In times when most clubs are bred to be cash cows, this DIY all-ages club is more about prophets than profits.

The Smell got its start in North Hollywood in 1997 as the city's only all-ages underground music spot/art gallery, but when the cost of rent rose during the NoHo Arts district boom in 1999, the venue relocated to still-cheap Downtown. The new address near Skid Row only made the place more alluring to rebels and bohos. The venue continued to thrive, serving as a community hub for underage indie rockers and political activists until fire-code violations forced the club's closure in February 2003. Instead of shutting down for good, Jim Smith, one of the club's founders and its only full-time employee, took a DIY approach: He pulled $10,000 from his own pockets and worked with volunteers to renovate the venue. Since reopening in September 2003, local bands like The Sharp Ease and Toys That Kill have joined forces with anti-war groups like Not In Our Name to put on benefit shows helping to keep the space open and up to code. Emerging artists and community-oriented events dedicated to promoting cycling in the city keep The Smell ripe with business. No alcohol is served, but the snack bar sells vegan treats. —Alexandra Le Tellier