Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Check out five fun events happening this weekend, including Keytar Bear at Forum.

keytar bear

Keytar Bear at the Southie St. Paddy’s Day Parade. / Photo by Alex Lau

Music
Keytar Bear at Forum

In a rare planned appearance, the city’s elusive, beloved, double-take attracting Keytar Bear will entertain audiences at Forum Bar and Restaurant on Thursday night. Though the element of surprise is part of Keytar Bear’s allure, this is a chance for people who haven’t seen him busking at T stations to see the costumed performer in the, er, flesh.

Free for diners at Forum, Thursday, 5-8 p.m., Forum Bar and Restaurant, 755 Boylston St., Boston, 857-991-1831, forumboston.com.

Food
Dine Out Boston

This season of Dine Out Boston, formerly called Restaurant Week, is in full swing right now. Just shy of 200 restaurants in the city are taking part in the two-week event, during which diners can take advantage of great deals on prix fixe lunch ($15-$25) and dinner ($28-$38) menus. Participating restaurants are all listed on Dine Out’s website, where you can sort by neighborhood and cuisine.

$15-$38, August 17-22 and 24-29, restaurantweekboston.com.

Photo Opp
Boston Ballet at the Public Garden

The most FOMO-inducing, Instagram-worthy event this week is probably a Boston Ballet photo shoot planned for Thursday afternoon. Ahead of their fall production of Swan Lake, the company will don their plumage and pose on the swan boats at the Public Garden to re-create a photo from the 1970s. Be there, or be an awkward ugly duckling. Kidding, we adore ducklings. But this afternoon they’ll have to make way for ballet.

Free, Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Boston Public Garden, bostonballet.org.

Music
Talib Kweli at the Boston Urban Music Festival

Kweli first rose to fame in the 1990s, when he and fellow Brooklyn-bred rap artist Mos Def collaborated as the duo Black Star. Kweli is not only known for his artistry, but also for his political views and social activism. He will be joined on Sunday by several Boston-based acts including Clinton Sparks, Shea Rose, Dutch Rebelle, Berklee College of Music’s J Dilla Ensemble, and more. Floorlords, Boston’s longest running underground dance organization, will also perform. Learn more.

Free, Sunday, August 24, pre-show 2-4 p.m., concert 5-9 p.m., City Hall Plaza, Boston, 617-635-3911, bostonurbanmusicfestival.org.

Shopping
Gilt City Boston’s “Moving Day” Collection

Exclusive to Boston, Gilt City just debuted a special Moving Day collection of home goods and services in anticipation of Boston’s September 1 move-pocalyse. The offerings include stellar deals on products and services like 50 percent off framed prints from Photos.com, 30 percent off gourmet meals from Heirloom Kitchen, and much more. Call it Allston Christmas’s super-classy, sophisticated distant relative twice-removed.

Online now, giltcity.com/boston.