The Yost Theater

The Yost Theater sits at 307 North Spurgeon Street in downtown Santa Ana, in Orange County southeast of Los Angeles. The street front is a pediment under a big red marquee that spells out YOST. Inside there are two rooms. The Main Theater holds up to 1,000 standing guests, according to the venue, and the smaller Paradise Room has a bar of its own.

The venue runs two faces. Its main site pitches the building for weddings, corporate events and private parties, and it lists concerts and live performances among those uses. A separate nightlife site handles the club side: Thursday through Saturday dance nights, bottle service and weekend takeovers, with house, techno, reggaeton, cumbia, funk and oldies nights, plus DJ sets and live acts.

A few rules to plan around. Age limits change from night to night, so read the flyer for the show you want. Bring a current, non-expired photo ID, because the venue asks for one at the door. Bags over 12 x 6 x 12 inches are not allowed in, and every bag is searched. The dress code is enforced and leans against athletic wear.

Parking in downtown Santa Ana fills up. The venue points guests to a garage at 401 North Spurgeon Street, which it says is about a one-minute walk away. It doesn't publish transit directions or a doors time, so check each event listing for its start.