Are you spending Valentine’s Day by yourself, cursing your ex and avoiding couples like a computer virus? We have some advice: Head to one of these bars or clubs, which are among the most popular in the East Valley for meeting other singles. Who knows — you even may score yourself a weekend date.

Dos Gringos Trailer Park
216 E. University Drive, Tempe, . 10:30 to 1 a.m. daily. No cover.

Aroma: 5. A mix of Mexican food and cheap cologne.

Aesthetics: 7. The outside bar looks like a tiki hut and is surrounded by young college students. There are benches, picnic tables and tables and chairs to sit. With ASU just across the street, you’re sure to see an interesting crowd.

Bartenders: 6. The women are way hotter than the guys.

Entertainment: 9. You’ll hear 50 Cent, Kelis and Limp Bizkit. When it’s warmer out, you’ll see men and women engaging in body shots.

Bathroom: 2. Avoid if you can. There are only two stalls and a shower curtain. The bathroom is often out of toilet paper.

Crowd: 10. Mostly ASU students at night. You’ll also find a few 30-somethings, and a Grandpa-like regular who can often be found talking to bartenders or dancing with patrons when he decides to get his freak on.

Clothes call: ASU hats and T-shirts, sweat pants, sports logo shirts, jeans and light jackets.

Likelihood someone will buy you a drink: 10. We were at the bar for only 10 minutes when a young man walked over with a fresh beer, which he said was compliments of his fraternity buddies for looking so cute. Thanks guys!

Most popular drink: Corona. They’re $2 all the time here.

Best pick-up line heard: 9. "Hey, weren’t you the girl who was in the porno with me last year?"

Likelihood of scoring a date: 6. "I’ve given out my number several times at (Dos)," says ASU student Jaime Glasher, 22, of Tempe. "Guys rarely call. I think I went out with two guys that I met here over the last year — not the greatest odds."

Total score: 64.

Elixir
7419 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, . 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. No cover.

Aroma: 4. Cigarette smoke and women’s perfume.

Aesthetics: 7. The lighting is dim, but there are posh booths and a pretty big bar. Although there’s not much of a dance floor, people start dancing by the bar around 11 p.m.

Bartenders: 7. It’s hit-and-miss. Last Friday night, the bartenders were pretty hot. On a recent Wednesday, there wasn’t a lot of eye candy.

Entertainment: 8. A DJ spins a mix of house, R&B and hip-hop.

Bathroom: 8. Fancy sinks. Nice smelling soap. And there’s often a
bathroom attendant so bring a couple dollars to tip.

Crowd: 6. Like the bartenders, it’s hit-and-miss. On Fridays, you’ll find spiky-haired guys, punk rock kids and the typical Scottsdale crowd who think they’re above it all. On a weekday, you’re likely to find more professional types.

Clothes call: Lots of designers. Girls clutch Louis Vutton and Coach bags while wearing sassy skirts and dressy shirts. Guys wear jeans, pants and tight shirts. Likelihood someone will buy you a drink: 4. You’re not in Tempe anymore, Dorothy. "If you want someone to buy you a drink, you have to work it," says Lisa Lynn, 26, of Scottsdale. "Flash the boys a smile and make eye contact. Then they’ll come over and strike up a conversation."

Most popular drink: Colorful martinis for the women. Bottled beers for the guys.

Best (and most unusual) pick-up line heard: 6. One rather intoxicated patron grabbed a young girl by the arm and told her he liked her shoes and would like to see how he would look in them.

Likelihood of scoring a date: 7. Last call appears to be the last-attempt hour for singles.

Total score: 57.

Margarita Rocks
410 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, . 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Cover is $5 after 10 p.m.

Aroma: 3. It wreaks of body odor by the dance floor, where people are grinding up against each other and doing things that shouldn’t be printed in a newspaper.

Aesthetics: 8. There are three floors — each has at least one bar — and three patios. Bartenders: 5. The few guys behind the bar aren’t worth writing about. The girls are cute, but many of them are popping out of their barely-there tops.

Entertainment: 9. The dance floor is packed as the DJ spins a mix of old-school and current R&B and hip-hop.

Bathroom: 4. Two of the toilets are clogged and one is out of toilet paper. Plus, there’s a long line.

Crowd: 8. Given its proximity to ASU, you’ll find tons of college kids.

Clothes call: Girls wear short skirts, tight-fitting dresses and jeans. Guys wear button-down shirts, jeans and T-shirts.

Likelihood someone will buy you a drink: 9. If you’re female and have a pulse, this most likely will occur.

Most popular drink: Any kind of bottled beer.

Best pick up line heard: 7. ‘‘Are we in Margarita Rocks? Because you really rock and I’d like to buy you a margarita.’’

Likelihood of scoring a date: 9. At closing time, the crowd lingers outside looking to score a last-minute hookup or at least walk away with the digits. "I’m hoping I’ll run into this hot chick I was dancing with earlier," says Ted Logan, 21, of Tempe. "She seemed like she dug me from the way she was dancing with me."

Total score: 62.

6
7316 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale . 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. No cover.

Aroma: 5. The later it gets, the more the bar smells of cigarette smoke and Drakar Noir.

Aesthetics: 4. The bar is pretty dim, which makes it difficult to tell if the guy you’re talking to is hot or if it’s just beer goggles. Bartenders: 9. The bartenders — men and women — are really hot. Entertainment: 4. A DJ spins a mix of trance and house music that almost puts us to sleep.

Bathroom: 9. A bathroom attendant walks people to a stall and reminds them to lock the door. Once they do, a heavy cloud of fog covers the door so people can’t peer in. There is also a sink and sweet-smelling soap in the private stalls.

Crowd: 6. Lots of yuppies and gold-digging women. Most common question heard: ‘‘So what do you do?’’

Clothes call: Anything black. There’s also a lot of sheer clothing and women who have caked-on makeup. The men wear suits, loafers and button-down shirts.

Likelihood someone will buy you a drink: 7. You might have to make the first move if you’re a woman. The guys seem a bit cocky here. Most popular drink: Martinis.

Best pick up line heard: 8. One older man invited a young woman over to share a bottle of wine with him. "Would you like to keep me company?" he asked the buxom brunette. "I hate to drink alone."

Likelihood of scoring a date: 9. The women are on the prowl for potential suitors who will spoil them. "I’m looking for a guy to treat me like a princess," admits Cara Cordelone, 28, of Scottsdale. "I’ve met a lot of men here who ended up turning into a boyfriend."

Total score: 61.

The Swamp Stomp
10201 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, . 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Cover is $3 to $5 on Friday and Saturday. No cover on Thursday, unless there is a special event.

Aroma: 8. Fresh and almost woodsy.

Aesthetics: 10. The bar is decorated with a variety of items, and colorful lights are strung throughout the club. A mannequin is perched on one corner of the back bar, while a bird cage and hammock hang from the ceiling.

Bartenders: 8. The guys and girls are attractive. One of the bartenders also works as a radio personality for KEDJ (103.9 FM) where he’s known as Felcher.

Entertainment: 10. Bartenders and patrons shake it on the bar to songs like Beyonce’s "Crazy in Love" and Outkast’s "Hey, Ya."

Bathroom: 5. Like Dos Gringos, there are a couple stalls with shower curtains instead of doors. The women's bathroom is decorated with pictures of beefcake men. It also has a chalkboard where you can sign your name or share a little poetry.

Crowd: 7. The crowd is mostly people in their 20s.

Clothes call: Lots of jeans and T-shirts. The guys don’t really dress up here. The girls flaunt their legs in casual dresses and wear revealing shirts.

Likelihood someone will buy you a drink: 7. A self-proclaimed "friend of the one of the owners" tried to pick up a young lady by dazzling a crowd with his card tricks. Although he offered to buy her a drink, she turned him down.

Most popular drink: Bud Light and various shots.

Best pick up line heard: 4. "Why aren’t you dancing on the bar? You’re hotter than the bartender up there! I bet you know how to move."
Likelihood of scoring a date: 8. We actually have dated guys we met at this bar. "It’s a great spot to meet people," says Ray Clark, 29, of Mesa.
"It’s a relaxed environment. People let their guard down here."

Total score: 67.