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Lido's Nightclub 30 S. First St, San Jose 408.298.4318 United Nations Where world beat has a whole new meaning By Dan Pulcrano Lido is one of San Jose's great clubs, presenting everything from karaoke in drag to a showcase for up-and-coming garage bands. Downstairs, Latino day laborers in baseball caps suck down bottled beers with a side of lemon wedge, leaning onto a long bar that reminds us of our misspent youth in Tijuana. Back by the pool tables, a pencil-mustached character in a feather-adorned fedora, brown three-pieced suit and faux reptile skin shoes tries to land the eight-ball in the corner pocket. Upstairs, it's a whole 'nother scene. Once you get past the entrance--where bouncers with Velcro-secured fingerless gloves, aluminum Maglites strapped to their belts and black T-shirts that proudly proclaim "SECURITY" pat patrons down for weapons--prepare to be transported into a world where you might forget that you're in San Jose, or even the United States. The upstairs disco transparently embodies the ambience and feeling of an international discotheque. In fact, it is everything a disco should be: flashing lights, crisp sound, a well-dressed crowd and sexy, writhing hips and swinging arms on the dance floor. When not dancing, the mostly-Asian crowd sits at long tables and takes in popular recorded dance hits and performances by live, nationally known Vietnamese performers. Hours: Daily 2pm-2am Crowd age: 21 and up Music: Vietnamese, Mexican, punk, karaoke Décor: International Signature drink: Beer downstairs, cognac upstairs Dancing: Highly recommended Games/Amenities: Billiards with big hunks of white chalk on the mantel; roving photographer Listings by Geographical Location: Campbell | Cupertino | Los Gatos | Mtn. View | Peninsula | Central San Jose | San Jose 'Burbs | Santa Clara | Saratoga | South County | Sunnyvale | South County | Bar and Club Locator Features: Light's On, Door's Open: What makes a bar a favorite hangout the world over? One writer aims to find out. I'll Have What She's Having...: What's new and what's cool when it comes to the latest cocktail twists. Reviews: Senoritas and Margaritas: Left at Albuquerque--blame it all on Route 66. Scene Stealer: All the animals come out at night... to the Camera Cafe. Saddle Up: Sangria Restaurant, where sitting at the bar is a gripping experience. Retro Groovin': At the DancePlex. partygoers relive the '70s, '80s and... this morning! Flash and Dash: Mardi Gras and other surprises at Nola Restaurant and Bar. Knight Dreams: Black Watch--where swords cross and Stoli freezes over. United Nations: Lido's Nightclub, where world beat has a whole new meaning. Taste the Music: The Icon Supperclub is the new incarnation of the Edge. Mineral Wealth: Mining for meaning under the Cinebar's disco ball . In the Pink: All in a dogone day's work at the Pink Poodle. Rod's Roadstop: Britannia Arms at Almaden wears it well. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]