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10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest happenings in and around Boston.
This week’s BosTen offers a mix of in-person and virtual things to do in Boston this weekend. Have an idea about what we should cover? Leave us a comment on this article or in the BosTen Facebook group, or email us at [email protected].
Toast Valentine’s Day early with the Boston.com Cocktail Club
Whether you’re mixing it up with a partner or sipping solo, the Boston.com Cocktail Club will offer up some virtual Valentine’s Day-themed cocktails sure to lift your spirits this Thursday at 7 p.m. Join host Jackson Cannon (The Hawthorne, Eastern Standard) and guest bartender Sabrina Kershaw (Lone Star Taco Bar) as they teach you how to make two bourbon cocktails — the Bittersweet Romance and the Sour Patch Affair. Attending the Zoom is free, and you can find a full list of necessary ingredients here. — Kevin Slane
Check out a new exhibit at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Having traveled the world, photographer and visual activist Sir Zanele Muholi (they/their/them) has seen how systemic biases create spaces where one cannot safely declare one’s entire being. For nearly two decades, they have documented the lives of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals in their home country of South Africa and beyond, using imagery to create a visual archive of representation and raise awareness of social injustice. Muholi’s work is the subject of a new exhibit at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (ISGM) opening this Thursday, which features a series of recent vibrant paintings and a large bronze bust (created over the pandemic) alongside their well-known photographs. — Cheryl Fenton
Immerse yourself in the works of Frida Kahlo
On the heels of the two buzzy Van Gogh exhibits in town comes a new immersive gallery — this time focusing on Frida Kahlo. Located at the Castle on Columbus Avenue, the exhibit will chronicle the life and artwork of the iconic Mexican painter known for her many portraits. In the exhibit, guests can expect to see many of Kahlo’s recognizable works, full of vibrant colors and unflinching emotions, like her folk-art inspired pieces, her many self-portraits, and her surrealistic works. The exhibit opens to the public on Thursday, and tickets are now available online. — Natalie Gale
Sing along with III original Boyz in Medford
In the early and mid-’90s, the best was never good enough for the vocal quartet Boyz II Men. The golden-voiced singers were hungry for the top spot after reaching the top three with their first two singles – “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” – in 1991. That appetite was sated in 1992, when the proud sons of Philadelphia topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a then-record-setting 13 weeks with “End of the Road.” Minus original bass vocalist Michael McCary, the trio of Shawn Stockman and the unrelated Nathan and Wanya Morris will perform at Medford’s Chevalier Theatre this Friday at 8 p.m. — Blake Maddux
Catch ‘Love Jones’ with the Black History Month Film Festival
Now in its second year, The Boston Globe’s Black History Month Film Festival will offer a mix of new and classic films throughout the month of February to celebrate the culture, lives, and creativity of Black Americans. Interested viewers can visit the film festival’s website in order to RSVP to virtual screenings, which will be available on demand ahead of a virtual panel discussion featuring Globe writers and editors, filmmakers, and talent. This weekend, catch an at-home viewing of 1997 romance drama “Love Jones,” then join the Globe on Monday at 3 p.m. for a discussion with Lisa Simmons, D. Ruff, and Jeneé Osterheldt. — Kevin Slane
Satisfy your sweet tooth at the 20th annual Salem So Sweet Festival
Salem’s annual chocolate and ice sculpture festival returns for its 20th year starting this Thursday. Hosted by Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce, the festival celebrates sweets, local shops, and glittering ice sculptures, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The festival kicks off this year with a ”Trick or Sweet Chocolate and Wine Crawl” on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees are given a souvenir glass that doubles as their ticket while they visit participating downtown locations, trying sweet treats and beverage tastings. The ice sculpture installation begins Friday night, and the sculptures sprinkled throughout downtown are illuminated on Saturday night. Salem’s local shops will also hold a “Chocolate Hearts Challenge,” a scavenger hunt-like game where participants scan QR codes in each business for a shot at a prize. — Natalie Gale
Enjoy a Valentine’s Day romp with “I Want You Back”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Milton native Jenny Slate is dipping into rom-com territory opposite “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Charlie Day in “I Want You Back,” which lands on Amazon Prime Video this Friday. After Emma (Slate) and Peter (Day) meet in a stairwell after being dumped by their significant others (played by Gina Rodriguez and Scott Eastwood), the duo later hatch a plot to end each other’s exes burgeoning new relationships. Along with Slate and Day, “I Want You Back” features Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”), Eastwood (“Suicide Squad”), and Manny Jacinto (“The Good Place”). — Kevin Slane
Spread love on Valentine’s weekend with Black Owned Bos. at Time Out Market
Shop gifts and goods from 10 local Black-owned businesses this Saturday at the Spread Love Valentine’s Market hosted by Black Owned Bos. at Time Out Market. From decadent candles to trendy clothes and accessories, the pop-up market will include a diverse spread of brands to check out. The shopping experience will feature local DJs Slick Vick and KNSZWRTH and include the following brands: ZMakesBeads, Akosua’s Closet, BLACK LABEL, B.Royal Boutique, Sweet Glam, Stinky’s Kittens & Doggies Too, Mavology, Adorn Me Africa, Emerald City Plant Shop, and House of Art and Craft. After shopping, stick around and enjoy a meal and a drink from one of the vendors located in Time Out Market’s dining hall. — Jae’da Turner
Explore Chinatown with the Cambridge Center for Adult Education
In conjunction with Chinatown’s annual Chinese New Year Parade, the Cambridge Center for Adult Education is organizing a guided tour of the neighborhood’s vibrant food scene this Sunday at 11 a.m. This includes bakeries and bubble tea shops, but also live poultry markets and ginseng stores. The tour will end with dim sum dinner, with a guide helping you navigate through the menu options. The ticket fee includes the cost of dinner and tip. Attendees are required to follow city and state COVID-19 guidelines and to wear a mask throughout the class. — Joel Ang
Head down to the Boston Winter Express
The Boston Winter Express brings four weeks of free outdoor winter fun to city communities this winter, including live performances, public art by local artists, complimentary hot beverages from local restaurants, and more. The first event on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. will celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Chinatown Gate in Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park on The Greenway. The celebration, the result of a city partnership with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy and Chinatown Main Street, will feature complimentary food and drinks, free books from the Boston Public Library, free COVID-19 test kits from the Boston Public Health Commission, and the City Hall On The Go Truck. — Kristi Palma
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