Events

10 things to do in Boston this weekend

BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.

The Hanging Nasturtiums at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Handout

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Welcome to BosTen, your weekly guide to the coolest events and best things to do in Boston this weekend. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter here. 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].

Build a sea glass canvas at Distraction Brewing

Roslindale’s Distraction Brewing has a full calendar of events this spring, ranging from Taylor Swift and Star Wars-themed paint nights to frequent stand-up comedy showcases. One such event is a sea glass workshop on April 4, which will net you a few gorgeous sea glass canvases and (if you choose) a few delicious beers. (Thursday, April 4 from 7-8:30 p.m.; 2 Belgrade Ave.; $41.50; 21+) — Kevin Slane

Get your game on at Dorchester Brewing Co.

Fancy a game night? Whether you’re a Mario Kart speedster, a Street Fighter combo king, or an OG Atari gamer, Dorchester Brewing Co.’s retro video game night is the place to be on Thursday. From 7-10 p.m., the 21+ event will give visitors to DBC’s taproom the chance to challenge friends and strangers alike in console battle, all while enjoying craft beer, bite-sized refreshments, and cocktails. (Thursday, April 4 from 7-10 p.m.; 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Boston; free) — Kevin Slane

Celebrate spring with the Gardner Museum’s Hanging Nasturtiums

A vernal fixture in the Gardner’s courtyard since 1903, the nasturtium blooms — meticulously cultivated along 20-foot vines year-round — are already in bloom, and should remain resplendent through at least Isabella Stewart Gardner’s birthday on April 14. To see the blooms free of charge, stop by Thursday from 3-9 p.m. for the museum’s monthly Free First Thursdays, which features live music from musical duo (and real-life couple) Fabiola Mendez Trio and saxophonist Jonathan Suazo in the Courtyard. (Daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 25 Evans Way; $13-20, free from 3-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 4) — Kevin Slane

See a new exhibit from Firelei Báez at the ICA

Dominican artist Firelei Báez brings some of her energetic works to the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport for an exhibit opening this Thursday. Her colorful and energetic paintings, drawings, and sculptural installations explore topics like anthropology, geography, folklore, and fantasy, with a focus on the African diaspora in the Caribbean and beyond. Some of her works feature paint overlaying history maps, or drawings made on deaccessioned book pages. As an added bonus, you can check out the new exhibit for free if you register for ICA’s monthly Free Thursday Nights tickets, which runs from 5-9 p.m. (Now through Sept. 2 from 10-5 p.m.; 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston; $15-20) — Natalie Gale

Celebrate the legacy of Koussevitzky with the BSO

Before the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) wraps up its 2023-24 season at Symphony Hall on May 4, it will continue its commemoration of a pair of anniversaries involving legendary conductor Serge Koussevitzky: The 150th anniversary of his birth and the 100th anniversary of his appointment as BSO’s music director, a position he revolutionized from 1924-1949. It’s a fitting time to be honoring the Russian-born conductor, composer, and mentor to Leonard Bernstein, as worldwide audiences got to meet the composer in Bradley Cooper’s Oscar-nominated Bernstein biopic “Maestro,” with Koussevitzky being played by Yasen Peyankov. Starting this Thursday, the BSO will perform works either premiered or commissioned by Koussevitzky, beginning this weekend with Scriabin’s “Prometheus” and continuing with Messiaen’s “Turangalîla‐symphonie” (April 11-14), and Prokofiev’s Fourth Symphony (April 25–27). (Thursday April 4 through Saturday, April 6 at various times; 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston; $40 and up) — Kevin Slane

Get artistic in an artist’s studio

Now’s your chance to delve into the world of art. On April 5, creative juices flow in a relaxed environment in the heart of the vibrant and inspiring SoWa Boston Art+Design District. All studios and galleries are also open on first Friday evenings, so stick around to view what others have created. Open to all ages and levels of art experience, all art supplies are included. Registration via Eventbrite is required. (Friday, April 5 from 5-6 p.m.; 450 Harrison Ave. #214, Boston; free) — Cheryl Fenton

Take the family to see Beauty & The Beast Jr.

Ready to see a tale as old as time this weekend? Head to Hyde Park, where the youth performers at Riverside Theatre Works will be presenting “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” a pint-sized production based on the original Broadway show. Sing along to timeless songs penned by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman popularized by the Disney animated film — as well as new songs from Menken and Tim Rice — during the musical’s ten-day run in Boston. (Friday April 5 through Sunday, April 14 at 2 and 7 p.m., 45 Fairmount Ave., Boston; $21.50) — Kevin Slane

Dig into the Amazing Archaeology Fair

You don’t need to bring your own shovel to enjoy Sunday’s Amazing Archaeology Fair, an annual event held at two of Harvard’s museums, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology and the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Highlights include interactive mysteries for visitors of all ages to solve, discussions with archaeologists who have worked all over the globe, and a hands-on lesson in beginner cuneiform writing. (Sunday, April 7 from 1-4 p.m.; 6 and 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge; $10-15) — Kevin Slane

Let loose with Caroline Rose at Royale

Long Island native and 2011 Wellesley graduate Caroline Rose’s first few albums found them working within the realms of acoustic guitar-based Americana. After that, however, they found themself feeling restricted by the genre, personally at least as much as musically, saying, “As a queer artist, I didn’t feel fully OK discussing my sexuality.” Starting with 2018’s “Loner,” Rose has embraced alternative/indie rock and pop, pure pop, and dashes of dance and electronic. Moreover, they have maintained their artistic independence by self-producing their last two releases, “Superstar” and last March’s “The Art of Forgetting,” an experimental, ambitious, and rewarding record that closes with the appropriately titled “Where Do I Go From Here?” You’ll likely hear plenty from that album if you head to Rose’s concert at Royale on Sunday at 8 p.m. (Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m.; 279 Tremont St., Boston, $29.50) — Blake Maddux

Experience the 2024 solar eclipse at a state park

Massachusetts may not be in the path of totality for Monday’s solar eclipse, but state officials are organizing plenty of ways for the public to participate and celebrate the unique event. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation said Wednesday that eight state parks in Massachusetts will host educational programs and provide guided viewing sessions for the eclipse on April 8. Officials said free safe viewing glasses will be offered to visitors at state parks on Monday. The programming at the eight state parks will include solar system tours, an eclipse folding craft, and information on alternative ways to view the eclipse, such as making a pinhole viewer. The full list of participating state parks is available here. (Monday, April 8 from 2-5 p.m. at various locations; free) — Dialynn Dwyer

Kevin Slane

Staff Writer

Kevin Slane is a staff writer for Boston.com covering entertainment and culture. His work focuses on movie reviews, streaming guides, celebrities, and things to do in Boston.

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