Best Opera With Alcohol in Los Angeles: Room 5 Lounge

Room 5 Lounge

143 N. La Brea Ave., Second Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036

(323) 938-2504

If the only way you're getting through Mozart or Puccini is with a whole lot of booze, get thee to Opera on Tap. The event is essentially a bunch of professional and student opera singers who sing opera once a month, in a bar, Room 5 Lounge on La Brea. Shows are organized around a central theme: "dueling divas," or "the sluts of opera," or "summer lovin'." Performers sample from a variety of composers. An emcee explains the plot right before the singer launches into it, so Opera on Tap is ideal for opera virgins. Opera seems unapproachably highbrow now, but back in the day it was lowbrow popular entertainment. And did we mention you can order pizza and crabcakes while you listen? Don't worry, they won't do the entire Cosi fan tutte. Just a sweet little aria or two. Just enough, hopefully, to whet your thirst for the full production. 143 N. La Brea Ave., second floor, Hancock Park. (323) 938-2504, operaontap.org. —Gendy Alimurung

Source: LA Weekly