Ramrod & Machine

Not for the faint of heart, Ramrod with its intense scene and its more traditional brother bar Machine serve as the venues for gay boys who yearn for either a taste of daddy's denim or an innocuous night of carousing among men. Both bars feature something exciting every night, but the offerings vary monthly. The Rod's MANDANCE (Su 9pm) is an extreme, crowded, scantily dressed mass of male flesh swaying to pumping house. For those looking for a quality mix of clean yet dirty fun, Machine hosts good ol' fashioned foam parties Saturday nights during the summer, and karaoke Thursdays year-round. Other events include pool tournaments and leather and bondage nights. The infamous Back Room promises even more uninhibited fun, but you can only get in if you're shirtless or wearing black leather or rubber. Beer $3.75-5, mixed drinks $3-4. Cover on M ($5), F ($8), Sa ($6). This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. In the very dark upstairs of Ramrod, men of all ages wear business suits, jeans and leather while lining the bar or crowding around a lone pool table. Adult films play on a small TV screen while industrial beats boom in the background. A main staircase descends into the downstairs area. Here men of all types--singles, students, drag queens--congregate, play pool and join the constant stream in and out of Machine, the Ramrod's dance club within a club. Cash only.