DESPITE A RECENT spate of club openings and the unmitigated success of the Love Parade, it seems many of us still can't get over our Interboom prejudices and drag our asses back out on the scene. Maybe no one knows where to go anymore. This rundown of happening new spots should provide some direction. Remember, bar hopping is something you never forget – just like riding a bisexual!

The hands-down cutest addition to the bar scene is the Tenderloin's 222 Club (222 Hyde, S.F. 415-440-0222), which stops just short of Ibiza lounge clichés to give you a jazz-inflected southern Spain ambience. Owners Manuel Castillo, Joseph Kaplan, and Bianca Kaplan have gone the extra frequent-flyer mile to make this cozy enclave Euro without the trash. Velvety sangria and drinks like the sojulada, a tangy combo of sake and limonada, lift you right out of the 'Loin and drop you down in Castille. Besides, where else can you watch a bowl of fresh eggplants sweat on the bar while Edith Piaf warbles from the speakers?

The Polk's still hopping with the addition of Swig (571 Geary, S.F. 415-931-7292), by the boys from Anú, sushi bonanza Blur (1121 Polk, S.F. 415-567-1918), the dis-oriental Rickshaw Stop (155 Fell, S.F. 415-861-2011), and the rickety Whiskey Thieves (839 Geary, S.F. 415-409-2063). A recent night at the dusky purple Swig featured mango mojitos, a band called Donald's Organism belting out granola tunes, and groupies curled up in front of the giant fireplace. Long and thin, Blur mixes yummy sake-vodka drinks like the ectoplasmic, pineappley Blurry Samurai, fresh sashimi, and a Wu-Tang soundtrack to patch in some Ghost Dog éclat. Despite its paper lanterns, plum wine martinis, and luxurious crimson interior, the Rickshaw Stop is downright publike in its after-work clientele, local draught selection, and menu featuring corn dogs. And Whiskey Thieves' ambience is pure Polk-Loin, replete with Pac-Man video games, black box decor, and a host of shady characters lining the bar – a welcome relief from the tendency toward overproduction in the San Francisco scene.

Malabar bubble gum vodka, anyone? Belden Place's new vodka palace, Voda (56 Belden Place, S.F. 415-677-9242), has that and more. Fig, lychee, chocolate, pomegranate, and an ice-cool myriad of other exotic infusions pepper the menu, as well as some taste bud twisters like the ginger spice martini. It's typical of other vodka bars in its refrigerator-like decor, and its patronage has a fair share of odd vodkins. But Voda quells any thoughts of rushin' away by supplementing its drink menu with an extensive wine list and its interior with warm projections of S.F. neighborhood scenes. Even with an outdoor area, weekends are packed here – the best time to feed your vodka need in peace is right after work.

If you're more a margarita-and-tiny-cheeseburger type (and don't mind feeling like an extra on the set of Soul Plane), hit up Lime (2247 Market, S.F. 415-621-5256) in the Castro. The cocaine-era living-room ambience jettisons any semblance of tact for tacky, with multiple mirrors, purple fuzzy lighting, and uncomfortable white molded seats. But the loquacious bar staff and no-frills small-plates menu will make you forget you don't live in a '90s version of the '70s anymore. Lime's been packed every night since opening, so you'll want to wear some comfortable white alligator loafers and prepare for mobile mingling.

Dr. Bombay's is dead. A strange combo of neon colors, loungelike ambition, and neighborhood Bombay holdovers called Cama (3192 16th St., S.F. 415-864-5255) has risen in it place. Although Cama's got some standout signature drinks (try the Morpheus mojito for a kick in the pants), it's still undergoing a bit of an identity crisis – as are many bars in the Mission District these days. The important thing is that Cama's usually not crowded, and you can get your drink on with minimal elbow scuffing. For a more pub-crawl experience, Elixir (3200 16th St., S.F. 415-552-1633), which kept everything from its former Jack's Elixir incarnation except Jack, will keep you in Guinness and Sharp's till closing time.

Also still finding its feet is Pink (2925 16th St., S.F. 415-431-8889), a fuchsia extravaganza that took over Liquid's space last summer. House legend David Harness's Tuesday-night Taboo and a couple rather scary-looking weekend parties (featuring the comic sight of velvet ropes and a trucker-capped doorboy with a clipboard in the Mission) keep the shot glass-size dance floor hopping, but it's hard to put your finger on the flavor of it all. I really want Pink to have a flavor.

Farther down Mission Street, Levende (1710 Mission, S.F. 415-864-5585) exemplifies the new fusion: dancing, music, food, drinks, and lounging all in one. Compact and power-sceney, Levende possesses a nominal "Living Room Lounge," but its small-plate munchers are mostly sandwiched up to dancing patrons – and often fall victim to club kids like me who see food on a table and think it's free. It's extremely popular, though, and is sweating hard to keep the Mission scene hopping.

Downtown, entertainment commissioner Terence Alan's latest venture, Blue Cube (34 Mason, S.F. 415-392-4833), is a two-story restaurant-club combo that aims for high-tech reverie and almost gets there intact. The large club space triples as a vibrant art gallery, a radical fairy-dropout dance hall, and a rest stop along the information superhighway, complete with DSL hookups. The dust of its recent opening hasn't quite cleared yet, but this club is definitely the one to watch. Meanwhile, Rx Gallery (132 Eddy, S.F. 415-474-7973) is hip, beautiful, and spotless. Its sake-drink bar and hip-hop sensibility rope in a broad array of one-offs, and its downtown art crowd trips the light Spanganga.

Surprise bar build-out area? The Panhandle. Reaping the runoff of nearby concert hall the Independent, Madrone (500 Divisadero, S.F. 415-241-0202) is a stencil-sharp black box that dabbles in electro-dance floor magic on the weekends and laid-back neighborhood vibe on weeknights. The drink menu is a bartender-exhausting combo of mojito-based takeoffs and girlie-drink glee. For more reliable suds-and-well standbys, hit Bar 821 (821 Divisadero, S.F. www.bar821.com) up the street, a cozy speakeasy that closes at midnight so as not to disturb the neighbors. It also has a sign on the door that warns, "If you find out about us, don't tell anyone else," so if I wake up with a Clydesdale's head under my comforter tomorrow, at least I'll know whom to thank.

The countdown begins
Eight places to find yourself on New Year's Eve. By Paul Smith

Everyone is so quick to pooh-pooh Mother's Day as a "Hallmark holiday," accuse the jelly bean and chocolate industries of appropriating Easter, and cast good old-fashioned Christmas as the personification of capitalist evil. But what about New Year's Eve? We also "invented" this holiday. Did the ancients party down Dec. 31? Hell, no. They picked the winter solstice (when the sun's rays line up with Stonehenge and intensify into a laser beam, like in that one scene in Indiana Jones). At some point, the beginning of the year skipped forward 10 days and suddenly necessitated the drinking of cheap champagne and the paying of outrageous cover charges. And yet who speaks up? Nobody. The government shuts down for a day, the networks cover the countdowns as if time won't move forward unless a large crowd watches a ball drop in Times Square, and the oblivious public dresses up, gets down, and stumbles drunkenly on into the night – too caught up, perhaps, in the sheer excess of awesome events at which to do so. Like the following:

Party like it's 1985 with DJs Marshall Jefferson and Jessie Saunders. The Chicago house old-skoolers – both pivotal in the early days of legendary Trax records – ring it in at Club Six alongside local DJs Seven, Sake One, Polo M'xquuz, Daddy Rolo, and Dusty Crates. The Legendary Broun Fellinis and BLVD perform. 10 p.m., Club Six, 60 Sixth St., S.F. $20-$25. www.wanttickets.com.

Keep time to the waning seconds of 2004 with the smooth groove of Soulive. The New York City trio bring their blend of hip-hop, jazz, funk, and soul to the Independent. Careful – all the dance-happy, organ-driven excitement just might make you spill your champagne. 9 p.m., Independent, 628 Divisadero, S.F. $50. www.ticketweb.com.

Grab your tridents, strap on your scallop-shell bikini tops, and ring in 2005 like the Little Mermaid. Anon Salon's 'Sea of Dreams' extravaganza, a San Francisco New Year's tradition, returns to the lavish Regency Center for another underwater-themed interactive event. Expect a raucous lineup of DJs and performers, outrageous costumes, and artistic participation from all involved. 8:30 p.m., Regency Center, 1290 Sutter, S.F. $75. www.anonsalon.com.

Humble local band turned Sub Pop recording artist-indie scene buzz magnet Rogue Wave headline a San Franciscan bill at Bottom of the Hill. Kelley Stoltz and the Herms open up a night of shimmering sonic textures more sparkly than even the Times Square ball. 10 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $20-$25. (415) 621-4455.

Bay Area favorites Crown City Rockers and Zion I commemorate the end of a year that saw both groups circle the globe. In 2004, Germany, France, Malaysia, and Japan all experienced the fusion of hip-hop, dub, and reggae that rocks the Elbo Room for the first hours of 2005. 9 p.m., Elbo Room, 647 Valencia, S.F. $10-$20. www.ticketweb.com.

Haul and Mason make the trek from sunny southern California to celebrate the New Year at Milk. The hip-hop duo's groove-oriented, two-by-four DJ sets won top prize in Urb magazine's annual mixtape contest. 10 p.m., Milk, 1840 Haight, S.F. $10-$20. www.milksf.com.

And since you don't have to work, why not party straight through Jan. 1? Kick off the morning with the Space Cowboys at their legendary Breakfast of Champions party. The event features a special guest DJ, many S.F. favorites, and a shuttle service to get your drunken ass to Whisper S.F. Jan. 1, 6 a.m., Whisper S.F., 535 Florida, S.F. $10. www.spacecowboys.org.

Make up for all the times you didn't dance in 2004 at the Endup's 'New Year's Marathon.' David Harness, Ellen Ferrato, the Baroness, Tracy, and special guests spin 19 continuous hours of deep, tribal, progressive house and funky breaks. 10 p.m., Endup, 401 Sixth St., S.F. $20-$40. www.theendup.com.

Paul Smith's top five promoter crews*

Everyone and their mama seems to be spinning records and throwing parties. Advances in technology make it possible to produce on a home computer what once was reserved for professional music studios and print shops: visually stimulating flyers, a flashy Web site, and a flawless demo mix. Still, the glossy package doesn't always translate into a fun night out. The following San Francisco collectives still use the old-fashioned method of "mad skillz" to ensure quality.

1. The worldwide tech-house takeover is happening in San Francisco thanks mainly to the efforts of Tribal Souls. These DJ-promoters consistently bring to town some of the world's biggest names in underground house: Eddie Richards, Mazi, Tyler Stadius, Daniel Poli, Gideon Jackson, Ty Tek, Little Mike, Patrick Turner, Grant Dell, and Marky Star have all played at their parties. Tribal Souls truly believe in promulgating the noncommercialized side of house music, and whenever possible they post mixes from shows for free downloading on their Web site. Hear them in person at Club Six the second Saturday of the month. 10 p.m., Club Six, 60 Sixth St., S.F. $10. (415) 863-1221, www.clubsix1.com.

2. Anyone who rolls in a 7.5-kilowatt DJ-visual assault vehicle known as the Unimog deserves some props. The Space Cowboys bring the party with them, often setting up camp outside clubs and drawing crowds into the parking lot. The 12-member DJ crew spin a variety of banging floor fillers, from booty bass to breakbeat to funky house. Catch them at almost any event affiliated with Burning Man or simply keep your ears and eyes peeled next time you're standing in line.

3. M3, Antonio, and the other members of Green Gorilla Lounge arguably make up the hardest-working collective in the city. With two weeklies (one all the way in San Jose), special events about once a month, and the Fully Loaded collaboration with the Sunset crew happening every two weeks, it's difficult to find a day free of Green Gorilla DJs. Maybe that's the reason their shiny style of funky house so epitomizes the San Francisco sound of dance music. Check them out Wednesdays at Pink. 9 p.m., Pink, 2925 16th St., S.F. $5. (415) 431-8889, www.pinksf.com or www.greengorillalounge.com.

4. The Brass Tax cover almost the entire spectrum of electronic music. From funky house to nu-skool breaks to drum 'n' bass to electro to "crack house," the small yet diverse collective can likely appease any ear. Usually dispersed at gigs around the city, the group get together the first Friday of the month for their party at Amnesia. 10 p.m., Amnesia, 853 Valencia. S.F. $5. (415) 970-0012. www.thebrasstax.com.

5. Aside from throwing plush dance parties, Pink Mammoth are also a full-fledged, live-in artist collective. Those sober enough to remember their float at the Love Parade in October may recall that dude in the bathrobe action-painting to the music with as much panache and tenacity as any of the booty shakers. The group value all types of art equally, and the proceeds from their lavish, glittery house nights fund their endeavors. Find them the second Saturday of the month at Soluna Lounge. 10 p.m., Soluna Lounge, 272 McAllister, S.F. Donation requested. (415) 621-2200, www.solunasf.com.

Camper English's top five bars for legal smoking

1. The solid crowd and the rock shows in the back room make the Hemlock Tavern great. But the good thing about the heated smoking room is that it doesn't feel like you're banished to the sidewalk; it feels like the VIP lounge. 1131 Polk, S.F. (415) 923-0923, www.hemlocktavern.com.

2. Best-dressed hipsters pack into Amber to ensure the need to dry-clean their clothes the next day. 718 14th St., S.F. (415) 626-7827.

3. The bar that used to be called Julip used to be called Light, and now it's called Whiskey Thieves. Smoking inside it works like a smudge to lift the curse. 839 Geary, S.F. (415) 409-2063.

4. The crowd and the music at Vertigo can be cheesy at times, but the drinks and the smoking area rock. You could hang out in the lounge all night if only they'd deliver drinks in there. 1160 Polk, S.F. (415) 674-1278.

5. Tie: All the bars with outdoor patios. Even when it's cold out, it ain't all that cold. Various locations, S.F.

Karen Solomon's top four one-drink bars

Sometimes you want to pound your liver into submission; other times – and here's where the one-drink bar comes in – you just want to get gussied up, impress a date perhaps, and sip and savor a fancy-schmancy libation in a pretty room. On the latter such nights your Visa will get a workout, but the ambience promises to stir.

1. Frisson is a seductive restaurant-scene newcomer whose bubble-filled bar overlooks the sci-fi, go-go dining room of amber and fuchsia. At $12, the Le Long Frisson, a citrusy combination of peach liquor, lime, cranberry, and litsea cubeba, an essential oil from an unusual Chinese citrus, is as dizzying as the starry, domed roof. 244 Jackson, S.F. (415) 956-3004.

2. You've walked by it a million times, but you might not have noticed the View, tucked away on the 39th floor of the boxy Marriott downtown. Drop in for a deeply overpriced, vacation-style frozen cocktail made from a mix, made 10 million times more delicious by the breathtaking, jaw-dropping, 360-degree twinkling lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. 55 Fourth St., S.F. (415) 896-1600.

3. Though mostly a restaurant, Chez Spencer has a tiny bar that merits your dollars for its innovative concoctions – and its unique decor of a highly decorated storage shed on an otherwise icky strip. My favorite: the French 75 ($9), a refreshing swirl of gin, sugar, and fresh lemon juice doused with champagne. 82 14th St., S.F. (415) 864-2191.

4. Like the classic Tonga Room, the Empress of China reverberates with the gauche charm of its heyday 50 years ago, minus the tikis and the tourists. It claims to still serve "China spirits and drinks of royalty," though I've never had anything more than a watery whiskey and Coke. Still, the charming, festive red-and-gold decor, frozen in time, makes this a one-drink must-see. 838 Grant, S.F. (415) 434-1345.

John Marr's top four tiny bars

1. With only nine stools (and no tables!), vest pocket-size British-style pub the Black Horse could well be the smallest bar in San Francisco. But that doesn't stop the place from doing big things. The place could fit in your boss's office, and yet it still finds room to blow up stuff on Guy Fawkes Day, put on an oyster festival and an Oktoberfest celebration, and sponsor a women's soccer team. 1514 Union, S.F. (415) 928-2414.

2. Thanks to its discreet sign, small size (seats 13), and off-the-beaten-track Russian Hill location, it's easy to miss Bacchus Wine Bar. But it's worth the search. Bacchus offers an excellent selection of premium wines by the glass, as well as sake, saketinis, and even a few beers for the oenophobes, all in a sleek, intimate setting guaranteed to make you feel sophisticated. 1954 Hyde, S.F. (415) 928-2633.

3. The actual bar at John Barleycorn is one of the smallest in town, with room for only nine closely spaced stools. Fortunately, a small side room outfitted with furniture salvaged from churches, cable cars, and Victorian mansions offers a cozy alternative for the friendly neighborhood crowd at this classic rural pub-style bar. 1415 Larkin, S.F. (415) 771-1620.

4. A hole-in-the wall gay bar (blink and you'll miss it!) located a hop, skip, and jump from the cubicle farms of Montgomery Street, Ginger's Trios is ideally located for grabbing that quick afternoon pick-me-up. If the boss is out of town or, better yet, you're the boss, you may wish to linger. The convivial atmosphere just makes it that much harder to return and face the computer screen. 246 Kearny, S.F. (415) 989-0282.

John Marr's top four trivia nights

1. Reader's choice for best quiz night in our 2004 Best of the Bay poll, the 540 Club's Smartypants Smackdown offers a consistently entertaining and challenging quiz with a $30 grand prize. Film buffs will go to town on the name-that-movie round of film clips, and all will enjoy the jovial, raucous atmosphere. It's the perfect antidote to the Sunday-night blahs. Sundays, 9 p.m., 540 Clement, S.F. (415) 752-7276.

2. Edinburgh Castle Pub's quiz is not only one of the longest-running and most beloved trivia nights in the city, it's also the most competitive. The challenging quiz (especially the amazingly eclectic music round) attracts more than its share of savants, trivia buffs, and cruciverbalists out for the $50 first-place prize. Members of any team who can break the seldom-threatened house record should seriously consider trying out for Jeopardy. Tuesdays, 8:30 p.m., 950 Geary, S.F. (415) 885-4074.

3. Less intense than most other local trivia nights, the Pig 'n' Whistle's quiz nonetheless draws a large, friendly crowd to the British-style pub. The relaxed pace and gentle questions keep intra-team squabbling to a minimum, and the excellent beer and pub grub selection keep satisfaction at a maximum. Expect a near perfect score to take home the $30 prize. Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m., 2801 Geary, S.F. (415) 885-4779.

4. Trivia at the Bitter End is more than a quiz. It's an event that injects group sing-alongs, limerick contests, prize giveaways, and rounds of shots into the traditional pub-quiz format. By the end of the evening, everyone in the packed house – including the trivia master – is thoroughly lubricated. Come morning, odds are no one, even the winning team, remembers who won. Tuesdays, 9 p.m., 441 Clement, S.F. (415) 221-9538.

A dying game

Air hockey in San Francisco is pretty much dead. When it's time for the grown-ups to go out and play, it's all about pool, that ever dominating powerhouse of bar games, followed by distant contenders pinball, video golf, and those touch-screen machines that offer all the dubious pleasures of gambling with none of the payout.

Many theories have been put forward by dismayed enthusiasts to explain the phenomenon of the vanishing air hockey table. Some say that the game requires too much concentration, that weekend drinkers can't be bothered with developing quick reflexes. Others say that the stakes are too high and blame brawl-fearing bar owners. We know it's not about size: an air hockey table doesn't take up much more room than a pool table, and how many of us can tell tales of being poked in the side with a stranger's pool cue, or even of being the cue-swinging perpetrator? It could be the risk involved in the occasional flying-puck incident. But really, wouldn't you rather take your chances with a plastic disc than a big wooden stick and flying pool balls?

These are weighty questions. We suggest pondering the answers over a game and a few pints.

Kennedy's Irish Pub and Curry House With a choice of nearly 40 draft beers and even more bottled brands, it's easy to forget that this hybrid hangout doesn't serve hard liquor. The prices don't hurt either: pints of Guinness run $2 during happy hour, $3.25 otherwise. An Irish pub and an Indian restaurant with a good buffet sharing the same roof may seem strange, but the combo draws in a unique blend of patrons, including Irish soccer fans, young locals delighting in $5 pitchers of PBR, North Beach tourists, and Financial District nine-to-fivers, all of whom come to watch sports, play pool, and enjoy the outdoor patio while they smoke or eat. Do they also come for the air hockey? While the two metallic air hockey tables in the back are hilariously loud and hardly state-of-the-art, this could be the perfect place to get the air hockey revival started. 1040 Columbus, S.F. (415) 441-8855.

Crow Bar Friendly and down-to-earth, the Crow Bar offers young, no-frills locals a safe haven from the stuffy North Beach fine-dining scene as well as the flashing lights of the bar's Broadway strip-club neighbors. The lighting is dim, the prices are reasonable, and it's worth visiting solely for the amazing selection of punk rock on the jukebox. There are plenty of tables to hang out at and plenty of people congregating around the pool tables. Meanwhile, the lone air hockey table overlooks the whole bar from an elevated platform, its blue surface glimmering beneath the giant crow outlined on the wall. The crow is the new symbol for the air hockey revolution. 401 Broadway, S.F. (415) 788-2769.

Drinking and eating: a symbiotic relationship

Sometimes drinking establishments and food production don't mix well. One encounters surly bartenders who will do everything in their power to avoid making food, or intense and bloody caste warfare between bartenders (who resent having to share their tips) and food personnel (who think bartenders are lazy, shiftless bastards who don't know what real work is). All too frequently the results are (a) very, very late and/or (b) god-awful.

And yet drunk people palpably need sustenance. And they often need it wrapped in tinfoil so they won't spill it all over themselves. That's where bar-and-conveniently-located-restaurant-or-fast-food-joint symbiosis comes into play. Below are a few fine exemplars of drinkeries that let you bring in outside food and the very, very nearby restaurants that make it all possible. Hours noted reflect closing times.

Kilowatt-Kelly's Burgers The trick here is to not get killed as one invariably disregards traffic law and scampers across 16th Street. It's not unlike Frogger, but bad scores can have unfortunate results. 2 a.m., Kilowatt, 3160 16th St., S.F. (415) 861-2595. Mon.-Thurs., midnight; Fri.-Sat., 3 a.m.; Sun., 10 p.m., Kelly's Burgers, 3141 16th St., S.F. (415) 252-0422.

The Mint-Osaka House If Japan were more like the Castro (or vice versa), this would be an excellent venue in which to pretend to be a bunch of drunken salarymen on a business excursion. 2 a.m., Mint, 1942 Market, S.F. (415) 626-4726. 11:30 p.m., Osaka House, 1946 Market, S.F. (415) 621-3622.

Toronado-Rosamunde Sausage Grill Many varieties of sausage. Many varieties of beer. Not for the indecisive. 2 a.m., Toronado, 547 Haight, S.F. (415) 863-2276. 10 p.m., Rosamunde Sausage Grill, 545 Haight, S.F. (415) 437-6851.

Edinburgh Castle Pub-Old Chelsea The kind folks at the Castle will even order the fish-and-chips for you. It shows up wrapped in soggy newspaper, and your lazy ass never has to leave the bar. 2 a.m., Edinburgh Castle Pub, 950 Geary, S.F. (415) 885-4074. 11 p.m., Old Chelsea, 932 Larkin, S.F. (415) 474-5015.

Zeitgeist-Tamale Lady The Tamale Lady (a.k.a. Ms. Virginia Ramos) carries her wares through many, many bars, it's true, but the Zeitgeist is the bar that throws her a birthday party every year, so it gets the honors. 2 a.m., Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia, S.F. (415) 255-7505. Tamale Lady, various places but always at Zeitgeist after 6 p.m.

The weekend that just won't quit

As the bumper stickers have it, we can thank the labor movement for that long-standing and fairly awesome tradition, the weekend. But we can thank the promoters and clubs mentioned below for throwing worthy parties the other five nights and ably demonstrating the benefits of going out on a school night.

Sunday morning Wake up (or stay awake) to a nutritious blend of house music and Bloody Marys at a discotheque built in the days of disco. The Endup hosts the Sunday T-Dance every week, bringing together San Francisco's best DJs and partygoers for more than 12 hours of daytime debauchery. People pack the dance floor and the enormous outdoor patio bedecked with peaceful waterfalls. Chill out in the sunshine. Shake it in the dark. Do a little of both. You have all day. 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Endup, 401 Sixth St., S.F. $5-$10. (415) 357-0827, www.theendup.com.

Monday night Alleviate the Monday blues with a little something swank at Wish. The SoMa bar nicely straddles the line between pretentious "ultra-lounge" and cozy, intimate joint. It's cool, it's casual, it's clean. Compulsively use a cocktail napkin to protect the sleek bar from nasty drink rings, and the staff will remain friendly and at bay. The cushy benches along the wall provide an excellent space to recline, but watch out: the Solid S.F. crew's motto is "weekends are for rookies." They keep the tiny dance floor packed tight with a barrage of full-frontal beats. 7 p.m., Wish, 1539 Folsom, S.F. Free. (415) 278-9474, www.solidsf.com.

Tuesday night Mix it up a bit and head out to the institution known as Nickie's BBQ. Originally a blues bar-barbeque-gambling den, the place has weathered the ups and downs of more than half a century and still remained standing with a relatively level floor (step high, dancers). Cheb I Sabbah has hosted a party there since 1989 and currently bangs out the bhangra every week at Outernational. The bar forgoes liquor in favor of sake and soju cocktails, but c'mon, it's Tuesday. 9 p.m., Nickie's BBQ, 460 Haight, S.F. $5. (415) 621-6508, www.nickies.com.

Wednesday happy hour Celebrate the cresting of hump day at 111 Minna. The delightfully disorienting Qoöl, though held at an art gallery in the early evening, feels like a big-room super club going off at peak time. Jondi, Spesh, and friends pump the progressive house and trance to a packed house of shoulders touching shoulders. The crowds often make buying a drink difficult but add to the experience of doing the arms-in-the-air, packed-house pogo-stick on the dance floor at 9 p.m. 6 p.m., 111 Minna, S.F. $5. (415) 974-1719, www.qoolsf.com.

Thursday night Taste the untainted underground one last time at Anú before the bridge-and-tunnel crowd invade every club in the city. Level 1 is your final chance to party with professionals. The cavelike space fills up fast, but the dance floor provides just enough room to shake it to resident DJs Leemone and Trushil. Along with weekly guests, they bang the jackin' melodic house from a DJ booth that resembles the helm of the Starship Enterprise. 10 p.m., Anú, 43 Sixth St., S.F. Free. (415) 543-3505, www.anu-bar.com.