JP Jitterbugs is an open-air dance venue on the shore of Jamaica Pond (at the Jamaica Pond Boat…read moreHouse). The dances occur on some Saturdays and typically start at 4 or 5PM with an hour and a half beginner lesson, followed by a party, typically to live music. The schedule is available at https://sites.google.com/view/jpjitterbugs/events or https://www.facebook.com/jpjitterbugs Logistics: street parking is free and not very hard to find, but be prepared to walk for 1-2 blocks. The boat house is a small two-storey structure (upper level is an open terrace with a roof) at the end of the lake corner of the Pond street, there is typically a pretty large crowd around it. You need to register for event (at the top of the stairs), vaccination is required, mask is optional. You will be fitted with a color-coded bracelet (there is an elaborate signaling ritual, starting with green "I am OK to dance with anyone, masked or not", all the way to the red "I cannot dance with strangers"). On the day I visited, the dance was technically free, with $5-$15 donation suggested. The venue: The band plays on the terrace. There are two dance surfaces: a small dance floor upstairs for a chosen few and a large asphalt surface downstairs for the unwashed masses like me. The latter has one of the most atrocious surfaces to be used for dancing, comparable only to the Lindy in the Park in San Francisco. Leave your good dance shoes at home and avoid any pivots or spins unless you are very sure of what you (and your partner) are capable of. Multiple park benches are available nearby, so sitting down is not an issue. Limited amount of shade is available. The crowd: more than 100 people of very mixed abilities, from absolute beginners to very advanced. Percentage of beginners is pretty high. On the day I visited there were noticeably, but not catastrophically, more followers than leads. Overall: a very high level of fun for an outdoor venue, in my (limited) experience comparable only to Lindy in the Park in the SF Golden Gate park (JP runs less frequently and has fewer onlookers, but it features live music and a pond to marvel at). Highly recommended. If you are a follower and do not know the community, bringing your own lead might be wise. A water bottle will also come handy.

So far, we've been waiting for an hour and still no drinks or food. More to come... after we…read moreactually get some service. OK, 1 hour and 10 minutes after being seated, I got my second choice drink (The could NOT make me a Bloody Mary‼). Still no food. The couple directly ahead of us finished with their dessert. :-( A new server just confirmed that our order was sent to the kitchen 65 minutes ago. 7:45 PM Reservation 7:50 PM Seated 9:27 PM We walked out‼ The first time in my 64 years that I have ever walked out of a restaurant (we did not pay for the one drink or appetizers we eventually received). Enough said.

What a fun place! I went to a cabaret at dbar this fall and it was such a blast, made all the…read morebetter by the great venue, kind staff, and delicious food. The outside of the restaurant-turned-club does look like its dive bar predecessor, but the inside is dark, classy, and cozy - with a good dose of flashy lights and bling after dark. Since it was a special event as part of the "dbarLIVE" series, we had to make reservations a few weeks in advance on Open Table -- no cover or minimum for the reservation. We had a table of 6 that eventually crammed 8 together in a booth right next to the stage and bar areas. I worried we'd be blasted by the speakers and lights, but the acoustics were robust but well balanced. Our server was great and had good recommendations for drinks and food. Both menus have a ton of options without being too overwhelming. I was especially impressed by how the staff expertly wove in and out of the tables and remained attentive during the performances. I am a slow drinker so I just got The Saint, which I would definitely recommend even though I don't usually get whiskey-based cocktails. (The Tall Man, who does love whiskey, also enjoyed it.) I had already eaten dinner, so I shared the Vietnamese fries and tuna ceviche with a friend. The fries did not quite hit home for me. I enjoy all of those flavors individually, but it ended up being too heavy with the sauces, and the fries got soggy in a way that wasn't that pleasant. (I do like poutine, so go figure.) I really enjoyed the freshness, flavors, and texture combinations of the ceviche, though. The winner of the night was the lemon tart by far -- smoky torched gooey meringue on a perfectly tart lemon filling and biscuit base. Definitely full of gluten and dairy but very worth the indulgence! I'd love to come back for a regular dinner here and would definitely return for a special event too. Parking in the lot is limited, but there's a good amount of street parking.

For 10+ years, Kristen Porter's Dyke Night Productions has been presenting an ever-evolving,…read moreever-awesome assortment of recurring club nights that create a safe and fun space for women (+ allies). From Toast Fridays (RIP) back in the day to the current line-up that includes Second Saturdays at Machine, Fourth Fridays at the Milky Way, and the brand-new "Venus Room" (every Friday night at Felt), Dyke Night has become the heart and soul of the Boston-area lesbian & friends community, at least when it comes to nightlife. Dyke Night also regularly teams up with LGBT community groups to host fundraisers, while also giving back to the community in other ways such as through the donation of 25% of its profits to LGBT causes.

I agree with A B., Machine seems to only play a techno-style music genre. Every song, gets spun…read moreinto the same techno-beat. There are other types of music out there! The influx of people from all different backgrounds and cultures should be a sign to also add variety to the music being played. How about some hip hop, R&B, Reggae, Reggaeton, Salsa, top 40 hits, etc!!! The DJ at Milkyway spins some really good music. Everyone seems to be having fun and enjoying the music :)

Wings were killer and the ribs were excellent the sides were really good I need to try the rest of…read moretheir menu. In due time when crime flees my mind all sneak thieves and player haters could shine you hear me stress right? Can i live?

Another terrible meal from an establishment that used to be a staple in the community! Ordered Food…read morefor my Mom on Mother's Day via Door Dash. She was supposed to have a slab of ribs, potato salad , greens , chicken livers and chicken wings . She received random burnt pieces of ribs, NOT the slab she was supposed to have . Greens were super spicy- she wasn't able to enjoy . Potato Salad had WAY too much mayo, gross! AND the oil needed to be changed for the chicken livers and wings . They tasted burnt! This order was over $100.00 and we only received a $50 credit . This is unacceptable. Slades has to do better and get back to the way things used to be .

I think the key thing is that it's not as bad or as far away as other Music venues. Free water if…read moreyou ask at the bar, they even gave us free club soda with a lime. Easy merch lines. Con: hard shutoff at 11:05. Cut CMAT off mid-song... At least let her finish her hits! I like that they allow Ubers and Lyfts to pick up right in the front. SUPER convenient.

Venue is tired. Sold…read moreseats with an obstructed view. People whose job it is to enforce rules so it haphazardly. Was told I was not allowed to go down to the merch table for multiple hours due to having to stay on my floor. People were allowed to stand in front of the railing in one area while being told to move in another. Power trips galore. Email was sent saying the show was starting at 6:30. Doors did not open until after 6:30. Show did not start until after 8.

Myles was so wonderful- we had a great meal and there was Lush Life jazz singing afterward. Wow!…read moreAmazing service, delicious food, brilliant performances.

Was verbally shamed by the very rude bartender for not tipping on a canned drink. He told me to…read more"try again" on the transaction and wouldn't serve me. Ended up tipping because I was genuinely worried it would cause a scene if I didn't. Super weird place, would not recommend.