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. You can also learn even more about awesome events around Boston by joining the BosTen Facebook group.
Gardens Speak
Organizers only admit 10 people each hour into this interactive theater experience, which immerses visitors in the stories of 10 ordinary Syrians killed during the country’s early uprisings. Many of the hourly slots were already filled at the time of this article’s publication, but you can still find tickets on the Paramount Center’s website. (Thursday, November 9 through Sunday, November 19 at various times; Paramount Center, Boston; $45 GA, $10 for Emerson students; all ages)
36th Annual Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo
As cliché as it is to say, the fact remains that winter is coming. Ski slopes are opening this weekend, and if you don’t have your gear ready for a season of shredding the gnar, you might want to visit the Seaport World Trade Center for the 36th annual Boston.com Ski & Snowboard Expo. Along with deals on all sorts of ski and snowboard apparel, visitors can enjoy live acts, interactive exhibits, and giveaways throughout the weekend. (Note: This event is sponsored by Boston.com.) (Thursday, November 9 through Sunday, November 12 at various times; Seaport World Trade Center, Boston; $15, enter promo code BDCCON to receive $3 off when you purchase tickets online; all ages)
Boston Jewish Film Festival
This year’s edition of the Boston Jewish Film Festival will bring 39 films to theaters spread across the Boston area, each examining global themes like post-World War II Europe, the intersection of sports and politics, and immigration. Highlights will include Etched in Glass: The Legacy of Steve Ross, a documentary about a man who endured five years in 10 concentration camps as a child before dedicating his life to helping disadvantaged young people in Boston during 40 years as a youth worker. For a full schedule and range of prices, check the festival’s website. (Thursday, November 9 through Monday, November 20 at various times and locations; prices vary per film; all ages)
Matthew Weiner at the Brattle Theatre
It’s been more than two years since the critically acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men concluded its seven-season run, having introduced the world to the talents of troubled ad man Don Draper (Jon Hamm). Viewers were also introduced (indirectly) to the brilliance of show creator Matthew Weiner, who will be at the Brattle Theatre discussing and signing copies of his debut novel, Heather, The Totality this Friday. (Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m.; Brattle Theatre, Cambridge; $26.25 for a book and ticket; all ages)(Update:
On Thursday afternoon, in an interview with The Information, former Mad Men writer Kater Gordon accused Matthew Weiner of sexually harassing her eight years ago. The Associated Press reported that Weiner denied the allegations in a statement released by his publicist. In an email Friday morning, Harvard Book Store marketing and events manager Alex Meriwether said that “as of this moment, the bookstore expects the event to go on as planned.”)
Hassle Fest 9
Hassle Fest organizers say on their site that the festival “has always waded exclusively in the experimental, independent, and emerging artistic shallows of the musical ocean.” For its ninth edition, organizers will bring together more than 30 out-there acts, including electronic artist/composer Dan Deacon and veteran “avant-garage” rockers Pere Ubu. Even a serious music connoisseur is bound to find something new. (Friday, November 10 from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and Saturday, November 11 from 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.; ONCE Ballroom, Somerville; $25 per day; all ages)
Beers and Gears
Love tinkering with gear and drinking a beer? Safety concerns mean you shouldn’t usually do both at the same time, but the MIT Museum will let you indulge this Friday. You’ll have the chance to build your own Rube Goldberg contraption using materials supplied by the museum while enjoying brews from Aeronaut, Bone Up, Exhibit A, and Ipswich Ale. (Friday, November 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; MIT Museum, Cambridge; $15-20; 21+)
Fenway Football
The home of the Red Sox will play host to a series of college and high school football games beginning this Friday and Saturday, with Dartmouth vs. Brown and Maine vs. UMass, respectively. Future matchups include BC vs. UConn and a slate of high school games on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving. (Friday, November 10 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 11 at 4 p.m.; Fenway Park, Boston; $20-150; all ages)
Veterans Day Parade
Rain or shine, the city of Boston will honor those who have served our country with its annual Veterans Day parade. The procession will start at the corner of Boylston Street and Charles Street (between the Boston Common and Public Garden) at 1 p.m. on Saturday. (Saturday, November 11 at 1 p.m.; Boston Public Garden; free; all ages)
Legoland Star Wars Days
With the hype building for next month’s release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Assembly Row’s Legoland will hold a weekend full of Star Wars-themed activities, including building activities for all ages, like a team effort to build a giant Darth Vader figure. Visitors are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters to match the professional costumers on hand for photos. Older Star Wars/Lego fans can also check out the adults-only Star Wars Night on Wednesday, Nov. 15. (Saturday, November 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Legoland Discovery Center, Somerville; $23-30; all ages)
Rise and Rumble Donut Throwdown
This Sunday marks the fourth edition of Back Bay restaurant Post 390’s Rise and Rumble Donut Throwdown. This year, customers will sample eight pairings of doughnuts and ice cream from spots like Gracie’s Ice Cream and Puritan & Co. to decide which doughy, creamy duo reigns supreme. In case you want a little savory with your sweet, Post 390’s brunch buffet is also included in the ticket price. (Sunday, November 12 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Post 390, Boston; $35; all ages)
