Around the Town

Despite the thousand and one delights of Cambridge night life along the Charles or in some fruit-punch laden house dance, countless Cantabridgians migrate weekend evenings to exotically named rooms in Boston hotels. Whether their purpose be more entertainment, escape from demand curves, or outright seduction does not matter; it is important, however, that they know where they are going before reserving a table.

Examining some of the hotel dancing facilities of the metropolis, impartially and alphabetically, we unavoidably begin with the Copley-Plaza's greenish Oval Room. Life in the Oval Room may be compared to an existence in an attractive but expensive goldfish bowl. Decorated in the stately manner, the Oval Room offers good Marshard music for a large dance floor and what is usually the best revue in town. While the food is fair, the prices, particularly the $1.50 cover and $2.00 minimum on weekends, do not rest lightly on undergraduate stomachs. Most noticeable of all is the impression inevitably generated by the atmosphere that to tell a funny story, hold a fork incorrectly, or worst of all, hold hands under the table, would be distinctly out of place in this sanctum of respectability.

Turning next to the Camellia Room of the Lafayette, we find Friday and Saturday evening dancing on a good sized floor well-stocked with university aged people. A small Marshard unit is the reward for the $2.00 minimum, and as the room grows increasingly darker, the music, through sheer coincidence, becomes increasingly slower. With good dancing, adequate food and liquor, and a quite informal atmosphere, the Camellia Room is a good choice when parietal rules terminate in-room entertaining.

Once about the pleasantest place across the River, the Somerset's beautiful Balinese Room has started along the primrose path of two reviews a night to the music of Sammy Eisen, and no rest for the customer. The best-looking dancing spot in Boston, the Room trades fine food and service for healthy prices plus a $1.00 cover and $2.00 minimum after 9:30. Unfortunately, the new Somerset policy ends a short but promising tradition of good eating, drinking, and dancing, without interruption by padded divas or perspiring dance teams.

The Terrace Room of the Statler inevitably reminds one of some other place, and the answer is, of course, any other Statler. Everything, be it scenery, food, tariffs, $1.00 cover, show, or customer, is adequate. Nothing is outstanding. Unquestionably, the Terrace Room rates high on the "get a lot for your money" list, but the heavy hand of large hotel chain management rests on the back of each chair. It is convenient to the Wellesley bus terminal, though.