The Comedy Studio
The Comedy Studio Few comedy clubs these days are actually dedicated to the craft—which makes this Harvard Square studio a rare gem. Not only does it fill seats six nights a week with a variety of acts, it also devotes time to nurturing up-and-coming cutups and runs a sought-after comedian-in-residence program. And because it's located above the Hong Kong, you can get your laughs with a side of greasy-good Peking ravioli and a scorpion bowl. 1238 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA thecomedystudio.com.
Kendall Square Cinema
No crying babies, chatty teens, or bleeping cell phones. That's why your parents, professors, and primary-care provider choose to catch the latest film-festival hits and indie first-runs at this Landmark Theatres location. They also come because parking is a pittance ($3), the theater offers high-quality snacks (dried fruit, gluten-free cookies), and the guy behind the ticket counter is totally stoked to discuss Fassbinder's use of Brechtian aesthetics. 355 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 2139, landmarktheatres.com.
Sacco's Bowl Haven
Photograph by Bob O'Connor If you happen to own custom-made bowling gloves and look down on those who roll anything under 220, then this Somerville candlepin joint isn't for you. But if you've got some skeeball chops and a penchant for craft beer, grab a lane between a toddler's birthday party and a gaggle of college freshmen, order a few fabulous Flatbread Company pizzas, and get your game on. 45 Day St., Somerville, MA 2144, .
Granite Links Golf Club
The views of the Boston skyline make this Quincy course stand out, but Granite Links is much more than a pretty picture. The private course offers an astounding 27 holes of golf for members and the public, and includes a large, lighted practice range that stays open late. After a grueling round with your buddies, the on-site restaurant is a welcome respite, with a fun-loving crowd and a range of food and drink options. 100 Quarry Lane, Quincy, MA 2186, granitelinksgolfclub.com.
American Repertory Theatre
The A.R.T. has added major buzz to its stages, from Amanda Palmer's work in Cabaret to a punk musical about Prometheus. Artistic director Diane Paulus has displayed the clout to bring in star turns by John Lithgow and Amy Brenneman, as well as the vision to produce the U.S. premiere of robot opera Death and the Powers, written by MIT prof Tod Machover. This is a theater that keeps your eye on the calendar for what's coming next. 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, americanrepertorytheatre.com.
Seaport Boston Hotel
Seaport Hotel's Wave Health and Fitness Club isn't the swankiest place to swim in Boston (that would be the InterContinental). But it's far from crowded, well kept, and refreshingly affordable. The skylight-enhanced pool offers three warm, four-and-a-half-foot-deep lanes, and the $15 day fee includes the eucalyptus-infused steam rooms and plenty of workout equipment. Bonus: Kids are just $5 a pop. 1 Seaport Ln., Boston, MA 2210, seaportboston.com.
Showcase Cinema De Lux
At $19 to $24.50, the tickets are pricey. But admission to the Dedham theater's Lux Level includes many worthy indulgences: state-of-the-art digital projection, plush seats, free garage parking, food and beverage service, attentive waitstaff, and—hallelujah—a 21-plus admissions policy. You won't find a lot of (okay, any) art-house or indie films, but for mainstream fare, Cinema De Lux is a treat so addictive it could easily become habit. 670 Legacy Pl., Dedham, MA 2026, nationalamusements.com.
The Bristol Lounge
The Four Seasons' lounge caters to both sorts of solo patrons: those who find themselves alone, and those who wish to be left alone. The skilled barkeeps are the city's quickest studies of stag drinkers, able to gauge whether you're up for a chat, a snack, or a stiff drink and silence. And the Bristol's cozy appointments make it perfectly suited to parties of one. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Bank of America Pavilion
This is not the place to go to make some great new musical discovery—the Pavilion's schedule remains heavy on well-known arena rockers. But there's no better spot to catch your favorite '80s band than this open-air venue, especially once the sun sets, the breeze picks up, and you settle in with a couple of frosty beers. Bonus: As Boston's waterfront continues to develop, so do the Pavilion's pre- and post-show drinking and dining options, such as Morton's, Legal Test Kitchen, and Atlantic Beer Garden. 290 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2210, bankofamericapavillion.net.
Mottley's Comedy Club
Performing a set at a sweaty, cramped, underground club like Mottley's is the embodiment of what comics call paying your dues. Owned, operated, and booked by two funnymen (and their business partner), Mottley's is a proving ground for some of Boston's most promising comedy talent. The stage show is the main attraction, but if you hang back by the bar, you'll get a second serving of entertainment—eavesdropping on the performers' post-set repartee—for the same reasonable admission price ($8 to $20, depending on the show). Trinity Bar, 61 Chatham St., Boston, MA 2109, mottleyscomedy.com.
Silhouette Cocktail Lounge
If you require more than two ingredients in your cocktail (ice and booze), the Silhouette is likely not for you. True to dive décor, the walls are cheaply paneled and the floors cheaply tiled; the windows are largely covered to keep swillers insulated from school, work, the light of day, etc. The Tam may have the craziest clientele and TC's the most Big Buck Hunter nuts, but the Silhouette reigns as the best no-frills place to be, or start becoming, hung over. 200 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Brattle Theatre
Fundraising is still under way to save this beloved Harvard Square institution from the pernicious encroachments of Netflix and TiVo, and the outcome remains uncertain. All the more reason to buy tickets for the Brattle's screenings of foreign gems, art-house premieres, tributes to Golden Age Hollywood, and annual Bugs Bunny Film Festival. Skip the DVD for once, and watch Casablanca the way it was meant to be seen: on the big (independent) screen. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, brattlefilm.org.
Rumor
Step into Rumor on a Saturday night—assuming you can get in at all—and enter a world where women dance on platforms, curtains billow from the ceiling, and DJs seamlessly mix Shakira, Kanye, and the Black Sheep. VIPs frequent the club's exclusive Latin Room, while a diverse crowd of scantily dressed youngsters shake it on the main hip-hop and house floor until 2 a.m. Short of hopping a flight to Miami, this is as close as a Bostonian can get to South Beach hedonism. 100 Warrenton St., Boston, MA 2116, rumorboston.com.
Sunset Grill & Tap
Just reading the beer menu at the Sunset is enough to make your head spin. At last count there were 100 brews on tap here, as well as 300-plus bottled beers. The selection ranges from the prosaic (Pilsner Urquell) to the obscure (Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale) to the unpronounceable (the Gueuze 100% Lambic is said to be the champagne of beers). For connoisseurs, there's usually a cask-conditioned ale, like the popular Middle Ages' Wailing Wench; for the less discerning, there are the always-reliable Bud Light longnecks. 130 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, allstonsfinest.com.
21 Federal
Much as we enjoy fighting for a bar stool with sunburned tourists and libidinous and over-lubricated college students, we do sometimes crave a slightly more civilized scene. 21 Federal, inside a classic Nantucket 1847 Greek Revival building, features a sophisticated downstairs bar and another cozy one upstairs. In-the-know Nantucketers congregate here for masterfully poured drinks; an award-winning wine list; good-looking, genial bartenders; and a crowd that knows how to have a stylish sort of fun. 21 Federal St., Boston, MA 21federal.com.