HANGING OUT
Generally,
there are three areas of the city where many of the LBGT friendly services
and hangouts are located. The South End is Boston's "gay ghetto,"
though the dominant crowd is gay male. To explore the South End,
start at the corner of Union Park and Tremont Street in Boston, an easy
walk from the Back Bay T Stop (Orange Line). Davis Square in Somerville,
right on the Red Line, has recently come of age and is drawing a progressive
crowd. Finally, racially diverse Jamaica Plain is quite LBGT-friendly,
especially for lesbian women. To explore Jamaica Plain, start
at the Midway Cafe.
In
addition, if you are looking to get out of the city, Ogunquit,
Maine and Provincetown, Massachusetts
are the local LBGT resort towns; especially in the summer, Provincetown
becomes the place to be in New England if you are LBGT.
STORES
AND ENTERTAINMENT
Brattle
Theater
40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (Harvard Square)
617-876-6837
A nearby theater which shows a different movie every night. Different
types of films are shown, including many that cater to the queer community.
Sponsors an annual Women's Film Festival each spring. Listings can be
found in the MIT Student Center's 1st floor newspaper racks.
Calamus Bookstore
92B South Street, Boston, MA 02111
617-338-1931
Hours:
Mon-Sat 9-7; Sun 12-6
Located one block from South Station, Calamus is an LBGT bookstore,
which offers the ability to order on-line, sponsors events, and has
an e-mail newsletter.
Coolidge
Corner Theater
290 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA
617-734-2500
A neat old theater in Brookline which shows a nice mix of new and older
films. It often shows the latest queer films plus special presentations.
Just a note that Grand Opening is now a web-only store, but Good
Vibrations, a San Francisco Bay Area chain, has expanded nearby into
Coolidge Corner:
Good Vibrations
308 Harvard Street, Brookline
(rear of building, behind Japanese restaurant)
617-264-4400
Harvard
Film Archive
24 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (Harvard Square)
617-495-4700
Hosts a yearly queer filmfest in the late spring/early summer as well
as occasional films during the rest of the year.
Kendall
Cinema
One Kendall Square, 494-9800
A queer owned local theater that shows all of the current independent
releases including a large selection of gay oriented movies. Best
of all, it is right in Kendall Square, minutes from the MIT campus.
The
Movie Place
526 Tremont St., Boston (South End)
617-482-9008
Hours: 11-11 daily
Video rental located in Boston's South End. It carries all the
LBGT community favorites. Also has an extensive gay male erotica
section. You can also check out Mike's Movies (just down the street
on Tremont).
Museum
of Fine Arts (MFA)
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617-369-3770
Hosts a yearly queer filmfest in the late spring/early summer as well
as occasional films during the rest of the year.
New
Words
newwords@world.std.com
186 Hampshire Street (Inman Square), Cambridge, MA 02139
617-876-5310, 800-928-4788, Fax 617-354-9066
Hours: Tues-Fri 12-8; Sat 10-6; Sun 12-6; Mon closed
A well-established feminist bookstore which carries books for and by
women from all walks of life. An extensive selection of lesbian fiction,
gay politics, women's studies, and more.
The
Theater Offensive
539 Tremont Street #408, Boston, MA 02116-6306 (South End)
617-542-4214
A cutting-edge queer theater presents the Out On The Edge Festival each
September
We
Think The World Of You
540 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116 (South End)
617-574-5000
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-7; Sat 10-6:30; Sun 11:30-5:30.
LBGT bookstore (with a gay focus). Frequent appearances by authors.
Largest LBGT roommate posting board. Located in the South End,
across from the Boston Center for the Arts.
Wild
Women Outfitters
397 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02474
781-641-5776
Hours: Mon & Sat 10-7; Tues & Wed 1-8; Thurs & Fri 10-9; Sun 11-6.
Gay friendly outdoor store, everything from hiking gear to kayaks.
CAFES
AND CLUBS
Below,
we've provided information regarding many of the area's clubs and cafes,
as well as the days they state they are LBGT (Note: Boston clubs
are often LBGT-friendly on specific nights). Many of the publications
listed in the "Media" section of this
Guide provide their opinions on the clientele, and you can also check
with your friends or MIT's student groups for
their suggestions. You should also visit the bar guides at Bay
Windows and GayBoston.
It's always a good idea to go with a friend or two, particularly the first
time you visit-- and call ahead to get more specific information
The
Amazon Slam at Ryle's
212 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (Inman Square)
617-876-9330
(women) The last Sunday of every month. After the poets' slam there
is DJ She-Bang until midnight. $7. Voted best place to meet
a lesbian in Phoenix in 1999 and Best of Boston for Poetry Slams. This
is where the women are. Doors open at 7:30, slam starts at 8.
Avalon
14 Landsdowne St., Boston, MA 02215 (Kenmore Square)
617-262-2424
Open: Sunday is gay night, 10 PM to 2:00 AM
$10 cover, 21+
(men) Boston's largest dance venue.
The
Boston Eagle
520 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116 (South End)
617-542-4494
Open 7 days: M-F 3 PM - 2 AM; Sat 1 PM - 2 AM; Sun noon - 2 AM
(men) Neighborhood bar. No cover, 21+.
Buzz
67 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116 (Theater District)
617-267-8969
Open: Saturday is gay night, 10 PM to 2:00 AM
$8 cover, 21+
(men) Dancing on two levels, pool table, quiet lounge area Voted Best
of Boston.
Circuit Girl
67 Stuart Street (Theater District), Boston,MA
(women) Formerly Lava Bar women's night. 3 rooms - Dance Floor with
DJ spinning current dance, house, with a little latin and R&B music,
booth lounge, and pool table lounge. Open Friday night, 10 PM - 2 AM.
City
Girl Cafe
204 Hampshire St., Cambridge (Inman Square)
617-864-2809
Hours: 11 AM-9 PM Tues-Sun.
Club
Cafe
209 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116 (Back Bay/South End)
617-536-0966
Open: 7 days, M-F 11:30 AM-2 AM; Sat 2 PM-2 AM; Sun 11 AM-2 AM; Sun
brunch 11 AM-3 PM
(men and women) Restaurant, bar, and lounge. No cover, 21+ Gay/Lesbian
mixed every night. Thursday is women's night in back bar.
Deville's
1 Allens Ave., Providence, RI 02903
401-751-7166
(women) For anyone who has a car, this is worth the trip. A 24/7 Bar/Club
for women and their friends. $2 cover, cheap drinks, DJ from 9 PM-2
AM.
Diesel
Cafe
257 Elm St., Somerville (Davis Square)
617-629-8717
Hours: M-Thurs 7 AM-12 AM, Fr 7 AM-1 AM, Sat 9 AM-1 AM, Sun 8
AM-12 AM.
Francesca's
Espresso Bar
617-482-9026
565 Tremont St., Boston (South End)
(mostly men) One of the traditional anchors of South End social
life. A fairly social atmosphere.
Fritz
26 Chandler St., Boston, MA 02116 (South End)
617-482-4428
Open: Daily, noon to 2:00 AM
(men) Neighborhood bar. No cover, 21+
Garden
of Eden
577 Tremont St., Boston (South End)
617-247-8377
Cafe/restaurant. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside.
Hideaway
Pub
20 Concord Ln. Cambridge, MA
617-661-8828
Pool & billiards lounge, mixed
Jacque's
79 Broadway St., Boston, MA 02116 (Theater District)
617-426-8902
Open: Mon-Sat 11 AM-12 AM; Sun 12 PM-12 AM
Cover: $4 Mon Tues, $5 Wed-Thurs, $6 Fri and Sat
(men) Shows every night at 10:30 PM female impersonators except Monday
(men). Monday, Rick Berlin cabaret. Friday and Saturday, live local
music in downstairs bar. 21+ all the time.
Jeannie
Johnston's
(women) A bar on South Street in Jamaica Plain-Wednesday night is Trivia
night. Lots of fun and lots of women as well as other locals.
Totally gay friendly and a lot of fun! You can win prizes too!
Luxor/Mario's
69 Church St., Boston, MA 02116 (Bay Village)
617-423-6969
Open: Daily, 4 PM-1 AM
(men) Video disco/sports bar. Next to Mario's, an Italian restaurant
open 5:30-10:30 PM.
Machine
1256 Boylston St. Boston, MA (Fenway)
617-536-1950
Largest gay nightclub in Boston.
Manray
21 Brookline St., Cambridge (Central Square)
617-494-0700
Thursday and Saturdays. 19+. Thursday is called Campus;
Saturday it's Liquid.
Midway
Cafe
3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-524-9038
(women) Great hangout, near Doyles in Jamaica Plain. Open 4 PM-2 AM,
DJ from 10 to 1. 21+. Dyke Night on Thursdays, $2.
Paradise
180 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA
617-494-0700
Open 7 nights. No cover. 21+. Practically on MIT's
campus.
Ramrod
1254 Boylston St., Boston, MA (Fenway)
617-266-2986
Leather and denim bar.
Randolph
Country Club
44 Mazzeo Dr., Randolph, MA 02368
781-961-2414
(men and women) Entertainment complex serving the gay and lesbian community.
2 DJs, 2 rooms, lots of fun, located off route 24 in Randolph MA --
about a 30 minute commute.
Someday
Cafe
51 Davis Square, Somerville
617-623-3323
Hours: M-Thurs 7 AM-11 AM, Fri-Sun 8 AM-12 AM.
Casual cafe with board games to play.
Vapor
(aka Chaps)
100 Warrenton St., Boston, MA 02116 (Theater District)
617-695-9500
Open: 7 days until 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM
$3-$8 cover, 21+
(men) Mon - Piano Bar, Tues - Oldies; Wed - Latino; Thurs - Mocha; Fri
& Sat - House; Sun - Tea Dance starting at 6 PM .
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