COVER STORY
Club Boston
Theater District
Connecting Boylston and Stuart streets, Boylston Place is popularly known as the Alley. It is home to a half dozen clubs, with a wide range of music. For example, the Sugar Shack (617-351-2510) hosts "It" on Wednesdays with DJ Bruno spinning hip-hop, reggae, and R&B. Several other Alley clubs are among those included below.
THE BIG EASY
1 Boylston Place. (in the Alley), Boston. 617-351-7000.
Food Pizza kitchen open until 2 a.m.
Music Tue.: "International Night," with DJ. Thur.: Top 40 cover bands. Fri.-Sat.: "Freestyle" with DJ Matt Phipps. Music starts at 10 p.m.
Cover $7
Age 21+
Atmosphere We're still not sure if the name of the club refers to the New Orleans-style decor or the meat market mentality inside. The Big Easy is a bar for those on the prowl. Groups of women in chunky heels and Capri pants dance to mainstream music from DJs and cover bands while hungry-looking men stand around eyeing them. The well-dressed, professional crowd fits in nicely with the Pottery Barn-meets-Southern mansion style surroundings.
- C.M.
JACQUES
79 Broadway., Boston. 617-426-8902. (Get directions).
Music Sun. upstairs: live rock. Mon. upstairs: rock/cabaret with Rick Berlin. Tue.-Sat. upstairs: drag shows. Fri.-Sat. downstairs: rock bands.
Cover $4 weekdays; $6-$7 on weekends.
Age 21+
Atmosphere Downstairs, a comfortably grimy room showcasing local rock that leans toward punk. Pretension- and snoot-free all the way. Upstairs, a laid-back mix of gay and straight Mondays, but drag-focused crowd other nights.
- Amy Finch
THE ROXY
279 Tremont St., Boston. 617-338-7699. (Get directions).
Music Thur.: "Latin Quarter" with DJs playing salsa and merengue. Fri.: Roxy Rewind with club music from the '70s-'90s. Sat.: house, techno, Top 40.
Cover Thur.-Fri. $10; Sat. $15.
Age 21+
Atmosphere The club's Thursday night Latin night is one of the best in the city. The cavernous space leaves plenty of room for merengue dancing, even on the busiest of nights. The club recently introduced its oldies night on Friday. Saturday draws a well-dressed assortment of Euros, college students, and professionals.
- C.M.
THE SWEET WATER CAFE
3 Boylston Place (in the Alley across from Boston Common), Boston. 617-351-2515. (Get directions).
Food Service expected next month.
Cover After 9 p.m. Thur. $3; Fri.-Sat. $4
Age 21+
Music Thur.: cover, rock, and alternative rock bands. A low-key DJ spins most nights, when folks come here to schmooze, not listen to tunes. Sweet Water often participates in special nights with other Alley clubs (radio DJs doing live broadcasts are a common sight).
Atmosphere You'll feel like you're stepping into a Southwestern bar. The walls are dark with beer signs and some bad art. No fancy furniture, just wooden (sometimes wobbly) tables. You drink the beer right out of the bottles. It's not unusual to see folks in jeans next to a row of suits. You could easily pick someone up here, but you'd never admit to it afterward.
- Carol Beggy
CLUB VENU
100 Warrenton St., Boston. 617-338-8061.
Music Tue.: "Got Milk" with DJ Osheen spinning deep house. Thur.: "Platinum" with DJ Fuma spinning house. Fri.: International Night with DJ Alex and DJ Tassos spinning Eurohouse. Sat. Greek Night with DJ Yorgo. Sun.: Brazilian night with DJ Adilson. Closed Wed.
Cover Tue., Thur., Sun. $10; Fri.-Sat. $15
Age 21+
Atmosphere Club Venu opened last year with the goal of bringing a taste of Miami and New York to Boston. The bright, 350-capacity Art-Deco dance club heats up late (Fridays doors open at 11:30 p.m.) and specializes in theme nights that attract an international crowd (who managers refer to as "clients"). A typical flier for the club encourages patrons to grab "the Gucci and gas up the Mercedes." Reservations are required Fri., jackets all weekend.
- B.C.
YESTERDAYS BAR & GRILLE
533 Washington St., Boston. 617-350-5555
Food American style Mon.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Music Thur.: "College Night," night, live and house techno. Fri.: live swing. Sat.: '70s, '80s pop. Sun.: hip-hop swing.
Cover $10
Age Thur.-Fri. 19+; Sat.: 21+
Atmosphere Disco-ball dancing, low-lit lounging await behind sweeping stained-glass windows of this new hot spot. Friday swing dancing at Roxy moved here, the new must-see (and be-seen) for the retro hep. Dancing on the second and third floors of the former Joy club. Bring a funky attitude and an extra set of legs if you want to Lindy Hop to the very down beat of DJ Forrest "Big Daddy" Frazier on Sundays.
- Eddie Medina
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