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10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.
Welcome to BosTen, your weekly guide to the coolest events and bestthings to do in Boston this weekend. Sign up for ourweekly email newsletter here. Have an idea about what we should cover? Leave us a comment on this article or in theBosTen Facebook group, or email us at [email protected].
Enjoy free tours of the Museum of African American History
In recognition of Black History Month (and coinciding with February break), the Red Sox and Red Sox Foundation are partnering with the Museum of African American History in Boston and Nantucket to provide free admission and tours for all visitors now through Sunday. The Beacon Hill location houses both the former Abiel Smith School — the oldest public school in the country built for the education of Black children — and the African Meeting House, the oldest Black church building in the country. Along with objects from the museum’s 3,000+ collection, MAAH is currently hosting “The Emancipation Proclamation: A Pragmatic Compromise” a temporary exhibit about the history and rationale behind the historic document. Both self-guided and guided tours of the museum are free if you book a tour in advance on the museum’s website. (Thursday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 25; Museum of African American History, 46 Joy St., Boston; free) — Kevin Slane
See the most elaborate ‘Disney on Ice’ show ever
When Disney on Ice returns to Boston’s TD Garden each year, you just know it’ll be magical. The all new Disney On Ice show, at the arena now through Sunday, is no exception. “Magic in the Stars” is a Disney100 celebration that includes the most Disney characters in one show — 56 in all — with an all-star cast that includes Mirabel, Woody and Buzz, Tiana, Moana, and more. This all-new production fills the rink with cutting-edge figure skating, high-flying acrobatics, unexpected stunts, thrilling special effects, and stunning sets with innovative lighting. The show also highlights the on-ice debut of strong warrior Raya from “Raya and the Last Dragon” ascending into the air to perform on an aerial acro-pole. (Thursday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 25 at various times; T.D. Garden, Boston; $25 and up) —Cheryl Fenton
Bundle up for Boston Ballet’s Winter Experience
Following its annual run of “The Nutcracker,” Boston Ballet is keeping the wintry vibes alive with three short performances starting this Thursday. “Winter Experience” is comprised of three individual shows — Mikko Nissinen’s classical ballet “Raymonda” and Helen Pickett’s “Petal” and “SISU.” All three will be making their world premiere on the Citizens Opera House stage, so be sure to catch them before they depart March 3. (Thursday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, March 3; Citizens Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston; $25 and up) — Kevin Slane
Check out the ‘Women Take the Reel’ Film Festival
MIT’s Women’s and Gender Studies department is getting a head start on Women’s History Month in March, kicking off their annual free film festival “Women Take The Reel” this Friday. The festival, which runs through March 25, features a handful of films relating to gender, race, sexuality, class, and/or feminism, most of which screen on MIT’s campus. The festival begins this Friday with a screening and post-film Q&A of “At Your Cervix,” a documentary about the (questionable) ways medical students learn to perform pelvic exams. Additional festival highlights during the coming weeks include the Awkwafina comedy “Quiz Lady” at Tufts’ Barnum Hall (March 7), the Spanish adolescent drama “20,000 Species of Bees” at MIT’s Bartos Theater (March 8), and a virtual screening of the Senegalese film “Atlantique” on March 25. (Friday, Feb. 23 through Monday, March 25 at various times and locations; free) — Natalie Gale
Play a nostalgic game at Versus
Tossing its nightly $5 cover aside once a week, Versus Arcade Bar & Restaurant in Downtown Boston now features “Free Play Fridays,” offering free entry and unlimited gameplay of its 30+ games for anyone who arrives between 5-6 p.m. This Downtown Crossing hotspot has classic arcade throwbacks like Frogger, Ms. Pacman, Space Invaders, and Asteroids, as well as old school amusements like Giant Jenga, Connect 4, shuffleboard, board games, and pinball. (Friday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m.; Versus Boston, 42 Province St., Boston; free) — Cheryl Fenton
Sing along with Judy Collins at The Cabot
It has been 62 years since the release of her debut, and folk stalwart Judy Collins is doing some of the strongest work of her seven-decade-spanning career. Last year’s “Spellbound,” her 29th studio LP, was the first on which she composed all of the songs herself. Her efforts were rewarded with a Grammy nomination — her seventh — for Best Folk Album. And not many performers who are eight decades into life — or much younger for that matter — can say, as Collins did in a recent interview, “Before the pandemic, I was doing 125 shows a year. I think it’s down to a hundred this year, but it’ll probably go back up.” (Friday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m.; The Cabot, 286 Cabot St., Beverly; $46.50-$101.00) — Blake Maddux
Blast into the past at Retromania Expo
Get ready to stock up on vintage gear this Saturday and Sunday when Roadrunner hosts The Brighton Bazaar’s second annual Retromania. More than 100 vendors will be on hand to sell clothing, art, books, comics, electronics, video games, vinyl, and all sorts of other retro swag that’s at least 20 years old. Tickets for a four-hour shopping window between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. are available on Roadrunner’s website. (Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25 from 11-8 p.m.; Roadrunner, 89 Guest St., Boston; $10) — Kevin Slane
Enjoy some laughs at ‘Detention’
Following the pandemic-induced closure of ImprovBoston after 40+ years, Cambridge lost arguably its best source of comedy shows. But laughter finds a way, and since 2022, Duck Duck Goofs has staged speakeasy-style standup showcases every Friday and Saturday night. Underground is both a figurative and literal descriptor of Duck Duck Goofs, in that the shows feature up-and-coming talent and take place in the cement basement of the Cambridge Community Center. Each show starts with a single song, often from house musician Indigo Ansin, before producer Ryan Howe does crowd work leading into a rotating secret lineup of hilarious comics. Last weekend’s show featured a pair of standups with national credits, but it was local comedian Janet McNamara who brought the house down with a riff on (almost) being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Duck Duck Goofs will be opening its own permanent space in Somerville March 15, so this weekend is one of your final opportunities to say you saw a future comedy star in a basement while drinking $4 beer sold out of a cooler. (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., Cambridge; $15-24; 21+) — Kevin Slane
Laugh it up with Ms. Pat at The Wilbur
If you’ve seen “The Ms. Pat Show,” which has exploded as the most popular sitcom on BET+ over three seasons since debuting in 2021, you know that the main character — Pat Ford Carson — doesn’t pull any punches. And given that the character’s storyline is based on the actual Ms. Pat (a.k.a. Patricia Williams), a former drug dealer in Atlanta who turned midwest suburban mom, it’s a safe bet she’s no shrinking violet in real life either. Find out for yourself when she hits The Wilbur this Saturday. (Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.; The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston; $35-$40) — Peter Chianca
Celebrate National Clam Chowder day
While we’re guessing National Clam Chowder Day this Sunday could also include ordering up a bowl of the polarizing tomato-based Manhattan version, true New England clam chowder (pronounced chowdah, if you please) is a rich and thick concoction of shellfish, salt pork or bacon, potatoes, and cream. For those looking to celebrate the day with a mug or bowl of this traditional hearty soup, we put together a list of our favorite clam chowders. Whether you go traditional (Legal Seafoods) or experimental (the seafood-infused chowder from Eventide Fenway), you can’t go wrong. Don’t forget the oyster crackers. (Sunday, Feb. 25 at various times and locations) — Cheryl Fenton
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