10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to cool events in the city.
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.
Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
Thursday marks what would have been Theodor Geisel’s 103rd birthday, and to celebrate, the Barnes & Noble at the Prudential Center is holding a Dr. Seuss birthday party. Staffers will read both classic Seuss books and recently released stories, and there will be plenty of games and activities for the younger set. (Thursday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Barnes & Noble Prudential Center, Boston; free; all ages)
Free Film Fridays at the Museum of Science
Even if every exhibit at the Museum of Science was temporarily closed, a visit to the awe-inspiring Omni Theater would make a trip worth it. This March, thanks to a grant from MathWorks, shows at the domed theater are free every Friday. Members may register online, while non-members must pick up tickets day-of at the museum box office. (Starts Friday, March 3 at various times; Museum of Science, Boston; free; all ages)
First Fridays: Space Jam
With the recent discovery of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby star and Tesla’s recent announcement that it plans to launch its first “rocket tour” around the moon in 2018, outer space has been on many people’s minds lately. The ICA is leaning into the space theme for its first First Friday in March, serving up extraterrestrial cocktails, featuring planetary art activities, and showcasing celestial contemporary art. If astronomy’s your thing, the event should be out of this world. (Friday, March 3 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; $15 GA, free for ICA members; 21+)
Harpoon St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is still two weeks away, but Harpoon is getting a jump on the action with a celebration at their brewery. Underneath Harpoon’s heated tents, you’ll find live music, tons of beer — including a brand new beverage from the brewery’s UFO line and the limited edition Harpoon The Craic Irish Red IPA — and a free drink and commemorative pint glass for everyone in attendance. (Friday, March 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, March 4 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Harpoon Brewery, Boston; $25; 21+)
Climb New England’s Tallest Building
Looking for a unique fitness challenge this weekend? What about climbing more than 1,200 stairs to reach the top of the tallest building in New England? On Saturday, the Greater New England chapter of the National MS Society is hosting its annual Climb to the Top fundraiser, during which more than 500 participants will travel the 61 floors of 200 Clarendon St. (better known as the Hancock Tower) the hard way. In case you’re worried about getting stampeded by fitter runners around floor 30, the climb has General, Competitive, and Firefighter heats. (Saturday, March 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 200 Clarendon Tower, Boston; minimum $250 fundraised; all ages)
Lego Batman Movie Days
You and your kids may have seen The Lego Batman Movie in theaters since it opened Feb. 10. But have you seen the Lego Batman in real life? Legoland Discovery Center is hosting a series of Lego Batman-themed days in the month of March, with the first starting this Saturday at 10 a.m. Meet Lego Batman, try out a Batman-themed scavenger hunt, and participate in Batman-related building activities. Adults who want to get in on the Caped Crusader fun can check out Adult Night on Wednesday, March 15. (Starts Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; LegoLand Discovery Center, Somerville; $15-30; all ages, but adults must be accompanied by at least one child)
Fluff Centennial Birthday Party
Union Square’s annual FluffFest is more than six months away, but fans of Marshmallow Fluff, the gooey treat invented in Somerville by Archibald Query, may be interested in ways to celebrate the product’s 100th anniversary now. One option is the Somerville Winter Market’s Fluff Centennial Birthday Party, which will feature more than 30 vendors selling marshmallow-based treats, as well as the author of an upcoming book on the history of Fluff. (Saturday, March 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Somerville Armory; free; all ages)
Tea Basics 101
Thinking of switching from coffee to tea? Already an ardent tea-drinker but just want to learn more about the beverage? In this one-hour seminar, MEM Tea will teach you about the five types of tea (yes, there’s more than just black and green), as well as the regions each come from and the health benefits each can provide. (Saturday, March 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; MEM Tea, Cambridge; $10; all ages)
Brooklyn Boulders “It Takes Two” Bouldering Competition
Rock climbing can be a scary proposition for some—why not bring a friend for support? Somerville’s Brooklyn Boulders is holding a bouldering competition for all ages and skill levels this weekend, the catch being that you must try to complete the assigned climbing paths while never letting go of your partner. Actually, maybe that’s scarier than climbing by yourself. But figuring out the optimal routes with the help of a buddy is bound to be an excellent mental and physical workout. (Saturday, March 5 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Brooklyn Boulders, Somerville; $20-30; all ages)
Fueling for the Marathon
With the recent spate of warm weather, it’s not that hard to believe that spring is less than three weeks away. That also means that the Boston Marathon is coming up sooner than you’d think. If you’re curious about what to eat before, during, and after a major run (Boston Marathon or otherwise), head to this session, where sports nutritionist Nancy Clark will be on hand to answer all your eating and running questions. (Sunday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Marathon Sports, Wellesley; free; all ages)
