The Scene: Halo is one of the most stylish nightspots in the city, combining the sleek lighting and leather furniture of a boutique hotel bar with a gently curving ceiling reminiscent of some futuristic aircraft. When it opened in the summer of 2004, the minimalist lounge instantly became a magnet for gay men tired of loud dance clubs and same-old bars. A subsequent expansion to two floors helped ease the crush considerably, but long lines are still expected on weekends. Halo's crowd has been accused of evolving into a "stand and model" scene more worried about fashionable clothes than old-fashioned friendliness, but in terms of age and race, it's more diverse than many of Dupont's gay bars.

In Your Glass: The cocktail list emphasizes sweet, fruity martinis and even some non-alcoholic options. A sure bet is one of the bar's mojitos, muddled with a seasonal selection of pineapple chunks or fresh berries. The blueberry version is outstanding.

On Your Plate: Free nuts! That's about it.

Need to Know: Halo is completely smoke-free. If you need to nip outside for a cigarette, the bartenders will watch your glass and you'll get priority admission back inside. (The sidewalk has apparently also become quite the singles scene.)

Nice to Know: If you like the music, thank co-owner Ed Bailey, the founder of the long-running Velvet Nation dance party and an excellent DJ. It's programmed on his laptop.

Price Points: The house cocktails hover in the $10 range, and those mojitos can top $12. Take the sting out with the daily happy hour (5 to 9 p.m.), where all drinks are two-for-one.

-- Fritz Hahn (July 2006)