Scene Guide:
A Regional Listing of Area Clubs

For Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Richmond, & the Mid-Atlantic Region

The Regional 'Club Guide' is focused specifically toward those public & commercial opportunities in the scene. More private venues of a closed forum have been placed to the 'Groups' section. Mainstream opportunities are listed specifically in their own section for Mainstream Venues. Individuals are encouraged to submit listings for consideration & may eventually be able to post comments on each entry listed. Also please understand that this list is constantly evolving & will be subject to continuous change. As a result, interested parties are asked to please report any dead links or changes in the accuracy of that information provided. In that, we thank you for your input! Club listings are first segmented by general region, then coded & categorized by the nature of their interest:    - Alternative & Music in Rust.                            - Lifestyle & Swinger in Green.    - BDSM & Fetish in Red.                                     - Gay, Bi, & Transgender in Purple. Any clubs listed in 'Italics' carry a status that may be in question & needs to be confirmed. Some crossover will often exist, so the club in question will then be listed by the nature that most predominantly reflects its general practice & the venue of its events.

[Status for all listings have been confirmed as of Winter 2010 - exceptions are noted]

Club Listings for Washington, DC & the Metro Area (Baltimore, Philly, & Richmond Follow Below): 

Alchemy - Officially, Alchemy is no more. But its Live Journal remains one of the best resources for the Goth/Industrial scene in the DC area. However, they still host Goth Prom, Spooky, & now Tronik. Online: Community.LiveJournal.com/Alchemy_DC

TRONIK (TronikDC.com): Although Alchemy is gone, its promoters have again stepped onto the stage to bring you Tronik. Held on the Final Thursday of each month at TOWN (2009 8th St. NW DC), it promises to offer a return to form as one of DC's best Goth/Industrial venues.

Resurrection (www.myspace.com/resurrectiondc): Club night hosted each Thursday at DC Star (2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE DC). Offering a strong mix of EBM, Darkwave, Ambient, & Classic Goth, their main focus is to feature the best live acts available in the goth/industrial scene. Of note, DC Star has truly cleaned up their act. With a beautiful renovation, safe parking, & capable staff, they've done a complete turnaround from the days of mayhem & hassle after the closing of Nation.

Dunkelheit (www.MySpace.com/DunkelheitDC): Dark Euro in the heart of DC! Held the first Friday of each month at 2010 Lounge (2010 9th St. NW DC between V & U St). Featuring resident DJ's Panic & Hardware. $5 cover. Doors open at 9pm.

Wasteland (www.medusapromotions.com/wasteland.htm): Held the Last Friday of each month at 1103 Bladensburg Rd. NE DC. Hosted by DJ Medusa, the club night features goth, ambient, experimental, & a dash of glam rock.  There is NO cover for this event.

Bound  (www.Bound.org):  DC Gothic/BDSM club offering a casual atmosphere with an intimate vibe. Hosted by DJ Johnny Panic, Todd & Jen (also the promoters of Entre Nous). Their location tends to move fairly often so check the website for an update. Currently they've moved to their new location at The Loft Warehouse (411 New York Avenue): same location as was used for SMB & Hell Ball. 

Midnight  (www.DCMidnight.com):  Saturday night's longest running Goth & Alternative Dance Club. 21 to drink, 18 to enter. $5 cover.   

****  As for the other Saturday Goth Night in DC => Due to the nature of the adult content carried within The Metro Underground, it is the desire of its promoter that she & her organization not be associate with our site in any manner: "I promote a club that is focused on music, dancing & socializing within the GOTH scene, NOT the fetish [etc] scene. I view the two as separate & I do not want my organization to be associated with BDSM, fetish or any adult oriented venues."   As requested, we leave this entry only as a place-holder so you know we are aware of the organization & have not inadvertently left them off the list.  Thank you.

Vertigo (www.myspace.com/vertigodc): Goth-Industrial, Deathrock, & Post Punk come to the Motley Bar at EFN Lounge (1318 9th St. NW DC: just down from the convention center). Hosted by Renon C.M. & DJ Fix with Resident DJ Wyntre Mysteria. Held the 3rd Saturday of each month. Doors at 9pm. Cover $5 after 10pm. 18 & over.

III (Three): DC's latest addition to the Goth-Industrial pantheon is hosted by DJ's Vlad & Javier. The new night is held on the THIRD Sunday of each month at Cobalt (1639 R St. NW DC - on the corner of 17th & R St). Offering a state of the art club & a beautiful venue, this is a night that truly deserves some support! Doors open at 9pm. Cover is $5 ($3 before 10pm).

Exposure  (www.Exposure-DC.com): no longer be holding their monthly event, they do however hosting stand alone events as able through Deep6 Promotions. See website for upcoming shows: www.deep6.com.

Palace of Wonders (www.PalaceofWonders.com): What happens when you take a bar & fill it with stuff from a museum dedicated to carnival sideshows? Well, you get a really cool venue that naturally attracts the underground set. Palace of Wonders (1210 H St. NE DC) is a great space & features live shows on a very consistent basis. Everything from burlesque to comedy to carnival acts.

Open Hearth Foundation (OpenHearth.org):  An open & active organization focused toward the pagan community.
N.Va. Gamers (www.NoVaG.org): One of DC's oldest & most respected hobby gaming organizations.
Darkon (www.darkon.org): Live action medieval war gaming club for DC & Baltimore. See website for details.


Dark Odyssey  (www.DarkOdyssey.com):  An on premise organization that hosts very full scale scene-based events that move flawlessly between both the Lifestyle & BDSM cultures (Winter Fire for instance takes over almost an entire hotel downtown). They also host weekly happy hours as a simple meet & greet for those in the scene, & all event are catered to the entire spectrum of the pansexual community.

The Black Rose  (www.BR.com):  Self-described as a support, education, & social group for those who share interests in Dominance & Submission, Bondage & Discipline, Fetishism, & Cross-dressing (to name but a few). They are not a swingers group. They do, however, sponsor various workshops, discussion groups, & socials gatherings on a very regular basis. Email: info@br.org

The Crucible  (www.The-Crucible.com):  A for-profit Pansexual Alternate Lifestyle organization hosting weekly events from 9pm - 2am. Location is 1816 Half Street SW, DC (that's on the 'OTHER' side of Half street - check google). There are strict rules for Safe & Sane play that are enforced by on premise Dungeon Masters. The quantity of equipment on premise is very extensive. This is a private organization but membership is available at the door. Door charge is $30 for non-members, $20 if affiliated with other area organizations. See website for details.


Dark Odyssey  (www.DarkOdyssey.com):  It should be noted that Dark Odyssey is an organization that represents BOTH the BDSM Culture as well as the Swinger Community - which is why we're listing it twice. All event are catered to the entire spectrum of the pansexual community, & with the exception of The Metro Underground, to our knowledge they are the only group that offers a cross-over to all the various cultures. See listing above for more details.

Crucible Lifestyle: (CrucibleLifestyle.com): Please note that both Starz & Rites of Bacchus have been merged into one unified group called "Crucible Lifestyle." Although both sites are still active, all membership now funnels directly into The Crucible.  Events have also been folded into a monthly night & such affairs are subsequently hosted at The Crucible - to which its mainstay will remain the first Saturday of each month (basically replacing the Starz monthly social).


Entre Nous  (www.EntreNousDC.com):  Off premise nightclub for couples & women to meet & greet. Events are held on each Saturday. Their location moves a LOT, so check website for updates. You must be a member to attend. No single males.

Chesapeake Polyamory Network (www.ChesPoly.org): A membership network of couples & individuals "dedicated to supporting those who choose to live a lifestyle that includes committed, loving relationships with more than one partner." Their focus is on informational & educational programs, a wide range of social activities,a listserve network, an active element of special interest groups, as well as an outreach / advocacy effort to improve public's awareness, understanding, & acceptance of the polyamorous lifestyle. Membership is required.

DC Couples - But alas, one of DC's longest running & exclusively on premise clubs lives no more... :-(


Code DC (www.codedc.com): The area's latest addition to the all male fetish scene. Held the first Saturday of each month at EFN Lounge (formally Be Bar): 1318 9th St. NW DC. It's focused toward those into Latex, Leather, Uniform, Gear, & Kink/Fetish with an orientation to the city's younger TNG Crowd. With a strict dress code & a live erotic showcase, it's expected to make a major impression in a scene that's already seeing a strong resurgence. Check out their inaugural flight on Saturday, September 5th.

Ziegfelds & Secrets (www.Ziegfelds.com): DC's biggest & best emporium for drag shows & male dancers has finally returned to the scene. True to its original roots, it now resides at half Street, NE DC (same space as was formally club Lime). 

Apex (www.Apex-DC.com):  Friday's feature "GLOSS" - a ladies dance followed by the DCKings (show starts at 12:30am). See website for details. "Apex Follies" then offers a drag show held each Saturday.

Omega (www.OmegaDC.com): Located alley-side behind Apex & Soho Coffee in a former carriage house, Omega offers a variety of entertainment & theme nights all week long. Thursday hosts Kristina Kelly & the girlz for weekly drag shows. Performances start at 10pm.

TOWN (2009 8th St. NW DC): Brought to you by the former owners of Nation, TOWN Dance-boutique offers one of DC's best venues for the gay male club crowd (2009 8th St. NW DC). Nightly drag shows start at 10pm. Tell Anne the bartender that Rick says hi!  ;-)

Crew Club (www.CrewClub.net): Gay male bath house on 14th Street (1321 14th St. NW DC).

Phase I (525 8th. St. SE on Capitol Hill): Self-described as the "longest running lesbian bar in the entire U.S." Open Thursday-Sunday.
Drag 'King' Show held the Second Sunday of every month. Located on the revitalized 8th. Street on Capital Hill. Phone: (202) 544-6831.

Club Listings for Baltimore, MD. & its Surrounding Area (Philly & Richmond Follow Below): 

Electroschok  (www.myspace.com/elektroschock):  Held every 1st, 3rd, & 5th Saturday at Grand Central (1001 North Charles Street). By far one of Baltimore's best Gothic-Industrial dance nights.

VolGo Sunday: (www.volgoparty.com):  Hosted in the elegance of The Haze Lounge in Club MIST (124 Market Place, Baltimore), Volgothic provides one of the area's best venues for the alternative club circuit. Indeed, with top DJ's, incredible surroundings, & a great crowd that's been building with each passing week, they've already come into their own as a player in the scene. Doors at 9pm. Cover $5

B.E.S.S. / Baltimore Education & Social Society  (www.BESS-MD.org):  An educational social society for the Baltimore BDSM Community (including but not limited to D&S, B&D, S&M, leather, fetishism, cross dressing, & role-play). BESS is Pansexual (all genders /orientations welcome). Its goal is to provide a safe, friendly, & discreet environment for the education & encouragement of adults interested in Safe, Sane & Consensual BDSM. Attendance is limited to contributors & members of reciprocal groups (WHIP & Black Rose) & guests.

Fetish First Friday (myspace.com/joineclipse): Eclipse hosts a new night for Baltimore at Club Orpheus. However, as it is a public venue & night club event, we do believe that it is more of a goth & alt. dance night w/ a fetish oriented theme vs. an actual play party.  

Tabu  (www.TabuLife.com):  An On-Premise social club & lifestyle organization for the Baltimore region (1115 N. Rolling Rd. Catonsville, Md. 21228). Brought to you by Rick & Vicki (no affiliation to Rick from The Metro Underground), Tabu features weekly parties for the Lifestyles Community & is widely regarded as one of the fastest growing lifestyle organizations in Mid-Atlantic. Email: tabulife@tabulife.com

The Private Affair  (www.ThePrivateAffair.com):  An on premise club for couples, single women, & select males (depending on the event, so check first). TPA is located about 40 min. north of Baltimore (50 min. south of Philly) in Port Deposit, MD. Tom & Donna have put together a fantastic venue offering an upscale nightclub-style atmosphere, a BYOB service bar with various mixers, lighted dance floor w/ top notch DJs, 2 pool tables, a TV room, plenty of play space, & a 20 person hot tub (towels are provided)! What's not to like? Membership is required & all members are 21 years of age or older. Various events & theme-based parties are held every Friday & Saturday.  Email: theprivateaffair@aol.com Phone: (410) 378-8948 Mail: PO Box 58, Port Deposit, MD. 21904.

The Hippo (ClubHippo.com): Baltimore's premier club for drag shows & dancing boys. Conveniently located on Charles Street.

Club Listings for Philadelphia & Southeast Pennsylvania (Richmond & the Mid-Atlantic Follow Below): 

Nocturne & Drac's Ball  (www.DancingFerret.com):  Nocturne is hosted every Wednesday at Shampoo Nightclub (Willow between 7th & 8th). Venue is fantastic with 2 full levels, several bars, multiple DJ's, & often live entertainment. Presented by the promoters of Drac's Ball (semi-annual grand event for the Philly Underground). For Drac's Ball: www.draculasball.com

Wicked Wednesday  (www.ThePleasureGardenClub.com/Wicked.html):  Philadelphia's Monthly Alternative Party open to all genders & lifestyles. Hosted by Lady Chandra, 'Wednesday' is located in a 5,500 sq. ft. complex with multiple venues of exotic intrigue to explore (this includes 4 separate areas of various themes throughout: the cat house lounge, mystical water garden, tribal main room, & club style main dance floor with state of the art sound & lighting.). Amenities include a full kitchen manned by a 4-star chef, 2 full service mixer bars, an arcade, pool tables, & big-screen TV.

John's Dark Corner - Due to the sudden & unexpected passing of its founder & core promoter (lost in an auto accident), Philadelphia's longest running Gothic & Alternative Dance Party has past into the night. Thank you John for many dedicated years.

Philadelphia Area TNG  (Groups.Yahoo.com/Group/Philly_TNG): An off premise pansexual, support, education, discussion, & social group for those who are interested in becoming or are already active in the BDSM / Fetish lifestyle (including gothic, leather, boots, food, latex, rubber, body modification, tattoos, piercings, etc). Open generally to those from 18-35 & their main focus is a forum for youth in BDSM Community. Email: putuffala@yahoo.com

N.E.S.T. / North East Society of Ticklephiles  (NESTGathering.com):  A support group hosting bi-annual gathering of those with a deep desire in tickling (a mixed crowd of men & women with a variety of sexual orientations). Group boasts the largest gathering of its kind with participants from all over the world. In operation since '97. 

The Pleasure Garden Club  (www.ThePleasureGardenClub.com/home):  Saturday night’s upscale lifestyle party open to couples & single women. Hosted by Lady Chandra, the PGC is located in a 5,500 sq. ft. complex with multiple venues of exotic intrigue to explore (this includes 4 separate areas of various themes throughout: the cat house lounge, mystical water garden, the tribal main room, & club-style main dance club with state of the art sound & lighting.). Venue is for member’s only & is BYOB, but amenities include a full kitchen manned by a 4-star chef, a full service mixer bar, arcade, pool tables, & big-screen TV. Membership is required & is open to all 21 & over. Club is open from 10pm - 4am, door charge is $25 & membership can be paid at the door. Prior RSVP is required. Available 6pm-10pm for private functions.

The Cottage  (www.TheCottageinPa.com):  An on premise getaway for couples & select singles. Open for play every weekend, parties offer various themed events & contests. Fridays are open to couples & singles; Saturdays are to couples only. The venue offers live DJs & dancing, a full service bar with mixers & setups, but all alcohol is BYOB. Amenities include a huge lounge area, open areas for active play, private rooms for individual play, a home theater, a game room with pool tables, a hug Jacuzzi, toy room, & available locker facilities. Dinner is served nightly. Suites are available for weekend stay (reservations required). Atmosphere is casual. Contact John or Dottie.  Email: cottage@thecottageinpa.com Phone: (717)334-0882

The Farm  (www.TheFarmTravelClub.com):  Very upscale on premise club for couples, single women, & select single males. Located just 1 hour north of Baltimore, The Farm is situated on 200 acres of private land & holds events every Friday & Saturday. Arrangements are available for weekend stay-over. Dinner is served nightly in the main dinning room & a full bar with professional service is offered in the club area. DJs with a state of the art sound & lighting system provide a high energy atmosphere for fun & excitement throughout the evening. Amenities include: game area with 2 pool tables & a large screen TV, several themed party/play rooms, & two separate Jacuzzis with fiber-optic lighting. The summer season allows for large outdoor heated pool, picnic areas, sand volleyball courts, & 3 separate deck areas for relaxation & tanning. RV hookup is available. Membership is required. Email: farm4fun@hotmail.com Phone: (717)225-5082 Mail: PO Box 7791, York, PA 17404

TJ's Lasting Impressions  (www.TJsLastingImpressions.com):  An on premise very upscale club available to both couples & select singles. Events are held Friday & Saturday evenings from 8pm-3am. Special monthly parties are also held on Sunday from 12pm-7pm. TJ's offers the perfect weekend getaway blending full service fine dinning (their menu is actually rather extensive), followed by an evening of dancing. DJs are top notch the club venue offers state of the art sound & lighting. Full service bar offers mixers & professional service but is BYOB. Amenities include a HUGE hot tub with seating capacity for 80, a large open play area, plus 12 private rooms for individual play, & 9 VIP rooms. A lingerie boutique has just been recently added. Reservations are required. Phone: (717) 737-6204 Mail: PO Box 1094,Camp Hill, PA. 17001.

Club Kama Sutra - But alas, one of Philly's most well known & exclusively on premise clubs lives no more... :-( "After five great years of parties with everyone’s knowledge and approval we were suddenly ordered to close."

Liberty Bears  (www.TheBikeStop.com/LibertyBears):  An S&M social / fraternal organization holding monthly socials, & carrying a very active & direct influence in the community. Email libertybears@thebikestop.com

Club Listings for Richmond, VA. & its Surrounding Area...

Fallout (www.SubCultServer.com/Fallout): Richmond's premier underground club, featuring Goth / Industrial, & a continuous parade of alternative & fetish-based theme nights. Open Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday. Membership is required.

Release of Virginia (www.ReleaseVa.com):  A non-profit social, support, & educational society for adults interested in BDSM, & related topics: BDSM, B&D, D&S, SM, Body Art, etc. Open to all sexual orientations.

R.O.D.S. / Roanoke Order of Dominants & Submissives (www.RODS-Va.org): A pansexual BDSM group for Southwest Virginia & the surrounding area. They are "dedicated to providing education, support, & a social network in a safe, responsible & discreet environment."

Phyxios Mystique (www.PhyxiosMystique.com): A Richmond based pansexual organization for people interested in the Alternative, Fetish, & BDSM Lifestyle. See website for details.

Mid-Atlantic Couples  (www.MidAtlanticCouples.com):  An on premise club holding monthly themed dances in various Richmond area hotels. Main activities take place in a public forum but open play takes place in select suites within the hotel. Gatherings offer an opportunity to have fun while meeting like minded couples & single women in a safe atmosphere with absolutely no pressure. Monthly seminars are also held for those new to the culture & offer an opportunity to ask questions in a comfortable & supportive environment. Single Males, drugs, & those cheating on spouses are not welcome.

Additional Club Listings for the General Mid-Atlantic Region...

T.I.E.D. / Tidewater Individuals Exploring Domination  (www.TiedinVa.com):  A non-profit pansexual organization for those interested in BDSM, D&S, & the Fetish Culture. They offer a supportive group that provides educational & social opportunities for those in the BDSM & Fetish Communities. Seminars & open forum chat groups are featured every Thursday in coordination with the Anchor Munch Club. Mail: T.I.E.D, P.O. Box 9811, Chesapeake, VA. 23321

W.H.I.P / West Virginia Humans Into Perversion  (www.W-H-I-P.us/index.php):  “WHIP” is a pansexual education & social group serving the BDSM Culture throughout WV, MD, VA, & S. PA. WHIP offers Member’s Socials, Munches, Educational discussions, & Scene-play Demo’s.

C.U.F.F / Charlottesville Underground Fetish Fellowship  (www.Cuff.Va.com):  Hmm... Virginia does seem to like its acronyms! :-) CUFF like its fellow brethren is a pansexual education & social organization for the BDSM & Fetish Community. Based in Charlottesville, VA, CUFF offers member’s socials, munches, educational seminars, open forum discussions, & Scene-play Demo’s.

Southwest VA Socials  (www.SouthwestVa.Socials.com):  Monthly socials are held in a relaxed, intimate, nightclub setting. DJs are professional; all alcohol is BYOB but there are mixers & full service bartenders readily available. The main venue is meet & greet, but on premise play is held after the party in the group's hospitality suite (complete with hot tub, sauna, & play area). Registration is required. See website or email for details on confirmation.

Club Listings for Delaware & Ocean City...

Seaside Encounters - Bummer! Yet another great venue has closed its doors for good. The Lifestyle's favored weekend getaway to Bethany Beach has sold its house & left the area so it is no more. Quite sad... :-(


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