Asheville's nighttime entertainment palette truly does appeal to all interests, if you know where to look.

The pub scene is quite bubbly, as you may note when you pass the Jack of the Wood tavern on Patton Avenue, whose clientele frequently spills out happily onto the street for socializing. Asheville, by the way, is well-known for its local breweries. Jack of the Wood (www.jackofthewood.com) brews its own Green Man ales nearby; other local brands you may want to sample are French Broad and Highland.

If you're a die-hard beer nut, consider taking the Asheville Brews Cruise (www.brewscruise.com), a guided tour of local brewing companies.

Live music is generally easy to find. The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club (www.theorangepeel.net) is a nightclub, dance hall, and music venue that books acts from a wide variety of genres—and decades, for that matter, so browse its online calendar and you'll likely find something you love no matter what your age.

The Grey Eagle (www.thegreyeagle.com), which describes itself as a nonsmoking "listening room" that serves beer and wine, brings well-regarded names to town like singer/songwriters Iris Dement and Rodney Crowell.

Multicultural hotspot Tressa's Downtown Jazz & Blues club (www.tressas.com) is all its name implies; martinis are encouraged and dancing is applauded.

If you prefer classical music, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra (www.ashevillesymphony.org) offers seven performances per year at the Asheville Civic Center on Haywood Street.

You can search for upcoming concerts at www.ashevillesymphony.org/calendar.