Humdrum Saturday afternoon visit

Avenues is a nice, homey little club situated on Michigan Ave., right next to a coney island and close to the Amtrak station. I've been there a few times and have always entered through the back door, so I'm not sure if the front door on Michigan Ave. is ever used.

Parking in the back is limited, but there's a fenced-off lot gravel on the other side of Elizabeth St. where I always park. I've never felt uncomfortable parking there, as it's not in a particularly dicey area of Jackson, but if it seems unsafe to you, park right on Michigan. If you do use the gravel lot, be prepared to dodge some rather sizable potholes.

When you enter Avenues, there's a long hallway (where you'll also find the bathrooms), and at the end of it is the door guy's perch. The bar is on the left side, the stage is on the right side, next to the stairs that lead down to the private dance area. The bathroom is small, but well-kept, with no attendant.