Internet Helps Shine a Light on Night Life From A to Zzzz

When it comes to night life, Los Angeles is no New York. This city is a bit more into getting its beauty sleep. (Angelenos don’t get to hibernate in the winter as do East Coasters.) But nights aren’t totally dead out here.

Looking for late-night L.A.? Check out www.lanocturne.com. Under the headings Swing, Food, Books, Movies and Post Cards, the site offers a glimpse of activities from real to reel.

The restaurant listings, for example, include location, type of food, price, parking and a review of the food, ambience and service.

Another site that lists late- and all-night dining spots is www.swine-and-dine.com /LarestBB.htm. Under the Breakfast, Brunch & Late Night heading, there are reviews, although they are missing important information, such as location and phone number. You can get phone numbers under the alphabetical listings, however.

At www.dinecity.com/cgi-bin/late_night .asp, you’ll find an alphabetical listing of area restaurants. Some of the entries feature links to online menus and reservations.

In search of more than food? Check out www.wherela.com/LA_EntList_nightlife .html for a list of clubs. The information includes grid locations for the map link on the Web page.

CitySpin breaks things down by club style at www.cityspin.com/losangeles. Another site, www.ugotitexpress.com/nite guide, lists more than 350 Los Angeles nightclubs and provides a guide to clubbing terms and definitions--hey, not everyone understands the concept of a dress code.

If you’re heading out of town, you can get the 411 on life after dark. A site still being developed, www.latetrain.com, transports you to the San Francisco Bay Area’s underground of all-night restaurants, clubs and other venues.

For late-night options in about 35 U.S. cities, check out best.citysearch.com /cities/2001/53.

If you wake up in the city that never sleeps, check out www.ny.com/dining /late-dining.html for food and www .nytheatre.com/nytheatre/latenite.htm for theaters with late curtain times. The New York Theatre Experience site features plays, musicals and special attractions with performances scheduled at 9 p.m. or later.

Be forewarned: Although many of the shows listed are tame, others--and their descriptions--aren’t exactly family fare.

Beyond U.S. borders, you can find a full slate of activities for night owls at www .latenightlondon.co.uk and www.paris pubs.com/page.php?var=late.

If you prefer to stay close to home, here’s an option: Head for the gym. Who knew there were rules to late-night exercise? You can read all about them at exercise .about.com/library/weeklyaa022301a.htm.

For those whose interests are less mundane, there are weather reports aimed squarely at stargazers (www.intellicast .com/Star).

The site features viewing conditions, expected celestial highlights for the evening and hints on how to get the most out of your experience.

But if a full stomach, stargazing or a Broadway show aren’t for you, maybe you should just click on www.babycenter.com /general/6728.html?CP_bid= to read or hear a nice bedtime lullaby.

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Michelle Maltais is a multimedia producer at The Times. She can be reached at [email protected].