| Beantown clubbing at Big Apple prices.
In the heart of Boston’s Theater District, Rumor nightclub prides itself on offering college clubbers a more upscale experience than their usual beer pong. With a list of varied DJs and promoters like 6one7Productions and Space Entertainment, the venue makes a point of booking to please. It’s also played host to dance names like Jonathan Peters and Ministry Of Sound. Dark only Mondays and Wednesdays, the club runs the genre gamut, from hip-hop to house. Our Stalkers visited on an especially slammed Saturday.
Stalker #1
I had been meaning to check out Rumor after hearing good reviews from some friends. I made my first attempt to visit the club on a recent Saturday night. The club is located in Boston’s theater district, in close proximity to many other popular venues. Rumor had the shortest line, so Rumor it was for the night. Nearby Venu and Whiskey Park were packed and it was only 11 o’clock. Rumor also had an intimidating line, but it managed to look more promising. After waiting about 25 minutes to move along a 50-person line, a $25 cover charge slapped me in the face. How could a Boston club be so expensive? Rumor immediately made up for it though, with a pounding sound system and thriving crowd. After ordering an overpriced $7 beer at the bar I headed to the dancefloor packed with 20-somethings and the occasional older man. I couldn’t help but be moved by the music and the countless people who were dancing in perfect rhythm. Although I didn’t recognize most of the songs, all of them were dance-worthy. DJ Tamer Malki was at the turntables when I first arrived. Rumor’s website advertised him as a house and hip-hop DJ, but he also added some Fergie, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake to the mix. Everyone seemed to respond favorably. He knew how to work the crowd. There was bottle service seating scattered throughout the club’s perimeter. Many of the tables were occupied, as clubbers enjoyed the VIP treatment. I was tempted to park myself at one of the tables and nonchalantly pour a Grey Goose and tonic. But I held myself back. The bar drinks were acceptable, and up to snuff. The club was a little overstaffed. Everywhere I looked was a bouncer or some other employee with a mini flashlight and determination. There was also a plethora of plants that often got in the way of things. But what this club could have used more of is visual stimulation. It needed more color and movement. The TVs and screens that decorated the walls could have been more visually entertaining. The lighting could have been taken to the next level, and infused even more energy into the crowd. As a serious Internet fanatic, I found Rumor’s website to be iffy at best. The posted photos are a little disturbing, in that they lack the advertised “sexiest and hippest people from around the globe.” But don’t let that discourage you from hitting this nightclub one night in the near future. The in-person experience was above and beyond a merely deficient webpage. It was a completely fulfilling girls’ night out.
Stalker #2
As the protégé to my ever-adventurous friend, I tagged along to Rumor as Stalker #2, or second Stalker, as I prefer to be called. I arrived with zero expectations and zero interest. Having never attended a serious nightclub before, I was hesitant to throw my money, and self-worth, down the toilet. In spite of the fact that I arrived as an uptight ninny, I left Rumor with a newfound appreciation for exorbitant cover charges and over-involved bodyguards. The long line did put me in a sour mood before even entering the door. But I had enough time to survey the people waiting. They ran the gamut. There were high-class hipsters who looked like regulars; there were couples on the verge of making out, not wanting to withstand the long wait to the door. The street was crazy with party people and their friends. It was a mess with girls teetering on high heels, who were nearly being run over by cars! Taxis were having wars with cops. Limos were scattered everywhere for who knows what. The unnecessary drama was great entertainment while bearing the wait. When we finally got to the front, entry was a breeze.
To my surprise, Rumor was fun! The staff was friendly, the space was perfectly sized and adept at accommodating dancing clubbers. My only complaint was these gigantic white columns that managed to be in the most annoying locations within the club. The massive pillars always popped up as I was trying to navigate the floor. The restrooms downstairs were comparable to a five-star hotel, and had full-length mirrors where every girl stopped to check herself out…present company included. Overall, the interior was very impressive. The other club attendees were more than friendly. I got hit on more times than I could count. Not that I am complaining here. Attention is nice, but harassment is where I draw the line. The other dancers were pretty good at respecting personal space, but onlookers never failed to try some move or another. This club was really a ton of fun, but could get boring if it became a regular thing. I could see myself going here once in a while, for a special occasion like a friend’s birthday. On the all-encompassing 1-10 scale (10 being the best), I would rate the club a 7. And that’s no rumor.
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