Autumn's arrival has brought a further series of changes to the ever-changing club scene.
Art Clinic has resumed its activities after the summer vacation, though it has reopened with an entrance fee double what it was before.
Founded and managed by extravagant artist Kirill Miller, the Clinic is especially proud of its trademark show "Art Clinic Presents" which revolves around a clinical theme and imagery borrowed from a sex shop.
Those of sensitive tastes are free to hide themselves in the Art Clinic's Chemist Shop, which is a bar with crisps and liquors.
The Clinic's closest rival is located in the same building. Fish Fabrique, whose one-year existence has been marked by erratic closures -- not to mention a fire -- celebrated its first anniversary with a rare live concert earlier this month.
Recently the club, which grew out of the now defunct Ost West Cafe on Vosstaniya Ulitsa, has introduced large-screen film showings on Wednesdays. Films are in English, with no Russian translations.
Scheduled this week is "Rumblefish." Next week "The Great Rock `n' Roll Swindle" is expected.
Both clubs are located in the infamous bohemian hangout on 10 Pushkinskaya Ulitsa and are frequented by foreigners, as well as a motley crew of local artists and musicians.
Whereas the Fish Fabrique orientates itself toward Western films, another venue, the Polygon Club, offers old but much-loved Soviet comedies from the 1960s and 1970s, which are followed by live rock concerts.
Another new club, Vega's Live, opened in the distant region of Rzhevka last week. Managed by the same people as the recently reopened Indie Club, it is aimed mainly towards locals, organizing live rock concerts and raves for modest prices.
And, finally on the rock scene, there are rumors that the Ten Club, which closed this summer -- supposedly for good -- may reopen soon.
The local jazz scene is undergoing some changes as well.
After one last festival the New Jazz Club has folded. The management plans to relaunch the venue under the different name in a new location, on Shpalernaya Ulitsa, near Liteiny Prospect, probably in November.
Meanwhile, the more conservative Philharmonic Jazz Hall, which reopened after the summer vacations on September 15, has opened a second stage, the Ellington Hall, which will work in conjunction with the main hall.
Open every Saturday, it hosts quiet acoustic shows in a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere than the main hall.
Concerts of less traditional jazz styles are held in the Art Clinic on Sundays. Manager Kirill Miller said, "First we called them "Jazz Nights" but we had to rename them "Free Music Nights," because of complaints from jazzmen."
For these and other venues: See "Rock & Jazz Venues"
[Watch future issues for details of the Vega's Live Club].