Hot shots

Scenes and party goers snapped at venues and events around town. All photos by Erik Jacobs.
  • B.U. Dance Marathon

  • Dance Marathon
  • When: March 28
  • Venue: SAC Gym
  • The scene: Boston University students danced to the wee hours Saturday night — but they weren't at a trendy club or house party. The students shook their tail feathers at the SAC Gym for 18 hours straight to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and One Heartland. Both organizations assist families who are battling HIV and AIDS.
  • Bloc Party After-Party

  • Bloc Party Party
  • When: March 19
  • Venue: Vinalia
  • The scene: Don't these guys ever sleep? After a sold-out show at the new House of Blues, Bloc Party guitarist Russell Lissack and drummer Matt Tong rallied to spin records until the wee hours at Vinalia. Many of the British indie rockers' loyal fans tagged along to the after-party. Local DJs Frank White and Silent Partner also kept the crowd moving.
  • Britney-oke

  • Britney-oke
  • When: March 12
  • Venue: Kings
  • The scene: Britney Spears fanatics donned blond wigs, fishnets, fedoras, and boa constrictors to do their best impressions of the poptart at this karaoke contest at Kings. The winner received two coveted tickets to Brit-Brit's sold-out March 16 show at the TD Banknorth Garden. C'mon, Boston, we know you're not that innocent.
  • Fat Tuesday Party

  • Fat Tuesday Party
  • When: Feb. 24
  • Venue: Dick'sLast Resort
  • The scene: Hypothetically speaking: If Mardi Gras took place in Boston, it would most likely happen in Faneuil Hall, right? Fat Tuesday revelers packed Dick's Last Resort for the beads, $2.75 Southern Comfort Hurricanes, costume contest, and R&B music by local band Soul City. Voila: A trip to Bourbon Street sans the expensive airfare.
  • Circus-Circus Pep Rally

  • Circus Pep Rally
  • When: Feb. 6
  • Venue: Milky Way
  • The scene: The Boston Hoop Troop did their part to light up this fundraiser. The hula-hoopers joined a lion-tamer, tightrope walker, and bearded lady, to name a few of the costumed partygoers, to kick off the 2009 season of the Boston Derby Dames. The league's first roller derby matchup is Feb. 28 at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington.
  • Freeform Gift Swap

  • Freeform Gift Swap
  • When: Jan. 31
  • Venue: Near Copley Square
  • The scene: One man's trash is another man's treasure, right? Banditos Misteriosos — a local organization dedicated to planning quirky, free events around the city — encouraged participants in the first annual Freeform Gift Swap to re-gift unwanted Christmas presents, old school photos, and other ephemera near Trinity Church Saturday. Wonder if anyone ended up with a Chia Pet?
  • RISE turns 10

  • RISE turns 10
  • When: Jan. 23
  • Venue: RISE
  • The scene While you were sleeping — most likely — after hours club RISE turned 10. In fact, the members-only club has been celebrating the anniversary all month. On a recent Friday night, New York DJs Richie Santana and Peter Bailey of Mindcontrol kept the crowd moving on multiple levels until the wee hours.
  • BoldSprints Races

  • BoldSprints Races
  • When: Jan. 18
  • Venue: Middlesex Lounge
  • The scene: Well, the weather outside is frightful... but that won't stop these pedals from turning. Biking enthusiasts flocked to Middlesex Lounge on a recent evening for BoldSprints' virtual races. Competitors showed off their skills on stationary bikes on rollers while the crowds cheered them on.
  • Rock, Paper, Scissors

  • Rock-Paper-Scissors
  • When: Jan. 14
  • Venue: P.A.'s Lounge
  • The scene The hecklers were out in force on a recent night at P.A.'s Lounge in Somerville. No, there wasn't a Patriots or Celtics game on the big screen at the divey bar; a heated rock, paper, scissors tournament drew the very vocal crowds. Over 60 people competed in the games, which were organized by Union Square Main Streets.
  • TraniWreck

  • TraniWreck
  • When: Jan. 11
  • Venue: The Milky Way
  • The scene: Looking for a gender-bending good time in Boston? Try Aliza Shapiro and Truth Serum Productions' TraniWreck to cure the itch. Part burlesque and part performance art, with a liberal sprinkle of fabulous, TraniWreck's performers recently entertained a crowd at the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain.
  • Technolust

  • Technolust
  • When: Dec. 20, 2008
  • Venue: Alchemist Lounge
  • The scene: "If there ever was a sexy soundtrack for a futuristic hot robot porno, they would be bumping and grinding to the themes of Technolust," according to this event's Facebook page. Well, then. Resident DJ Damien Paul and guests spin indie electronic music. May we suggest doing The Robot?
  • A Night on the Bustonian

  • Bustonian
  • When: Dec. 6, 2008
  • Venue: Various locations
  • The scene: The Bustonian is literally a party on wheels. The bus stops at various clubs and bars around the city and dancing is encouraged between destinations — there's even a pole in the bus. No, really. Our intrepid shutterbug Erik Jacobs spent a recent Saturday night riding around Boston with a group of friends celebrating a birthday.