What to do after you rock the state fair

After a long day in Grand Island at the Nebraska State Fair, don’t rush back home.

The city has plenty to offer, from a chic martini bar to boutique shopping and a beachy pizza parlor. Perhaps make a weekend of your state fair visit, so you can check out these cool spots.

Sing karaoke at Upper Deck Sports Bar & Grill, 2110 W. Second St.

It has a fully stocked bar, foosball, pool table, darts and touch-screen games but regulars go for the sing-alongs. The sports bar has karaoke five nights a week — Tuesday through Saturday. The crowd varies, from freshly turned 21-year-olds to 60-somethings. Thursday is ladies’ night. Weekends are big, attracting 13 to 20 singers by 11 p.m. Try it Tuesday, which is more of an amateur night. Information: 308-381-8666.

Drink martinis at J. Alfred Prufrock’s, a friendly neighborhood bar at 308 N. Pine St.

It’s a great place to see mixologists at work and do some people-watching. Prufrock’s has a huge selection of martinis, from chocolate-flavored to one called the “Antifreeze martini.” The cocktails start at $5. Perhaps try a martini sampler, which features four smaller cocktails. Information: 308-398-8466.

Go shopping at QT Boutique in the Conestoga Mall.

A local guy named Guillermo Calderon opened the store, said Jim Williams, a web developer in Grand Island. Calderon has a lot of fashionable clothing and tons of purses. “He has a wall down one side of the store with all different styles of purses that range from $10 to $40,” Williams said. Information: 308-382-1840

Eat a pizza slice at Bonzai Beach Club & the Wave Pizza Company, 107 N. Walnut St.

You can’t miss this spot. There’s a giant shark’s head sticking out of the building. Inside are fish nets, surfboards and a VW van where patrons play keno. Bonzai has a 1,000 square-foot beer garden. Bonzai has 15 specialty pies, available in 6- and 15-inch sizes, that feature a thick crust. Diners can build their own from among the 60-some ingredients. The specialty pies are named for famous beaches. Information: 308-398-9283.

Experience fine dining at Uncle Ed’s Steakhouse, 2624 S. Locust St.

If there’s one thing you must know about owner Ed Sabatka, it’s that he knows his beef. He’s been in the beef business for more than 30 years, as both a livestock nutritionist and restaurateur in Broken Bow and Grand Island. In 2009, Uncle Ed’s Steakhouse received a National Beef Backer award in the “Independent Restaurant” category from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The Beef Backer Award recognizes restaurant operators who excel in menuing and marketing beef. Aside from steak, Uncle Ed’s offers lamb, veal, seafood and hamburgers that staffers grind and pat themselves. Information: uncleedssteakhouse.com/

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