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One of my favorite topics. 

The Dominican culture is one of music and dancing.  You will see 2 year olds who can tear up a dance floor. That is normal.  Dancing breaks out everywhere and anywhere.

So, dancing is a huge part of the social scene, at night during the day whenever.

There is one day a year that bars and nightclubs are closed in this country - Good Friday of Easter week celebrations.  24 to 36 hours all is closed and it is illegal to sell alcohol during that time. 

Nightlife here very much revolves around dancing and music.  Clubs are just about everywhere.  A corner store, called a colmado,  may revert to a club at night called a colmadon.  I refer to them as dancing colmados!  Local place to sit and have a drink,  do some dancing, play some dominos etc and then walk home.

A typical Dominican club, often referred to as a rancho typico, has open sides (1/2 walls) and a thatched roof. You are protected from the elements but a breeze will run through.  You can see from the street what is going on and hear it too.

In  addition there are car washes.  Yes you can get your car washed, but it is more a social experience. Enjoy the music,  have a drink, a few dances, buy some new CD's, someone may walk thru selling  hats, or gum or chickens.... you get the idea.

Colmadon - see above..... almost all neighborhoods have one or two.

Nightclubs -  there are more and more of these.  Under new noise bylaws they are closed in so the noise doesn't bother the neighbors.  They are most often air conditioned and usually feel more sterile to me.  They have more of an Americanized feel and frankly are my least favorite places to go.  Yuck.

Other

Baseball -  a favorite sport and its a social event to take in a game under the lights.  Lots of  beer,  lots of music and yes there are dancing girls at the games.  You really must go to at least one game even if you don't like baseball (how is that even possible)  its really an experience.

Museums / theater etc
In Santo Domingo there are many museums to check out,  lots of theater, lots of cultural events!   Any of of the many guides can walk you through what is available.  I believe there are several museums and a theater community in Santiago as well, but I am not as familiar with it.

The Malecon

Every waterfront city or town has a Malecon,  street runny along the water.  This is where you see the informal night life.  Especially on  the weekend  a walk or drive down the Malecon finds hundreds and sometimes thousands of people out enjoying themselves.  You will find car doors open,  trunk or hatch open and music blasting.  The family or group has chairs, domino table, cooler etc and they are chilling. Dance will break out on the sidewalk. 

And if you don't  like that music, walk  20 feet as the next group has their own music blasting!

Is it safe?

For the most part yes. But don't go out at night not knowing where you are going and how to behave.  Here you are judged by the company you keep. Be aware who you are associating with. 

A single woman cannot go to a Dominican club by herself. Just don't do it.  A man can. 

There are some clubs I will not go to even in a group.  You need to know the reputation of the place before you go. Ask a local, they will know.

Note:  when going out here it is okay to dress in everything from casual jeans and sneakers to your New Year's Eve finery!   You will see it all here!  Just note that if you go out looking like a tourist you will be treated like a tourist!  And that may be fine if you are a tourist. I am referring to some who live here and want to be treated like a local but dress like a tourist.  Doesn't work so well. 

What surprised me here?

Hmmm pretty much nothing. Its one of the reasons I moved here is for this part of the culture. I love it.  I love walking through the grocery store and party breaks out because they are playing good salsa on the system!  I love closing a street so we can dance!  I love that I can go dancing  364 days a year!  My favorite days: Christmas and New Years.  We leave home about  2pm and go dance until 2 am.  That is a celebration!

The culture is one of being in the moment and enjoying life!!

Oh yes on safety.

DO NOT wear all your good jewellery.

DO NOT carry that big damn purse with you.

DO NOT carry ALL your ID.

DO NOT carry wads of money or flash it around!

DO be ready to go the minute your spidey senses start tingling!

Casinos, discos, night clubs, bars, restaurants, weekly game nights, danceing, special event nights, kerioke, triva etc, girl watching, girl shopping and such as you wish. Church affairs, fundraisers, ball games etc.  This is on the North shore, much more in the cities ie; Santiago & Santo Domingo. If you can't amuse yourself in the evenings then you are in a coma.

Planner, regarding safety....Do you see Expat woman wearing their wedding rings? I'm thinking I'm only going to be able to wear my rings while walking around in my own house😞  I am however one of those woman with a Damn big purse as you mentioned (just habit carrying my life around) lol! But I thought about you over the weekend, I bought a cute little purse to carry when in DR ....now I just have to decide what items I can cram in it😂

Wedding rings are probably fine.  Main point is not to flash the blind lol.

Little purse is good!!!

It is in my blood to like rings, chains, bracelets and bright colors. ( A  Gypsy ya know ). I bought 4 & 5 dollar  flea market (pulga) stuff to wear around.  Hardly ever anymore, most can't tell trash from good anyway.  Once in a while when not giving a shit, I'll wear a plain Tungsten  ring.  Most of the time it is just wild print shirts. Strange changes as the world shrinks visually as well as the area you frequent. Flash-lose cash.... show bling-lose that thing....show gold-thieves get bold.   I never have money in my wallet, it is for cedula, dr license, passport copy, business cards.   Be Wise..... Compromise.