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House of Blues

Once a historic movie theater, the two-story venue transformed itself in 1996 as an outlet for up-and-coming jazz, R&B, funk, and hip-hop musicians. If you hanker to hear local blues music, have dinner at the Back Porch and stay for the live 10 p.m. show. Higher-profile artists, such as the Indigo Girls and John Mayer, perform on the second floor's Music Hall, which features some 9,000 folk art pieces.

Tip: Lines for Music Hall performances can be very long; avoid the wait by dining at the restaurant beforehand.