ALICIA WAGNER CALZADA | 210SA contributor Bartender Crystal Boyd greets customers, who are made up of mostly downtown workers and people on the way to shows at Sunset Station and the Alamodome.

WHAT: Alibis Sports & Spirits

WHERE: 1141 E. Commerce St.

THE DIGITS: (210) 225-5552

WEB: myspace.com/alibisbar

GET YOUR DRINK ON: 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday; 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday

HOTTIES QUOTIENT: It varies. The downtown club just east of I-37 caters mainly to “river rats” — people who work in the restaurants, hotels and stores along the River Walk. The place also gets packed before and after events at Sunset Station and the Alamodome, which are across the street, and plays at the Cameo Theatre next door. If you're lucky, you might spot a band hanging out at Alibis after a Sunset Station show — Candlebox and Kings of Leon are a few who have swung by.

WALLET HANGOVER: Minimal. Beers range from $2 to $3.50, and no mixed drink costs more than $6. Downtown workers get a discount. Happy hour runs 3-8 p.m. daily. There's never a cover, even for the occasional theme parties, and a free buffet is available most Fridays during happy hour and during the Super Bowl and Spurs games.

THE 210 TAKE: Alibis is a tiny bar with a pool table, an electronic dartboard and four TVs packed into a 900-square-foot area, but it manages to feel comfortable. The building itself is actually a house built in 1876 — look for the San Antonio Conservation Society plaque next to the front door, which opens onto a wooden porch. There are tables and chairs outside; inside, TVs are always tuned to sports, and live bands or DJs perform most nights of the week. The place is also stocked with bar-top video game consoles and a TouchTunes digital jukebox. But the most appealing thing about Alibis is that it's one of the very few bars in the area that's not expensive and overrun with tourists. It's a down-to-earth, laid-back bar where you can drink for cheap, talk to the regulars or just watch the trolleys go by.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA contributor