Being so close to Hollywood, there is no shortage of nightclubs for CSUN students to hit up. Finding the good ones in the muck of overcrowded, overpriced and uber-exclusive clubs is a different story. Here is a guide to the best alternative clubs for CSUN students that are tired of hearing that same Rihanna song five times a night.

Part Time Punks
Blasting hits and b-side gems from the best indie artists of the past 30 years, Part Time Punks is the perfect club for the rare form of indie music lover that actually enjoy dancing. Holding residency at the Echo since 2005, this club has established itself as the premier club in L.A. for punk, post-punk and shoegaze. Part Time Punk founder and DJ Michael Stock keeps the weekly setlists fresh because of his vast vinyl collection that is offset by having live bands play the club some weeks. But the weeks Part Time Punks is best is during their themed nights. From Brit-Pop Nite, to Bowie Nite and the ever popular Smiths/Morrissey Nite, people of all ages come to dance to their favorite artist or genre all night long. With Stock pushing the right buttons to get the smoking kids off the patio and onto the dance floor, Part Time Punks is the perfect place to L.A. sway.
When: Sundays 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Where: The Echo/Echoplex
1822 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
Admission: 18+, $5 to $10
Drinks: Reasonable price, Full bar

Blue Mondays
Aptly named after the 1983 New Order hit, Blue Mondays is the best ’80s club in L.A. The club is a great escape from the surrounding top 40 clubs, as it is located at Boardners in Hollywood every Monday night. The crowd is the best part of Blues Mondays as there are no pretensions, just people ready to dance to some of the best pop, goth and new wave of the ’80s. But if the DJ puts on a Cure song that’s just a little too depressing, there is a electro/indie room on the patio that acts as a good temporary escape from the ’80s. The only downfall for Blue Mondays is that drink prices can be a little excessive but that’s what car-bar was invented for.
When: Monday 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Where: Boradners
1652 Cherokee Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028
Admission: 18 +, $3 to $7
Drinks: Pricey, Full bar

El Cid
When you walk through the doors of El Cid, you no longer feel like you’re in L.A. The sunset blvd. entrance is anything but glamorous, but once through the doors, you’re led down steps and through a jungle to the literal underground club. While the club hosts many live music acts, ranging from hip-hop collectives to garage rock bands, El Cid is known as a flamenco club. The flamenco singers and dancers are perfect compliments to the tropical décor. The inside of the club has great music and dancing, but the back patio is the best part of El Cid. Kicking back by the fire pit with a cheap drink surrounded by towering trees is a great escape from the concrete of LA.
When: Wednesday through Saturday 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Where:El Cid
4212 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029