California Institute of Abnormal Arts

Totally worth the drive over the hill, the California Institute of Abnormalarts (CIA, get it?) is a NoHo nightclub that’s equal parts bad acid trip and carnival sideshow of atrocity. Started by two dudes who like collecting the freakiest “art” on earth, the place is stuffed from floor to ceiling with zombie clowns, pickled fetuses, wax pirates, preserved corpses, dead fairies and the like. Throw in a lot of blacklight and some funhouse mirrors and... you get the picture. The acts booked here are equally weird and include circus performers and bands that dress in a wild variety of costumes from pirates to mutated chickens. Open until 1am, but be forewarned: some nights, at the owners’ discretion. Cash only at the bar.