We weren't even sure Hush Lounge on East Avenue was open when we walked past it on a recent evening. The curtains were drawn and the bar's dim lighting couldn't compete with the people on display in the windows of other nearby bars, not to mention those establishments' showy lights. I would have just kept on merry way, assuming the bar wasn't open for business; luckily I peeked in.

It was around 10:30 on a chilly Saturday night, and my beverage buddy and I wanted to find out Hush's big secret. When we entered the inner sanctum we were greeted with a DJ spinning a Michael Jackson tune and an unusually sparse crowd for a weekend in the East End. The bar's small interior is done up in a monochromatic scheme of black, white, and gray, where the only hint of color comes from the reflections of the spinning disco balls overhead.

On either side of the room are stairs leading up to catwalks that look down upon the dance floor. A spiral staircase leads to the DJ booth and VIP room (I hate to think the guy dressed in black was standing at the bottom of the stairs for nothing). The dance floor is not terribly big, but that didn't stop a few members of the rather diverse crowd from kicking up their heels. The DJ played a wide variety of dance tunes, most of which could be heard at an average wedding reception. Around the edges of the room and moving toward back, semi-private seating areas are decorated with black (surprise, surprise) leather couches. The interior lighting was universally dim, except for the posh lights over the main bar in front. They shined like a lighthouse cutting through the fog to guide drinkers to their destination.

It wasn't difficult to make our way through the thin crowd to the bar in the main room. My accomplice and I waited patiently while other patrons were being served (for a brief moment we thought we may have accidentally crashed a private party). After few minutes of loitering at the corner of the bar, our eyes began to wander until we noticed a smaller bar off to the side along the back (at first I thought it was the coat check, but that was the next window over). We slid down to the semi-hidden smaller bar and its lone bartender. She mixed a very nice Grey Goose vodka and 7-Up for my partner, but when I requested a draft beer I was denied. Hush does not have beer on tap, and the bottled beers they provided seemed limited, so I settled for a Labatt's Blue Light (sigh).

As we explored Hush a little more and allowed ourselves to soak in the atmosphere, my friend made a comment that Hush reminded him of a few bars he had been to in Las Vegas. Even though I've never been to Vegas myself, I could still see what he meant. Hush, the most recent addition to the Ronnie Davis Group nightclub empire, definitely gives off the vibe of being exclusive, which probably works well when there's a group taking up the second-story VIP lounge (which holds up to 100 people), or the bar hosts private parties during the week. Unfortunately, for the times it's open to the general public, that "hands-off" vibe may not work so well. Sure, Rochester has high-end clubs, but most of them have adapted their styles slightly to fit the western New York environment. I feel Hush has the right idea, but possibly in the wrong climate.

Hush Lounge is located at 359 East Avenue, and is open to the public Thursday-Saturday 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Men pay a $10 cover after midnight on Saturdays, while ladies get in free. To make a reservation for a private party or for more information, contact Beau Granger at 506-2851.