Entertainment in Boston
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Boston Bruins
The Bruins, under the former star power of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Ray Bourque, play ice hockey at Banknorth Garden. That is, when they are not involved in a labor dispute.
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Dodge St
Food is served here, but most people come to suck down a few beers and get their groove on. There’s live music, usually rock and blues. If you must eat here, get the ribs.
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B
TD Banknorth Garden
Back in the day, the Boston Garden was the home of the Bruins and the Celtics. In 1997, that storied sports arena was destroyed and replaced by the current facility, which went through a slew of name changes before arriving at – you guessed it – 'the Garden.' Of course, now there is a corporate sponsor, so it's officially the TD Banknorth Garden.
It's still home to the Bruins, who play hockey here from September to June, and the Celtics, who play basketball from October to April. It's the city's largest venue so big-name musicians perform here too.
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C
Cheers
We understand that this is a mandatory pilgrimage place for fans of the TV show. But be aware that the bar doesn’t look like its famous TV alter ego, nor is it charming or local or ‘Boston’ in any way. In short, nobody knows your name. The fact that there is another outlet in Quincy Market proves our point.
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D
AMC Loews Boston Common
For first-run blockbusters, this generic megaplex offers big screens, plush seats and a central location opposite the Common. Though it has 19 screens, popular weekend shows sell out.
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BosTix kiosks
Offers discounted tickets to theater productions citywide (up to 25% off for advance purchases online). Discounts up to 50% are available for same-day purchase: check the website to see what’s available. Purchases must be made in person, in cash, at outlets on Copley Sq or at Quincy Market.
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E
Caffé Vittoria
A delightful destination for dessert or aperitifs. The frilly parlor displays antique espresso machines and black-and-white photos, with a pressed-tin ceiling reminiscent of the era. Grab a marble-topped table, order a cappuccino and live it up in Victorian pleasure. Cash only, just like the olden days.
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Caffé Victoria
For absolutely superb cappuccino in a frilly parlor displaying antique espresso machines, grab a marble topped table and live it up in Victorian pleasure. Also on offer are ports and dessert.
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Diesel Cafe
One of Boston’s best late-night coffeehouses, Diesel attracts a regular patronage of lesbians. The large industrial room is decorated with oversized street signs and boldly painted walls.
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Comcast IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan’s Furniture
For a surreal experience, rent a car and allow yourself 45 minutes to an hour to drive to this suburban nospace. It’s in a friggin’ furniture store on a fake street (Underprice Way!?).
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Club Oberon
The second stage of the American Repertory Theatre, this black box is ideally suited for flashy song and dance performances and interactive, acrobatic theater. The long-running favorite is the Shakespearean disco, The Donkey Show, but you might also see Rocky Horror Live or Abbey Road: An Erotic, Thrilling Interpretation. Indeed, 'erotic' and 'thrilling' seem to be consistent themes across performances.
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3-D Imax Theater, New England Aquarium
The aquarium’s 3-D IMAX theater features films with aquatic themes. The aquarium also organizes whale-watching cruises. Combination tickets are also available.
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Mugar Omni Theater
For total IMAX immersion, check out the space-themed and natural science–oriented flicks at the Museum of Science’s theater. A sweet sound system will help you believe you’re roving around Mars.
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O’Briens
For serious punk and loud amps, head for this hole where the stage is shoved oddly into a corner, making for weird sight lines. It looks like a wood-paneled basement from the ‘70s with a sound system.
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Rockafellas
With live entertainment Wednesday through Sunday, this lively restaurant and lounge draws an upscale crowd to kick back and enjoy the semi-swanky setting. Music ranges from acoustic to reggae to rock and blues.
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Firehouse Center for the Arts
This restored 1823 firehouse contains an art gallery, a 190-seat theater and a restaurant. The theater offers year-round concerts, plays and children’s theater, with top performers from around New England.
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Company One
Company One strives for radical theater work, in an attempt to reach less traditional, younger, ethnically diverse audiences. Critics are crazy for C1, which has wracked up a slew of awards and nominations for its innovative productions. Most shows are performed in the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) theaters.
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B-Side Lounge
Sliding into a booth at the B-Side feels like sitting in the back of a 1962 Cadillac – a really nice one that someone took great care of. The casually stylish place makes good mint juleps and plays rockabilly.
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Rock Bottom
This is part of a national brewpub chain, although each outlet brews different beers using ingredients to customize the product. Traditional beer styles are offered alongside more distinctive specialty ales and lagers.
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Crossroads
Being a low-budget, cheap drinks kind of place, it attracts lots of students, sports fans and folks looking for a good game of darts. It's heavy duty Irish and isn't the kind of place where you want to order Bushmills.
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Green Dragon
Also purporting itself to be a historic watering hole, the Green Dragon is almost indistinguishable from the Bell in Hand. The place is stuffed full of overdeveloped biceps kept in perfect tone by constant high-fiving.
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Pour House
For years, young college students have introduced themselves to urban nightlife by enjoying cheap drinks and cheaper patty burgers in this pleasantly ratty bar. At least one of the TVs is playing Kino, not the Sox game.
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Alibi
There are actually two hot-to-trot drinking venues in the Liberty Hotel, both architecturally impressive and socially oh-so-trendy. Downstairs, Alibi is set in the former ‘drunk tank’ of the Charles St Jail. The prison theme is played up, with mugshots hanging on the brick walls and iron bars on the doors and windows. Upstairs, Clink is the opposite, set under the soaring ceiling of the hotel’s lobby. Both places are absurdly popular, so you’d best come early if you care to sit down.
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Orpheum Theater
A lovely, worn-out old theater dating to the mid-1850s.
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Flash's Cocktails
With its old-fashioned neon sign shining bright across Back Bay, Flash's offers an awesome balance between retro and right-now. The menu includes classic cocktails known as 'Flashbacks' and contemporary concoctions, dubbed 'Flash Forward.' Garlic fries are the perfect munchy accompaniment. Considering the fancy-pants drinks, it does an admirable job of preserving a neighborhood atmosphere.
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