By Ethan Fletcher, Via Magazine — In the age of YouTube, Netflix, and binge watching, there's still something unbeatable about seeing a live performance.

"Theater is experiencing a renaissance," says Dave Brooks, senior correspondent for live entertainment at Billboard magazine. He attributes the resurgence to the popularity of Broadway shows such as Hamilton and The Book of Mormon, the unprecedented number of concert tours, and the recent renovations of historic buildings in vibrant downtowns.

Brand-new, state-of-the-art auditoriums have opened too, along with lively bars and restaurants nearby that cater to evening crowds. Whether you prefer comedy or tragedy, dumplings or tacos, you're bound to find a combination that convinces you to hit the town this season.

SALT LAKE CITY

Downtown Salt Lake City has become a performing arts hub over the past five years, as the restored Capitol Theatre and the new Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre have started welcoming patrons. The latest arrival is the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, which opened in October 2016. The $119 million playhouse boasts a grand 2,500-seat hall for touring shows, the intimate Regent Street Black Box for smaller productions, and a six-story lobby with retractable glass walls for indoor-outdoor events.

A block away, at 202 South Main Street, diners at Bambara bistro enjoy hearty fare such as grilled beef fillet with tallow-roasted fingerling potatoes and leek puree or hand-cut, blue cheese–smothered potato chips. To spice things up, head to Alamexo Mexican Kitchen on South State Street for its elegant tacos—cochinita pibil (pork marinated with achiote and bitter orange), barbacoa (slow-cooked beef with three chiles), pescado mixto (mahimahi and shrimp in adobo)— and crispy, sugary, complimentary churros.

HOT TICKETS

MythBusters alumni Kari Byron, Tory Belleci, and Grant Imahara conduct fun investigations into the science behind historic and pop culture events in Down the Rabbit Hole (Nov. 18). Plan ahead for the touring smash hit Hamilton (Apr. 11–May 6, 2018); the hip-hop biography of a founding father will likely sell out in advance.