Manray

Manray was a nightclub in Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States.

Manray was the epicenter of all things alternative in the Greater Boston area. First opening in 1984, it billed itself as an "art bar" and often featured gallery shows by local artists in its lounge area. It initially gained national attention when featured in Life Magazine (August 1984) and a televised segment by Heraldo Revera.

The club catered to a variety of alternative lifestyles. Its longest-running night was Campus, a night "for gay men and their friends". Also popular was New Wave Night every Saturday, which featured DJs Chris Ewen and Gary Conzo playing New Wave and Disco anthems, respectively.

Manray gained a reputation as a hotbed of strangeness in the early 1990s when it became home to the Goth and Fetish/BDSM scenes in the Boston area. Alternating Friday night events would be geared to one, the other, or both subcultures, resulting in a local scene that was unique in its cross-pollination. Events with names such as Hell, Fantasy Factory and Ooze earned Manray a place in local lore as a destination not for the timid or squeamish. Strict dress codes and a tight-knit community that looked out for its own helped bolster its image as an otherworldly locale full of dark secrets.

On July 30th, 2005, after 21 years, Manray was forced to close its doors. The owner of the building (not the same as that of the club) decided to take advantage of the high property values and demolish the building in order to construct condominiums. The final week at the club was an intense series of farewell events, one each night for the different subcultures to which it catered.

The owners of Manray are seeking a new location near Central Square, and hope to re-open in the near future.

External links

• Official Website
• Globe Article on Manray's closing