Start Your Engines For The Big Ball, Er, Opera "Prom"

THE CHEESE TABLE AT THE 2008 OPERA BALL AT THE FRENCH RESIDENCE

The weather couldn't be kinder to the Washington social scene this weekend, not to mention who knows how many proms. This evening the city's rich, titled, entitled and opera-loving will gather for a sort of "elders" prom - a number of embassy dinners in prelude to the Opera Ball at the United Arab Emirates. The ball is not really a ball, at least not by the classic definition. There's no waltzing, no grand promenade. The "ball" is an extravagant dessert party with music, in this instance the traditional music of the UAE, plus popular American music, usually from a swing band or similar. Read a full preview here: the Opera Ball. ~~~

I attended my first Opera Ball in 2008. That night dinner for me and my guest was at the Brazilian ambassador's before the French ambassador, Pierre Vimont, hosted the ball at his residence in Kalorama. More here: 2008 Washington Opera Ball. What was memorable? Meeting the butler who always attended to Princess Diana when she visited DC. Good food, too, and amazing desserts. I attended another at the German Embassy, with dinner before at the Embassy of Afghanistan, but didn't write about the evening. I think I attended again, but I'm not sure, because a lot of these bib and tucker affairs blend together in memory. Much of DC social life comes down to sitting, or standing around, eating. The Meridian Ball (same drill, embassy dinners followed by a big dessert soiree) will always hold a special place in my heart, because one year they imported some hot DJ from New York and people danced. Seriously danced. Feverishly. That was a little off the grid for this town. ~~~

However it goes down tonight, the enthusiastic Washingtonian party squad will be on it and have a full report on Monday.