Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo of Illuminus 2014 (in the South End) in the South End by AnubusAbyss via Flickr

AHTS & CULCHAH
HUBWeek

While Hurricane Joaquin might have wreaked some havoc on HUBWeek’s schedule, the tropical storm hasn’t put a damper on this weeklong event series, a “unique confluence of art, science, and technology” celebrating ideas bred in Boston—with many of the events free and open to the public. Kicking off on October 3, HUBWeek’s lineup features Let’s Talk About Food (more about that below); a Faneuil Hall forum featuring Arianna Huffington, Yo-Yo Ma, the Havard Lampoon’s Alexis Wilkinson; and much more. The week caps off with Illuminus, a night art show that resembles a fever dream worthy of Lewis Carroll. Ever wanted to hear the Green Monster turn into a giant xylophone? At night? Wish granted. A complicated interplay between light, architecture, film projections, music, and sculpture, Illuminus—which takes over Lansdowne Street on October 10—is a feast for the senses. Exhibits range from a cyborg garden to Gallop, projections of artist Claire Eder’s renderings of animals in motion. But seeing is believing, so check it out for yourself.

HUBWeek runs Saturday, October 3, through Saturday, October 10, at various locations. For full schedule, see hubweek.org.

Let’s Talk About Food Festival / Courtesy Photo

CHEW THE FAT
Let’s Talk About Food Festival

Don’t just chew your food—talk about it! As part of HUBWeek, this year’s Let’s Talk About Food Festival wants you to engage in culinary discourse on sugar consumption, sustainability, obesity, cafeteria food, and more. According to organizer and longtime food writer Louisa Kasdon, “Our philosophy of education through fun engagement around food has come into its own!” Get schooled on fermentation by Jeremy Ogusky and learn to cook inferior cuts of meat for maximum flavor with Boston chef Tiffani Faison. The Celebrity Chef School Lunch Challenge pits Andy Husbands, Jody Adams, and Eric Brennan in a public-school-budgeted and health-conscious cook-off. Cheese fiends can check out Culture Magazine’s “Let’s Talk About Cheese,” a series of tastings and talks in which you can learn about wine pairings, the Gruyère craft, and more (tickets range from $10-$35).   

Free, Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Copley Square, Boston, boston.com.

Allston Street Festival by Ethan M. Long via Flickr

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
Allston Village Street Fair

Proclaiming itself Harvard Avenue’s own “urban Mardi Gras” on Harvard Avenue, the Allston Village Street Fair is all about celebrating the many cultures, crafts, and flavors of the Allston community. There will be more than 30 performances on two outdoor stages—featuring the likes of musicians Andrew Smith and The Luxury—as well as street performances by the Alive Dance Collective, the Winchester School of Chinese Culture Children’s Dance Group, and more. Elsewhere, Allstonians unleash their creativity on a collaborative street mural, while the vendors’ market and “International Food Court” gives you the opportunity sample Allston’s finest food and wares.   

Free, Sunday, October 4, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Harvard Ave. (between Brighton Ave. and Cambridge St.), Allston, allstonvillagestreetfair.com.

Kraftwerk by Crystal En Vivo via Flickr

MUSIC
Kraftwerk 3-D

Forget the Blue Man Group—Kraftwerk were the original multimedia performers. As pioneers of the electronic music genre, this German quartet always seemed ahead of the curve. During their 1981 Computer World Tour they used replica mannequins to play their song “The Robots”—a visual trick the would be copied in the future by the likes Daft Punk and Herbie Hancock. Their signature 3D visual concert has been accepted as both music and artwork, performing at the Tate in London and MoMA in New York. See “the man-machine” in all its 3-D glory at the Wang Theatre.

$60-$80, Friday, October 3, 8 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, citicenter.org.

The Big E by Linda Seid Frembes via Flickr

FAREWELL FAIR
The Big E Winds Down with Paris Hilton

The Big E, West Springfield’s annual agricultural extravaganza, is going out with a bang. Spend the day enjoying the best of the fair, like the Swifty Swines Racing Pigs, Circus Spectacular, the solid butter sculpture, and a neon Ferris wheel. There is, of course, plenty of fried food to satisfy your inner child, but for the refined individual there’s always the Wine & Cheese Barn. And for the big finish? On October 4, Paris Hilton—yes, that Paris Hilton—DJs at the Xfinity Arena, bids a very hot farewell to the simple fair life.

$15, runs through Sunday, October 4, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, thebige.com.