Mayor Vince Gray with his son, Carlos, left, and clubgoers. (Photo by Daniel Swartz courtesy of Revamp)

Not that we needed another reason to avoid Dupont Circle on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but just in case, a pair of nightlife impresarios last week opened The Huxley, a new hoity-toity nightclub that aims to bring Vegas-style garishness to D.C.’s drab and button-downed party circuit. The venue, by its own boasting, will be accessible only to VIPs and people who make assorted guest lists.

Mayor Vince Gray, champion of the mantra “One City,” was among those who attended the opening party last Thursday. Because nothing says openness and unity like bottle service.

Oh, and just why is the club called The Huxley? It’s not really because of any innate connection too the Brave New World author. According to the nightlife chronicler Revamp, owners Ryan Seelbach and Eric Lund were just engaging in a bit of Britsploitation:

While many might assume that The Huxley takes its name from famed English author Aldous Huxley, that’s only partially true. Seelbach and Lund deliberately sought out a British name that was equally sexy, sophisticated, and professional in order to appeal to both club patrons, as well as corporate clients. And after scouring every street, district, and borough of London and every famous manor in England, they settled on their final choice.

Hmm, no one who’s opened a nightspot in D.C. has ever done that before, have they?