parterre box

Don’t forget that this Friday, February 2 is “Gay Hookup Night at the Met,” or as it is more formally titled, “Connect at the Met for Gay and Lesbian Singles.” Whether your goal is serious husband-hunting, a casual encounter to share Champagne and dessert, or just to demonstrate that there are some queens out there even more desperate than you are, the Met’s the place to be on Friday night. And let it not be forgotten that the opera itself is one of the Met’s most artistic offerings this season, a revival of Janacek’s Jenufa starring top-flight divas Karita Mattila and Anja Silja.

The all-inclusive $95 ticket includes an orchestra seat with a chance to mingle with other opera lovers, a pre-performance hors d’oeuvres reception and a champagne-dessert reception at intermission during which time you can sneak a peek at the exhibition of Callas’s stage jewelry. (And with all that gaiety going on, La Cieca wouldn’t be surprised to if she saw go-go boys in skimpy gold shorts giving lap dances in Grand Tier boxes.) More details and ordering instructions are on the new improved metopera.org.