Tribe

With several different areas - all of them attractively decorated and lighted - a full-service restaurant, a lovely outdoor back patio, great music, and a friendly staff, the Church Street District's convivial Tribe (1517 Church St., 615-329-2912) nightclub is one of the most polished and appealing gay night spots in the South. It's right next to the popular dance club Play, a couple of blocks from Outloud bookstore and cafe, Vibe (formerly Blu), and Blue Genes. Tribe's main bar has a small dance area in back and a large central bar; to the left there's a video bar with cozy leather sofas and chairs; and to the left of that you'll find the casual restaurant, Red, serving dinner nightly (except Mondays, when it's closed). Feast on shrimp quesadillas, baked mac-and-cheese, pimento-grilled-cheese sandwiches with bacon and tomato, grilled veggie burgers, and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin. Tribe draws a mixed bunch, mostly gay, but both women and men and quite a few straight "friends" of the community. It's most popular earlier in the evening, as serious revelers and dancers tend to move next door to Play as the night continues.