Tonight's Top Stop: Pre- July Fourth Celebration

A NUMBER OF CLUBS celebrate the freedom to shake one's booty and consume strong drink among like-minded hotties. Bear in mind that for a lot of these parties, admission prices rise over the course of the evening, depending on how in-demand the event is. Lower admission, food and cheap drinks are the order of the day if you show up fresh and early.

The beloved DJ Gaurav, late of the outdoor summer soiree Air, gets the party started at "Freedom 2006," a pre-Independence Day jam at K Street Lounge with hip-hop, modern rock and global sounds. Slip in between 10 and 11 p.m. for free, or register at partywithenigma.com.

Yes, H20 is going to be open on a Monday night and yes, this "Roc-a-Fella Party" is as smashing as the name implies. Memphis Bleek, at right, Young Gunz and Freeway onstage; clubgoers 18 and up on the dance floor, $10 admission before 11 p.m. — what's not to like?

For "Independence Day — It's Not a Party but a Movie," Love offers dancing and DJs on all four of its capacious floors. Freebies (before 10 p.m.) include drinks and barbecue. Grab a pass from lovetheclub.com, werundc.com or usualsuspectz.com

Annual charitable goings-on take place at Clarendon Ballroom, where DJ Pat Premier and the bands Junk Food and Alan Has Radar keep the crowd moving for a good cause — the Arlington Assistance Center, which is the recipient of the canned item you'll be bringing to save three bucks on admission. Aren't you nice? The evening offers three levels (rooftop deck!), drink specials and still another day left to play.

Taint at DC9 throws open its doors to gay boys and girls who don't mind dancing next to straight folk, as long as everyone's down with techno, electro and indie ... uh, indie-o. Bliss spin-master Will Eastman mans the decks at "Indie Day Taint" ... the affair is a mere $3.

Heck, you weren't going to work (or school) tomorrow anyway. Go-go the night away to a monster line-up: Chuck Brown, at left, Sugar Bear and EU, the Afterhours Band and the L!ssen Band play a "Pre-Independence Day Jam" at Zanzibar on the Waterfront. This is a Positive Black Men Coalition event, so dress to impress (no athletic wear, and the promoters are not kidding around) but not so swank you'll fear leaving with a little barbecue sauce on the shirt front. There's an open bar from 7 to 9 p.m.
And while not technically a Fourth of July bash, any night in which New York DJ legend Junior Vasquez is slated to get a crowd moving calls for fireworks. Hear how a master does it at Nation tonight.

» K Street Lounge, 1301 K St. NW; 10 p.m., free until 11 p.m., 202-962-3933. (McPherson Square)
» H2O, 800 Water St. SW; 9 p.m., $10 before 11 p.m. (Waterfront)
» Love, 1350 Okie St. NE. 9 p.m., free until 10:30 p.m.; 202-347-5255.
» Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 7 p.m., $10 early; 703-469-2244. (Clarendon)
» DC9, 1940 9th St. NW; 9 p.m., $3; 202-483-5000. (U St.-Cardozo)
» Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water St. SW; 7 p.m., $25 in advance, $40 VIP; 800-551-7328. (Waterfront)
» Nation, 1015 Half St. SE, 9 p.m., $20; 800-551-7328. (Navy Yard)

Photo courtesy Jonathan Mannion