It’s not Phantom of the Opera, Cats, or Rent that are causing the ruckus Thursday nights at the West End Opera House. Instead, the sources of commotion surrounding this Winston-Salem bar are the Wake Forest faithful. For Deac-Nation, Opera has become the place to see and be seen on Thursday nights after Sportsline.

Everyone (over 21 of course!) from the ROTC instructors to the over achiever in your Calc class can be found at this shrine to socialization and alcohol. If you feel that this is your cup of tea (or bottle of Bud Light in this case), be prepared for a potential line outside, smoky atmosphere inside, and the inability to play darts or pool thanks to the crowd. Other nights of the week are not as busy, but nonetheless Opera House still holds a crowd on any night of the week.

A relatively friendly staff mans the ever crowded and constantly busy bar. With that in mind waiting times for a drink is a test in patience. But allow me to say that the drinks here are pretty stiff. A mixed drink such as cranberry and vodka will only have just enough cranberry juice to give the drink color. Thus the adjective “stiff” is a glaring understatement.

Although membership is “required”, being a member is a joke. It's one, yes, one dollar to gain membership. Making this more of a hoax is the fact that only one individual in a particular crowd needs to be a member. Ergo, membership here is far from a problem.

TGI Friday-esque paraphernalia on the walls gives Opera House a vintage feel, while the hi-definition televisions, clean bathrooms, two billiard tables, and several dartboards are attractive features for less congested evenings. Seating can be a problem as can waiting for a drink, but this provides ample opportunity to enjoy the company of the young lady or gentleman standing next to you.

This is the trendy spot for Thursday nights, so membership or not, come on out. Enjoy the presence of an almost strictly Wake crowd and why not, have a beer.