The 2001 Tony Award-winner for regional theater, Victory Gardens focuses on developing playwrights and encouraging new works. Containing four performance spaces, the complex is also a popular rental venue for medium-size itinerant companies, including Eclipse Theatre Company and Remy Bumppo.

The building hums most weekend nights, with a spacious lobby and some pretty tasty concessions on hand. It's also possible to purchase scripts of some of the current shows in the lobby. Its location on Lincoln ensures that there's a plethora of dining and bar options (and yes, the coffee junkie writing this is pleased to report that there is a Starbucks on the same block).

Past productions have included "Beau Jest," "The God of Isaac," "The Stick Wife" and "Schoolhouse Rocks Live!"