Entertainment in New England
-
A
Bull Feeney’s
Despite the mediocre food, Bull Feeney’s remains a local favorite for its central location, warm ambience (it spills over two floors, with a crackling fire in one room) and a garrulous crowd. Live bands play Thursday through Saturday.
reviewed
-
B
A-House
P-town’s gay scene got its start here and it’s still the leading bar in town. Includes an intimate 1st-floor pub with fireplace, as well as a dance club and cabaret through a separate entrance.
reviewed
-
Band in Boston
reviewed
-
Bennett Dance Company
reviewed
-
Boston Dance Alliance
reviewed
-
Broadway Across America
reviewed
-
C
Boston Historical Society
Based at the Old State House, the Boston Historical Society organizes lectures, re-enactments and other special events on Beantown topics. Many events are geared toward children, such as ‘Little Redcoats,’ the annual kids’ re-enactment of the Boston Massacre. Stop by the historical society for evenings devoted to the Boston Strangler, abolitionism in Boston and the Big Dig.
reviewed
-
D
Boston Public Library
For a schedule of free events, check out the BPL, where you might hear an author talk by a well-known novelist (eg Dennis Lehane), a lecture on researching genealogy or a discussion about how to buy a home in Boston. Most events are held in the Rabb Lecture Hall, which lies inside a painfully ugly addition attached to the celebrated main library building. Others occur in more beautiful and stimulating environs.
reviewed
-
E
Brookline Booksmith
Head to this top-notch mom-and-pop bookstore for readings in a homey brick room where patrons sit on a collection of bridge chairs and listen to best-selling authors like Adam Gopnik, Natalie Goldberg and Stacy Horn.
reviewed
-
F
Harvard Bookstore
Established in 1932, this famous and independent bookstore has long been a center of intellectual activity in Harvard Sq. A regular series of readers and speakers range from novelists (such as Nell Freudenberger and William Boyd) to academics. Many readings are held in the store itself, others in the Brattle Theatre.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
G
Harvard University
Harvard hosts a staggering number of lectures, symposia, meetings and tours, many of which are free and open to the public. Topics are as diverse as the university itself and are impossible to encapsulate in a review such as this. Representative events are gallery talks on green architecture, Islamic Jihadism or mapping the human genome. Or go see a lecture by a NASA astronaut.
reviewed
-
H
Museum of Fine Arts
If you packed your thinking cap, the MFA screens highbrow film events where visiting artists often attend screenings to discuss their work. The MFA also hosts film festivals dedicated to every ethnicity on the planet (Jewish, Iranian, African, French, etc) as well as a gay and lesbian film festival and the Human Rights Watch film festival.
reviewed
-
I
Museum of Fine Arts
For a tame, seated show, try the MFA, where you’ll often see iconic rockers perform solo gigs.
reviewed
-
J
Pill
The Friday-night dance party at Great Scott – known as the Pill – is a cool mix of indie and pop, if that’s possible. Start off with the resident DJs spinning Brit pop and modern indie. Follow that with live bands playing music to rock your world. The scene is more hip than you would expect in Allston (dress up, ladies!) but not up the same level as the Downtown venues.
reviewed
-
K
Ryles Dance Hall
No matter what’s going down on the 1st floor, there is dancing upstairs. And it usually has a Latin beat. Salsa Sunday, Noche Latina Tuesday, Viernes de Vacilon… you get the idea. Every night is Latin night, and you can usually get in on a lesson if you come by 8pm or 8:30pm. On Saturday, SuperShag mixes it up with salsa and swing – a fabulous combination for those with fancy toes.
reviewed
-
1369 Coffeehouse
reviewed
-
L
Brendan Behan Pub
Candlelit tables, stained glass and old liquor cabinets make this dark den an attractive destination for regulars of all ages and origins. There are a few things that make this place unique: no food (but you can bring it in), no TVs, dogs at the bar.
reviewed
-
M
1369 Coffeehouse
reviewed
-
N
1369 Coffeehouse
reviewed
-
O
Diesel Café
reviewed
Advertisement
-
P
Kendall Square Cinema
reviewed
-
Q
Kresge Auditorium
reviewed
-
R
Paradise Lounge
One of Boston’s most legendary rock clubs: here you can get up close and personal with some big names. The newish lounge has a hip, cozy atmosphere and a limited menu.
reviewed
-
S
Murphy's on the Green
This classic collegiate tavern is where students and faculty meet over pints of ale (with ten beers on tap) and satisfying pub fare (mains around US$8 to around US$15) served until 22:00. Stained-glass windows and church-pew seating enhance the cozy atmosphere.
reviewed
-
Esplanade Performances
May through September, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops and the city itself provide free outdoor performances at the Hatch Shell. Hear Kool & the Gang, classical music and, on Friday evenings, watch movies.
reviewed