If ever there was a place where an open mic night could occur sans pretension, Silvie's is it. The inviting neighborhood staple sums up the laid-back vibe of North Center, offering several rooms to spread out, kick back and make friends.

Silvie's has music all nights of the week with modest cover charges (around $7): Sundays feature instrumental rock; Mondays go acoustic; Tuesdays stage open mic night and Wednesdays through Saturdays feature an array of bands and DJs representing all styles, from resident band Squeegee to up-and-coming local acts. Spirited hosts keep the energy of the crowd on the up-and-up, and the updated sound system ensures that even the amateurs are easy on the ears. You can check out the update calendar here.

Silvie herself has been serving the usuals from behind the bar for 35 years, and she maintains reasonable prices ($5-$7 cocktails, $2 PBR and $4 imports) for her mainly younger crowd. If you take your drinking seriously, note the specials and score a Jager bomb, tequila sunrise, Jack and Coke or vodka/energy mix for $4.

Between pool, tournament-quality darts and homegrown music, Silvie's offers more than enough excuses to mingle with your neighbors. But if you're feeling introspective, you can always bring your laptop: Free wi-fi is among the bar's newest attractions.

Centerstage Reviewer: Julia Steinberger