The tri-level, 10,000-square-foot club opened with several high-profile DJs, plus a white party with Randy Bettis and Michael Wilson. Originally a bank, the building was Jasper Johns' studio in the 1970s and has since had several lives as different clubs. In its new incarnation, the space has a large main dance room, and more intimate spaces on the first level that designer Robert Stettner has decorated for an elegant club-going crowd. On the second weekend of each month, Element hosts a night called Filthy Fridays, which attempts to mix several genres in a single night, or, as organizers call it, ''Nasty music for the dirty generation." Ewan Pearson, who has remixed records for Chemical Brothers and Depeche Mode, DJs the first edition of Filthy on March 10. Doors are opened at 10 p.m.

Swinging 1960s mod culture (think miniskirts, skinny ties and Vespa scooters) experiences a revival on Easter weekend as DJ Rob Bailey, the mod genius behind the recent "Le Beat Bespoke" compilation CD, stages four nights of live, 1960s-inspired bands, retro pop DJs, art cinema and yes, even go-go girls. Bands include the incredible girl group Doll Squad, Circulus, the Lyres, the Frank Popp Ensemble and Mega Purple Sex Toy Kit. Post-band partying continues early into the morning (Saturday and Sunday shows are 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) with plenty of Northern soul, rare Motown, psychedelia and blue-eyed soul. For those who show up without the proper go-go boots, there will be a market selling mod goods. Tickets for the entire weekend (excluding the Thursday night show) are $51. www.ticketweb.co.uk.

Once the couples with strollers and video-camera-toting tourists with an early bedtime have cleared out, a museum can become a very tranquil space. The State Gallery in Stuttgart stays open until midnight the first Saturday of each month so you can experience its large collection of European paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries with a minimum of distraction, and there's still plenty of time to hit the clubs after taking in the culture. Long Art Night starts at 7 p.m.; tickets are $19.

With more than 200 beers from countries such as Thailand, Russia and Japan, the trick to fully enjoying the 23rd annual International Beer Festival is careful pacing and several breaks for food. Tickets, which are $55 in advance (available beginning March 17) and $65 at the door, include unlimited beer tastings and food samples from San Francisco restaurants, live music and raffles. The boozy festivities, all proceeds of which benefit a cooperative nursery school, take place from 7 to 10 p.m.

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