Seven Can’t-Miss Events in Boston, November 2016

Including Bob Newhart, 'Make Way for Ducklings' art, and more.

make way for ducklings art robert mccloskey

Image Courtesy of The May Massee Collection, Emporia State University Special Collections and Archives, Emporia State University/Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (McCloskey)

KIDS
“Make Way for Ducklings: The Art of Robert McCloskey”

As the tourists who crowd the Public Garden to pose with those bronze baby birds attest, Make Way for Ducklings has been a Boston pop-culture symbol for generations. Readers have been enjoying the adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, Jack, Kack, Lack, et al. since 1941.

Now the Museum of Fine Arts is welcoming these fans by celebrating the 75th anniversary of Robert McCloskey’s famous book with perhaps the institution’s most family-friendly exhibition ever. This broad retrospective features more than 50 drawings and paintings, covering Ducklings, of course, but also Homer Price, about McCloskey’s childhood in Ohio; and Blueberries for Sal, about his adopted home state of Maine.

November 25–June 18, 2017, Museum of Fine Arts, 617-267-9300, mfa.org.

dining out boston book culinary history james oconnell

Courtesy Rendering

BOOK
Dining Out in Boston

Wonderfully illustrated with vintage photos and menus, this culinary tour showcases everything from Colonial inns to current James Beard Award–winning boîtes. Iconic locales such as Durgin Park, the Parker House, and Myers + Chang make appearances as urban historian James O’Connell details the centuries-long evolution of Boston’s restaurant scene.

Out November 1, $28, University Press of New England.

bob newhart

Photograph by Michael O’Brien/Flickr

ICON
Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart was topping the Billboard charts with comedy albums as far back as 1960, before going on to hit TV shows in the 1970s and ’80s. Now 87, he brings his legendary deadpan standup routine to Boston.

November 5, The Wilbur Theatre, 617-248-9700, thewilbur.com.

COMEDY
The Capitol Steps

Our long national nightmare of a presidential election will be over by the time these DC political satirists bring their musical revue to Rockport. They’re known for tailoring their songs and skits to the latest headlines, so prepare to weep bitter tears of laughter, no matter how you voted.

November 13, Shalin Liu Performance Center, 978-546-7391, rockportmusic.org.

DANCE
Call of Courage

Urbanity Dance certainly lives up to its name in this unusual program, coordinated with the city of Boston: The choreography is set to a score by local composer Ryan Edwards, accompanied by recordings of Boston Public Schools students reading their personal essays about the challenges of growing up in the city.

November 18, Strand Theatre, 617-572-3727, urbanitydance.org.

ROCK
Dinosaur Jr.

After decades apart, the original lineup of Pioneer Valley college rock legends (J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph) is enjoying a long, fruitful reunion touring and recording new material, including this summer’s Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not.

November 25, House of Blues, 888-693-2583, houseofblues.com/boston.

THEATER
Journey to the West

A classic of Chinese literature, this picaresque adventure combines a Buddhist monk searching through East Asia for sacred texts, gods, and magic, as well as a short-tempered Monkey King. This production stages the acclaimed dreamlike adaptation by MacArthur fellow Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses).

November 25–December 31, Central Square Theater, 617-576-9278, centralsquaretheater.org.