KNITTING FACTORY

74 Leonard Street (between Broadway and Church). 219-3055

Unfortunetely relocated from a lower East Side two-story storefront, the new, less-conveniently placed Knitting Factory is a beautiful, refurbished multi-level Tribeca space, but the sound is still something of a problem for loud acts. Though its handle has become a catch-all way to denigrate kind-of quirky, kind-of jazzy modernist acts, the Knitting Factory arguably has the most adventurous booking policy of any major downtown club. Jazz legends of all stripes regularly turn up with little fanfare; check listings regularly or get on their mailing list. There's a wide selection of (not-cheap) microbrews on tap at its two bars; coffee and such may be found at a third.

204 Varick St. (bet. 7th Ave. & W. Houston). 243.-940.

This pricey Brazilian (S.O.B. = Sound of Brazil) fake-grass tiki hut offers the best of South of the border Latin American music as well as light jazz and Afro-Caribbean sounds. Just one of a number of popular spots on the Varick Street strip, the hip Latino crowd can be spotted here checking out such acts as Astrud Gilberto, Ruben Blades and Marisa Monte. Drinks will set you back $5.50, but if you can afford the cover charge, a couple of drinks shouldn't be a problem.

161 Hudson Street. (corner of Laight) 966-4225.

Decor is slapped together 60's throwback, sort of a cross between a psychedelic basement (just look downstairs) and plugged-in coffeehouse. Spend some time reading the stickers on the VW Minibus parked in the middle of the floor, marvel at the cheeseball mural replete with tree-huggers, and wonder why the bar looks like it was a leftover from that watering hole around the corner from you that was closed down years ago. Though much of the bands here look to a few decades back for inspiration, hardcore, ska, and less-taggable national touring acts also regularly dent the schedule.

315 Bowery (at Bleecker Street). 982-4052

A singularly classic rock dive, you can smell years of punk rock history and spilled beer as soon as you walk in the door. Ludicrously diverse (if very uneven) booking policy, upwards of 5 bands every night of the week, grumpy doorpeople and soundmen that wear their shades inside after midnight--and, really, you wouldn't want it any other way. Probably the best sound system of any club of its size in NYC as well. Bearded sixtyish owner Hilly Kristal is a familiar avuncular presence. The dog that hangs out near the front door may need a bath, but softens the native attitude.

221 2nd Ave. (bet. 13th & 14th). 6770911.

also: 29 St. Marks Pl. (bet . 2nd & 3rd). 353-0692.

139 E. 40th.St. (bet. 3rd. & Lex.). 684-3245. Entering one of these blues dives you get the feeling that you just stepped into a Bud Light commercial - pool table in back, sports on the TV and the band more like background entertainment. Conversation and hanging out seem to be the focus here rather than the music. Bands play seven nights a week. $2 cover on Friday and Saturdays, all other times a two drink minimum is in effect. But, hey, the beers are cheap and the staff is as friendly as can be.

at Time Cafe, 380 Lafayette (at Great Jones). 533-2680.

Faux middle-eastern motifs at the upstairs bar lead down into one of downtown's more dignified venues. Fez's well-dressed cellar sports acoustic foam padding all around the walls, which is one tipoff that you won't be seeing the next Helmet here. Acoustic and less-voluminous plugged-in bands as well as story-tellers and performances fill out the schedule, as does an occasional all-star karaoke night known as Loser's Lounge. Of course, draping yourself across a couch in the beautiful bar, which serves light meals until midnight, is always an option as well.

73 8th Avenue (between 13th and 14th). 924-9755.

Inauspiciously located blues club on the edge of the meatpacking district is a relative newcomer to Manhattan, and an outpost of a national chain to boot. Those downsides aside, this attractive dark-but-not-seedy place consistently hosts top-drawer out-of-town talent, in contrast to the hack blues joints one finds in more well-traveled areas of the city. A bit glamorous-looking for a blues club, perhaps, but a welcome addition to the local club circuit nonetheless.

149 Bleecker St. (bet. Thompson & LaGuardia). 777-7776.

Catch the latest local guitar hero or harp master here seven nights a week. The $5 cover applies only to Friday and Saturdays so during the week the mixed crowd of blues fans can spend the extra dough on the $4.00 beers. Big bowls of pretzels encourage the thirst and don't forget to tip the wonderful bartenders.

THE BANK

225 East Houston (at Essex). 505-5033. Till 4. $5 to $12 cover.

It doesn't take a supergenius to figure out what the Bank was in its former life, and its vault-like confines provide an extra-lively (bordering on merciless) room for extremely loud music and equally loud lighting effects. Though the Bank features occasional live bands, its bread-and-butter is serving as a seamier, downtown alternative to the glitzier dance clubs further uptown, with an emphasis on goth and industrial dance. Wear black, avoid all contact with direct sunlight, and earplugs may not be such a bad idea.

101 Avenue A (between 6th and 7th). 420-1590. No listing. Covers and closing times vary. Dive club and occasional music venue predated almost everything else currently on Avenue A. The Pyramid features an intimate (as in, small) dance floor, but it's hardly without its charms; among them, the quiet room for conversation downstairs. Though theme nights here remain fairly constant, frequent changes in management and booking policy means change comes rapidly to the Pyramid--at this writing, for instance, the Pyramid had started to book bands a few nights a week, after several dry years.

126 East 14th St. (between 3rd & 4th). 473-7171. Till 5. $20 cover.

The grand-daddy of the NYC dance clubs, the Palladium has been around for over ten years and is still going strong. The $20 you leave at the door gives you access to the cavernous dance hall and the packed freakshow that has to be experienced at least once in every clubber's lifetime. Dancers in cages, an Orbitron and big inflatable castle to bounce around on - its all here to be enjoyed by the well-dressed mix of natives and bridge and tunnel crowd.

125 East 11th Street (between 3rd & 4th). 353-1600. Till 4 Wed.-Sat. $20 cover.

The $20 cover may seem sort of exorbitant, but on the right night it could yield numerous pleasures as well as a couple of phone numbers). Every night is different: Wednesday is Transvestite night, Thursday is rock night (with live bands) and weekends are the nights for "4 floors, 5 eras" that the ads loudly proclaim. Although there are times when it's a bridge-and-tunnel crowd, for the most part it's people-watching at its finest. A good place to eavesdrop, assuming you can read lips, if dancing isn't your thing.

660 6th Avenue (at 20th Street). 807-7850 Till 5. $15 cover weekdays, $20 cover weekends.

Labyrinthine, long-running multi-levelled space housed in what once was a church. Like similar club survivor Palladium, going to Limelight at least once per clubgoing career is sort of de rigeur, if only to scoff at it in favor of this month's model. Top-notch sound and lighting make the place a treat to see metal and ambient bands at, though it's suspected they only really crank up the volume (and bowel-shaking subwoofers) for Djs.