Like to get dressed up and go dancing? Sure, there are plenty of places to go in the Valley, from Springfield to Amherst, but none quite like Diva's in Northampton. The large industrial space offers a place for the younger crowd to flaunt supple bodies as well as indulge in some extremely creative forms of self-expression, and is (pretty clearly) gay-friendly.
On Tuesdays, the week kicks off with a howl, as The Haven (18-plus, 21-plus to drink) takes over the club and makes every week Halloween. Regularly hosted by resident DJ addambombb and Miss Penelope, the "dark alternative nightclub" presents DJs, bands, artists and performers in the vein of "old-school goth, industrial, synthpop, '80s New Wave, '90s alt-rock and more." Special costume themes from The Haven tend to come in the form of "Saints and Sinners" parties and "Zombie Proms."
Wednesdays bring Drag-It-Out Hip-hop (18-plus, 21-plus to drink), featuring drag kings and queens in their finest regalia. Typically hosted by "The Diva's Dolls," who audaciously sport naughty monikers like Octacock and Cuntessa, these functions occasionally award large cash prizes for the best-dressed—$750 at the most recent event—enough to leave even a Mr. Nine-to-Five pondering his wife's lingerie drawer as a source of potential supplemental income.
Thursdays the club is closed for private events, but weekends return with a bang, first with Friday's Camouflage, spinning hip-hop, house, R&B and reggaeton (18-plus), and Saturday's SIN, bringing top 40, hip-hop and house to the dance floor courtesy of DJ Otis (21-plus). Every night, those who pray to the god of nicotine are indulged by the availability of an outside deck to smoke on while drying the sweat and re-applying the eyeliner.
Sundays? Diva's is closed (and it's probably time to hit the confessional by then anyway, paisan!). Peel the duct tape off your nipples and stow the bat wings in the closet, at least until Tuesday.
Diva's is located at 492 Pleasant St. (Route 5) in Northampton. (413) 586-8161, www.divasofnoho.com.
