Entertainment in Massachusetts
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A
Charles Playhouse
Home to the ever-popular Blue Man Group, this dual-stage backstreet theater has an engaging underground ambience.
reviewed
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B
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Near-perfect acoustics match the ambitious programs of the world-renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), which performs from October to April. Conductor James Levine makes a point to challenge his audience, leading a masterful orchestra through Brahms and Beethoven, Ravel and Rachmaninoff. Though occasionally playing outdoors at the Hatch Shell, their usual home is the beauteous Symphony Hall, featuring an ornamental high-relief ceiling and attracting a crowd dressed in their finest. It was designed in 1861 with the help of a Harvard physicist who pledged to make the building acoustically perfect (he succeeded). In summer months, the BSO retreats to Tanglewood in Wester…
reviewed
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C
Boston Pops
Also playing out of the auditorily and visually delightful Symphony Hall, the Boston Pops arranges crowd-pleasers for the orchestra to tackle. Usually this means seasonal fare such as Christmas carols, movie scores and thematic mischief. In recent years, real live pop stars have fronted the Pops, included Amy Mann, Natalie Merchant and Elvis Costello. The business is conducted by the dashing Keith Lockhart, making Boston hearts swoon since 1995. The Boston Pops plays popular classical music and show tunes from May to July and offers a popular holiday show in December. Tickets are booked out far in advance, especially for shows during the winter holidays.
reviewed
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D
Johnny D’s
While you may or may not be impressed by easy-listening adult contemporary bands, whoever books at Johnny D’s mixes up the sound with klezmer fiddlers, funk covers and notable bluegrass acts like King Wilkie. Don’t feel like paying the cover? Head to the pink Formica bar where the farsighted can still see the stage. Besides being easy on the ears, Johnny D’s is doing its part for the earth, as one of several Davis Sq businesses participating in a program to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Its menu also features beef and dairy products that are free of hormones and antibiotics. Best of all, the cows roam free.
reviewed
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E
Huntington Theatre Company
For award-winning theater, it’s tough to outdo the Huntington, whose trophy cabinet has long been full. It stages many shows before their production is transferred to Broadway (at least three of these have won Tonys) and seven major works by August Wilson were performed by the Huntington before going on to fame in New York. The company’s credentials also include more than 50 world premieres of works by playwrights such as Tom Stoppard and Christopher Durang. Plays occur in two venues: the fine Boston University Theatre (built in 1925) and the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts (built in 2004).
reviewed
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F
Citi Performing Arts Center
Boston’s biggest music and dance venue, the Citi Performing Arts Center is comprised of two theaters which face off across Tremont St. The opulent and enormous Wang Theatre, built in 1925, has one of the largest stages in the country. The Boston Ballet performs here, but the Wang also hosts extravagant music and modern dance productions, as well as occasional giant-screen movies (the center was originally built as a movie palace). It also houses the more intimate Shubert Theatre across the street, known as the ‘Little Princess’ of the Theater District.
reviewed
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G
House of Blues
The House of Blues is back! It was a sad day when the little blue house in Harvard Square became another Irish pub. But as of 2009, there is a new HOB on Lansdowne St and it is bigger and better than ever. Never mind the ridiculously tight security measures. Open only a few weeks at the time of research, it had already seen the likes of the reunited J Geils Band, BB King, George Clinton, George Thorogood, the Gypsy Kings and the Dropkick Murphys. Standing room only; two levels. Dig the gospel brunch on Sundays. We still miss the little blue house, though.
reviewed
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Ford Hall Forum at Suffolk University
The oldest continuing public lecture series in the country (begun in 1908), this forum sponsors lively and spirited dialogues on topical world issues ranging from stem-cells to terrorism to attitudes toward ageing. Venerable past speakers have included Martin Luther King Jr, Maya Angelou, Winston Churchill, Cokie Roberts, Al Gore and MacArthur Genius Award recipient John Bonifaz. Lectures are held in the fall, winter and spring at various locations around the city, including the BPL and the Old South Meeting House.
reviewed
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H
Wilbur Theatre
The colonial Wilbur Theatre dates to 1914, and over the years has hosted many prominent theatrical productions. These days it is Boston’s premier comedy club. Once known as the Comedy Connection (and located in Quincy Market), this long-running operation moved to the historic theater in 2008. Over the years, the Comedy Connection hosted the likes of Chris Rock, Rosie O’Donnell and other nationally known cut-ups. Now the company continues to tickle funny bones in what is the country’s first comedy theater.
reviewed
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Boston Ballet
Boston’s skillful ballet troupe performs both modern and classic works at the Opera House, although they still put on occasional performances at the Wang Theatre, which is part of the Citi Performing Arts Center. During the Christmas season, they put on a wildly popular performance of the Nutcracker. Student and child ‘rush’ tickets are available for $20 two hours before the performance; seniors get the same deal, but only for Saturday matinees.
reviewed
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I
Improv Asylum
This North End theater is a little dingy but somehow it enhances the dark and sometimes dirty humor spewing from the mouths of this offbeat crew. ‘Improv’ means improvisation, so the group makes things up as they go along. No topic is too touchy, no politics too correct. Usually audience members throw out ideas and the cast is off and running. The show redefines itself with every fast-paced performance. On Thursday nights at 7pm, a pasta buffet is included in the price of a ticket.
reviewed
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J
Scullers Jazz Club
This club books huge names (Dave Brubeck, Dr John, Michael Franks) in a relatively intimate room serving stiff drinks. Many prefer to buy a package where you get a three-course dinner plus seats practically in the laps of the performers. In any case, you definitely should buy your tickets in advance. Though it enjoys impressive views over the Charles, the room itself lacks the grit you might hanker for in a jazz club. It feels like it sits inside a Doubletree Hotel (which it does).
reviewed
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K
New England Conservatory
Founded in 1867, the NEC is the country’s oldest music school. The conservatory hosts professional and student chamber and orchestral concerts in the acoustically superlative hall, which dates from 1904. Perhaps for better sight lines, the floor pitches slightly forward, and while perfectly safe, it gives some on the balcony an odd sensory experience. The Boston Philharmonic, Boston Modern Orchestra Project and From the Top (of National Public Radio fame) all make use of the hall.
reviewed
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L
Lily Pad
We are loathe to classify this place as a jazz club because, frankly, this place defies classification. It’s a tiny space that fills up with music and performance art, whether it’s tango dancing, narrated jazz storytelling or a musical conversation between jazz piano and tap dance. You might also hear indie, avant-garde, folk and even chamber music. The space is stripped down – basically folding chairs in a room – which adds to the underground effect.
reviewed
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M
Flash’s Cocktails
With its old-fashioned neon sign shining bright across the Back Bay, Flash’s offers an awesome balance between retro and ‘right now.’ The menu includes classic cocktails known as ‘Flashbacks’ and contemporary concoctions, which they call ‘Flash Forward.’ Considering the fancy-pants drinks, it does an admirable job of preserving a neighborhood atmosphere. Good comfort food, but it’s not served on weekends.
reviewed
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N
Boston Beer Works
This somewhat slick, modern room uses blond-wood tones and simple trim stools to create a design effect better than most sports bars. Decked out with scads of TVs that form a ring around the bar, this place is also in a prime location – directly across the street from all the action at Fenway Park. Most importantly, there is a rotating menu of 15-plus delicious beer flavors. Appropriate for sports fans, there is another outlet near the TD Banknorth Garden.
reviewed
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O
Opera Boston
Playing out of the gilded Cutler Majestic Theater, this acclaimed opera company has been impressing Boston for almost three decades. Expect innovative set design and intelligently selected shows that bring to life the rarely heard works of masters, plus an experimental repertoire of more recent vintage. Recent performances include the New England premier of The Nose by Dmitry Shostakovich, and Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber.
reviewed
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P
Gallery XIV
One in a cluster of galleries along Thayer and Harrison, Gallery XIV is in the heart of SoWa. The goal here is ‘to strike a balance between conceptual and traditional modes of conceptualization.’ The best example, perhaps, is the Canvasation Project, where a group of artists collaborate on a large painting and filmmakers record the creative process. More recently, a politic allowed dozens of artists to express their ideas about politics.
reviewed
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Q
Saint
We’re not sure what to think about a place that calls itself a ‘Boutique Nitery.’ It is more intimate than most clubs, thanks to its small size and basement setting. There are essentially two rooms: a cozy, crimson-colored lounge with carpet on the ceiling, and a white marbly dance room that looks like a bad movie interpretation of heaven. Reserve online or arrive right at 10pm to ensure you get in. No cover before 10:30pm.
reviewed
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R
Excelsior
A trendy(ish), tame crowd of 30-something urbanites drink in style under a ceiling covered with sophisticated geometric tapestries. The room swims pleasantly in warm tones of dark teak and amber, the whole thing set around a glass -and-steel cube that contains the wine collection. Efficient, professional staff will hurry oysters to your table as you admire the Public Garden across the street. We lament the lame out-of-character flatscreen TV.
reviewed
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S
Big Easy
This club splices together iconic emblems from the great southern city in a superficial pastiche that has caused it to be ridiculously successful. It's hard to tell whether the place is mocking New Orleans, but come inside anyway to experience knock-off wrought iron balconies that overlook the dance floor, huge open spaces and oversized cocktails (hurricanes, of course). The music is usually pop DJs, with the occasional lame cover band.
reviewed
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T
Doyle's Cafe
This Irish bar dates to 1882 and provides an unadulterated glimpse into some vanishing bits of Irish American culture. Distant pressed tin ceilings hang far above a completely worn out floor that was long ago covered in linoleum, itself almost entirely worn away. No tourists come here, just locals and off duty cops drinking from a huge selection of ryes. Also see an enormous (and ghastly) mural of Paul Revere high-fiving a minuteman.
reviewed
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U
Ryles Jazz Club
Upstairs you’ll find a largish dance hall where there are often early evening instructors on hand to get you primed to swing or merengue. On the 1st level you’ll find a dining room. Both are done up with a natty jazz-inspired décor, and each has its own stage on which both local talent and national names play (Arturo Sandoval, Maynard Ferguson). A popular Sunday brunch makes a great time to visit, though you might need a reservation.
reviewed
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V
Wally’s Café
Old-school, gritty and small, Wally’s is the kind of place where someone on stage will recognize a high-caliber out-of-town musician in the crowd and convince them to play. It’s been an institution since the ‘60s and is one of the most successfully racially mixed bars you’ll find in Boston. Berklee students love this place, especially the Saturday (5pm to 8pm) and Sunday (4pm to 7pm) jam sessions.
reviewed
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W
River Gods
The decor of this small cramped room (max 45 people) leans towards kitsch with a cluttered assortment of sparkly leather stools and red velvet chairs that look too much like gothic thrones. Art-house movies and documentary footage project silently on the wall while DJs spin from a second-story alcove. Monday's feature a themed showdown, where you might see DJ Curtis attempt to one-up Captain Tipsy with country tunes.
reviewed
