Boston Nightlife
Home to many thousands of students, it was perhaps inevitable that Boston would develop a formidable reputation for quality nightlife in America. Described as "quaint and charming", visitors may not immediately expect this picturesque city to offer top after-dark entertainment, but they would be mistaken.
Alongside the top clubs and bars that visitors would expect from a large city, Boston also has a well deserved reputation for providing highbrow culture for the entertainment of its Ivy League residents.
Visitors to Boston can expect everything from classical music recitals and professional level plays to all night clubbing. With a strong Irish heritage, Boston is also home to an awful lot of Irish pubs, ranging from the tacky to the enjoyably traditional.
This compact city has a reputation for being friendly to pedestrians and it certainly is possible to walk to most venues at night. Although Boston is probably safer than the average US city, visitors should of course always exercise caution and it is advisable that they stay east of Massachusetts Avenue and north of Washington Street at night.
The Commons and Public Garden are fairly safe at night, providing people stick to the main paths, but it is advisable to avoid the city's other parks after dark. Taxis are reasonable and public transport is generally safe. Some subways provide special night time waiting areas and it is recommended that visitors use these where available.
As a university city, Boston also has a friendly and tolerant attitude towards gay men and women, although homophobic attacks in the Fenway area are "consistently" reported. In terms of going out, South End is popular with gay men, while lesbians tend to head to Jamaica Plain.
For culture vultures, the New England Conservatory (NEC) of Music is a popular destination. The oldest music school in the US, the NEC was founded in 1867 and has gone on to host recitals by everyone from the Budapest String Quartet to the Boston Gay Men's Chorus. Located on the Fenway, the NEC's Jordan Hall enjoyed an impressive make-over in 1995, having been recognised as a national landmark the year before.
With an equally well-respected history is the Wang Centre, home to the Wang Theatre and the Schubert Theatre. The Wang Theatre boasts one of the largest stages in the country, allowing it to host extravagant music and dance productions as well as regular performances by the Boston Ballet. Known as the "little princess" of the theatre world, the Schubert hosts a number of more intimate but critically acclaimed productions.
Club Passim in the city centre also appeals to those with a sense of history. Opened in 1958 as a prestigious jazz venue, it has been the training ground for many well-respected acts. Tracy Chapman, Patty Larkin and Jackson Browne all cut their teeth here. It now hosts regular concerts by new and established acoustic artists.
Those looking for something a little more energetic should stay in the city centre but head to Avalon, one of Boston's most popular clubs. Known for its range of house, techno and industrial dance, Avalon welcomes international DJs on Thursday and US talent on Fridays. Saturday is also its popular gay club night.
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Nightlife
