Top 10 Off-Campus Events

10. Poetry readings by Paul Muldoon, Charles Simic, and Donald Hall -- Harvard University

9. Ben Folds -- various Boston campuses

8. Improve Boston Mainstage

7. Bruce Springsteen -- Somerville Theatre

6. The Exonerated -- Wilber Theater

5. Guster's free concert -- City Hall

4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's and Jackson Brown -- Fleet Center

3. Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker -- the Wang

2. Liberation Films' The Seagull -- the ICA

1. Hairspray -- the Colonial

Off-campus events is a broad topic. As a result, I've tried to pepper my list with personal favorites(The Seagull), shows roundly known to be "hot"(Hairspray), concerts scalpers couldn't even get tickets for(the Boss), as well as often overlooked Bostonian gems (Improv Boston!).

I worry no one save us arts writers, threatened by performers to trek into Boston to review the arts scene, has seen ten arts events this year -- even with all the student discounts and rush tickets at our beck and call. How 'bout this: let's make a pact to get out more. Next time I get free tickets to a theater/concert/crazy artistic event I'm going to call you. And we'll charter a bus into downtown and expand our horizons together. -- Alissa Green