A hookah pipe has many names: it's a nargila, a shisha, a hubbly-bubbly. But basically, it's a fancy looking pipe with a glass bottle as its base, and you smoke tobacco through it. This way of smoking - and the tradition of doing so in groups, at special lounges - has been a tradition for centuries in the Middle East, and is soon coming to Henrietta.

Theresa Dyer, a Rochester native, opens Look ah Hookah (4139 W Henrietta Rd) this month. She was introduced to hookah lounges by her husband, who's Arabic, when the couple was living in Florida. The area had three or four lounges he frequented, and when the two moved back to Rochester, the closest lounge was an hour away, in Buffalo. Spurred by the empty niche, online discussions, the presence of a local Middle Eastern community, and the proximity of area colleges, Dyer decided to open her own.

The lounge is technically, because of state law, a tobacco retail shop. Hookahs, pipes, and more than 26 flavors of tobacco are for sale. There's no alcohol, but coffee, sodas, and energy drinks will be available, and snacks will be brought in by Abid Delicatassen next door. There will be hookah smoking only - no cigarettes - and you'll need to be 18 or older to get in.

Dyer remembers when she was 18 in Rochester, and had few choices other than to sneak into nightclubs. That got old fast, and she also tired of the whole drinking scene. The hookah lounge offers something different.

"It's a new way to hang out," Dyer says. It's based on the social experience; her vision for the lounge includes college kids talking current events and politics, relaxing with friends, and mingling with the area's Middle Eastern community.

Dyer says the interior will include carpets and cushions on the floor for sitting the traditional way, though chairs and couches will also be available. A King Tut-themed "VIP" lounge is an all-you-can-smoke private area that accommodates up to 12 people, and has a TV and game system. There's free wifi at the lounge as well.

Customers will be able to rent hookahs (all-you-can-smoke prices range from $10 to $20) and choose the flavors of tobacco - all straight from Egypt - to smoke. Lounge staff will be on hand to prepare the pipes and offer guidance. Dyer explains that the tobacco is 60 percent fresh fruit and molasses, and doesn't nearly approach the nicotine levels of a cigarette. It's also not as harsh as a cigarette, she says, since the tobacco is filtered through water (or your choice of orange, apple, or grape juice). Dyer says first-time smokers might be inclined to start with a strong flavor, but she'd suggest something light - vanilla, perhaps - followed by a medium, then heavy flavor, like chocolate. "Soex" tobacco, which is totally herbal, is also available for non-smokers who might like to give the hookah a try.

"But it's not as though we're encouraging smoking," Dyer says. It's the social aspect - sitting around talking - that she hopes patrons will find fulfilling. "We're promoting a cultural event that's been going on for centuries," she says.

To lend authentic atmosphere, belly dancers from Goddess Hour will perform as many as three nights a week, and other themed nights - including a cigar night, movie night, and more - are in the works.

Look ah Hookah celebrates its grand opening all week long starting on Friday, March 7. Visit lookahhookah.com or call 334-8340 for more information.