10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to events and cool happenings in and around Boston.
Skip Netflix this weekend—here are 10 ways to get out of your home and not be bored in the city. If you’d like BosTen delivered to your inbox every Thursday, click here. Want more things to do? Check out our events calendar at boston.com/events.
Children’s Winter Fest
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Children’s Winter Festival on Boston Common on Thursday, with a three-story inflatable snow slide, the 45-foot Toboggan Tunnel, a snow maze, and at least a half dozen more outdoor activities. It’s definitely not going to feel like winter temperature-wise, but any place to let your kids run outside for free is worth it, right? (Thursday, February 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Boston Common; free; all ages)
Sex and Our City at WGBH
The taboo topic of this edition of WGBH’s Smarter Happy Hour is how sex has shaped the city of Boston, from the days of the not-so-pure Puritans to the infamous Combat Zone. Historians, authors, and professors will gather to lead an enlightening discussion of what’s happened in Boston once the lights have gone out. (Thursday, February 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; WGBH, Boston; $10; 21+)
Pizza Thursdays at Bone Up Brewing
Just down the street from Night Shift Brewing in Everett, Bone Up Brewing is a relative newcomer to the Boston-area craft beer scene. To help get out the word about its newly added Thursday hours, the brewery is teaming up with the Malden-based Sillari’s Pizza to serve up slices and suds at the Bone Up taproom. (Thursday, February 23 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Bone Up Brewing, Everett; free; 21+)
67th Annual New England Home Show
The Seaport will be dedicated to everything house-related this weekend, with the New England Home Show bringing more than 500 experts to showcase the latest in landscaping, kitchens, hot tubs, and other home amenities. The show will also feature an artisan craft marketplace, with a variety of handmade home products from around New England. (Friday, February 24 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, February 25 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Seaport World Trade Center, Boston; $12 GA, free for kids ages 17 and under; all ages)
The Shining at the MFA
The Museum of Fine Arts will conclude its monthlong Stanley Kubrick retrospective with a screening of one of the late director’s unquestioned masterpieces. The museum cafe will serve plenty of refreshments prior to the show—no red rum, though. (Saturday, February 25 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; $11 GA, $9 for MFA members; rated R)
A Tribute to George Harrison
Saturday marks what would have been George Harrison’s 74th birthday, so to honor the late Beatles guitarist/songwriter, Aeronaut Brewery is hosting three musical acts that will play a mix of Beatles favorites, Harrison solo songs, and tunes of their own creation. Just remember, you’re never too old to weep when you hear “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” (Saturday, February 25 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Aeronaut Brewery, Somerville; free; 21+)
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
The masters of funk are coming to the House of Blues on Saturday to raise the roof. Whether you prefer to get down or get on up — it’s a divisive issue! — George Clinton and his merry band of funksters will have you groovin’ on the dance floor before you can say, “Atomic Dog.” (Saturday, February 25 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; House of Blues, Boston; $29-155; all ages)
Holy Mole Cantina Night at Sam Adams
Sam Adams will celebrate the release of two new beers with the brewery’s first Cantina Night. They’re teaming up with Jamaica Plain favorite Chilacates, which will offer a range of Mexican street food to go with Sam Adams’s two new beers, Chocolate Bock and The Vixen, a chocolate chili bock. (Friday, February 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sam Adams Brewery; $30-55; 21+)
Mardi Crawl 2017
Although Fat Tuesday isn’t until Tuesday (duh), you can get a head start on celebrating this weekend at a number of Faneuil Hall bars with the 2017 Mardi Crawl. Crawlers get drink specials at all 13 participating bars, as well as a T-shirt and plenty of beads. (Saturday, February 25 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Faneuil Hall, Boston; $22.50; 21+)
Canary Square Oscar Party 2017
And the winner is… you, if you head to Canary Square for the Jamaica Plain bar and restaurant’s Oscar Party. The party kicks off with red carpet coverage, as well as photo ops on Canary’s own red carpet, and keeps rocking until the last envelope is opened. There will be complimentary champagne toast and snacks, an Oscar prediction contest with prizes, and awards for Best Dressed, Best Couple, and more. (Sunday, February 26 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Canary Square, Boston; free; 21+)
