Mad River can be a mellow place, if you get there early enough. On a Wednesday evening, for example, you could enjoy live acoustic music while indulging in the "upscale pub fare" entrees the East Coast chain is known for; dishes like pistachio-encrusted tilapia and steak gorgonzola complement favorites like burgers and nachos. Entrees range from $8-$15 and appetizers are less than $9. Daily drink specials abound, and you can always get a domestic beer for $4.

If you're not ready to break it down, though, you'd better clear out by 10 p.m. on weekends. That's when a mostly post-college crowd descends on the former Blue Iguana to drink, dance and gaze at either each other or one of the many plasma screens that dot the walls. Though the revamped decor here may remind you of a Vermont ski lodge, don't expect a ski-bum attitude; it's more like the Hangge Uppe with antlers.

If you want to avoid the crush, try the tiny, attic-like upstairs bar, where you might feel cramped but you'll at least get prompt service and a nice view of the goings-on on the packed dance floor below. Bodies will be moving until 3 a.m. on Saturdays to a crowd-pleasing mix of current chart-toppers and sentimental classics, so get out there and strut your stuff. And if you're teetering a little during "Since You've Been Gone," don't worry; everyone else is, too.

Centerstage Reviewer: Ben Rubenstein