It started 21 years ago on Baker Beach with 20 people and a flaming figure. Today, hordes of San Franciscans still descend upon Nevada's Black Rock Desert each year to be participants in Burning Man, a week-long gathering which now attracts more than 35,000 annually. The truly dedicated (aka "Burners") spend all year preparing for the big event, whether they're crafting massive art installations or just securing the right RV, and consequently they're not quite ready to let it go after the fact. Luckily, they don't have to. The BM-sanctioned Decompression, a block party in the vicinity of the organization's Potrero Hill headquarters, happens each year in early October. Here's an amazing chance for Burners and newbies alike to experience a slice of the sights, sounds, and sartorial creativity of Burning Man, only without the pervasive playa dust and time commitment. The only drawback: not stopping to gamble in Reno on the way home.