets, but the area soon became the trendy neighborhood of SoHo and the venue’s reputation began to grow with performances from Latin legends like Tito Puente, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz & Eddie Palmieri. The tradition of Brazilian artists has been nothing short of incredible. Legends like Seu Jorge, Ben Jorge & Astrud Gilberto have all graced the stage of the venue which gained its namesake from their native country. In terms of the the new latin sound, the list only gets more impressive with names like Isaac Delgado, Orquesta Aragon, Los Papines, Manolito Simonet, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro & Los Van Van. Over the course of its 28 years in business, SOBs has also developed a reputation in the music industry as a breeding ground for emerging artists and trends. For newer performers, a show at SOBs can be the springboard for their careers, garnering them press from mainstream local, national and even international publications as well as attracting attention from music industry professionals. This has been the true with uncounted artists, including John Legend, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Common, Drake & Ryan Leslie. The venue gives more established artists the opportunity to connect with their fans on a personal level, due to its unique, intimate setting . Today the SOBs draws both local and international crowds and continues to specialize in Latin music, Haitian, Brazilian, Caribbean, R&B, Hip-Hop and World music. It exists as a unique place to experience the lively sounds from all types of cultures within the global diaspora, a fact reflective in its slogan the “Home of Universal Music”.

Union Hall is a 5,000 square foot bar, restaurant and venue for live music and comedy in the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn. Painstakingly converted from a warehouse, it offers cozy firesides, a stately library, two indoor bocce courts, outdoor garden seating, and a downstairs bar and music venue. Union Hall is equidistant from its siblings, Floyd and The Bell House, and perfectly balances being both a bar and a live music venue.

This three-level venue near the Williamsburg bridge offers a variety of atmospheres for the Lower East Side crowd. During summer months, the rooftop is the main draw, given that it is one of Manhattan's most unique rooftop bars.

From its state-of-the-art space in the Meatpacking District, Cielo provides a music program specializing in deeply soulful house music as well as various genres of electronic music. The space is built for sound and dancing, with luxurious banquettes surrounding a midsize sunken dance-floor that dominates the center of the room. Conceived in 2003, Cielo is the brainchild of co-owner Nicolas Matar. A DJ for the past 20 years, Nicolas was most notably known for his residency at the infamous Pacha Nightclub in Ibiza. Nicolas played in the funky room or “El Cielo” and credits those years as the inspiration for Cielo and his eventual return to New York. Since opening the focus at Cielo has been on maintaining a high level of service and an experience unlike any other. As demonstrated by the unprecedented number of awards and nominations the club currently boasts, Cielo has established itself as an international brand with an edict of outstanding electronic music. In addition to its accolades, Cielo has featured more top international DJs than any other club in North America since its opening. The intimate size and impressive sound system have made Cielo a favorite of the DJ set (Francois Kervokian, Frankie Knuckles, Louie Vega, Deepdish, Tedd Patterson, and Victor Calderone to name a few), and the club remains vibrant and music-driven. Of course, you do have to get by the door, which is one of New York's toughest...

Both a characterization and a caricature of the Williamsburg music scene, this well-designed music venue also serves as a bar and as a training ground for the hip-to-be. The quarters are a bit close, but it's a welcome trade-off for the comfortable booths. Besides, with a backyard for the smokers, Union Pool seems to keep the pint-glass swimmers from overcrowding. Portrayed erroneously as "Brooklyn Pool" in the movie Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Check website for band schedule.

Boutique (whatever that means) Karaoke bar that is popular with the hipper downtown set. Live band lets you be the front-person of your own rock band, or sing tunes off the karaoke play list. Private rooms are available as well. Cool L shaped bar that brings to mind a Baby Grand - which makes one think that may have something to do with the name. Or is the bar named for it? No one knows!