Photo by Scott Murry

YOUR PICKS

ART GALLERY
THE LAP GALLERY 
Consistently pushing the boundaries of what it means
to make art in the modern age. (Read: not boring.)
[289 Moody St., Waltham. @LAPGallery. lincolnartsproject.com]

THEATER/THEATER COMPANY
A.R.T.
Every single production they put on
becomes the Boston theatre event.
[64 Brattle St., Cambridge. @americanrep. americanrepertorytheater.org]

COMEDY TROUPE
ANDERSON COMEDY
You know what they say, you can take the stand-up out of Allston…
and then bring it to the Middlesex Lounge and the Middle East …
and that’s like, good. Yep.
[facebook.com/andersoncomedy]

COMEDY VENUE
IMPROVBOSTON
If you think coming up with a “Category Winner”
blurb is hard, you should try raising this baby!
[40 Prospect St., Cambridge. @improvboston. improvboston.com]

FILM FESTIVAL
BOSTON UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
If it’s weird and it’s widescreen,
then it’s at the BUFF.
[40 Brattle St., Cambridge. @BOSunderground. bostonunderground.org]

INDIE/ART HOUSE CINEMA
BRATTLE THEATRE
What’s better than a balconied, beer-serving art house cinema?
One that encourages your guiltiest film pleasures
(Back to the Future, anyone?).
[40 Brattle St., Cambridge. @BrattleTheatre. brattlefilm.org]

LARGE VENUE
MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS
The place to see underground hip-hop and cult
indie acts in town. Legendary, and for a reason.
[472 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. @MidEastClub. mideastclub.com]

MEDIUM VENUE
T.T. THE BEAR’S PLACE
More flannel-wearing concert-goers flock here than the rest
of Cambridge combined. Great bar and they book killer acts.
[10 Brookline St., Cambridge. @ttthebears. ttthebears.com]

SMALL VENUE
CLUB PASSIM
This is the place to go so you can say,
“I totally saw that band before they were famous.”
[47 Palmer St., Cambridge. @clubpassim. clubpassim.org]

MUSEUM
HARVARD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
It’s where you get extra credit for that bio class you’re failing.
Also home to a superb dead stuffed animal collection.
[26 Oxford St., Cambridge. @HarvardMuseum. hmnh.harvard.edu]

DANCE CLUB
MIDDLESEX LOUNGE
Hands down best bartenders and sound system around.
Cambridge’s “music box,” if you will.
[315 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. @middlesexlounge. middlesexlounge.us]

DANCE NIGHT
ELEMENTS
Hike up the bpm and stock up on Aquafina,
it’s drum ‘n’ bass time.
[512 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. @Elementsdnb. elements-dnb.com]

GAY NIGHT
PARADISE
Sexy male go-go dancers six nights a week!
What more do you need to know?
[180 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. paradisecambridge.com]

KARAOKE
HIGHLAND KITCHEN
Because those covers of Journey aren’t going to ruin themselves!
[150 Highland Ave., Somerville. @HighlandKitchen. highlandkitchen.com]

EDIT PICKS

LAUREN’S PICK
BEST ANSWER TO “WHERE IS THE TECHNO?!”: MAKE IT NEW
Ever stumbled past Middlesex on a Thursday night in the past eight years and thought, “Why are so many people dancing out that door?” The answer: Make it New. Best bartenders. Best people. Best cutting-edge, intelligent, and kinetic dance music. [315 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. @Basstown. facebook.com/basstown]

CADY’S PICK:
BEST HYPOTHERMIA PREVENTION: SOMERVILLE THEATRE
A big-ass venue that puts on an incredibly diverse array of performances—from author readings to folk shows to screenings. Where else could you plausibly see Skyfall and the Slutcracker in one day without going outside into the bitter, bitter cold? Nowhere else, that’s where.
[55 Davis Sq., Somerville. @svilletheatre. somervilletheatreonline.com]

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Photo by Melanie Rieders