How about Tailgators in Avon Lake... we'd have the place to ourselves and it'd be right on the water. Food is good, Beer is beer.... everything is already cheap. It's smaller than Buddy's though... if we got a crowd of 30-40, it could get cramped. Going back... I don't do a lot of "bar hopping" but there's: QSLs up here (Sheffield and Valley View) - right off the highway, easy to find for the non-locals, plenty of space, but probably not a lot of "specials" Tailgators (Avon Lake) - waterfront, small and cozy, cheap, 'local flair' (not a chain), but may get cramped. Aces Bar and Grille (North Ridgeville) - Great pizza! Plenty of space, 'local flair' (not a chain) I work with a guy that has a band that played the club scene around the Cleveland area, I'll have to ask him where he recommends. I'd rather avoid going into 'downtown' Cleveland (parking / crime potential aspect). Of course, I'm partial to the west side (Elyria, North Ridgeville, Lorain, Amherst, Oberlin, Avon, Sheffield, Westlake, North Olmstead, Strongsville) - but if there are some good east side joints, I'm not opposed.