Various concerts are held at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, situated in the Strand Theatre. So go ahead and head downtown to book tickets to your favorite concert. You can even reserve seats for certain shows. But make sure you book a comfortable seat well in advance because bookings fill in pretty fast. While booking your seats, you may want to inquire about the mezzanine seats, which are provided for certain shows only. They constitute the first ten rows and offer a great view.

For over 25 years the Avon has been offering first-run art house foreign and independent films on the East Side's bustling Thayer Street. The theater's interior is plush and comfortable. Cafe La France is just next door; the Kabob-N-Curry (across the street) and Andreas (two doors down) are so nearby, you can enjoy dinner before or after strolling into the Avon to watch a good film. Show times in city papers, cash only.

The Cable Car is a favorite of locals in Providence who want a comfortable night of viewing foreign or independent films. The seating is comprised of rows of sofas for two, making this a good place for a date as well as for a solo film night. The cafe, which is attached to the cinema, is a pleasant place to enjoy coffee and conversation. Tickets are $8.50. Discounts of $2 for students with college IDs. Cash only is accepted in the cafe and cinema. Check out the Web site for a scehdule of movies.

The calamari here is an award-winner. Bluefin is known for its seafood menu, although it serves beef and lamb as well. You may order Chef Phillipe's Tasting Menu, which includes samples of the chef's favorite dishes. The varied Sunday brunch and the pumpkin soup are also recommended. This is an elegant bar and dining room where you may have a martini or dinner among business guests of the Providence Marriott or upscale urban professionals. Parking is available in the hotel lot. Smoking is allowed at the bar.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic has a long tradition of offering wonderful classical and contemporary concerts and operas for music lovers. Their shows are performed at the refurbished Veterans Memorial Auditorium Arts and Cultural Center, across from the State House on the edge of downtown Providence. Anyone staying at the downtown hotels, or able to catch a trolley on the East Side can easily make their way to one of the Rhode Island Philharmonic's musical evenings. Call for schedule of show times.

Trinity Rep, as it is known locally has long been the premier theatrical company in Rhode Island. This Tony award-winning repertory troupe stages a wide range of productions, from contemporary dramas like Cider House Rules to bold new plays and popular classics like Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Located in downtown Providence at the handsomely renovated two-floor Lederer Theater, they are two blocks from the Rhode Island Convention Center and close to downtown hotels. Tickets, available online, range from $10 to $60 and they offer disabled, senior and student discounts and weekend matinees.

The PPAC is the second largest theater in New England. Seating 3200 people, it originally opened as a Loew's movie theater in 1928 and then joined the National Register of Historic Places after its 1977 renovation. Broadway musicals and concerts are offered in this baroquely elegant space. Events as diverse as a Jackson Browne concert or the musical The Sound of Music can be found on this venerable establishment's schedule. Located downtown on Weybosset St, PPAC (pronounced Pea-Pac, as it is known locally) is close to all the downtown hotels.

Providence Phoenix readers have voted Snookers Pool Lounge the Best Pool Hall in Rhode Island for three straight years. This versatile spot on the edge of downtown in Providence's Jewelry District, features 16 pool tables, the Skyline Patio Bar and also serves food and drink into the late hours. Snookers is home to The Green Room, where rockabilly, pop, alternative and garage music from Rhode Island, Boston and New York is performed in an intimate environment with no cover charge. Pool table rates start at $6.50 per hour, $20 to enter tournaments on Mondays and Wednesdays. Food served includes pizza, burgers and grinders.

AS220 is a non-profit arts venue complete with a sandwich cafe. They have various resources open to the public including a computer lab, darkroom and print shop. In this 22,000-square-foot building, you will also find several galleries and a stage where local artists are invited to display their talents. Space is rented to artists at affordable rates. Recent exhibits featured paintings, mixed media and sculpture.

This downtown nightspot has long been a hot spot for people who like dancing to good music, but it is primarily a gay men's bar. There is a bar and a good-sized dance floor, with music playing constantly. Saturdays seems to be the club's most popular night. Very accessible to any downtown hotel, this locale is listed in the phone book for those who want more information or need directions.