As I'm currently experiencing the joys of flu season, it's difficult for me to remember how much fun I had last weekend, particularly last night. I do, however, suspect that one of my dad's old quips has proven true: Too much fun will make you sick.

But free of body aches and ibuprofen last night, I was riding high. We started off at Tony's Big Easy, a place I had previously ignored but attracted my attention after a good friend started working there. It was really quite the phenomenon, though -- the bar was almost entirely empty upon our arrival at 10 p.m. Apparently that's normal for a Saturday around that time and the bar gets a bit busier around 11:30. It was just bizarre to see the cavernous nightspot, which I had patronized before alongside hefty crowds, appear as though it weren't open for business. But I digress.

The next watering hole we visited, after extensive slipping and sliding down Calder Way, was one of the first bars I frequented this summer after turning 21. Bar Bleu always takes a little getting used to when you descend the stairs to run into a very darkened, electrically blue bar. However, being greeted with fishbowls is never a bad surprise, and after ordering a fine concoction called Sweet Citrus, I was content to settle in the bar's larger room.

My favorite thing about Bar Bleu's main room is the colorful, blues-inspired wall décor. While it may sound rather unremarkable, the cool tones and murals mimicking everything from Picasso's Blue Period to cubism to quasi-Gaughin were quite a treat. It's fun to pretend something looks like Demoiselles d'Avignon, even if the artist never intended it.

But the best part of the night was hands-down the stupendous jazz music that had the small venue's occupants tapping their toes in appreciation. "Sideshow," as they were called, was anything but freakish and wowed the crowd with impassioned bass, saxophone and drum solos. Sipping a fruity drink just two feet from the wailing instruments was my little piece of heaven.

My last bar stop on Saturday must be mentioned simply because it couldn't be more different than Bar Bleu. I'd never been to the Darkhorse before, but was immediately awoken out of my jazz groove by an enthusiastic classic rock cover band. Add my favorite hometown-manufactured beer, Victory Hop Devil, my boyfriend's buddy dancing suggestively with a 50-something couple and my purchasing a shot that nearly finished the same friend, and you have a recipe for success. In case you were wondering, the shot is called "The Four Horsemen" and contains Gold tequila, Jägermeister, Rumple Minze and 151 proof rum. Best advice ever: DON'T TRY IT. As a whole, though, the Darkhorse experience was fun -- kind of like hanging out at an alcoholic high school dance with your hippie parents chaperoning.

Anyway, leaving out some key details to protect the innocent, those were the nightlifey highlights of my weekend. Until next week: Party hardy.