Mbo - You just need to find nicer places. I'm not wild about bars either, and I don't drink, as you don't. But on the other hand, there are a few music series in Vermont that have concerts in local bars, and they can be delightful. It generally helps if the owners appreciate the music, and of course, the patrons kind of need to as well...

Here in Britain, though, short of my living roo, there's no where in town to go after about 9:30 PM besides the pubs - and some of them have a great atmosphere, except for the smoke, which makes me inconveniently sick and unable to breathe....

-J