Plus One: City of angles
By Vivian Host

THE WAY EVERYONE talks about Los Angeles, you'd think the city had given them an enema of gold dust followed by a lobotomy. The next person who tells me how rad, cutting-edge, and footloose and fancy-free it is to live in Echo Park is going to get their foot – encased in an obligatory limited-edition Adidas reissue – run over by my Honda Accord.

I grew up in L.A., and I admit the city has changed for the better, but it's still true that for every dope little coffee shop, hipster-overrun art show, and sunshine-filled day, there's a maniacal driver, thick smog cloud, or mentally ill thug waiting to ruin your day. The big secret about L.A. is that 80 percent of the people I know who live there barely ever get out of their house, although they can recite a list of all the cool spots around town.

In any case, L.A. is going through somewhat of a renaissance right now: there are tons of art galleries opening up, the clubs are popping, and it's actually becoming a "destination" for people younger than 35. It reminds me of a time in the early '90s when San Francisco was the shit. My friends used to drive up almost every other weekend to go to a full moon party in Half Moon Bay, some Basics warehouse rave in an old armory, or a Sunset free party on a Sunday afternoon at the Berkeley Marina. The point is, rather than getting all sour that San Francisco's scene is a little sluggish at the moment, people should just drive to L.A. It's not that far, and after a few days of mini-golf, drinking at Los Feliz's Asian-themed Good Luck Club, and getting jiggy at the Chocolate Bar, you'll be ready to come home, where going out for Indian pizza or drinks is as easy as picking up your dirty jeans off the floor and walking down the street. Best of all, if you actually stay in San Francisco, you can apply for veteran status and join the likes of Toph One, Jonah and Billee Sharp, and Future Primitive's Mark Herlihy and the many others gunning to be the lifers of the club scene. We salute you!

And speaking of Toph, why not try one of his favorite pastimes, happy hour? If you start drinking right after work, you can (theoretically) go home early and stave off the 8 a.m. hangover. The ladies of DJ crew Sister S.F. have started a free Thursday night at Wish, Your Sister's Hour, featuring Queen Agnes B, Lejla, and rotating guests in a mash-up of house, breaks, '80s, and stuff. Flyer mavens Brittany and Regan of YBR Promotions are doing a new night at the Public. Stop off before heading to Studio Z or Slim's to hear rotating guests from around town play experimental hip-hop and downtempo, plus everything else from the Who to ambient drum 'n' bass. The night is geared toward music-industry heads and club promoters, so fledgling DJs, bring your mixed CD (hint, hint). Plus Eskr and his boys play drum 'n' bass Tuesdays, at Solution, down at your old favorite and mine, the Top. And then there are the other favorites: Qoöl at 111 Minna on Wednesdays and Vroom at El Rio on Mondays for trance and sheer revelry, respectively.

And finally, anniversaries are a big deal for clubs, since it's hard to last a month in this town, much less a few years. Candles and strippers jumping out of cakes go out to drum 'n' bass, ghetto tech, and general-mayhem night Compression, which celebrated three years Aug. 31 with Wee Man from Jackass, Marky and XRS from V Recordings, and a whole lot of drunken high jinks. At the DNA Lounge, progressive trance and house crew Brainchild from the South Bay celebrate seven years this month with their Orgy party. Over and out.

Qoöl. Wednesdays, 5-10 p.m., 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna, S.F. $5. (415) 974-1719.

Vroom. Mondays, 8 p.m.-midnight, El Rio, 3158 Mission, S.F. $1. (415) 282-3325.

Your Sister's Hour. Second and fourth Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., Wish, 1539 Folsom, S.F. Free. (415) 278-9474.

YBR Happy Hour. Second and fourth Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m.-midnight, Public, 1489 Folsom, S.F. Free. (415) 552-3065.

Solution. Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m., Top, 424 Haight, S.F. Free. (415) 864-7386.

Orgy.With St. John, Raoul Kahn, BB Hayes, and others, Sat/6, 10 p.m.-4 a.m., DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., S.F. (415) 626-1409.

E-mail Vivian Host at plusone@sfbg.com.