how can i quickly handle alternate config for site downtime?

[Jonathan Vanasco]

for the pat few years, i have stuff like this:

file:  /_hosts/findmeon_
content:
	include /_hosts/findmeon_/www.findmeon.com ;
	#include /_hosts/findmeon_/www.findmeon.com-downtime ;

when i want to take a domain up/down, i just toggle to comment line  
for the include, and restart nginx like magic.

i'm wondering if there is a better way?

ideally i'd like to be able to either have some sort of if/else logic  
in nginx , and maybe either a command-line or file based way (this  
way kill -HUP still works )

or maybe someone else has a better method ?