Paradise gay club cambridge
Various historic places around Massachusetts have closed down this summer. First it was Porthole Pub on the Lynnway (which was RIGHT next to my building), next it was the Spuds on Lincoln Street in Saugus, and Bianchi’s on Revere Beach served their last pizza last week. This truly is the summer of switch for many people.
One recent announcement was a arrange in the making, but is still causing shockwaves among the LBGTQ people in Boston. Paradise, Boston’s historic gay nightclub on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, will be closing their doors this month. The final show will be held on Saturday September 15th, which was announced through their Facebook page a week ago.
This truly comes as a shock for many patrons of Paradise. So what exactly is to blame for this tragic occasion? Some place the blame on the growing popularity of gay dating apps, such as Grindr or Scruff. Word was going around that the land was becoming too expensive, what with Boston becoming increasingly gentrified each year. What’s interesting is that this plan was in the works before Grindr even became popular in Boston.
The closing of Paradise poses as a PR
In a good place to be LGBTQ+, dedicated spaces for those communities can be difficult to find
Campus, seen June 15, is the Thursday LGBTQ+ nighttime at ManRay in Cambridge’s Central Square. (Photo: Annie Schugart)
In Cambridge and Somerville, you would be unyielding pressed to find a place where members of the LGBTQ+ community are not welcome. Pride flag stickers are a dime a dozen on store and café windows, and nobody seems to consciousness bold proclamations of gender or sexuality. In many ways, it’s an perfect place to be Diverse in an America that is growing more hostile.
Spaces dedicated to the group are sparse, though. Club and bar nights live, but there are no gay bars to be heard of since the closing of Paradise in 2018. In neighboring Boston, spaces have been going away too: Machine in Fenway closed to make way for a condo growth, and Bella Luna and the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain closed during the Covid pandemic.
One of the spaces that linger in Cambridge is Campus at ManRay, a club night that happens every Thursday. The night itself is informal compared with some others at ManRay that cater to specific, alternative subcultures and arrive with dress codes. The only
Paradise (CLOSED)
Surrounded by the boutique eateries on a colorful but quiet stretch of Mass Ave between Core Square and MIT, Paradise is a nightclub with a raunchy reputation for providing gay entertainment, from well-waxed go-go boys on the basement level gyrate floor to gay porn in its more relaxed lounge. Some find the atmosphere and goings-on intimidating, but it’s a scene that endures and entertains nevertheless.
- Address
- 180 Massachusetts Ave
- Cambridge
- 02139
- Cross street:
- Albany Street
- Transport:
- Red Line to Central
- Opening hours:
- Sun-Wed 9pm-1am; Thu 9pm-2am; Fri-Sat 7pm-2pm
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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Paradise
Reviews 22
A
A Private User
This place is ridiculous. Used to come here a lot for great song and dancing, could always look past the porn playing on TVs and the poor strippers. But then I tried to bring some girlfriends (having warned them about porn, strippers, etc) for a great night of dancing. In one case, they told one of the girls that she was going to have to check her coat dress (ZERO tolerance on the coat check policy). When we tried pointing out that she had nothing on underneath a MOST unpleasant manager came out screaming at us. Even though we never made it past the coat check, they refused to refund the cover attack we had just paid. In another case they told another girl she couldnt come in because she was wearing heels. HEELS! They say its because someone fell down the stairs in heels and theyre afraid of being liable. Apparently its not just the strippers that dont have balls. Maybe theyre just trying to make it firm for women to reach in. I dont recognize, it doesnt matter. Ill never return here.
JA
James Budkiewicz
Its an ok place. The drinks are average price and there is a large downstairs area for dancing and drinking. The upstairs area wa
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