ManRay Returns
Back in the 80s, members of the Boston-area gay community (we didn't have any letters or symbols) had quite a selection of nightlife choices. And I'm not talking about the occasional one-night-a-week gay nights. I'm talking about a dozen 7-night-a-week gay dance clubs within walking distance. One of the most notable was Cambridge's legendary ManRay. The Brookline Street venue actually housed two distinctive clubs under one roof. I came of age in Campus – which catered to the college gays (the proximity to both Harvard and MIT helped). Thursdays nights featured local personality Freddie Jordan hosting male strippers who cavorted on top of the bar! In short order, I joined the staff and found my tribe.
Campus was quickly overshadowed by ManRay – billed as an "art bar" and named after the Dada and Surrealist artist and photographer of the same name (born Emmanuel Radnitzky). The décor was retro kitsch with a nod towards the darker subculture. The club was subtitled "The Art of Nightlife" and catered to the fetish crowd, the goth crowd, and the alternative crowd – all lumped together and affectionately called the "Boston Underground". Picture a casting call for "Interview with a Vampire" – with a splash of The CW thrown in. Soon, the entire complex became known as ManRay and attracted national attention. It became a destination, to say nothing of a valuable venue for live performers wanting to connect with their audience in an intimate setting. The concert by Nirvana is still talked about.
In 2005, the building was leveled to make way for condos. The club's owner, Don Holland, vowed to relocate, but his efforts were thwarted by conservative Cambridge councilors. Now, almost 20 years later, ManRay is back...literally a handful of blocks from its original Central Square location. The 40 Prospect Street venue is still run by Holland, and he's joined by resident DJ Chris Ewen and legendary mixologist Terri Niedzwiecki. The sneak peek I attended did not disappoint. An eclectic assortment of LGBTQI+ denizens populated the place in various forms of dress...and undress. Gender, age, and sexuality seemed as fluid as Ewen's pulsing beat which engulfed every inch of the dance floor and stage.
The question everyone is asking – can lightning strike twice? Holland is counting on it, and the people I spoke with are anxious to see what comes next. The schedule – like the staff – is a clever mix of old and new. Wednesdays are anchored by the ever-popular goth party Crypt. Campus, naturally, is back for the gayest Thursdays around with a rotating crop of community DJs (including Maryalice and Brian Halligan). Fridays roar back with the fetish industrial party Chrome. And Saturdays shine a spotlight on the new wave and electro themed Heroes, which Ewen previously hosted elsewhere.
With the recent demise of the Ramrod, Machine, and Eagle, the area has a huge gap of clubs catering to this audience. ManRay might very well be the perfect venue at the perfect time.
