The Enormous Room and Cantab Lounge

What's in a name?

The ironically named Enormous Room is located in Cambridge at 569 Mass. Ave., but you may still find its entryway elusive. The bar is identifiable from the street solely by the small elephant on the door next to the Central Kitchen restaurant. Once inside, a steep staircase will lead you into a small room lined on one side by a series of sexy booths and on the other by a platform that supports more bohemian seating (aka rugs, low tables and loose seat cushions). A DJ spins in the corner, visible only through a jagged hole in the brick wall that sequesters him from patrons.

Anticipating a night out in Cambridge, one should stop here first if in the mood for a fancy cocktail. Best to try is any champagne and berry combination they offer. Warning: these could leave you with a heady desire for a hookah. The bar is only open from 5:30 until 11, serving the early crowd, so get there early to make the most of your visit. It may be pricey, but the value of watching a group of douchily decked-out dudes seat themselves "casually" on floor cushions in front of you is well worth the cost and time you may have to wait for a drink.

Once you're done schmoozing and ready to really booze, head across the street to the Cantab Lounge for less talk and more action.

Cantabulous

The Cantab Lounge has been open at 738 Mass. Ave. for over 15 years, and has served as a legitimate live music venue since its inception. The vibe here is dive with a twist of old-school charm.The middle-aged bartenders there know how to make a stiff drink and the crowd is as eclectic as the musical performers.

Thursday nights there always feature the Chicken Slacks, a well-known local group whose mix of original timeless funk tunes will having you waving your bourbon-filled dixie cup in the air in no time. Not only are the Chicken Slacks funkalicous, but their lead singer Diamond D is a dead ringer for Samuel L. Jackson with the voice of James Brown. He'll even come offstage and shake it with you if he likes your moves.

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Wally's Cafe: Old-School Jazz

A couple of blocks away from Symphony Hall in the South End, depending on who you talk to as it borders Roxbury, sits Wally’s Café. You won’t find coffee at Wally’s, but rather steaming hot jazz.

Wally’s is in a nondescript brownstone on the corner of Mass. Ave. and Columbus (427 Mass. Ave. to be precise). Near boarded up buildings, if it is winter, you might just walk right by without noticing it. But on a hot summer night, the music and the people spill out onto the sidewalk, giving you a clue as to what you will find inside.

While I have been a fan lately of Beehive, mainly because of my need to multitask (dinner and music, two down in one shot), Wally’s has long been one of my favorite spots. It’s casual and easy to get to, and, as with most things authentically Boston, it is steeped in history.

They opened at a time when that stretch of Mass. Ave. was literally covered with jazz and blues clubs. That was the scene. The place to be. All are now gone except for Wally’s, which is still owned by the family of its founder Joseph Walcott. It is also blocks away from not just Symphony Hall, but also Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music.

It is that proximity that provides the energy to the club. While they have set bands that have the place booked 365 days a year, there are always spontaneous jam sessions as musicians wander in and are welcome to sit in for a spell.

There’s nothing pretentious or upscale about Wally’s. It’s the same neighborhood spot that it has always been since the late 40s. There’s no cover, but there is a two-drink minimum. You may be lucky enough to get a seat at the bar or at one of the few tables that line the narrow room that ends at the stage, but once the music starts, it’s generally standing room only. (The photo here was taken very early in the evening.) If you can’t make it to the bar, the waitress will probably find you as you get jostled around with the crowd.

Little has changed over the years. When the state changed the smoking law the air got a little cleaner. And while it’s nice to go home without reeking of cigarette smoke, the atmosphere got a little more sterile as well. (While I don’t smoke and appreciate the smoke-free environment everywhere else, there’s something about smoke and jazz that seems to go together.) While the bar is well-stocked, they have only recently added a grill behind the counter. But if you get hungry during the night, your best bet is to pop out to the local pizza place on the corner. The current owners, the children of the founder, have also done a pretty good job promoting the place. But while it’s become less of a hidden gem and more of a tourist spot, there is still the feel that it’s really our local spot.

So, if you are looking for a night of hot jazz and ice cold beer, Wally’s is the place to go. Just don’t tell anyone I told you!

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Eat Your Heart Out, Newbury Street

Most of the time, I try very hard not to buy too many clothes, but when I do go shopping I prefer small boutiques. It’s not because I’m snobby and care about labels, but I simply have a difficult time picking out clothes and deciphering between cheap chic and doomed dress. Upscale boutiques have taken away the questionable choices and left me to pick from clothes that won’t end up embarrassing me.

That said, it can be expensive to shop that way so I have to avert my eyes at times when walking through the North End. Yes, that’s right, the North End. Although it’s well established as Boston’s Italian enclave and most people only think of chianti and cannoli, it actually has a surprising number of charming boutiques at which to shop. Of course, too many glasses of wine and more than one pastry and you won’t have to worry about spending money on clothes.

Twilight is one of the more upscale women’s clothing stores in the neighborhood and has racks of party dresses — it’s like walking into a dream. The unique dresses are from designers like Nanette Lepore, Nicole Miller, and Betsy Johnson. The ladies that work here are also very sweet and don’t have the attitude that seems to accompany some of the staff on Newbury Street. If you have an event that you need to look fabulous for, go here. If you don’t have the big bucks, the shop carries some surprisingly low-priced accessories that will make any basic cocktail dress pop.

Just a few blocks away and you’re at the door of in-jean-ius, which will make the nightmare of finding the perfect pair of jeans a million times better. The store carries over 30 different brands of jeans and the staff knows their stuff. They’ll be able to assess your body and get you in a pair of pants that flatter your shape from all angles. Again, these are jeans that come with a hefty price tag, but feeling good about how you look is worth it.

Finally, I have to mention Shake the Tree, which is located on Salem Street. Unlike the two stores above, in addition to clothes Shake the Tree also offers some home design products, like serving bowls, dish sets, and table decorations. They carry an incredible selection of accessories and it is hard to walk out without buying a new purse. Also, the store frequently hosts parties where they serve champagne and wine to customers while designers have trunk shows or another special occasion is being celebrated. So if you spend $200 on a purse and a pair of earrings, at least you had a free glass of bubbly to help ease the pain!  

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A Classic Song Selling Classic Wares

Poor Little Rich Girl

If you've been on a self-imposed shopping freeze since the Great Crash of 2008, freeze no more. Raspberry Beret is the perfect locale to peruse quality clothing and accessories at thrift store prices. Located at 1704 Mass. Ave in Porter Square, this beacon of clothes-clutching holiness is a consignment shop with a boutique feel and rare, vintage wares.

What I love most about shopping vintage is the unique items you're guaranteed to find. Every piece has a history, and the craftsmanship you can find in a well-kept Chanel wallet from the 60s just doesn't exist anymore. Raspberry Beret has applied highly-specialized vintage shop principles to a consignment store model. Acquisitions are selective (by appointment only) so that you will never find a faded, ripped or hokey piece within its fuscia-colored walls. The result: a host of quality finds that would take hours of scouring to find in a thrift store setting.

I was lured there by a vintage-loving friend and was immediately blown away by the variety of selections that ranged from modern staples to one-of-a-kind prints and accessories. The store track featuring, among others, Bjork, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The New Pornographers bolstered my urge to luxuriate in the shop's endless eye candy. Fab finds included a classic Calvin Klein summer dress for $25 dollars and a hand-beaded clutch for $5.

The staff of young hipsters was equal parts friendly and fashion savvy. Many of them, as I found, are artists and designers in their own rite. The store even features some pieces they've personally re-designed to comply with modern trends. As a result, staffers have a unique familiarity with the shop's wares which lends itself well to informed recommendations on pieces and accessories that will compliment your personal taste.

Unlike similar locales, the layout is kept clean and organized. Curtained dressing rooms in the back and bins housing $2 accessories were an added bonus. Raspberry Beret is a definite must-try alternative for personal shopping, and I would recommend it for gift shopping as well. After all, what friend would scoff at a bohemian beaded necklace or Gucci scarf? The only forseeable obstacle might be your hesitation at handing it over. In that case, keep this little treasure to yourself and refer your friends to Target when they ask about your chic digs.

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Hole-in-the-Wall? More Like Hole-Lotta-Fun!

Every neighborhood I've lived in has housed that perfect bar. You know the one. It becomes your Cheers -- the place you go when your boyfriend dumps you, when you've had a bad day at work, when you need to get out of the house on Saturday night and don't feel like taking off your pajama pants. When I first moved to Boston, this bar eluded me. Everywhere was too crowded, too pretentious or tended by indifferent employees. Then my roommate started working at The Avenue.

The search for a sweet spot ended here. This tiny treasure is situated down the street from my apartment at 1249 Commonwealth Avenue in Allston. Although advertised as a friendly sports bar due to its host of ESPN-tuned televisions, The Avenue is better known among locals as the premier holding area for those looking to drink cheap before moving on to Allston's pricier music venues.

"The Ave," as it's commonly referred to, boasts $1.00 drafts (there are over two dozen on tap) and 25 cent wings every night of the week. There's never a cover, and the menu selection offers a variety of tasty choices ranging from veggie sandwiches to greasy burritos. The front room is lined with windows so that one can survey the buzzing Allston street scene while cozily tossing back a brew.

Keep returning and you'll get to know the endless cast of characters that make this dive unique, from John the Red Sox Jersey guy who watches every game from his favorite stool to Tommy the tattooed bartender, who hearts his pit bull almost as much as his mother. Unlike other dives, the Ave's crowd of chatty young professionals, broke musicians and sports fans is always carefully observed by an unassuming crew of black-clad bouncers. They stay out of the way, but one word from you and Tommy will have the lecherous oaf to your left tossed out on his Dickies-clad bum.

I spent my first night there alternately people-watching and chatting with like-minded tables. A series of arcade consoles situated in the back provide potentially endless entertainment (for participants and observers alike). Doorman Dave can frequently be spotted playing Deer Hunter against jolly indie rockers, while the claw machine stocked with porno DVDs patiently awaits its next drunk victim.

The Ave's piece de resistance would have to be the Beerzilla, a cylindrical contraption with a spout that holds 15 beers for $20.00. The Beerzilla can only be ordered by tables seating four or more patrons (but that doesn't necessarily mean the purchaser has to share). One thing I wouldn't recommend is ordering wine, which will earn you an awkward look from your server and a potentially long wait as they may have to fetch one of the three never-used bottles from the basement to satisfy your request.

So if, like me, you've been searching for beer love in all the wrong places, drop in for a pint before heading to the $10.00 cover at Joshua Tree or Wonder Bar. I guarantee you'll want to stay.

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