While Boston does have a few conventional — some might say uninteresting — gay bars, it doesn’t have a designated hotspot for queer women. Not that our city isn’t home to a thriving dyke scene (lacking a centralized location can make things more exciting, no?), but it can be difficult to navigate if you’ve just come out, are questioning your sexuality, or are new to our fair city.
Some of the fun at last year's Lush Pride Party. |
So where are all the single ladies? Well, for starters they’re not at Club Café, but you probably know that already, savvy reader. And you probably know that there’s no better time to branch out into Boston’s LGBTQ community than during Boston Pride.
Following Friday’s Boston DYKE MARCH rally on Boston Common, head over to the Greatest Bar, where Dyke Night’s Kristen Porter is throwing the official after-party on four floors with two DJs and a laid-back martini lounge.
The next night, Dyke Night presents the Second Saturdays LUSH PRIDE PARTY at Machine, with lesbian comic Sandra Valls and music by Rajdulari and Tru Vibe from 8 pm to 2 am. (This party will be huge — last year’s drew a staggering crowd of 1200.)
Also on Saturday is the annual ESME BLOCK PARTY, which brings thousands of women to the Alley for a little bump and grind from 2 to 7 pm. It’s presented by Shuttavac nightlife maven Beth McGurr, who also produces the long-running, dancerific PURE FRIDAYS. Then shimmy one block over to THE RATTLESNAKE, where DJs Bamboora and Miss Lady J will keep the good times rolling until 2 am.
Post-Pride, hit up sultry UPPEREAST THURSDAY at Om, the aforementioned PURE FRIDAY, and DYKE NIGHT (second Saturdays at Machine, fourth Fridays at the Milky Way, respectively). LesbianNightLife and Boston’s Queer Agenda are fantastic resources for women’s events. And don’t go writing off mixed-gender events — a lot of women turn out for these parties, which several local LGBTQ organizers agree are the future of queer nightlife.
“There’s been a big trend toward inclusiveness and throwing out the idea of ‘lesbian’ or ‘gay’ night,” says Four to the Floor’s Colleen Finnegan, who produces QUEER TUESDAYS at ZuZu. “It’s like labeling an event as a ‘straight’ night. There is a big movement to shrug off that label, which is why parties like THE NEIGHBORHOOD [at the Midway], MILK AND HONEY [at the Good Life], WORK!, NU LIFE, and HARUM SCARUM [all at ZuZu] have become so popular.”
This Tuesday, the BONAFIDE PRIDE party at ZuZu features four resident DJs, plus a set by the Phoenix’s very own Michael Brodeur. On Wednesday, BonaFide presents a special LADIES AND GENTLEMEN party at the Good Life with Nathanael Bluhm (of local pop heartthrobs Mystery Roar).
Truth Serum’s Aliza Shapiro also advocates for inclusiveness, saying that while she loves hanging out with her ladies, there’s no reason to exclude anyone from events like TRANIWRECK and CINEMENTAL. Her upcoming events include a June 24 show with MEN, Mystery Roar, and DJ LeahV at T.T. the Bear’s, and the July 10 FAMOUS LESBIAN COMEDY ROAD SHOW at the Midway Cafe (pair it with a trip to The Neighborhood, happening immediately after).
