My wife and I will be in Boston next week for a few nights. We don't typically enjoy the club/bar scene, but are looking for something to do after dinner. In other cities that we have visited we enjoyed walking around "touristy" areas that may have some live music or street performers. My first instinct was Faneuil Hall, but their site says it closes at 9, which is on the early side.

We'll be staying in the Beacon Hill/Boston Common area, but have access to a car if need.

Any recommendations?

I can't think of any places that will definitely have street performers. However, there are several venues in the city that offer free concerts or free outdoor movie screenings in the summer.

This lists concerts in City Hall Plaza and movies in Christopher Columbus Park (In North End):
http://www.celebrateboston.com/event...l-concerts.htm

And over at Rowes Wharf, they have movies on Friday nights:
http://www.celebrateboston.com/event...-moonlight.htm

Whereas at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, there are concerts on Wed nights by the Landmarks Orchestra, and movies on Friday nights:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/events/dcr-H...ll2011-web.pdf

Or if you just want to stroll around and do some people-watching, Newbury Street & Boylston Street in Back Bay are always buzzing in the evenings.

You could walk around the North End - probably no street performers, but you might run across something interesting. And Mike's and Modern Pastry are open until at least 10 (and as late as 11:30, depending on the day of the week). Maria's closes earlier than that.

http://www.modernpastry.com/aboutus.html

http://www.mikespastry.com/contact.html

We had fun going out for gelato and for cannoli. Liked Modern Pastry a lot. We also went to see Shear Madness one night, and that was fun. Kind of wacky.

Harvard Square used to have street performers on Thursday nights.

Quincy Market has them during the day, perhaps at night.

On Every Thursday night, there are FREE concerts at the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) along the Harborwalk:
http://www.icaboston.org/programs/pe...lk_sounds2011/