The Nexus Theater Center, a new not-for-profit professional company, is dedicated to performing live theater for the Boston community.

Sing out loud, sing out strong with The North Cambridge Family Opera Company. The non-profit group offers children age seven and up (as well as adults) the opportunity to participate in a real, theatrical production. Performances involve the telling of stories, many of them original works, entirely through song. Auditions are held in October or early November. Casts and crews are comprised of children and adults. Family participation is encouraged. The group produces one show yearly and generally stages six to eight performances in March. Rehearsals are held on Sundays during the winter months.

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This throwback to the 1970s exudes what Somerville used to be like before the influx of young professionals. Hipsters flock to Sacco’s Bowl-Haven to strike out with candlepin bowling and play a few rounds of reasonably priced pool. For billiards, the managers charge by the minute, instead of per game, so be careful no to lollygag between shots. The real surprise for Bowl-Haven newbies is the joint’s jukebox—-offering an array of ‘90s alt-rock staples like The Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam to ‘70s classics from Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.

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With Urban Interactive augmented reality tourism adventures, it’s fun to be a dick. Seriously. In 2006, entrepreneur Nick Tommarello set out to spice up Boston’s humdrum tourism scene with a series of interactive games that combine The Amazing Race with The Da Vinci Code. Players, who sign up at the company’s website, sleuth around the city competing with other teams to solve a mystery. You meet up at a central location (either in City Place (near the Common), Copley Square, or Harvard Square, and are briefed on your "mission." Then, you complete a series of challenges/puzzles that take you around key historical sites (the State House, Beacon Hill, etc.) After each one (for example, finding a series of addresses and solving an anagram that incorporates residents' names) you enter the answers into a blackberry-type device, and receive a message that leads you to the next step. The group's Mother's Day offering includes "Common Sense vs. SmartMax" in Downtown Crossing where two groups vie to recover a long-lost relic, reputed to bestow important powers. The whole exercise takes under two hours (though it depends on how fast/competitive your team is - you get points for speed), and would be ideal for a family (with school-aged or older kids) visiting the city or a fun outing with friends.

The Burren, a great rocky expanse in Ireland's County Clare, is one of the world's truly unique places. Its ancient, awe inspiring stone structures hold secrets from the past that may never be unraveled. Closer to home, The Burren, Irish Pub and Restaurant in Somerville's Davis Square, is now one of Boston's truly unique places. It captures the mythical nature of its namesake with a rich old world feel that takes hold and slowly pulls you toward another time. Open since January 1996, the Burren's history reaches back farther than that. It is actually the realization of a dream shared by two young Irish musicians, Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello. Tommy and Louise began playing together nearly 10 years earlier. Today people can gather to enjoy a drink, the warmth of good friends and the excitement of live traditional Irish music, in the Burren, a dream come true.

Irish dive bar with cheap booze and stellar jukebox. Brews run around $3.25 at Sligo Pub and their selection is pretty darn good. Once you make it past the smell of stale beer and the cryptic graffiti in the bathroom, you'll feel right at home at this hidden Davis Square haunt.

Orleans Bar & Restaurant in Davis Square, Somerville, offers a unique fusion of downtown sophistication and neighborhood comfort. We think our restaurant is a gem among Somerville and Cambridge restaurants. A newcomer to Davis Square in Somerville, Orleans has already been recognized for its superb cuisine. Our menu presents an exciting selection of dishes that change seasonally to capture the freshest vegetables,meats and seafood. Our full bar features a casual menu that is equally appealing. And our comfortable couches, low tables, and large windows create the perfect setting to relax, visit with friends, and enjoy a drink before or after dinner. Whether you are in for lunch, dinner, or simply lounging at the bar, Orleans is the ideal place to relax and enjoy the very best of Davis Square. In summertime, enjoy outdoor dining in a small parking lot next door. Every night Wednesday through Saturday, Orleans offers entertainment: Wednesday - down tempo and mellow tunes, Trivia; Thursday & Friday - acoustic; Saturday - house and hip hop; Sunday - ROCK BAND. All NCAA and NFL games shown on the flatscreen TVs.

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