Things to Do This Weekend in Boston
Plan the perfect weekend in Boston with our list of weekend events and activities.
Keep your weekend full with our roundup of fun events around Boston. And don’t miss our list of iconic things to do around Boston.
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MULTIPLE DAYS
COMEDY
Valerie Tosi may host the Mermaid Comedy Hour out in Los Angeles, but she hasn’t forgotten her Boston roots—it would very hard, at any rate, because she has a Red Sox “B” tattooed on one of her wrists. She’s lent her voice to ads for Google Home Mini, an experience that found its way into her material: “It if was voiced by a man,” she says in a 2019 Conan appearance, “no woman would buy it.”
$20, Friday and Saturday, Nick’s Comedy Stop, 100 Warrenton St., Boston
Image via Arbelos Films
MOVIES
This newly-restored, 1981 animated fantasy masterpiece from Hungary is finally seeing a proper U.S. theatrical release after debuting on Vimeo last summer. Although it’s over 30 years old, it seems to occupy its own temporal universe, full of swirling shapes, bold colors, heroes, and monsters, drawing on psychedelic aesthetics as much as ancient mythology. If you’ll looking to take a mental vacation, this is the pick.
$14, Friday and Saturday, Brattle Theater, 40 Brattle St., Boston
TUESDAY
FOOD
This is why the word “smorgasbord” exists: to describe the array of deliciousness on offer from more than 20 local restaurants at this event, including African, Afghani, Caribbean, Chinese, Dominican, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, and other cuisines. All these establishments are owned by folks from those ethnic communities. You won’t just get your fill, either—you’ll also be helping an industry devastated by pandemic restrictions get back on its feet.
$40, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Big Night Live, 110 Causeway St., Boston
Image via Well Go USA Entertainment
MOVIES
Catch a special screening of this new kung fu action-comedy from director Bao Tran, who’ll appear for a Q&A. The Paper Tigers tells the redemption story of three former teenage martial arts prodigies, now out of shape and middle-aged, who’ve got to pull themselves together to avenge the death of their master. As they’ll discover, they have a lot more to re-learn than just their old moves.
$25, 6 p.m., AMC Assembly Row, 395 Artisan Way, Somerville
FRIDAY
MUSIC
Before getting into electronic music Mitis, a.k.a. Pennsylvania-raised Joseph Torre, started off as a classical pianist. He was talented enough in this former life to make it to Carnegie Hall, and this background is crucial to his symphonic sensibilities. He’s touring now in support of his 2020 album Lost, a mix of introspective post-rock passages and big beat pop. On songs like “Bloom”, his piano surfaces unvarnished, revealing the delicate touch behind his massive wall of sound.
$25, 10 p.m., Royale, 279 Tremont St., Boston
COMEDY
The recently-reopened Wilbur Theater hosts New England homeboy, Saturday Night Live alum, and Late Night host Seth Meyers. His last standup special, Lobby Baby, dropped on Netflix in 2019. Its title alludes to the true story of his wife giving birth in his apartment building’s lobby, too quickly for them to make it to the hospital. “It is very strange to be on a 911 call that ends with the operator saying ‘congratulations!’” he quips.
$39-$59, 9:45 p.m., The Wilbur Theater, 246 Tremont St., Boston
Photo by Jonathan Beckley
SATURDAY
Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys
This surreally Victorian circus of a band returns to the stage for two shows Saturday. Sickert’s last release, February’s Almost Together Again, actually sounds more cyberpunk than steampunk, with a heavy electronic element—guess that’s what a year of Zoom calls does to you. The family-friendly early show includes drag story time and an act called Professor Wood and the School and Magic and Mayhem. The evening show features special guests Julie Rhodes, The Devil’s Twins, and Salem Wolves.
$10-$27, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., ONCE at Boynton Yards, 101 South St., Somerville
Image courtesy of ArcArtists
SUNDAY
Son of Lòlò and Manzè Beaubrun of Haitian band Boukman Eksperyans, Paul Beaubrun was born with a strong musical pedigree, and he’s established himself in his own right with a combination of Haitian roots, rock, and reggae he refers to as “Roots/Blues.” A track like “Vodou Ceremony” shows all of these elements coming together at the same time: Hendrix-esque riffs transforming into reggae skank, hand percussion skipping around drum set beats, all of it united by Beaubrun’s urgent vocal performance.
$14, 7 p.m., City Winery, 80 Beverly St., Boston
Free Events
OPERA
Enjoy a performance from members of Opera on Tap Boston and pick up a bouquet of flowers at this monthly summer event, which happens again on August 26 and September 30. It’ll take place at S.S. Pierce Walkway, between Simon’s Shoes and Paris Creperie, in the heart of Coolidge Corner. In exchange for the entertainment, they’ll be taking donations for the Brookline Food Pantry.
Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., S.S, Pierce Walkway, near 278 Harvard St., Brookline
MUSIC
This annual outdoor summer music series is back, featuring a diverse selection of some of the Berklee School of Music’s best student talent. All you need to do to check it out is reserve a ticket for the ICA’s Free Thursday Night event. This week’s performer is Taylor Deneen, an Oklahoma native with a smooth but powerful voice, occupying the intersection between pop, R&B, jazz, and gospel.
Thursdays through August 26th, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Institute of Contemporary Art, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston
TOURS
Though it’s existed for many years, Boston’s Black Heritage Trail has only risen in profile in the past decade. In a city preoccupied by its history, that’s important, because the stops along this 1.4-mile walk provide perfect opportunities to discuss the history of Boston’s 19th century Black community, members of which played major roles in the abolitionist movement and provided stops on the Underground Railroad. A National Park Ranger will give you the lowdown on this tour.
Ongoing, Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, 24 Beacon St., Boston
Family-Friendly Events
MUSIC
Boston Landmarks Orchestra Community Day
This outdoor event is a fun way for kids to learn how music is made. They’ll be able to try out instruments themselves, make electronic drum beats with the Beat Bus, and enter a space intriguingly called “The Maestro Zone”. There will also be ice cream and popcorn, face painting, and balloon animals, and performances by Aashka Dance Company, singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz, and percussionist Eric German.
Free, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mozart Park, 10 Mozart St., Jamaica Plain
FOOD
National Cheesecake Day Festival
Somerville’s 7ate9 Bakery goes all out to celebrate its signature dish on Saturday, with free cheesecake samples, a cheesecake eating contest, a cheesecake decorating competition (the theme is “things you worry about in high school” and they specify that your pitch will matter far more than decorating skill), and fun stuff for kids, including a decorate-your-own-cheesecake station, face painting, and temporary tattoos. Because one can only eat so much cheesecake, they’ll also be featuring empanadas from Chiqui’s Kitchen.
Free, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 7ate9 Bakery, 199C Highland Ave, Somerville
