Profile - Mike Katz

Mike Katz met Allen Godfrey at Fountainhead Lounge (now East Side Lounge in East Atlanta). Godfrey owned the place, and Katz was a barback until Godfrey recruited him to open Halo Lounge. Today, Katz is the managing owner of Halo, but you can also find him on the turntables on Wednesday nights.

The medley of architectural styles in the lounge — deconstructionist and minimalist structures, classic and contemporary furniture — conveys a tone that is both innovative and open. "Everyone is equal," says Katz. "We try to provide an authentic nightlife vibe where the crowd isn't divided by race, music style, gender or sexual orientation."

Over the years, Halo Lounge featured internationally respected artists such as the DJ T (from Get Physical Music), the Frank Popp Ensemble, Ursula 1000, and Mark Rae (from Rae & Christian).

Hot nights include Illuminate, a Friday event featuring local nu-jazz selector Chris Grass. "We bring talent from around the world to educate the audience as far as what nightlife music should sound like," says Katz.

With his girlfriend, Heather Scott, Katz also owns a clothing store in Statesboro called Paper Doll.

For its fifth anniversary party, Halo Lounge will present Turntables on the Hudson, a DJ crew from New York. "They're some of my favorite DJs," he raves. The event takes place Sat., July 29.