Men’s Day — actually, Defenders of the Fatherland Day — might seem like a red-letter day, but you should go beyond the literal meaning. If you’re wondering how to celebrate the Feb. 23 holiday properly, here are some practical tips on the best bets around town.

1. Get drunk in a pub. Before drinking to get drunk, we suggest that all you partygoers get a proper meal at News Pub. Eat a good meal so the effects of the alcohol don’t bring your holiday to an early end.

2. Go to a strip club. Even if you’ve never been, tonight’s definitely the night to try it. Hang with the guys and ogle some talented … dancers. One good place in town is Platinum strip club, where the dancers are always … enthusiastic and the clientele is decent.

3. Go to a banya. One of Russia’s best-loved male-bonding rituals, the banya is a great place to sit around with your friends, drink beer and pick at dried fish. For newbies, the Sandunovskiye banyas are best, with a huge pool.

4. Watch soccer. What better way to celebrate your manhood than by watching a soccer game with thousands of screaming meatheads? This week will see the Champions League come to Moscow. Lokomotiv and AC Milan will be fighting it out on Feb. 25 at Lokomotiv Stadium.

5. Play some pick-up basketball. Running up and down a basketball court at Dynamo Sports Palace will not only keep you in good shape, it’ll give you a chance to spend an evening with some friends and potential enemies.

6. Play paintball. It’s cool, extreme and slightly dangerous — but you find it sophisticated and physically challenging. Played year round, paintball is one of the world’s most exciting outdoor sports played by people from all walks of life.

7. Go to a rock concert. Go to Gorbushka, where two legendary ’70s bands will be playing rock music on Feb. 23. The British guys from Sweet and Slade really put emotion and atmosphere into their songs, and their rockin’ music will match your festive mood.

8. Go carting. If you are after adrenaline and excitement, go-carting is for you. Choose Michael Schumacher as your role model and make sure you follow all the safety rules. You will be flabbergasted at the power of these carts and the stability on the track. There are several go-carting tracks to choose from, so make the right choice!

9. Eat man food. According to stereotypes, men are into meat and potatoes. So this Men’s Day, celebrate with a big steak dinner at Louisiana American Steakhouse. If you’re more into fancy seafood and beer, go to Gulden, where at least two delicacies come together: mussels and Belgian beer.

10. Play video games. Admit it, how many hours a day do you play video games? Come on, and don’t be shy. This is the perfect day to just sit there like a vegetable in front of the screen, and no one can make you feel guilty about it.

LOCATIONS:

News Pub
18 Pokrovka
Metro: Kitai Gorod
Tel: 928-8343

Platinum Gentlemen’s Club
40/32nd Tverskaya Yamskaya Ul.
Metro: Mayakovskaya
Tel: 250-4472

DK Gorbunova
27 Novozavodskaya Ul.
Metro: Bagrationovskaya
Tel: 145-8098

Lokomotiv Stadium
125a Bol. Cherkizovskaya Ul.
Metro: Cherkizovskaya
Tel: 161-9704

Indoor Carting
19 Lininskaya Sloboda
Metro: Avtozavodskaya
Tel: 725-3391

Paintball Nikolai
20 Panfilova Ul., Bldg. 2
Metro: Planernaya
Tel: 782-2129, 785-1762

Gulden
11/6 Solyanka Ul., Bldg. 1
Metro: Kitai-Gorod
Tel: 917-9599

Louisiana American Steakhouse
30 Pyatnitskaya Ul., Bldg. 4
Metro: Tretyakovskaya
Tel: 951-4244

Dynamo Sports Palace
32 Lavochkina Ul.
Metro: Vodny Stadion
Tel: 456-9157