Being from Chicago I don't quite see the love for Sidetrack.. It is a "go to" place for everyone, and great to go to with friends. But I honestly can't think of ever going there and meeting or talking even small talk to anyone whom I wasn't already friends with. People don't have attitude here, which is nice, but they're all occupied watching videos and its loud. As a visitor I don't know how enjoyable that would be, except to kill time watching videos (and someone mentioned they miss the roof bar... I don't know what the reference is to, but they built a new roofdeck/very nice bar on the roof that's seasonally open since at least 3 seasons ago). Cocktail next door is pretty much the same crowd as Sidetrack, worth checking out. They just expanded into the space behind them and there was talk of them having a permanent strip area (which they already have on some nights in front, people rave about them actually). Jaquelines is a nice small neighborhood place w/ a mixed crowd, and it keeps pretty busy. The Closet is known as a lesbian bar but fun for girls and boys alike. Berlin is the best place for hard core dance club with little attitude, usually makes for a really late night. Spin is a good mix of age, dance/bar--the later it gets the younger the crowd gets, particularly on Wednesday $1 drink night. I wouldn't send an enemy to Hydrate, gross. Minibar=pretty boys everywhere with a lot of energy but a lot of attitude and baggage. +1 on Crew being a nice gay sports bar with pretty decent food (it's further north of boystown, in Uptown but you can see the Lawrence red line el stop from it practically. It's right around the corner from Andersonville which lately has turned into the second gay neighborhood of chicago, it seems to be where gay couples and lesbians are gravitating to actually live)
In Madrid we enjoyed Black & White... met a couple and chatted w/ them for quite a long time. pretty mixed crowd, calmer upstairs and dancing downstairs.
In Zaragoza Spain there's very little comprehensive/useful info out there on the web but I would caution against going to Mick Havanna unless you're looking for a prostitute or drugs. there's a back room where I think the main occupants are prostitutes and their clients. that person being all friendly to you isn't being nice because he wants to meet a friendly American! "50 euro for both" was the parting plea, which left me uncomfortable enough to divvy up my cash in every pocket and crevice imaginable as we were leaving.
In Bilbao we went to Bar Septimo Cielo, which had gotten some pretty rave reviews as well. but again, I think 2 out of the 5 people in there were prostitutes. I'm not a "dance club" type person but after the above excursions trying to find a neighborhood type places in Spain I think dance club is the way to go to be safe.
In Montreal, Le Drugstore is a good mixed crowd place. pool tables in the basement. I'm fairly sure Montreal is home to several of the best strip clubs on the western hemisphere.. :]
MSP ... The Saloon was a good mixed crowd, one room quiet/saloonish the other booming dance party. anorexic twinks stripping full on in the shower was mildly entertaining.