Nightlife

Joe's Beach Road Bar & Grille (tel. 508/255-0212;) is a big old barn of a bar that might as well be town hall: It's where you'll find all the locals exchanging juicy gossip and jokes. Live music ranges from jazz to rock to blues. There's never a cover charge.

There's often live music at the Land Ho! (tel. 508/255-5165;), the best pub in town. Performers are on the bill on Monday and Tuesday nights in season, and Thursday and Saturdays off season. There's usually no cover charge.

The Academy Playhouse, 120 Main St., about 3/4 mile southeast of the town center (tel. 508/255-1963; www.apa1.org), makes a fine platform for local talent in the form of musicals and drama, recitals, and poetry readings. The 162-seat arena-style stage is housed in the town's old town hall (built in 1873). Tickets are $16 to $18. Shows take place July through August Monday to Saturday at 8:30pm; call for off-season hours. A children's theater series runs from late June to early September on Saturday mornings. Cost is $16.