Ever find yourself leaving SoWa on a First Friday, wishing there was something cool to do after gallery hopping? Looking for one of the few events in this city open past 9pm?

Head over to La Boum (10pm-1am), the queer dance party held every First Friday at Milky Way/Bella Luna (284 Amory Street, JP). DJ Stella plays everything from 80’s pop to early 2000’s throwbacks (and the perfect amount of Justin Bieber). When I was there in March after Wicked Queer Film Fest, the good energy built up throughout the night—peaking during the last song of the party, an absolute classic, the dance-song of all dance-songs, Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

La Boum (and Milky Way/Bella Luna in general) is a fun place to hang because there’s something for everyone—if dancing isn’t your thing, there’s always a big group of people hanging out around the bar. Grab a drink, or don’t, and use the opportunity to make some new friends (or more likely, given the size of Boston’s LGBTQ+ community, catch up with some old friends!)  

This event is a safe space for queer, trans, and non binary folx; in stark contrast to many of the all-white, all-amab gay clubs in the city, La Boum is a space anyone would feel welcomed in.

Check out La Boum this May if you want to dance all night, lose yourself, and boogie oogie woogie.

La Boum is a 21+ event with a $10 cover.

—Emily Bass