The best entertainment destination in town is the Imperial Theatre (tel. 800/323-7469 or 506/674-4100) on King's Square -- not always because of the acts that appear here, but because the performances are in what the Toronto Globe and Mail called the "most beautifully restored theatre in Canada." The theater originally opened in 1913 and hosted performances by such luminaries as Edgar Bergen, Al Jolson, and Walter Pidgeon (the latter a Saint John native). After being driven out of business by movie houses, then serving a long interim as home to a Pentecostal church, the theater was threatened with demolition in the early 1980s. That's when concerned citizens stepped in, raising funds to ensure that it would survive.
The Imperial reopened to much fanfare in 1994, and it has since hosted a wide range of performances, from Broadway road shows to local theatrical productions and concerts. Even if nothing is slated during your stay, in the summer a guide is stationed on the premises to give you a tour, during which you can admire the intricate plasterwork and the 2.7m (8 3/4-ft.) chandelier. Thirty-minute tours are offered Monday through Saturday between 9am and 5pm by appointment only; there's a small charge of C$2 (US$1.80/£1) per person.
Nightlife revolves around the seemingly innumerable pubs, most featuring live music, concentrated in the city's central downtown district. If you're looking to catch a big-time recording act, though, Harbour Station (tel. 800/267-2800 or 506/657-1234) at 99 Station St. is the place to go; acts might range anywhere from Motley Crue (we'll pass) to Willie Nelson (we're in).
