Nickies

A San Francisco institution since the late 80s, Nickie's BBQ should give a running tally -- a la McDonald's -- of how many million booties have been shaken on the premises over the course of its funk-filled history. The music that fills the club changes daily, ranging from Haight Street staples, including reggae, eclectic world music, old-school funk and disco. The crowd on any given night is generally in their early to mid 20s (who else can withstand clubbing every evening?), but the number of grooving, gray-haired neighborhood regulars who attend sessions early in the week might surprise you. World-renowned DJ Cheb i Sabbah's genre-defying mix of African, Asian and Indian music over electronic beats on Tuesday nights draws the most diverse audience imaginable; it truly encapsulates San Francisco's cultural breadth. Wednesday night is the popular Dubspace, with DJ Iz dropping reggae, brazilian, disco, classics, soul, hip-hop and more. Nickie's has improved its already top-notch nightspot by expanding the public area. Converted office and kitchen space is now a mellow lounge behind the DJ booth, where folks can take a breather from the non-stop music. --