Qool Happy Hour

I was seriously getting tired of Kate O’s so I Unilocaled (of course) and found Qool. There were about five of us (all from out of town) and I think Qool may be too SF or too cool for us. The entrance is in the alley and it was pretty empty the entire hour and a half we were there. Good thing we got there before you have to pay cover. The drinks were pretty standard and the «gallery» part was blocked off. I really wanted to see some art. Anyway, it wasn’t amazing by any means. All five of us got hungry and we decided to got to HH/​dinner at Zebulon instead. Maybe I just didn’t wait long enough for Qool to get cooler.

I’m a big fan of 111 Minna — many happy memories and fun nights out there. For Qool specifically though… I can recall dancing to Spesh’s hot beats in my rave days and he’s still rockin the house with the Qool crew. Happy hour with electronic beats is really fantastic for those of us who still love to dance, but don’t make it out for late nights during the week. It’s a fun and easy evening out! Keep it going Qool!

I had first been to this party way back in November 2005, at a time when I had no idea what Qool was or that I would become such a SF scenester. Because my birthday fell on a Wednesday this year it was reason enough to return to my old stomping grounds. What I found was that the most pleasurable parts of the experience are still intact: good drinks, good company, good art, and most importantly mind-​blowing beats! Two and a half years later some of the same guys are still using apparently their only pick-​up line to try to lure women within groping range — watch out for the guy who tries to poll you about when you floss your teeth — but in general the crowd is diverse, friendly, and beautiful. Definitely a must, not a bust.
The self-​titled Amazing Jondi and Spesh are the dynamic duo behind the Qool happy hour every Wednesday night at 111 Minna. I love them! They’re often billed as progressive DJs, but in this case there’s no label that can fully capture their essence and skills at the turntables. You can find some of their looq radio podcasts via
. At LoveFest this past September they were working the crowd in front of City Hall — the music was so amazing that I kept expecting Gavin Newsom to show up and shake it with us, as if he would actually be working in City Hall on a Saturday. While Qool is a start-​early-​end-​early party, it sure feels like a Saturday at 2:30am when your evening is entrusted to Jondi and Spesh. If you really haven’t sated your appetite for dancing by 11pm on a Wednesday night, just follow Jondi and Spesh to the after party. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

This is always a great place to go out for those of us that have to be at work the next day. Why? because it’s over at 10pm. Getting kicked out at 10pm forces me to cut he night short, whereas somewhere else the next 4 hours would slip by my drunken stupor and cause me to have a hurt filled next day, fighting my way thru the day.
The music tends to get better as the night goes on, either that or I get drunker. Either way you can’t beat this for a Wednesday night. Happy hour is over at 7pm, I usually get there around 7pm so I always miss it so I’m not sure what the specials are. But I always love the diversification of the crowd. I could show up in a suit or in ripped jeans and a leather jacket and wouldn’t stick out one bit.
Great spot!

EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!
No stayed-​out-​too-​late-​on-​a-​school-​night hangover here boys and girls. Jondi and Spesh play mind blowing progressive house from 6 – 10 that’s so hot, you won’t want to leave the dance floor to get a drink. I was here for the first time the Wednesday after Christmas and I swear I’ve never had so much fun on a Wednesday night!
The venue itself is nothing special, but the energy, the people and the music make it the place to be on a Wednesday night.

makes 800p on a wednesday feel like 300a on a weekend. good times, good times…

Dude, when was that picture of the DJ in the grey t-​shirt with the circle on it taken? Tonight? No? Cos that’s the exact shirt he had on tonight! Is it, like, some kind of uniform or something? Or like, he’s got a whole closetful of them so he doesn’t have to stress about what to wear each night he plays out? That would be pretty rad.
Ha, just playing, Mr. DJ. Your set was awesome tonight. (Please don’t hunt me down and kill me cos that just wouldn’t be cool.) This was my first time checking out this old party that I found out about like almost two years ago but never got around to checking out, and it was nice. Get your drink on, get your dance on, then get the hell out before 1030 and get a full night’s sleep for the next day. In case anyone is wondering if this event is still happenin’, I’ll tell you it was pretty crowded right up until closing time.

After work in the FiDi on a Wednesday night, I bet all you’re thinking is finding a place where you can party and look at good looking peeps. Or else, want to drag your co-​workers out and see them trashed. Well, this is a good place to start. All the guys are cool, casual, laidback, and all the ladies — well, I don’t know where they found the time to dress up, but I was feeling a little underdressed. I didn’t know that girls were coming in looking ready to go clubbing. Oh well, live and learn, I guess. Live and learn. Next time I’m walking out of work with my thigh high boots.

I finally got around to going to Wednesdays at Minna and pretty glad I did. I stopped frequenting the joint on the weekends because the packed/​sweaty/​meat market vibe isn’t exactly what I’m looking for in the Fidi. But Minna is now officially my middle of the week sweet spot. You get a good mix of Art School kids *complete with backpacks!* and upscale 30somethings.
The art displayed there is always interesting, if you’re into urban art, and the music is… ok. Not a big fan of house/​trance but nothing beats the geriatric octogenarian gettin down with his bad self on stage and trying to «air gyrate» with nearby ladies. He reminded me of that creepy old guy who dances in six flags commercials, but I had to respect his stamina.
And if you’re lucky the «12 galaxies» protester/​prophet Asian guy will show up, complete with blazer and ray bans (now you know this is a classy joint)

There’s something about the floor shaking with everyone dancing their tits off at 8pm on a Weds that’s gotta put a smile on your face. It’s only 4 instead of 5 stars because it did used to be that much MORE awesome, but it’s still one of my favorite parties in the city.
The guys who throw this are great — both their intentions and their talent on the turntables. They always bring in great music. Minna itself is an awesome space and there’s always cool art to check out on the walls. There’s also beauty in a weekly party that’s early enough you can still have a fully productive next day at work.
Though the once awesome crowd has since been infiltrated by those still wearing their blue button down shirts and khaki pants with no understanding of electronic music just looking to pick up on chicks, there’s still a ton of great people in the mix and if you’ve been in SF for awhile, it’s hard not to stumble upon someone you know here.
The essence of qool though, has always been embodied in a man we fondly refer to as «the conductor.» Well into middle age, always dressed in his work clothes, always atop the stage in front of the DJ, covered in sweat, having the time of his life, doing his little conductor dance. Freaking love that guy.

Well, im not too much of a fan of the music, but after 3 – 4 yager bombs and a long island and id be rocking out to damn near anything. The happy hour is certainly a meat market some nights with some of the same faces there most every week. I usually always have fun, with the occasional hickey and being ridiculously hammered, then wrap it up with some Thai food at a near by eatery

First time visitor for both Qool and 111 Minna Gallery. I love the ambiance, the eclectic and very mixed crowd, countless eye candies and friendly people all around. I don’t particular like the music and wish that the volume could be knocked down a notch. Still, it was a great venue for a girls-​night-​out, not the mention the artwork while not SFMOMA-​deserving is exactly up my ally. Will definitely return.

There’s something to be said for a place that totally rocks in the middle of the week! Great ambiance, music, drinks and peeps… drinks can be a little stiff– which I luv… yeys
LOTS of eye candies and im not talking about the art either… not a date place can get pretty noisy–
Girls night out + Guys night out place = FUN PLACE
Oh did I say the artwork is outta this world… perhaps some could be bound for the MOMA ;-)

Happy Hours at Qool! A great spot to hit up if you are looking to let some of that work agression out. The energy is great for a weekday, you’d think it was Saturday night. The music is loud and gets you moving on the dance floor, or as you stare up at the ‘interesting’ piece of art on the wall. Always a great crowd, very mixed, and you’d never tell that the guy raving it up on the dancefloor is a lawyer by day. You’ll meet some characters here for sure, nothing beats Weds at Minna for mid-​week entertainment. After enjoying a couple drinks with coworkers, head across the street to Osha for dinner. Then, head home and try to make it through another 2 days of work. :)

I will always love Qool.
I’ve been coming here ever since I was living in the North Bay, and I have to tell you — definitely one of the best clubbing experiences in SF.
It’s been interesting watching it change, as recently I haven’t been digging the music as much as I used to (hence the 4 stars instead of 5), but still the warm vibe and happy feelings remain.
Whenever founders Jondi or Spesh hit the decks, lookout. These guys definitely still have it. When they go off, they go off!

I love this place. If you want to find a ton of diverse people (i.e. hipsters, suit wearing financial district guys, cute asian girls, protesters, bridge and tunnel folks, and marina types) smoozing and dancing on a Wednesday night this is the place. The music is LOUD and energetic (electronica). Stop by at 8pm –dance until 10:30 and be home in time to get some zzzzs. Beware girls: this place is a definate pick up joint. Cover: $ 5.

this place makes me laugh, you walk in at 7 on a wednesday and their are people in their 20s to their 50s shaking it hardcore to techno music on the dance floor. Frank the sign guy hangs out here too! how can this place not be super coolio!

I’m relatively new to SF and some friends clued me in to the Qool happy hour — what a wonderful thing! There is always great music, interesting art, and fun and friendly people to dance with. The best part: you can get out and socialize without ruining yourself for work the next day.

I might be a little biased because well, I love Spesh. Literally I love him with all my heart… that said, I do consider myself a music snob…
Jondi and Spesh throw the Qool Happy Hour that has been happening for over ten years at the location of 111 Minna Gallery. There are lines around the block on Wednesday nights… it’s an institution of sweaty bodies gyrating to some of the greatest house music local talent in SF.
Once in a great while, we’re lucky enough to get a 5 hour Speshathon on one of the Wednesday nights.
If you love GOOD house music and want to experience Qool at 111 Minna Gallery, get some new trainers and be prepared to dance.