Curtains Rise On Opera; D.C.’s Latest Nighttime Hotspot Opens Its Doors To VIPs!

NORTHWEST -- No stranger to a star-studded state dinner, Ambassador’s ball or even runway show, club openings in D.C. nevertheless remain relatively few and far between. It was therefore not surprising to find the guest list-only preview party for Opera Ultra Lounge brimming to capacity on Thursday evening, as the city’s movers and shakers turned-out for a sneak peek at the District’s newest nighttime hotspot.

With a prime location just a short walk from the White House, Opera will be readily accessible to those Washingtonians who normally frequent the popular late night venues surrounding the nearby K Street corridor when it opens its doors to the general public in early September.

Partners John Alexiades, Mood Bacho, Alex Haje, and Walid Zeytoun have gone out of their way, however, to differentiate themselves from their neighbors. From state-of-the-art software that remembers the beverage and seating preferences of VIP customers to a kicking 30,000 watt Funktion One audio system (the first one in the city), Opera seeks to reinvent the D.C. club/lounge experience.

And last night, hundreds of the city’s finest, including dozens of television, radio, print, and online media personalities, braved the looming prospect of Hurricane Irene to preview the sleekly-lit new underground space.

While sipping tall glasses of champagne or pouring bottles of chilled Patron XO Coffee Liqueur (Washingtonians love their coffee…even while clubbing), guests were invited to dance the night away during a party that lasted well into the next morning.

Passed serving platters topped with bites of Russian caviar and gourmet chocolates ensured that no one was tempted to leave early and an army of earpiece-wearing, clipboard-toating attendants politely kept curious onlookers at bay (encouraging them to return for the grand opening in a couple of weeks).

“Party rock is in the house tonight / Everybody just have a good time / And we gonna make you lose your mind / Everybody just have a good time,” said the Phantom (clearly, an LMFAO fan).