Hot shots

Scenes and party goers snapped at venues and events around town. All photos by Erik Jacobs.
  • Roaring 20s Party

  • Roaring 20s Party
  • When: Dec. 4, 2008
  • Venue: Eastern Standard
  • The scene: Happy Repeal Day! Revelers at Eastern Standard celebrated the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment — which, thankfully for us, repealed Prohibition. There was a six-course meal featuring foods popular back in the day, bathtub gin, and top hats aplenty. Raise your glasses and check out scenes from the 20s-style fete.
  • So Dope at dbar

  • So Dope
  • When: Nov. 6, 2008
  • Venue: dbar
  • The scene: Need another excuse to dance this Thursday night? Dorchester's hip dbar hosts So Dope, a night of indie electronica, house, and dance party classics. (The party's neon Myspace page is literally bumping with LA Riots' remixes — hot.) Liquid leggings and Ray-Ban glasses are obviously welcome.
  • Dancing on the Charles

  • Charles River Dance
  • When: Sept. 20, 2008
  • Venue: Marsh Post
  • The scene: Sure, it would be nice to have a roof deck in Cambridge so you could invite 100 of your closest friends over for an al fresco dance soirée. The Dancing on the Charles parties at the Marsh Post American Legion are a little closer to reality. On seven Saturdays this summer, Soul Clap and local DJs fueled the dancing crowd under the stars.
  • Odd Tuesday Milonga

  • Tuesday Milonga
  • When: Sept. 2, 2008
  • Venue: The Lily Pad
  • The scene: From the street, this smallish Inman Square club and gallery may look like just another storefront. But on every other Tuesday, spicy music streams from the Lily Pad's doorway as dancers of all ages do the milonga, a rustic form of tango. (The term can also refer to a dance party in general.) Forget exorbitant airplane tickets: Get a taste of Buenos Aires right in Cambridge.
  • Tequila Tuesdays

  • Tequila Tuesdays
  • When: August 26, 2008
  • Venue: Sushi-Teq
  • The scene: We finally sampled the strange mixture of sushi, tequila, and salsa dancing that the InterContinental hotel has been offering on its patio each week this summer. Professional dancers strutted their stuff and taught brave souls a few steps while the rest of the after-work crowd sipped free tequila samples and nibbled on Big Dig sushi rolls. Turns out it's an oddly appealing combination.
  • Kung Fu Kitchen

  • Kung Fu Kitchen
  • When: Oct. 8, 2008
  • Venue: Pho Republique
  • The scene: Pho Republique hosted a night of free dim sum, creative, thematic cocktails (a "Saigon Kick," anyone?), a lion dance performance, and kung fu demos. Mmm, dim sum. The Kung Fu Kitchen event also featured classic fighting flicks on screens around the restaurant. You might say everyone was feeling a little kicky.
  • Harpoon Octoberfest

  • Octoberfest
  • When: Oct. 4, 2008
  • Venue: Harpoon Brewery
  • The scene: Hundreds of beer lovers celebrated the arrival of fall at Harpoon Brewery's 19th annual Octoberfest over the weekend. Revelers sipped Harpoon brews, snacked on German food, competed in keg bowling contests, and chicken danced into the night. Nothing says autumn like beer-drenched fun and festivities.
  • Sex & Drugs Trivia Night

  • Sex & Drugs Trivia
  • When: August 24, 2008
  • Venue: Savant Project
  • The scene: This new hedonistic trivia night is already drawing serious contestants to vie for prizes from sponsors Rapscallion Beer and sex-aid store Good Vibrations. Overseen by question queen Mistress Maureen, the quiz is split into four rounds, testing a mostly young set of contestants on their carnal knowledge.
  • Jake Ivory's dueling pianos

  • Dueling Pianos
  • When: Oct. 18, 2008
  • Venue: Jake Ivory's
  • The scene: If you go to this Lansdowne Street bar on any given Friday or Saturday night, you will sing Queen and Hall & Oates with abandon. Jake Ivory's pianists have a huge rock and rap repertoire and yes, they do take requests. If you don't mind the crush of bachelorettes and birthday parties, this cheesy sing-along bar should be a stop on any Fenway-area night out.
  • Madonna Sing-Along

  • Madonna Sing-Along
  • When: August 9, 2008
  • Venue: Coolidge Corner Theater
  • The scene: Though there weren't as many lacy gloves, cone bras, or Marilyn Monroe wigs as we expected at the recent Madonna Sing-Along, there were scads of rabid Madge fans and followers. People literally danced in the aisles to "Papa Don't Preach" and "Beautiful Stranger," while shier Material Girls (and boys) sang to the subtitled music videos from their seats.
  • Charlie's Beer Garden

  • Charlie's Garden
  • When: August 5, 2008
  • Venue: Charlie's Kitchen
  • The scene: Harvard Square was almost silent on a recent Tuesday night — except for Charlie's Kitchen, which buzzed thanks to its newly opened outdoor beer garden. In the space that was once an alley and an old garage, there's now an outdoor bar with 16 taps and tables where you can relax and order from the Charlie's menu.
  • We Love Sundays @ Marina Bay

  • We Love Sundays
  • When: July 20, 2008
  • Venue: Marina Bay Beach Club
  • The scene: Palm trees in Quincy? Believe it. At the 2½ acre beach-themed outdoor club, née WaterWorks, the busiest regular club night (Superstar DJ visits aside) is Sunday. A thunderstorm was threatening on a recent Sunday, but by 10:30 droves of people were headed through the gate as the DJ spun hip-hop beneath the stars. (Wiqan Ang for the Boston Globe)