Nightlife.(South Coast)

* San German

Since the imposition of a midnight curfew during the late 1990s, most bars and nightspots in San German have closed shop or moved out of town. Two exceptions, located near the plaza, are pretty seedy. The Red Baron, [telephone] 787-892-5770, on the corner of Calle de la Cruz and Calle Dr. Santiago Veve, starts pumping techno tunes in the mid-afternoon, drawing wild-eyed creatures from the university and elsewhere into its smoke filled core. No doubt it gets pretty crazed on weekends. Across the street, Copacabana hosts occasional X-rated comedy shows and other entertainment during the weekend. Tamer adventures can be found in the student quarter at Las Tigres, Calle Luna (near the cluster of fast-food restaurants). It's a "happy hour" place, with cheap drinks catering to a student crowd.

* Ponce

Since the waterfront became a cool hangout, many Poncenos have started heading to an area called La Guancha (Carr. 14; follow signs to La Playa from Hwy. 52) for an evening of music, dancing and cheap drinks. Come 5 p.m. on a Saturday, the party is already in full swing, with grown-ups undulating to booming salsa music, skateboarding teenagers menacing pedestrians, and young couples lurking around the parking lot to steal furtive kisses and sneak cans of Medalla beer. This is a place to strut, see ...