Careful attention to design, tasteful offset lighting and crisp cocktails aren't usually found in the same room as three-chord punk rock. DC9, however, has left the Pabst Blue Ribbon ethos far behind. With its elegantly angled bar stretching away from the entrance to the upstairs lounge, one might easily mistake this indie-rock nightclub for a hip sushi joint off a Tokyo side street. That is, until going downstairs and listening to the DJ. This bar's stated commitment to the cutting edge in music is no joke. A mix that goes from Sonic Youth to Method Man, tastefully, is as rare as it is difficult to do. Bands play downstairs three to four nights a week, and the lineup rivals the 9:30 Club's in terms of flavor. Look for the monthly gay/alternative scene at Taint Lounge Night, a party combining indie, Brit pop and new wave. Sight lines and ventilation are excellent, cover charges run from $5-$10, and music starts between 8-9PM.

Back upstairs, both the clientele and the jukebox are uber cool. Old school trainers, vintage T-shirts, bobbed hair and high school windbreakers are dress code staples. It's like a Velvet Lounge or Kingpin crowd with a little larger allowance. Whether as part of a cruise through the U Street corridor, a place to get a drink before or after a 9:30 Club show or as the primary destination, DC9 is an elevating experience. -- Michael Wharton