Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend
Photo via ThinkStock
Beer
First Annual Boston Beerathon
You’ve heard of the Boston Marathon, but this Saturday, Boston will host its first Beerathon. Training isn’t required, but this event is not for the faint of liver. Participants will have 16 hours (between noon Saturday to 4 a.m. Sunday) to visit 26 bars and drink 26 beers (that’s about 1.6 beers per hour, for those who hit each checkpoint). Completion of the event is not required. Ready, set … ugh, hangover.
Tickets must be purchased online by Friday ($25 for individuals, $20 group rate); Sept. 15 at noon; multiple check-in locations near Faneuil Hall; bostonbeerathon.com
The 13th annual Boston Comedy Festival stars well-known comics including Comedian of the Year Judah Friedlander (Frank from 30 Rock), Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Lenny Clarke, and Last Comic Standing‘s Andy Kindler. Throughout the week, 96 comedians from across the country will compete in the festival’s standup competition, all vying for a spot in the finals on September 22 and hoping to win the $10,000 grand prize.
Prices vary; Sept. 13-22; multiple locations including Davis Square Theater, 255 Elm Street, Somerville; 860-712-5093; bostoncomedyfest.com
Trum Field will become a puppy playground on Sunday for the third annual Somerville Dog Festival. The free, family-friendly event will include demonstrations of agility, Frisbee-fetching, and freestyle dance. Adults can bid on goodies at the silent auction, and kids can visit with Clifford the Big Red Dog, who turns 50 this year. While some pets will be there just to play and socialize, others will compete in the best trick and best dressed contests. (How about a fashion-forward dog ascot to give your pooch a posh edge? No? Too much?)
Free; Sept. 16 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Trum Field, Somerville; facebook.com/somervilledogfestival
Food
Taste of WGBH Food & Wine Festival
The WGBH food and wine festival will include a wine auction, tastings, demos, and more. More than 20 of Boston’s best chefs (including Jody Adams of Rialto, Ihsan Gurdal of Formaggio’s Kitchen, and Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger) will be at the opening gala reception ($150 a ticket). Free events include a sustainable seafood seminar and the Boston Public Market Association’s farmers’ market. Butchery lessons and wine selection workshops are also available for $30.
Price varies by event; Sept. 13-15; WGBH Studios, One Guest Street, Boston; 617-300-5400; wgbh.org
Entertainment
Russell Brand Live
Boston will get a dose of Brand X this weekend when comedian Russell Brand comes to town. No topic is off limits for Brand, whose show on FX has been renewed for a second season. The English import will be performing his outlandish comedy at the Shubert Theatre on Saturday. (Note the venue change: this show was originally scheduled to be at the Wang Theatre across the street.)
$40-$60; Sept. 15 at 8 p.m.; Citi Shubert Theatre, 251 Tremont St., Boston; 617-482-9393; citicenter.org
Correction (9/13/12, 11:20 a.m.): Entry in the Boston Beerathon does not include the cost of drinks, although each bar will offer entrants drink specials.
