Best of the Lehigh Valley: Entertainment & Nightlife Winners Revealed

A record 15,000 votes poured in for the fourth annual Best Of competition. While some businesses took home their fourth consecutive wins, others were honored for the very first time. Scroll through to discover who received a golden ticket and why you (our readers) named them the best in the Valley!

Civic Theatre

Best Theater Group

Devoted to developing artists of the future, Civic welcomes 300 students each year to imagine, create and explore.

527 N. 19^th St., Allentown | 610.432.8943 | civictheatre.com

State Theatre

Best Venue for Live Theater

This Easton landmark was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1981 and is supported solely by the contributions of its loving community.

453 Northampton St., Easton 610.252.3132 | statetheatre.org

Sands Bethlehem Event Center

Best Concert Venue with the Hottest Acts

Everyone who’s anyone has performed here. And if they haven’t, they’ve tried to.

77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem | 610.297.7414 | sandseventcenter.com

Bolete

Best Place to Impress Your Date

Bolete celebrates ten years of fine dining and farm-to-table eating.

1740 Seidersville Rd., Bethlehem 610.868.6505 | boleterestaurant.com

AMC Center Valley 16

Best Movie Theater to Watch the Newest Releases

Now an AMC, patrons can enjoy 3D and IMAX, along with the classics they love.

2805 Center Valley Pkwy., Center Valley | 610.709.8635 | amctheatres.com

Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas

Best Place to Watch an Independent Film

This two-screen independent, foreign and art-house cinema can accommodate up to 200 guests.

101 Founders Way, Bethlehem | 610.332.1300 | steelstacks.org

Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks

Best Free Entertainment

The Levitt Summer Concert Series presents 50 free, family-friendly concerts each summer. Head to their website to see this year’s line up!

levittsteelstacks.org

The Bookstore Speakeasy

Best Bar Ambiance

When this place opened in 2008, nothing around here matched its 1920s speakeasy vibe. Head down the stairs through a nondescript door, through a book-lined entrance flanked by dark curtains and into a sepia-toned room. There, the dim lighting, courtesy of tableside oil lanterns that the staff suggest you not fiddle with, just dances off every surface. The theme is carried consistently throughout, so that you really do feel like you’ve been transported to another era, one with an antique cash register behind a copper-topped bar, and where old-timey jazz music plays on the weekends while you peruse your menu, which arrives in the form of a leather-bound “book.”

The Bookstore made a splash, too, with its extensive cocktail list, many of them little known, all of them definitely a throwback, but in the best way possible. There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to the hand-crafted cocktails, but try and stump their mixologists—go ahead. They want to make something new and unusual for you.

When it comes to food, there’s plenty to nibble on while you’re hanging out, whether it’s the chickpea popcorn, a menu staple since the beginning, a meat and cheese plate or full-on entrées.

366 Adams St., Bethlehem | 610.867.1100 | bookstorespeakeasy.com

Braveheart Highland Pub

Best Trivia Night

Celebrate Scottish tradition and weekly trivia at this warm and homey pub!

430 Main St., Hellertown | 610.838.6555 | bravehearthighlandpub.com

SteelStacks at ArtsQuest

Best Venue to Throw a Big Bash

Culture, history and fun, all in one place.

101 Founders Way, Bethlehem | 610.332.1300 | steelstacks.org

Copperhead Grille

Best Place to Watch the Game

Whether you’re there for Growler Tuesday, Wing Wednesday or Craft Beer Thursday, there’s no bad seat at the bar.

1731 Airport Rd., Allentown | 610.403.4600 | 5737 Rte. 378, Bethlehem | 610.282.4600 | copperheadgrille.com

Liz Russo

Best Local Comedian That Tickles Your Funny Bone

Russo’s Facebook page says it best: single, late 30-something, never married, childless, recovering alcoholic, gluten-dairy-soy-egg free, 100-pound-losing, cat-owning, stand-up comic.

thelizrusso.com