Homer’s old favorite, Alice’s Champagne Palace (195 E. Pioneer Ave., 907/235-6909), no longer has music on a regular basis—leaving a big hole in the town’s party scene—but it is open weekends and also serves meals.

Several other bars have music on a relatively regular basis, including Fusion at Wasabi’s (five miles out on East End Rd., 907/226-3663, www.wasabisrestaurant.com), Duggan’s Waterfront Pub (120 W. Bunnell Ave., 907/235-9949), and The Alibi (453 E. Pioneer Ave., 907/235-9199). Alice’s and Fusion are both smoke-free.

The Salty Dawg Saloon (www.saltydawgsaloon.com) out near the end of the Spit is Homer’s most famous landmark. The original building dates from 1897, the second building from 1909, and the tower from the mid-1960s. Each building housed different companies in eight different locations before settling down here on the Spit. The Salty Dawg is open from 11 a.m. until the last patron staggers out the door; have a beer for the experience (if you can stand the cigarette smoke) and leave your business card or signed bra with the thousands of others. The Dawg is closed November–February.

Homer has a high proportion of talent, and some of the performers have gotten together to do Pier One Theater (on the Spit, 907/235-7333, www.pieronetheatre.org). Whatever is playing, this is guaranteed to be one of the finest theater experiences in the state. It’s typically open on weekends May–early September.

For a different kind of theatrical event, catch a flick at little Homer Theatre (Pioneer Ave. and Main St., 907/235-6728, www.homertheatre.com). Get there early to snag one of the comfy couches up front. It’s Alaska’s longest-running movie house.