Nightlife in Durham

O'neil Cinemas brings the magic back to watching movies, immersing film buffs and families in walls of enriching digital sound and sharp, high-definition images. Moviegoers settle into comfy seats in tiered, stadium-seating theaters before the show begins. Films in 3D bring summer blockbusters face-to-face with audience members, while D-Box-motion seats translate on-screen explosions into realistic rumbles and movements through the seat cushions.

People around the country may be able to enjoy filet mignon, crab cakes, and other elegant American cuisine, but not with the same flavors as The District. That’s because the restaurant crafts its seasonally inspired menus with ingredients from more than 15 local farms. Aside from delighting taste buds with pan-seared local cod and bourbon-glazed pork tenderloin with plum barbecue sauce and house sauerkraut, the chefs hand cut their fries and pair them with housemade ketchup and create ice-cream flights made from local snow people. Handcrafted cocktails allow clients to imbibe local flavors, such as the cider-press cocktail—made with absolute pear and house-mulled NH cider—or The District’s local rhubarb mojito.

Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. It seems that every dance lesson starts the same way. Students are told, "These are the steps," "Move to the beat," and "Never breakdance on wet cement." But unwilling to settle for the minimum, Seacoast Ballroom helps dancers see beyond getting their feet to move in the right direction. Its founder, Frederick Dunn, strives to inject dancers with grace and musical expression to help them feel dance for what it is—an art form. Its classes range in difficulty from beginner to competition level, and cover a variety of ballroom styles. Solo dancers or couples can strut through a tango, shimmy their hips in salsa, or effuse elegance through the Viennese waltz.

Warm lighting blankets the rustic interior of Riverside Lounge, creating a relaxing retreat for enjoying a draft beer, cocktail, or full meal. The flickering flames of the fireplace invite couples to cozy up beside it as they share portions of lightly battered calamari and lobster mac and cheese. The bar, meanwhile, blends chic woodwork with brick walls and an inviting atmosphere where patrons can relax and sip one of 17 draft beers, a seasonal wine, or a pitcher of white or red sangria. A collection of sports-showing TVs decorates the bar like wreaths on a door, while outside the view offers the natural splendor of the Powwow River Waterfall, which flows adjacent to the lounge’s canopied tables and violin-playing sparrows.

The instructors at Dance Technics believe there's something to be learned and earned from all forms of body expression. That's why they teach myriad dance styles—everything from ballet to tumbling to hip hop—within their third-floor studio. There, students join in on classes divided by age and skill level, and show off their moves against exposed brick walls and padded floors. The classes can mix styles or focus on competitive dance, and range from 30- to 120-minutes. The instructors also offer private lessons for one-on-one practice or choreographing solo routines.

The Honey Pot Bar and Lounge is the Seacoast new hot-spot. Not only are we an excellent restaurant serving 25 flavors of wings, special and unique dinner and lunch items and a late night menu, but we also offer a lounge environment and nightly entertainment. We have a stage for live bands and a dance floor!