Washington's largest and most popular nightclub, Love -- formerly known as Dream -- has played host to Beyonce, the Roots and Busta Rhymes and was featured in Cam'Ron's "Hey Ma" video. It draws thousands of clubbers every weekend, despite complaints about satellite parking lots, long lines and overcrowded dance floors. Love consists of four floors, each beautifully designed and decorated, but with a slightly different vibe. The first floor lounge looks like the hip-hop equivalent of the Ritz-Carlton's lobby, and contains a huge island bar, concierge desk (if you're looking for directions to the Red Room) and a coat check. Upstairs is the main dancefloor and a stage where hip-hop artists perform on Friday nights. Another flight of stairs leads to the tropical-themed deck, which is covered in cold weather. Keep your eyes on the dancing and the potted plants instead of the romantic view of a school bus parking lot. You'll also find a lounge with pool tables. Finally, the fourth floor is an indoor-outdoor party spot that's frequently rented by local athletes and high-rollers for private affairs. No matter where you choose to party, it will be loud and close to a VIP section.

In Your Glass: Bottles of beer or mixed drinks. Bartenders sometimes come up with their own funky concoctions and shots, so it never hurts to ask. If you find bartenders you like, keep going back to them, as quality varies widely.

Need to Know: The dress code is strict: No boots, sneakers, baggy jeans, hats or throwback jerseys are allowed. Also, be careful when parking and walking to or from the club. Auto break-ins and muggings in the isolated neighborhood remain a problem. If you're trying to figure out which night to go, here's the crib sheet: Thursday means a mixed 18-and-over night with hip-hop and house. Fridays are the domain of owner Marc Barnes, so the crowd is predominantly African-American and the music is hip-hop heavy. Saturdays are "international," which means more electronic dance music alongside urban beats, and a fairly diverse crowd.

Nice to Know: Passes that offer free admission to Love are available from the club's Web site, lovetheclub.com. Just read the fine print: They're only good until a certain time (usually 11), and they don't let you skip the long, slow-moving line or the mandatory trip through the metal detector. People who buy tickets in advance usually skip the lines.

Price Points: Love attracts many ballers and celebrities, and if you're not one of them, your wallet may feel distinctly lighter at the end of the night. Yes, you can skip the $10 or $20 cover charge with passes from the Web site, but once inside, beers cost $5 to $7, house cocktails are $9 to $11 and delicious Caribbean snacks from the kitchen of chef Lois Spencer -- mouth-watering coconut shrimp, delicate, spicy crab cakes -- are $10 to $12. That doesn't include parking ($10 in a satellite lot, $20 for valet) or coat check ($3 per item). High-rollers who want to skip lines and have access to the various VIP areas can pay $150 a year to make phone reservations on the "Love Line." Table reservations start at $360.

-- Fritz Hahn (August 2006)