Tues. May 15

 As you may have noted, the left-hand strip of this column has areas of interest you may click upon - peformance, music, etc. - so you can go right to your main area of interest, should you choose not to graze. It's just one of the many helpful tools we - or our web designer - tries to implement to make your life a little easier. We're beginning to think we ought to add a "burlesque" button, considering how often burlesque shows and other semi-bawdy entertainment options are in the mix. New Burlesque is all over the place, but Boston has at least five troupes, and probably more after you read this. At any rate, Boston Babydolls is putting a unique wrinkle on the performance Tuesday May 15 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre with a show called "Burlesque By Women, For Women," which is just what it sounds like. A lesbian-oriented strip show. Nothing wrong with that. Of course, we know lots of men with prurient interests who'd like nothing better than to sneak in, but there's a stern warning posted: No men will be admitted. (Men, this may mean dressing up like Anthony Perkins mum in "Psycho," or Mrs. Doubtfire.) We're told by historians that this sort of dyke-y show is nothing new. In 1929, Ann Corio, the reigning queen of Boston burlesque in the day, was performing at the Old Howard Theatre and the manager noticed a number of distaff folks in the audience. Smelling money, he set up late night shows for, "ladies without escorts." (Sounds so sad, doesn't it? Probably wasn't.) The shows sold out all the time, and forced the manager to install bathrooms for women. So, at any rate, the Babydollls give it up for the girls, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. There will also be vintage film clips.

290 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-734-2500 coolidge.org