I did not intend to stay at the See Sound Lounge for nearly three hours. Its immaculate, all-white modern decor and neon spot-lighting implied class, while my outfit that day—a ratty hoodie, coffee-stained jeans, and an even rattier T-shirt—implied the opposite. Plus, I never have been into clubbing. But while the See Sound becomes a bona fide dance club in the wee hours—complete with thumping music, long entrance lines, a dress code, and one of those bizarre visualizer screens with morphing graphics and text that says things like “B Qool” and “B Love”—I decided, however, that I liked the place: Not only was the bartender skilled and attentive (even though I looked like a homeless person crashing a cocktail party), you can get a glass of any draft beer, wine, or champagne they stock for a measly $3 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays. This chunk of time is dubbed Qool Seattle, a spinoff of a San Francisco prog-DJ night; up here, a mix of resident DJs spin unobtrusive, mid-tempo techno at a volume that still allows for conversation. And the crowd is surprisingly diverse. They also like marijuana (yes, we could definitely smell it). The $3 drink special was enticing, but I decided to highball it after the bartender talked me into a French 75, a classic cocktail (champagne, lemon, sugar, and gin) I’d never tried before. After I drank it down halfway, he topped me off with more champagne. That one drink cost me $10. But it was excellent. So excellent that after my second $10 cocktail (a Red Snapper, this time) I didn’t feel right driving for another hour. As the night wore on and my drinks wore off, I noticed the music grew steadily louder, and the club began to come alive with well-dressed people, some of whom probably spent more on their outfits than I’ve spent on my entire wardrobe. It was time for me to leave the club to the clubbers and continue to my rightful place: the dive bar. But some other Wednesday, I might just head back. I said it once and I’ll say it again: You can’t beat $3 draft beer. At least not in this town.