4 Best Performing Arts in Boston, Massachusetts

Screening independent, foreign, classic, and experimental films rarely seen in commercial cinemas, the Harvard Film Archive is open to the public Friday through Monday. The 188-seat theater, with pristine film and digital projection, is located in the basement of the stunning brick-and-glass Carpenter Center for Visual Arts, Le Corbusier's only American building. A division of Harvard Library, this is one of the country's largest and most significant university-based motion picture collections—more than 36,000 global audiovisual items from almost every period in film history. Tickets are $10; seniors and students, $8.

This newly remodeled cinema's nine screens are devoted to first-run independent, avant-garde, and foreign films, and the concession stand offers hip goodies like coffee, empanadas, and homemade cookies. Their Kendall Bar now serves beer and wine. 1 Kendall Square stands where Hampshire Street meets Broadway, a 10-minute walk from the Kendall Square T station. Validated four-hour parking ($3) is available in an adjacent garage. If you're walking, be advised the area can get a bit desolate at night.

Recognized as one of the country's leading independent film showcases, MFA Film presents more than 500 screenings a year including foreign and classic films. They also host ten annual festivals including the Boston Jewish, French, Iranian, and Palestine film festivals. Theatergoers can grab snacks and drinks at the nearby Taste Café and Wine Bar, which is also a great spot for postfilm discussions.

A classic moviegoer's den with 230 seats and only one screen, The Brattle shows art house, new foreign, and indie films, classic movies, theme series, and directors' cuts. Tickets sell out for its Valentine’s Day screenings of Casablanca; the Bugs Bunny Film Festival in February; March's Underground Film Festival; Trailer Treats, an annual fundraiser featuring classic and modern movie previews; and DocYard, a stunning series of documentaries. At Christmastime, expect seasonal movies like It's a Wonderful Life and Holiday Inn. Enjoy a rotating selection of local beers and wines.