A slew of bars and lounges paying homage to the era of speakeasys, saloons and prohibition have popped up all over the US and San Fran alike, but one manages to stand out: the BarrelHouse. That's because the BarrelHouse isn't pretending: in the early 1900's the space was used as a wine cask storage facility and tasting room. Then prohibition rolled around and ruined everyone's fun- everyone, that is, except for those who knew about the Barrel House and the back-alley speakeasy it had become. In the 1960's it was bought by an eccentric advertising photographer who used the space to throw parties for advertising exec's à la Mad Men (we like to imagine it that way, at least). That party ended when the advertising industry entered a slump in the 1990's, and the venue collected dust for almost two decades. Then, in 2008 P.J. Pereira and Andrew O'Dell dusted it off and used the space as the office for their small, fledgling advertising company.

A year later Pereira & O'Dell have exploded into an advertising powerhouse, and have moved on to bigger digs. However, they decided to hang on to the original space and reincarnate it as a place to throw parties and events for friends, the creative community and advertising folk. Today the BarrelHouse throws free music, comedy and art events for their friends while simultaneously raising money for charities. They have brought in diverse acts like Wyclef Jean, Kate Voegele, We Are Scientists, comedians and artists. Shows are free aside from a small donation which benefits a charity chosen by the artist, and the free booze is a nifty gift from the clients of Pereira & O'Dell (Thanks Corona!).

This past Friday the BarrelHouse threw an event benefiting the charity One Warm Coat- attendees were asked to bring an old coat or to donate $5 to the cause. For the event BarrelHouse brought in indie darlings and Oakland-based band "The Lovemakers" who rocked the house. So where is this place, you ask?

The barrelHouse is located in a dimly lit, sparsely traveled alleyway somewhere in SOMA- it's very mysterious and evocative of Old San Francisco. Walking past steaming sewage drains in the drizzling San Francisco fog you either expect a) to realize you're in the middle of a detective movie and the detective (Humphrey Bogart please!) is about to step out from behind that corner with his cute little hat and deeply concerned expression, b) you're about to be robbed or c) that homeless man is about to pee on your foot. Anywho, back to the topic at hand: Oh yeah, where it is: can't tell you. The location is a secret and we're not about to ruin the fun. Sorry.

GetWize: However, because we're nice, we will give you this clue: if you want to solve your own little mystery, become a friend of theirs on Facebook or follow them on Twitter- that'll get you all the insider info where you can sign up for their events, find out where they're located and see where the real Mad Men come to drink. To keep their parties intimate, they only announce events the week of. So fill up your glass of whiskey on the rocks, dust off your fedora, and...become a friend of theirs on facebook. Shhhh.