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The Brooklyn Academy of Music has been a leading arts venue for over a century, yet only under Harvey Lichtenstein’s visionary direction (he held the top seat at BAM from 1967 through 1999) did the organization emerge as a locus for inspired avant-garde collaborations. (The 2003 Merce Cunningham Dance Company/Radiohead partnership was a prime example.) BAM’s seven-story Beaux-Arts building houses a cavernous, 2,109-seat theater, which has been the site of legendary performances from Enrico Caruso, Isadora Duncan, John Cage, Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Morris, and Bill T. Jones. The house’s 46-foot proscenium has accommodated elaborate sets, like Robert Rauschenberg’s fabric sculptures and Pina Bausch’s mountain of colorful Chinese flowers. The remainder of the building houses BAM’s multifaceted operations, including BAMCafé (a restaurant–music venue), BAM Rose Cinemas (a multiplex for both first run and art-house films), a Brownstone Books outpost, and a small, first-floor gallery. Despite (or perhaps because of) some walkouts during its interdisciplinary Next Wave Festival, BAM’s commitment to work that pushes the envelope has bred loyalty in both artists and audiences alike. — Lori Cole

The opera house’s top two floors—also known as the BAM Richard Alan Hillman Attic Studio and the Penthouse Studio—are dance studios most commonly used for rehearsals. The 874-seat Harvey Theater, BAM’s other major performance space, is located just a few blocks away on Fulton Street.

Weddings
This performing arts center has been around since the Civil War.  BAMCafé, located above the Grand Lobby, holds up to 400 for a cocktail reception and the rental fee is just $1,500 (Brooklyn residents get a significant discount). Great Performances is the in-house caterer, and couples should note that house fees can significantly raise the price.