A Night You Can Remember:

Pittsburgh has a very wet reputation -- from the rivers to the bars. Drinking in what the region has to offer, we've selected a dozen great spots for a night of alcohol-free fun. From nonserving clubs and pool halls to movies and comedy spots, you'll find plenty to do after the sun goes down -- whether you're old enough and don't drink, or aren't quite legal yet.

Art & Science After Hours
Can't catch that hot museum exhibit during your busy work day? The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh solve the problem with extended evening hours -- which offer the added bonus of smaller crowds.

Who You'll See: Families, people who work 9-5, couples (it's a great place to impress upon your date how cultured you are).

Why Go: Spend an evening with Van Gogh and Degas at the Carnegie Art Museum, or find out what the dinosaurs do after dark at the Natural History Museum. Both are open late on Thursdays, and the cafes stay open late as well. Hobnob with the alternative crowd Fridays at the Warhol. Enjoy free evening admission to the gallery, and special events like live music and art films, and the occasional lecture series. On Saturday evenings, relive the fun parts of science class at the exhibits and experiments at the Carnegie Science Center, or catch Friday and Saturday night laser shows or Omnimax movies.

Details: Thursdays at the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412/622-3131; closes at 9 p.m.; adults, $8; senior citizens, $5; children 3-18 and students, $5. Good Fridays at The Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky St., North Shore, 412/237-8300; 5-10 p.m.; free. Saturdays at the Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., North Shore, 412/237-3400; closes at 9 p.m.; adults, $14; children 3-18 and senior citizens, $10 Laser shows $8 all ages; Omnimax, $8 for adults, $6 for kids and seniors. Most major credit cards.

Night Game
With 45 exhibits to choose from, your favorite sport is under the lights at UPMC SportsWorks, the world's largest interactive sports and science exhibition. With later weekend hours during the summer, your game can go into overtime.

Who You'll See: Earlier on, you'll be sharing space with toddlers on up to adults (just watch out for the occasional Boy Scouts troop). As it gets later, you can expect a more mature crowd, although with all those fun exhibits, don't expect them to act that way.

Why Go: Think you can beat Jackie Joyner-Kersee in a race? Have you ever wanted to try bobsledding? Or how about golfing on the moon? In just one day, you can go mountain biking, and then try out some rock climbing or even test your pitching skills. Then take a break at the cafe, open Thursday-Saturday.

Details: 1 Allegheny Ave., North Shore, 412/237-3400, upmc.edu/sportsworks. June-August: Monday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Adults, $14; children/senior citizens, $10. Pitt and CMU students can take the “Friday Night Xpress” shuttle from Oakland (free with college ID). Most major credit cards.

Shooting More Than the Breeze
Ready. Aim. Fire! Equipped with laser guns, you can engage in battles with your friends amid futuristic surroundings at Laser Storm. Test your teamwork and individual skills in your quest for victory in this fast-paced contest.

Who You'll See: People of all ages, including groups ranging from birthday parties for the younger crowd to company parties, to free-lance freedom fighters.

Why Go: In addition to the laser tag room, there are also facilities for private parties. An indoor rock-climbing simulator adds further challenges. Take a break from the action by enjoying some pizza or an arcade full of games.

Details: 7715 McKnight Road, Ross, 412/364-3473, www.laserstorm.org. Sunday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: noon-midnight. One game for any group under nine people is $5.50 per person; the rates go down both for multiple games and for larger groups.

Ask the Right Cue
Just because you don't own a pool cue doesn't mean you can't play pool. Chalky's provides a friendly place to indulge in playful pool, or study and improve skills for tournaments.

Who You'll See: In groups or alone, usually older teens and college students go to Chalky's to spend the evening on the pool tables, whether serious pocket billiards fans or just for a night out.

Why Go: Chalky's houses 14 pool tables, which can be used for $3 an hour for one player, $6 an hour for two or $9 an hour for three to five players, along with pool cues and a rack of balls, if needed. Chalky's also has darts, some video games and air hockey to keep nonpool fans entertained. Open nine-ball tournaments ($7 entry) are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Refuel on snacks and pocket sandwiches at the refreshment counter.

Details: 3225 Babcock Blvd., Ross, 412/366-8868. Sunday-Saturday, 3 p.m.-3 a.m. Cash only, ATM on premises. Smoking permitted.

Totally Cosmic
It's hard to explain why, but bowling is just more fun in the dark. Take the energy
of a dance club, a young hip crowd that's as eager to socialize as to bowl, music turned up to pain-inducing levels, and 30 glow-in-the-dark lanes and you've got Cosmic Bowling at Miracle Lanes.

Who You'll See: The crowd is predominantly younger, mostly teens and students. But anyone who likes the music loud and has enough energy to bowl two or three sets at 1 a.m. would feel welcome here.

Why Go: Did I mention the bowling? The alley has open bowling and league nights, so it's best to call for availability. Cosmic Bowling is for the true night owls, starting at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so as to not interfere with those who prefer a more traditional, quieter bowling experience. There's also a snack bar with hot dogs, sodas and such for the late-night munchies.

Details: 4045 William Penn Highway (Business Route 22), Monroeville, 412/372-3500. Cosmic Bowling: Friday-Saturday, midnight-3 a.m. ($10 for the entire session includes shoe rental and lane). Regular hours: Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9-3 a.m. Most credit cards. All smoking.

The Flicks Are Free
Why sit inside watching a tiny screen on a beautiful night when you could be sitting outside watching a movie on a big screen? Each summer, June through August, Pittsburgh Citiparks hosts Cinema in the Park. It's like a drive-in without the cars.

Who You'll See: Film buffs, families, students -- It's the same crowd you'd see at the movie theater, but everyone's spread out and a lot more comfortable.

Why Go: Bring a blanket, bring some snacks, bring some friends, kick off your shoes, sit back and enjoy the show. The free films are mostly family-friendly, and most are recent blockbusters like Shrek and Pearl Harbor, with an occasional classic thrown in. Flagstaff Hill in Schenley Park also features local bands before the movie begins on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. So pack a picnic dinner and plan to spend the whole evening.

Details: Movies generally start around 9:15 p.m. For information and movie list, 412/255-2539 or online. Sundays and Wednesdays, Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park, Oakland; Tuesdays, Robert E. Williams Park, Hill District; Fridays, Arsenal Park, Lawrenceville; Saturdays, Grandview Park, Mount Washington, and Riverview Park, North Side.

Dinner and Prizes
Food and fun come together at the North Park Clubhouse and Lounge. The family restaurant hosts a variety of arcade games like SkeeBall, Wacky Ducks, Smokin' Tokens, Wonder Wheel and many more.

Who You'll See: With a range of young children with parents to teens and college students, the Clubhouse is not a choice for a quiet evening but casual, if noisy, fun.

Why Go: There's no debate that the arcade and pool area are the main course. No door charge and no eating requirement make the arcade seem a world of its own. Although the Clubhouse hosts a sports bar (for 21 and older only), the separate game area (drinks permitted) allows patrons to indulge in play without distraction. Many games, from Rush (a car-racing game) to video fishing, reward tickets for play, which can be redeemed for prizes like T-shirts and hats at the end of the day, or saved and redeemed for bigger prizes (such as a bike or TV) another day.

Details: 5301 Ranalli Drive, Richland, 724/449-9090, nplclubhouse.com. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. 10 p.m. (No under-21 in the pool after 10 p.m.) Major credit cards. Arcade is nonsmoking.

Who You'll See: The majority seems to be the college and twentysomething crowd, with the host and enough regulars to keep the action moving.

Why Go: If the price is not enough to get you going, then the laughs should finish the job. You'll never know what to expect as this impromptu show looks to you and your peers to provide the amusement.

Details: Studio Theatre, basement of the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland, 412/363-1904, fnipgh.com. Fridays at 11 p.m. $2.

Rack 'Em
Looking for classic billiards as well as pool? There's room for both at Breakers.

Who You'll See: From teens to adults, serious billiards players and the once-a-week players knock the balls about together.

Why Go: Breakers' 14 tables support a wide range of abilities and games who play for $2/hour/person. Practice your moves for the tournaments every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Winners take a portion of the $10 entry fee ponied up by all participants. Light snacks available.

Details: 1413 Potomac Ave., Dormont, 412/531-2250. Monday-Saturday, 11-2 a.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Cash only. Smoking.

Going Underground
No flashy decorating or fancy designs are needed at Oakland's Club Laga. With its intimate stage, you can enjoy independent and underground music up-close and personal.

Who You'll See: The crowds tend to be quite diverse -- from the expected scattering of teenyboppers to die-hard fans, and if you look closely you might see some college students hanging by the walls, unsure as to what they are doing. Laga's bi-level setup allows you to be in the midst of the show on the main level, or head upstairs and have a seat while you enjoy your favorite artist. No food, but there are separate beverage counters for under-21 and for bar-hoppers.

Why Go: Punk, hardcore, alternative, hip-hop -- you'll find it all, from well-known national artists such as Bad Religion and Wu-Tang Clan to your favorite local groups.
Details: 3609 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412/682-2050, events info at 412/687-4636, clublaga.com. Tickets $8 to about $25, depending on the headliners. Shows typically start around 7 p.m. and run until 11 p.m. or midnight. Credit cards for drinks and pre-ordered tickets only. All smoking.

Snacks and Jam
A little bit of everything, the Shadow Lounge offers food, live music and coffee to help you start the next day. Or, if you stay to help close the place, the next afternoon.

Who You'll See: The alternative college students and locals generally find their way here, although different events can yield different crowds.

Why Go: The Shadow Lounge is a no-smoking, no-alcohol coffeehouse. Baked goods, snacks or lunches can accompany your coffee or cappuccino, and provide established and new bands, singers and even poetry readings, such as Strict Flow, Brothers Peck, D-Nix and the Pittsburgh Poetry Slam. Pick up a free pamphlet for times and dates of upcoming events.

Details: 5972 Baum Blvd., East Liberty, 412/363-8277. Monday-Thursday, 11-1 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-3 a.m. Usually free-$5, depending upon event. Most major credit cards. Smoking area outside.