Permanent Records Roadhouse

Permanent Records Roadhouse is a record shop and a bar in the same room, at 1906 Cypress Ave in Cypress Park. During the day you flip through the bins, and at night a band sets up on the checkered floor with the racks of LPs still lining the walls. The room is small, so there's no barrier and no photo pit, just the band a few feet away.

The calendar is packed. Most nights have an early show at 6 PM and a late one at 9, and covers tend to run $10 to $20, with some free shows where you only need to RSVP. Expect mostly local and touring rock bands, the odd comedy night, cover-band parties at Halloween, and music trivia on some Thursdays at $5 a player.

The one rule that catches people out is age. The liquor license makes the whole place 21+ at all times, record store hours included, and kids and babies aren't allowed on the property. There's no kitchen, so you're welcome to carry in your own dinner, but outside drinks stay outside.

If you've got records to sell, you can drop them off during open hours for an offer, which usually comes back within a day or two. Booking requests go through email, and the room can also be rented for parties or film shoots.

There's no lot. The good news is that the street parking around Cypress Avenue is unmetered, and the Roadhouse says there's plenty of it.