Kagel Canyon’s Friendly Roadhouse Secret

Few people are familiar with the Hideaway, a honky-tonk roadhouse in the Kagel Canyon area of the San Fernando Valley, but it’s been tucked away among the trees and trails since 1917. The tiny, rockin’ country joint still feels like the early West--you half expect Clint Eastwood’s nameless cowboy to tie his horse at one of the hitching posts out back and work his way past the cactus-strewn patio and into the bar.

Of course, today’s owner wouldn’t serve his ilk. No sir-ee. Chris Hoffman took over the Hideaway 2 1/2 years ago and spent much of the first year transforming the two-room space into a friendly, all-comers bar. The venue had been shut down for three years, and in its last incarnation was a surly biker bar. Perhaps the club’s lack of air conditioning (which it now has) affected its patrons, because one too many heads rolled in the Hideaway. The current policy: If you got attitude, you got the door.

Now a stranger can wade in, order a beer and sit back and watch or partake of the action. Options include dancing to country-rock bands on Fridays and Saturdays, karaoke on Thursdays, and the club’s most popular event, Don McNatt’s Sunday Jam.

McNatt, who invites local and touring artists to hit the stage each week, gathers 20 to 30 musicians from 3 to 8 p.m. for an open jam that turns into a rocking good party. Stetson-wearing locals mingle with out-of-town adventurers who want to check out what a real roadhouse looks (think loads of antlers and framed sheriff’s badges) and sounds like. A tip: Unless you’re on horseback, call for directions.

* The Hideaway, 12122 Kagel Canyon Road, Lake View Terrace. 21 and over, no cover. (818) 890-1225.

Club Buzz: Dragonfly wants to boost the sex appeal of Sundays by offering “Club Pornography.” The new club kicks off on June 16 and plans to feature deejays Sean Perry and Bee J, spinning disco, deep groove and house music. This isn’t the Dragonfly’s first venture into erotica, but it adds to the city’s growing list of sexually provocative dance clubs.

* Dragonfly, (213) 466-6111.