COVER STORY
Club Boston
Kenmore/Fenway
AVALON
15 Lansdowne St., Boston. 617-262-2424. (Get directions).
Music DJs start at 10 p.m. (various live shows in early evening). Thur.: international night, Latin, Greek, and other global sounds. Fri.: "Avaland" with top-name DJs. Sat.: house with DJ Mattie-o. Sun.: Gay night with DJ Ritchie Rich.
Cover $15; more for live shows
Age Thur.-Fri: 19+. Sat.-Sun.: 21+
Atmosphere Fresh from a multimillion-dollar facelift, this could be called "the club that ate Lansdowne Street." By taking over the former Aerosmith-owned Mama Kin, Avalon has increased its capacity to nearly 2,000 and added several lounges. The renovation should (temporarily) ease long lines on Lansdowne Street. This club is as New York as Boston gets, especially its over-the-top, Studio 54-esque Friday night. World-renowned DJs provide the soundtrack for a revolving cast of players and set designers who act out everything from the seven deadly sins to "South Pacific."
- C.M.
AXIS
13 Lansdowne St., Boston. 617-262-2437. (Get directions).
Music Thur.: Well-known Boston DJ John Debo spins progressive house downstairs, while DJ Chaos spins soul upstairs at Bar 13. Fri.: house music downstairs with DJ Tim Ryan and '80s alternative upstairs with David James. Sat.: "X-Night" with '90s alternative music downstairs and '80s hits upstairs. Mon.: gay night "Static" with DJ Jay Ine.
Cover Mon. $2 ($5 for 19+); Thur. $10; Fri. $10 ($12 for 19+); Sat.: $10
Age Mon., Thur., Fri. 19+; Sat. 21+
Atmosphere Axis is Avalon's devilish little brother. The smaller space gives the club a more manageable feel. The progressive house and alternative downstairs tends to attract a mixed crowd of stylish college kids; upstairs draws a slightly older, professional crowd to hear '80s music from Depeche Mode to the Cure.
- C.M.
BILL'S BAR
5 Lansdowne St., Boston. 617-421-9678. (Get directions).
Music Mon.: "Monster Monday," hard-core rock. Tue.: "Phatt Tuesday" with DJ Chaos spinning funk and soul. Wed.: "Funk and Groove" with DJ Tim Collins. Thur.: "The Underground" with mod, punk, and ska. Fri.: "Nocturnal" with Bill Abbate. Sat: "Echo," Eurohouse with DJ Anthony. Sun.: reggae.
Cover Varies.
Age Sun. 21+; Mon. 18+; Tue. 19+; Wed.-Thur. 18+; Fri. 21+; Sat. 19+
Atmosphere Bill's has always tried to set itself apart from its Lansdowne neighbors by being the strip's most down-to-earth bar. Even after renovation, making it a bit more upscale, the club maintains its sense of humor with retro touches. Bill's hosts DJs nightly, but it's better known for its unusual mix of bands: from major-label acts on their way up (or down) to local acts that can pack the house. A fun, diverse spot minus the usual attitude.
- C.M.
COPPERFIELDS
98 Brookline Ave., Boston. 617-247-8605. (Get directions).
Music Bands play a mix of original and cover tunes Thu.-Sat. 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Cover Varies
Age 21+
Atmosphere A favorite post-game hangout for Sox fans. Off-season, it's the perfect jock hangout. Fresh scrubbed, crop-haired ex-high school football player types mingle (loudly) with former cheerleaders. The stucco walls are covered with pictures of Boston landmarks for those who have yet to spring for a duck tour. Bands playing on the small stage produce just enough noise to make talking difficult, so even the dimmest bulbs seem bright.
- C.M.
LAVA BAR
575 Commonwealth Ave. 617-267-7707
Music Wed.: DJ Justin Hoffman and DJ Echo spin underground and funky house. Thur.: DJ Essential spins old school hip-hop and soul. Fri.: "Life," soulful beats with DJ's Fran Englehardt and Paul Nickerson. Sat.: "Anything Goes," DJ Fran spins high energy house and Latin.
Cover: $8
Age 21+
Atmosphere Forget you're in the penthouse of Howard Johnson's. Lava Bar is an elegant dance club for those who enjoy tasteful, sleek surroundings and soulful, funky music. Glass walls offer panoramic views of the city. Fridays are especially popular thanks to guest DJs.
- C.M.
LINWOOD GRILL
69 Kilmarnock St., Boston. 617-267-8644. (Get directions).
Food Barbecue fare for lunch and dinner; kitchen closes at 10 p.m., except Sun. 9 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. 11 p.m.
Music Thur.-Sat.: local and some national bands at 9:30 p.m.
Cover Usually $5
Age 21+
Atmosphere Once, the Linwood seemed a Rat stand-in - a scrungy Kenmore-area spot where you could bet on bratty music and a sticky floor. Now, the club's less adhesive, but there's still no shortage of up-and-comers and more-established bands. Check the Sox schedule: the club sells parking spots to game-goers.
- A.F.
M-80
967 Comm. Ave., Boston (about half a mile outbound from Kenmore Square). 617-562-8800.
Music Wed.: New York house with DJ Eddie K. Fri: "Fiesta Latina" with DJ JC and progressive London house with DJ Thanos. Sat.: "Fiesta Latina" with DJ JC and progressive Eurohouse with Eddie K.
Cover $15
Age 21+
Atmosphere A sign on the door should read: "No Prada, No Armani - No admittance." OK, it's not quite that severe, but if you don't have the clothes and the hair, you'll be spending your money later on therapy to get over the inferiority complex you're bound to develop. This sleek, gorgeous club is filled with sleek, gorgeous international students. The music is continental and contemporary. Don't bother showing up without a cell phone and a few dollars to buy drinks for your large posse. If you snap your gum, wear a baseball cap, or say "wicked" a lot, head toward the Alley instead.
- C.M.
TUA NUA
835 Beacon St., Boston. 617-262-2121
Food Full menu. Kitchen is open Mon.-Wed. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thur.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Music/entertainment Tua Nua (which is Irish for new beginnings) has eclectic offerings. Sun.: "Quench" night with DJ Shannon. Mon.: "Ceremony," Goth night with the whole place reserved - even if there's a Red Sox game - for the darkly garbed. Tue.: DJ Tim Collins, Top 40. Fri.: "Super Lover," with DJ Vinnie. Sat.: Collins, Top 40. Tua Nua has given over its huge back room for Darmot Bulger's play "Blinded by the Light," which opens this week for a monthlong run.
Cover $3
Age 21+, except 19+ on Sun.-Mon.
Atmosphere One of the biggest spaces to gather in this part of town that isn't a chi chi nightclub. When the large windows are open, the place feels even bigger. The motif is urban/pub: a mantel behind the bar, posters, neon bar signs, and original artwork. Tua Nua recently changed its name from Ri-Ra, but the owners, mixed clientele, and great service have remained the same.
- C.B.
WHO'S ON FIRST
Yawkey Way (under souvenir shop), Boston. 617-247-3353. (Get directions).
Music Thur.-Sat.: DJ spins dance music. Other nights various music, sports.
Cover None
Age 21+, except 18+ after 10 p.m. Sat.
Atmosphere Sports bar atmosphere when its multiple TVs are tuned to Sox, but later music takes over and the dance floor revs up. Not the place for a first date, but the right spot to unwind.
- S.M.
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