Entertainment in Massachusetts
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Wang Center for the Performing Arts
The opulent and enormous Wang Theater, 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 Theater, known as the ‘Little Princess’ of the Theater District.
reviewed
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River Gods
The decor of this small, cramped room (max 45 people) leans towards kitsch with a cluttered assortment of sparkly leather stools and gothic red velvet chairs. Art-house movies and documentary footage project silently on the wall while DJs spin from a second-story alcove. The DJs work their magic every night, with a few sessions weekly dedicated to new music.
reviewed
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Wally’s Café
When Wally's opened in 1947, Barbadian immigrant Joseph Walcott became the first African-American to own a nightclub in New England. Old-school, gritty and small, it still attracts a racially diverse crowd to hear jammin' jazz music 365 days a year. 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.
Berklee students love this place, especially the weekend jam sessions (6pm to 8pm Saturday and Sunday).
reviewed
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Ryles Jazz Club
Bonus: Ryles is not in a hotel. It is a dark lounge with low lighting and big windows, offering an intimate atmosphere to hear great music. This includes the house band – Ryles Jazz Orchestra – which plays monthly, as well as other local talent and the occasional big name. The Sunday jazz brunch is super popular: reserve if possible.
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. On Saturday, SuperShag mixes it up with salsa and swing – a fabulous combination for those with fancy toes.
reviewed
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Bin 26 Enoteca
If you are into your wine, you’ll be into the Bin. Big windows overlook Charles St and wine bottles line the walls. The 60-page wine list spans the globe, including a moderately priced house wine that is bottled in Italy just for the restaurant. Staff will insist you order food (due to licensing requirements) but you won't regret sampling the simple, seasonal menu.
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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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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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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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Storyville
The legendary Storyville jazz club occupied this same spot in the 1940s, when it hosted the likes of Dave Brubeck and Billie Holiday (who even recorded an album here). The contemporary nightclub recalls that era with its loungey atmosphere and sexy New Orleans–inspired vibe. One room is reserved for dancing, with live music on Wednesday nights.
Along with potent drinks, the place serves excellent modern New England fare well into the night.
reviewed
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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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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.
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Boston Beer Works
Decked out with scads of TVs, which form a ring around the bar, this place is 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. The slick, modern room uses blond-wood tones and simple trim stools to create an appealing design effect.
reviewed
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Upstairs on the Square
Pink-and-gold hues, chandeliers and lots of glamor and glitz: such is the decor that defines this restaurant, the successor to once-renowned Upstairs at the Pudding. It's a delightfully romantic setting for afternoon tea and a bite of sweet – the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or warm up on a winter afternoon.
reviewed
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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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Lily Pad
Lily Pad is 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 ambience.
Lily Pad is located in Inman Sq, a 15-minute walk north of Central Sq.
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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 Jordan Hall, which dates from 1904.
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Scullers Jazz Club
A more mature music experience, this club books big names (Dave Brubeck, Dr John, Michael Franks) in a small room. 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's inside a Doubletree Hotel (which it is). Book in advance.
reviewed
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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. No topic is too touchy, no politics too correct. The show redefines itself with every fast-paced performance.
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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.
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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 has hosted the likes of Chris Rock, Rosie O’Donnell and other nationally known cut-ups.
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.
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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.
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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 Wang hosts extravagant music and modern dance productions, as well as occasional giant-screen movies (the center was originally built as a movie palace). The Citi Center also includes the more intimate Shubert Theatre across the street.
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Huntington Theatre Company
Boston's leading award-winning theater company, the Huntington specializes in developing new plays, staging many shows before they're transferred to Broadway (several of which have won Tonys). 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.
The Huntington usually stages its shows at the Boston University Theatre (built in 1925), but its secondary venue is the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts (built in 2004).
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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.
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