EPIC Saturdays @ Roxy Nightclub

By far, one of the best places to go in Boston on Saturday nights.
The music is good, the drinks are strong (if you go to the right bar), and the boys in teeny, tiny shorts are cute! :)
I love the fact that it’s much larger than most places in Boston, you have the feel of a huge, sweat-​box party.
No shady men grabbing at you, just cute gay boys who tell me I’m beautiful and ask me politely to dance to one song, a kiss me on the cheek after & tell me to have have good night.
Seriously… Nothing better. I love the look of the place, slightly gaudy with the giant staircase leading up to the dance floor, bright neon colored lights & decorations, and dark red velvet everything.
I have yet to go here and not have a good time.
I love you, Roxy!

Toto, I dont think we are in Kansas any more.
The music was hopping. The scene, not so much. Dudes making out everywhere, and a random in a leopard speedo on top of a platform.
Totally what I invisioned but still kinda creepy.
2 girls in a gay club? we were looked at as though we were lost.
So very sad that all of these beautiful men have gone to waste. What have we done ladies?

How old is this place? I don’t mean that in a bad way at all. You walk up and get the impression that this is just another nightclub, nothing remarkable. Up the stairs, still no big deal. Up the second set of stairs and out into the cavernous opening; quite impressive. Of corse the drinks are expensive, what did you expect? Guys, girls, guys who want to be girls, girls who want to be guys, and everything in between. Purely a no judgement zone. Bathrooms are unisex, something I’m a very big proponent of. Get there a little after 11 and you won’t feel like you’re too early and you can claim a good spot. After midnight-​thirty, it’s bedlam. I met a couple from NY that will be going tonight; you should too.

First let me tell you a little secret… I’m really a gay man trapped inside a female body… er well that’s what I feel like every time I go here with my gay boys. I love hearing the thumpa thumpa. I love going into the washroom and there’s boys ogling themselves in the mirror. I love ending up with a random drink that the barman made special because he knows my friends. I love dancing in the middle of loads of people where no one cares if you can’t dance to save your live. I love the shot girls/​boys. I love the random table of condoms by the door… now I’m not really fond of the drink prices, and there is a $ 25 minimum on cards, which is like two drinks but that’s what pregame is for. But everything else, I love.

F*CK! I love this place. LOVE IT. I went back and it was just as good as last time. Half naked boys, hot sweaty dancers, thumping music, and just dance dance dancing unhindered.
Best part of the night: The bouncer asking us whether we knew what tonight was. I told him I knew EXACTLY what tonight was and that is the reason I was here. Got some raised eyebrows for that one. Nothing wrong with a straight girl enjoying herself at a gay club!

I’m so frustrated that this is carrying the torch of Avalon. Avalon put this place to shame. I’ve been probably 10 times and really only enjoyed the music once. The DJs (including the guest DJs) SUCK. Your job is to read the crowd. When the floor empties out, it’s time to switch the song to something that brings people to the floor. The SPACE is incredible, don’t get me wrong. The crowd is usually pretty good. It’s one of the easier places to get a drink (they scatter bars and minibars throughout the place) but it just doesn’t have that certain something. I hope it finds its groove soon.

Eh. That’s really all I can say about it, and that’s probably all you’d be able to hear me say even if I had written a more voluble review if we were at the Roxy on Saturday together, because the music is so loud that there’s really no point in trying to have a conversation. Some clubs have an icky feeling or an off-​putting character; I just get *no* feeling and discern *no* character. I mean, I could also write, «a fair amount of eye candy, but also some slimy creepy people», or, «drinks are somewhat overpriced but acceptable drinks», or, «lighting and sound are competent but nothing to write home about», but then I’d be describing almost every club, it seems, in Boston. Roxy gets docked from a neutral three stars to only two because the music is too loud and is the same old stereotyped music that you hear at Thursdays @ The Estate or most places when GQB goes there.

OK, so let’s face it, like almost any gay bar or gay night in Boston, the Roxy is totally what you make of it. Yeah the drinks are on the pricey side, but come on… have you heard of pre-​gaming?
The Roxy has great (and many hot) bartenders like Chris, Janet, Rob, and Mike (if you don’t agree, try tipping well like you should). The music is some of the best to dance to in the area. You have a large variety of guys to scope out in one location. This is a great place to go with a group of friends, cut a rug, people watch, and talk about other people without the worry they can hear you doing it…

I SWEAR TO GOD, THE INSIDE OF THIS PLACE WAS THEMED «DRACULA’S CASTLE».
The whole place is filled with terrible light, sluts and more.
I been here for the gay nights on saturday. The dj always play the same gay stereotyped music. God, If i hear Rhianna one more time…
other than that, they charge you waaaay to much for a drink. The admissions fee is ridiculous. Come on guys, why do you expect me to give you money? 15 dollars!!! come on. its not new york city.
if your gay and you need to cruise rather than hit the manhunt site. this is the place to be. But remember, They have manhunt mobile now too.

OUNCE-​OUNCE-​OUNCE-​OUNCE combined with shitty drinks, shitty venue, and the inability to make accidental eye contact with someone without them thinking you wanna bang right then and there… Roxy sucks.
I was drunk in a hotel lobby once, listening to Beyonce on a friend’s iPod. It’s kind of like that… except you pay money to get in and it’s more crowded.
RIP Avalon!

Though I love Epic normally I am rather disappointed with it today. I went last night to celebrate pride and they were quite rude about telling me it was filled to capacity. What a bummer… I had to go to club café instead. I can’t believe all the queens in Boston were out so early I got there at like 10:45. Ridiculous.

In fairness, I was three, nay, 65 sheets to the wind by the time we got here and I remember only bits and pieces of the evening.
This I remember:
Stumbling up and being told «we’re not open yet». Us: «Wha??? Fbi iyff 664 hgil» So off we went and (stuff that I don’t remember happened). So we came back and they accidentally charged us $ 5 to get in. Score! (their screw-​up, our win!)
Dancing…dancing…neon…EVERYWHERE. Miami Vice??? PURPLE. Cougars falling off of go-​go boxes… in her defense she almost played it off, you know by still dancing while she was sprawled on the floor. I said almost.
From what I’ve been told drinks were retarded expensive. $ 5 for a coke, for seriously? Admittedly I don’t know the going rate for lilac paint these days but judging by the drink prices it must be pretty steep.
Overall, this is really not my scene but when highly intoxicated (thanks Jacques!) it’s a good time.
Bonus star for being right off the NE Medical stop on the orange line.

A straight woman’s take on Epic: I arrived after 11:30pm on Saturday night. After paying a $ 10 cover and $ 3 for coat check, my best gayfriend and I went immediately to the dance floor. Although the décor was a bit cheesy (lots of pastels and dangly chandeliers reminding me a bit of Anthropologie), I really liked the layout. There were multiple bars so no violent elbowing was required to work my way to the front and order a drink. The high ceilings and mezzanine overlooking the main level really made the place feel open and spacious. The club was full but I did not have that claustrophic feeling that I get fighting my way through the aisles of Market Basket (but that’s another story).
The dance floor was small but maneuverable. It was completely packed but the music was pretty good and ogling the ripped abs of the go-​go boys on the stage was a nice distraction from all the pushing and shoving going on. In fact, the gawking at beautiful boys went on all night long. The men here were absolutely gorgeous. In the aftermath of their blinding brilliance, today was dark and dreary. My life will never be the same…
Or maybe that was the side effect of the intense flashing lights? For those of us not on Ecstasy, it was a bit disorienting… I wonder if we were being subliminally programmed to come back next week.
Otherwise, I had a great time. I’m ready to go back, in spite of the fact that I am guaranteed no action whatsoever. Now that’s saying something.

Saturday night at the Roxy is the new Sunday night at Avalon! Better location, more parking, same gay fun. So much fun. Just drink somewhere cheaper beforehand (if you’re not too freaked out by dives, try The Tam) so you don’t spend all your dough at Roxy’s overpriced bar.
Bonus: Somehow I always end up with a purse full of condoms the next day. Gotta love freebies.

This nite is just fabulous!
The place is huge and there are bars everywhere. it’s easy to find a spot to call your own and you never have to wait for a drink.
I always arrive early, so the door cost isn’t that expensive, but as far as mega clubs with fantastic djs from across the globe go. I don’t think the cover ($ 0 to an at most $ 20) is irrational. The music has been AMAZING every time I’ve gone.
The place gets so packed that even when you spot an awkward one nite stand, it is incredibly easy to avoid them… perhaps one of the best parts.
The drinks are strong and priced just as much as I would expect to pay for any club or bar in the Theater District. $ 5 for a Coke is a bit much, but the cup is this gigantic movie theater sized jug – ultimately not an issue that would cause me to reevaluate my opinion of the place.
The décor mite be a little lackluster, but the lites and music – not to mention the overall energy – more than make up for this. The venue itself could be a crack shack in Dorchester, but as long as they still had the same energy, music, and bartenders, who the fuck cares!
Reminds me of a 3 day weekend at Avalon. except every Saturday. Oooh so fun.
The only thing that is not EPIC about this nite would be how I feel Sunday morning (slash late afternoon) when I finally stumble out of bed!

It was really a blessing that Avalon closed — because now we have Epic. I went to the Ritchie Rich birthday bash and I have to say, yup, I was impressed. I always complain that the Boston gay scene is dead (which it has been for years), but the scene has gotten a well-​needed facelift with Epic and Estate. I mean, we live in a major metropolitan city, right? We should have excellent club options.
So, now that there is somewhere decent to go, get off the sex sites, stop playing at home with Tina and get your asses out there and dance!

Ugh… and to think I had such a great time when I came here for a Lily Allen concert.
A night out at Epic is going to be an expensive one. Get there by 11:30 or you’ll be paying $ 15 instead of $ 10 (and if you’re on the list, which you just need to ask to be added, it is $ 7 by 11:30). Then you have coat check. I had the pleasant experience of being told that I would have to pay $ 6 if I wanted to check my hoodie/​light fall coat combo instead of the reasonable *cough* price of $ 3. Bear in mind, it would take up less space than the winter jackets a lot of people were rocking that night… but obviously I was trying to sneak in someone else’s hoodie under my jacket. After trying to explain to the dude that both were mine, I gave up and just hid my stuff under a bench in the upstairs labyrinth. Oh yeah, forget to mention the coat check line was a mile long and was spilling into the bathroom.
Ok, so potentially, if I showed up at 11:40 with my jacket/​hoodie combo, I’d already be down $ 21. Then we’ve got the drinks. Cheapest beer is $ 6. Coooool… yeah, no.
All this for a cramped dance floor. The music was decent, I’ll give them that much. Also, there are more bars than they know what to do with, so it is definitely easy to get a drink. I do also enjoy the place itself besides the tight dance floor.
The moral of the story is you need to show up to Epic PREPARED. Start drinking early, come before 11:30, and try not to be creative in your cold weather bundling up. I really don’t plan on going back any time soon, but we shall see.

$ 5 for a coke… in a dixie cup? Get over yourself.
I never ever thought I’d say this. I actually liked Avalon more :(
But I guess if you’re a man looking to be gay with another man this would be the new «hot spot» on Saturday night. It sorta has a Miami Vice feel with the fake white palm trees that can be found throughout. But I guess nothing really screams queen quite like Miami.
I agree with Jeff that this is definitely a DANCE CLUB. Even though the stand around and gawk area is bigger than the dance floor.

Ladies and Gentleladies… I am pleased to announce that Boston’s gay club scene isn’t quite dead yet.
Avalon (and the rest of Landsdowne Street) may have closed, but the ‘oomtz oomtz’ club scene is being replaced by places like The Estate (Thursdays & Sundays) and now EPIC SATURDAYS at The Roxy.
If you hated Avalon. You will hate EPIC.
If you loved Avalon. You will love EPIC.
If you needed to be drunk to have fun at Avalon. You will need to be drunk to have fun at EPIC.
Get the idea? New venue. Same scene. Bring your muscle tanks, glow sticks, and dancing shoes. You’ll be fine.
The Good…
*Huge space to dance, cruise, or hide from that awk boy from last weekend
*Large balcony for aerial cruising, picture taking, and general ‘I need to get away from these queens for 5 minutes’
*It’s always nice to have an option besides Club Café
*This is definitely a DANCE CLUB, should you want to cut a rug.
*Lots of bars to avoid a line for more ‘sauce.‘
The Bad…
*$ 15 cover (sometimes there are deals, but not always)
*$ 5 cokes for your friends who don’t drink booze. Adding rum is only $ 3 more… doesn’t measure up.
*The space is big, but plain.
*General gay attitude.
Three stars for replacing Avalon but not quite meeting up to it. Maybe it will improve itself… or grow on me…
Check it out. Jeffrey H. will be there getting his gay on. Go and laugh at him.