With 16 bowling lanes, food from local restaurants and a hopping bar, performers such as Kanye West, M.I.A. and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are almost an afterthought – almost. The 4-year-old club in Brooklyn's Williamsburg district, originally an ironworks-foundry building from the 1880s, has become a favorite place to catch hip-hop and R&B acts like the Roots, who have played a "holiday jam" there to close out the last two years. Bonus: LED lighting, good for the earth.

Capacity: 600
Website: www.brooklynbowl.com
Fun Fact: With food by Blue Ribbon, the venue is home to some of the best fried chicken in the five boroughs.