Editors’ Choice
Rockport Music, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport
First, there’s the music: The schedules are always packed with a range of performers to suit any tastes. Then, the setting: The Shalin Liu is a breathtaking venue, intimate and warm, yet somehow spacious, with soaring ceilings and an expansive window behind the stage that offers views of the waves rolling in. Add in the location—in easy walking distance of acclaimed restaurants, quaint shops, and gorgeous views—and you have the formula for an unbeatable date night. 37 Main St., Rockport, 978-546-7391, rockportmusic.org
Readers’ Choice
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
A date night at the Peabody Essex will catapult you quickly past small talk as you roam the museum’s collections of historic artifacts, Asian art, and fashion and textiles. Stroll through an authentic 18th-century Chinese home reassembled on site, delve into Salem’s history, or explore style through the ages in the fashion and design exhibit. The charms of downtown Salem are right outside the museum doors to continue the enjoyment with dinner, coffee, or some unparalleled people-watching. 161 Essex St., Salem, 978-745-9500, pem.org