Boston nightlife
compiled by EyeWorld staff
Not only is Boston one of the largest cities in the United States, but it also is a college town, which makes for an interesting cross-section of nighttime activities. On the one hand, there are enough dive bars in the city to make you feel like you are using a fake ID all over again, but there also are fancy night clubs reminiscent of New York. And while you could venture to any of several smaller local theaters with its performing company, the city also offers grand theaters and opera houses that host traveling Broadway production. To each his own in Boston!
Bars and clubs
Lansdowne Street
Want to spend a crazy night out on the town in Boston? Then hit up Lansdowne Street and the surrounding area and you won’t be sorry. The entire block is jam packed with a variety of dance clubs, lounges, bars and nightclubs all right next to each other.
Most places are casual dress except for some of the clubs, such as Axis (13 Lansdowne St.) and Avalon (15 Lansdowne St.). At those clubs no jeans, sneakers, or gym clothes are allowed.
Some of the other highlights in the area include the clubs House of Blues (15 Lansdowne St.) and Tequila Rain (7 Lansdowne St.) and sports and games bars Bleacher Bar (4 Yawkey Way), Boston Beer Works (61 Brookline Ave.), Cask’n Flagon (62 Brookline Ave.), and Game On! (82 Lansdowne St.).
The Alley (Boylston Place)
Boylston Street runs through the Theater District, but in The Alley some of the hotpsots include the chic club, Estate (1 Boylston Place), the more relaxed restaurant Sweetwater Café (3 Boylston Place) and nearby is the dance club Gypsy Bar (116 Boylston St.). If you venture further toward the Theater District, you’ll be treated to the concert venue Roxy Nightclub (279 Tremont St.), which links The Alley to the South End.
The South End
Not to be confused with South Boston, the South End features trendy shops, theaters, bars, and restaurants on tree-lined streets with brownstone buildings. Tremont Street is the major thoroughfare here but even the tiniest streets of this district are full of cafes and bars. Parking here can be next to non-existent, but this is a very walker-friendly area. The Beehive (541 Tremont St.) and 28 Degrees (1 Appleton St.); both are restaurants/bars/dance clubs. The Beehive features live music whereas 28 Degrees describes itself as a lounge.
Performing arts
There is more to nighttime entertainment than nightclubs and bars, and Boston has covered the performing arts has thoroughly as any other city short of Broadway.
To get a complete listing of shows while you are in town, visit ArtsBoston (www.artsboston.org), where you also can pre-order tickets to shows. If you are searching for a deal, Boston insiders know you can visit that Web site or the BosTix booths (cash only) at Faneuil Hall or Copley Square to get half price tickets the day of the show; the booths open at 10 a.m. on weekdays.
Another resource is TheaterMania (www.theatermania.com/boston) for the Boston Metro Theater Guide.
Some of the featured performance centers include the Colonial Theatre, Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, Opera House, Orpheum, Shubert Theater, and Wang Center.
Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston St.
617-426-9366
www.bostonscolonialtheatre.com
From April 13 to 18, the Colonial Theatre will be featuring the musical CATS. What began as a musical about cats after Andrew Lloyd Webber picked up a book of poems in an airport bookshop has become one of the longest running shows in Broadway’s history. Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, CATS features 20 of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless melodies, including the hit song, “Memory.”
Wang Theatre
270 Tremont St.
617-482-9393
www.citicenter.org
At 10 p.m. on April 10 (Saturday), the Wang Theatre presents night talk show host, author and stand-up comedian Chelsea Handler, who is headlining a 21-city tour with special guest Brad Wollack to celebrate the release of her third book, Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang. Ms. Handler broke into the world of male-dominated late-night talk shows with her E! Entertainment series, Chelsea Lately.
Before you leave Boston, from April 15 to 18, the Wang Theatre presents the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. With this dancing troup, beauty, spirit, hope, and passion know no bounds. The genius of Alvin Ailey changed forever the perception of American dance. Judith Jamison’s remarkable vision has preserved and extended Ailey’s legacy. Performances will include the classic Revelations, premiere works and Ailey standards.