Spring has sprung, and it’s time to try something new. Whether it’s in your day-to-day home life or out on the scene, everyone gets caught up in a routine. Many of us go to the same places night after night, week after week, seeing the same faces. I often hear people complaining, “I always see the same ol’ people out.” If you’re in a “Barfly” slump, there is a simple solution: Your routine needs a spring cleaning. Escape from the “circuit” and try something different.

Certainly there is something going on every night of the week in San Diego. From the fabulous “Dating Game” at Flicks on Mondays to dancing at Bacchus House on Wednesday (after Flicks, of course), to Flame Fridays and Detour Sunday’s at Mo’s (and don’t forget about Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays!), the party never stops. All of these places are fantastic (why else would they draw such loyal crowds week after week, year after year?), but sometimes it’s OK to break away, be an original, and check out someplace else.

If “original” is what you’re looking for, Maystar’s events are the place to show your true colors. For more than a year, this creative promoter has been producing the “Fashion Whore” events at the San Diego Sports Club on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. This bi-weekly club often includes live music, hot DJs, a midnight fashion show and shopping. Just looking around at the creative costumes worn by the loyal “Fashion Whore” followers is an event in itself. But now Maystar has taken it a step further and has introduced a new dance night, in collaboration with Daygnar, called “Pop Noir!” This high-energy event includes a terrific lineup of DJs and showcases some of San Diego’s hottest fashion designers. This new event takes place at the emerging Static Lounge in downtown San Diego and is open to those 18 years of age and older. Opening night was on March 31, and I’m told that more than 800 people showed up at the door, but only 350 were allowed in! Definitely one of the new hot places to be! Visit www.myspace.com/clubpopnoir for more information.

Another place worth checking out (and coming back to) is Martinis Above Fourth. This swanky but comfortable cabaret lounge in the heart of Hillcrest has an indoor/outdoor bar with the largest martini menu in town. Enjoy an assortment of libations while listening to Martinis’ regularly scheduled entertainment lineup, or indulge in the restaurant’s sinfully delicious menu items created by the very talented executive chef Jason Williams.

Martinis Above Fourth has hot wait-staff and even hotter Friday and Saturday night crowds. You can start your night out at Martinis or make an evening out of it. There is live entertainment on the weekends, with Carol Curtis on Fridays from 7-10 p.m., and the fabulous Vintage Vegas duo, with Laura Jane and Franco Z, on Saturday nights. Check out www.martinisabovefourth.com for more information.

Sundays are always a fun afternoon/night out in San Diego – and have just gotten even better. Steve Pena Productions has joined with Nick De Simas Entertainments to bring “Revival” to The Brass Rail Nightclub & Lounge. This Sunday evening party is going to be one of the new, hot nights on the San Diego scene. Check it out now while it’s fresh! “Revival” includes vocal house sets by DJ Dac (of Club Montage’s Military Madness fame), hot go-go boys and drink specials. The Brass Rail has certainly evolved into one of San Diego’s most beautiful night spots, and if you still haven’t checked out this reinvented club, you have been missing out! Check out www.thebrassrailsd.com for more information about “Revival” or other events at The Brass Rail.

With the advent of spring always comes Jeffrey Sanker’s world-famous White Party in Palm Springs. Thousands of hot men flock to the desert community and wake up this sleepy resort town with an incredible lineup of talented performers, DJs and events. If you weren’t there this year, you definitely missed out. White Party 2007 took over Palm Springs on the weekend of April 6-8. So for those of you who were wondering why our local clubs were a little less crowded than usual, it’s because half of our hotties were up in P.S.!

For those of us who just couldn’t make it out to the desert on White Party weekend, a few of our favorite clubs here at home threw special parties. The Flame brought back its annual “Fuck the White Party” event, “The Black Party,” on Friday, April 6. The club encouraged the crowd to wear black. On Saturday, April 7, “Club Montage” hosted the “Dinah Shore Weekend Recovery Party” with DJ Shane Stiel. Dinah could loosely be considered the women’s version of the White Party, which took place the weekend prior. And just across the border, also on April 7, Club Extasis in Tijuana held its annual Latin White Party. These three events and others across town kept those of us at home entertained while the masses danced ’til dawn out in the desert.

Try something new this spring! If you have any upcoming events, please let me know by e-mailing editor@uptownpub.com.