Best Early Entertainment in Palm Beach / West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach's newest musical venue and nightlife hot spot is Lafayette's, located in City Place. Based on the original Memphis location, which has hosted big name acts for decades, the West Palm iteration plans to channel that successful bluesy vibe. Housed in the former BB King's location, Lafayette's serves up a great happy hour, cajun eats and live music Thursday through Sunday. Competing with other live music offerings at nearby Copper Blues and Blue Martini, Lafayette's hopes to win over guests with a more quality type of act, sprinkling in name acts like JJ Grey with regionally touring bands (as opposed to random college groups booked off Craigslist that frequent the West Palm Beach circuit).

Walking into Muvico Imax Theater in City Place has the feeling of entering a large cathedral thanks to the grand staircases and angelic ceilings. Picking up your tickets is convenient thanks to the service windows, kiosks and parking validation machines that take the hassle out of the theater being in the middle of downtown. The best thing about this theater is that it pulls in all of the newest releases. There are plenty of showings thanks to the large scale of the building. This is a great place to check out the latest action movie in 3-D. You can also grab a drink from the bar on the third floor and enjoy it during your movie.

Located by the Clematis Street fountain, Bar Louie is definitely worth checking out for a couple of beers and a delicious meal. The atmosphere is great, whether you're downstairs by the bar or enjoying a little more space in the upstairs seating area. The menu has a large selection of appetizers to dabble in, or try one of their sandwiches. With TVs all around, this is a great spot to catch the game or enjoy the live music in the evenings on off nights. Go on Wednesdays for $1 burger night and great drink specials or stop in for the daily happy hour from 4-7 PM.

Revolutions at City Place is a high end bowling lounge situated between City Place and Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. There are over 30,000 square feet of space for you to bowl, drink, watch sports and play various arcade and billiard-type games. Food and drink are a priority here, as the menu is more than you'd expect from a typical bowling alley (which this is anything but). The lighting and bass pumping music make bowling more like dancing than what you would watch midday on ESPN. Groups get dressed to the nines, come out for a few cocktails and bowl a couple of frames. This place resembles a night club more than anything else. Walking by on the way to City Place, the huge windows expose all the action of the interior, enticing passerbys to come in and see what's up.

Copper Blues is a new brewpub located on the second floor of City Place in Downtown West Palm Beach (next to Improv). The over 60 beers on tap (mix of local crafts, microbrews, IPAs and more) compliment the scrumptious bar bites, burgers, etc. They have a stage in the center of the place that draws some of the hottest local rock and blues acts. Acts are typically booked for Wed-Sat and posted on the joint's website and facebook page. Open since the middle of May, Copper Blues has been welcoming packed houses and drawing rave reviews from its new customer base.

Improv Comedy Club is a nationwide laugh joint that has a spectacular location in City Place, West Palm Beach. The venue brings in name acts week after week including the likes of Sinbad, Tracy Morgan, Bob Saget, etc. The venue promotes good times, serving up delicious cocktails to help your presence in case on of the comedians attempts to make you the butt. Improv serves up some great dishes too, enabling you to really spend the entire night here. If you love laughs, or are looking for something different to try, head over to Improv to check out the latest in great comedy.

City Place is great for shopping; the stores are laid out in a way that walking around them is a pleasant experience. Stop in Starbucks or Panera Bread for a coffee and treat before you get started, then make your way through any of the more than 40 stores ranging from high-end to budget friendly. There are staples like Gap, Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, and Macy's as well as specialty stores like Sephora, Cache, and Anthropologie. If you're visiting from out of town and looking for a souvenir from your trip then you'll want to stop by Destination Palm Beach. If you're just getting to town but are low on beachwear, then Tommy Bahama's is where you'll need to be. Don't let the downtown location make you worried about parking fees because when you park in the City Place garage, spend $50 shopping, and show the attendant your same-day receipt, you get four hours free. City Place is great for one-stop shopping too thanks to Publix in the area, so come and spend several hours enjoying the stores, fountains, and many dining options.

Clematis Street, along with nearby CityPlace, has evolved into West Palm Beach's signature district, a place where people can stroll the sidewalks and take in the city's energy and exuberance. Browse intriguing shops, stop off for a snack or an incredible meal, and then make sure to dance, drink, or partake of great music at any of the fabulous nightclubs. Free outdoor concerts are held regularly, and Clematis by Night, a weekly festival that pulls in tons of visitors and locals, is a much-loved and well-attended event. Several blocks of shops and eateries grant opportunity for distraction no matter when you go, all providing a taste of West Palm hospitality and charm.

Downtown at the Gardens is a multi-faceted neighborhood center providing shopping, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife options for human beings of all ages. One of the cornerstones of the property is a massive Whole Foods with large interior dining room. Listen to live music in the background while checking in at top stores like Urban Outfitters and Izod. A movie theater is on campus, so if you get tired of walking around, pop in for a quick flick. If you are with the kids, and can tell they are getting grumpy, there is a Sloan's Ice Cream. A cone with a few scoops and a topping will keep those eyes from falling.