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Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 2011 season presents, All’s Well That Ends Well
For years the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has provided free Shakespeare performances on the Boston Common. Although the 2011 performances which are free and open to the public will not begin until the summer, it warms me just to write about this summer tradition.
According to Wikipedia, the play was initially classified as a comedy but is now considered by some as one of his problem plays, so named because it cannot be neatly classified as tragedy or comedy. Inspired by one of Boccaccio’s tales from the Decameron, the play centers on Helena, the orphan daughter of a famous physician. This globe-trotting adventure shows how far one woman will go to win the heart of her beloved.
I never read this play and look forward to seeing it this summer. If you are a native and have never been – check this out and support the local arts community. If you are planning to visit Boston this summer and will be in town when this is showing spend an evening under the stars enjoying this free performance. I smuggle in a bottle or two and order a pizza (yes pizzerias deliver to the Common).
Mark your calendars:
Boston Common – Parkman Bandstand
July 27 – August 14
Tuesday – Saturday @ 8pm
Sundays @ 7pm
Boston No Pants Subway Ride 2011
The Boston Society of Spontaneity hosted their annual “No Pants Subway Ride” this afternoon, and on a whim I joined with my partner. I’ve never had so much fun on the T (Boston’s metro system – MBTA).
Check out my video clip.
More pictures from today:
Posted in Free Stuff, People say the funniest things, Video
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy
Weekend fun in Boston
Despite the rains and wind forecast this weekend, the Boston Book Festival will be in full swing on Saturday. If you’ve never been to this festival – you should really check it out.
Authors like Dennis Lehane – author of best sellers like Shutter Island and Mystic River, Pulitzer Prize winning non-fiction author, Stacy Schiff and Joyce Carol Oates are among a long list of distinguished and accomplished authors and poets who will be present. For more information check out the link above or you can go to the BBF blog.
If food is more your thing then come over to my neighborhood and attend the Boston LobsterParty. Unlike the BBF, this will cost to get in, but you can easily purchase tickets online here, and all the proceeds go to the very deserving Community Servings charity, which brings warm nutritious meals to those suffering from critical and chronic illness and diseases like AIDS.
How can you go wrong with chefs from all around Boston sharing different dishes with lobster and plenty of beer available to wash the tastey crustacean down. Event details: Saturday from 2:00 – 4:30pm at The Trolley Barn. 540 Harrison Ave., Boston.
Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend
I’ve been busy this week working in NYC, but I wanted to post some really cool (and free) activities that are happening in my neighborhood this weekend. The weather is expected to be full of sun with highs in the low 80s Friday and Saturday. Sunday appears to be a bit cooler, but still nice. If you are in the area, plan on checking out one of these events.
Music to your ears The Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival concludes Saturday, September 25th with a free outdoor festival on several stages in the South End.
Art for your soul South End Open Studios is Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Open Studios brings together more than 250 artists exhibiting their work in their studios. The website includes a map showing where participating artist studios are located. You can link here for directions.
Food for your stomach Saint John the Baptist on Union Park Street in the South End between Shawmut and Washington Street is hosting their annual Grecian festival. Friday 6pm – 10pm / Saturday 12pm – 10pm / Sunday 12pm – 8pm.
Posted in Free Stuff, Music
Tagged Art and Film, BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Dining, South End
Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend
Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival (Sept. 15 – 25th)
Yesterday the 10th annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival kicked off. This year’s festival pays tribute to the music and culture of New Orleans. The 10-day event culminates a week from this Saturday (Sept 25) with a free outdoor festival on three stages that stretches over six blocks in my neighborhood, The South End. Last year’s event drew over 80,000, so put the date in your calendar and if you’re a jazz enthusiast check out their website for events this weekend.
Red Bull Art in Motion (Saturday 4:30 – 9:00pm)
Hard to describe and fascinating to watch. Check out this free event coming to Boston Saturday afternoon down at Government Center. Looks very cool and is certain to draw a lively crowd.
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Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend
Not heading to Cape Cod? Don’t have any invitations to the Vineyard or Nantucket? Friends aren’t showing any love and inviting you down to Newport, RI? No worries – its actually going to be a bit cool (low 80s / high 70s) so hang out in Boston where there is plenty to see and do.
This weekend the North End will be flooded with tourists checking out the annual Fisherman’s Feast. This year happens to be the 100th anniversary of the feast which includes the procession of the Madonna through the streets of the North End. Details about the feast and its origins which trace back to the 16th century in Sicily can be found in the link I included.
If you want something more low-key tonight you can picnic by the Hatch Shell and watch the WBZ Free Friday’s Flick which starts at 6:30pm. Tonight’s movie is ET. However, if getting down to the Esplanade that early is not going to work or you’d rather skip ET, you can go to the Boston Harbor Hotel at 8:00pm to see their Movies by Moonlight series. Tonight they will be showing, Tootsie.
And although I’ve already mentioned this, Shakespeare on the Common continues, with performances starting at 8pm near the bandstand on the Boston Common. Performances conclude this Sunday, August 15th.
Free Shakespeare on the Common performances in Boston start next week
The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. performances of Othello will start one week from tonight on Wednesday, July 28th. More than 75,000 people are expected to attend one of the 16 free performances, which will take place by the Parkman Bandstand on the Common.The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. consistently turns out excellent performances for everyone to enjoy and I’m looking forward to see this year’s production. Othello is one of my favorite dramas. Its themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal always keep me on the edge of my seat.
I hope even more than the projected 75,000 people come to enjoy an evening of Shakespeare under the stars. Bostonians are lucky to have so many great cultural events that are free and so accessible. Just a few weeks ago the Boston Pop’s 4th of July Celebration and fireworks garnered national attention. Now Bostonians can come to the Common to see the Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. performances, which run July 28 – August 15 (Tuesday thru Saturday @ 8pm – Sunday @ 7pm).
Spring 2010 SoWa Art Walk
Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend
Boston has vibrant downtown neighborhoods that come to life on each weekend during the warmer months when you can venture outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Thus far, the weather in 2010 has been less of a nemesis and more of a friend. This weekend Friday looks to be rainy, but Saturday and Sunday should be in the low 70s with plenty of sun; making it ideal for people who want to partake in the SoWa Art Walk.
Held each spring, this event draws thousands of people into the neighborhood to come and see the 200+ artists who exhibit their work. Studios will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 6pm. Need directions on how to get here or want to look at a map to see where the studios are located – link here.
If the art walk is not your thing, pay a visit to Boston’s most famous brewery, Sam Adams. Their summer brew is now on tap everywhere in the city, but you can sample it for free and see how it is made in their brewery in JP. It is fairly close to the Orange Line Stony Brook T stop, and you can drive and park for free on the weekends. The tour is free but a small donation is asked at the very beginning; proceeds go to a local charity. For more information about weekend hours call ahead, (617) 368-5080.
Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend
The first Friday of each month this group randomly takes over a traditionally straight bar and call it their own. Lines can get long with some nights drawing hundreds of guys. This Friday BGQB will be at Sanctuary in downtown Boston.
First Friday – SoWa Artist Guild
If the bar scene is not your thing, Friday, May 7th is the first Friday of the month which means the South End’s many artist galleries at 450 Harrison Avenue will be open to the public. Parking is plentiful and you can spend a couple of hours looking through some very unique galleries. If you get thirsty after all that walking there are several lounges and restaurants just steps away (sorry those are not free). This is a bit of a precursor to the SoWa Art Walk which will occur on Saturday and Sunday May 15 & 16 from 11:00am to 6:00pm, but I’ll write more about that next week.
Fort Point Channel open studios
Continuing with the ‘art’ theme, on Saturday and Sunday, the Fort Point Channel neighborhood which in many ways has become the ‘new’ South End is having their own art walk which will include 50+ artists and artisians. For those coming in from outside the city, there is free parking across from 249 A Street. Fort Point open studios is from 4-7pm on Saturday and from 12-5pm on Sunday. Visit, http://www.fortpointarts.org/ for more details.
The Boston Conservatory
The city of Boston conjures different images for everyone, but eventually education and more specifically colleges and universities come to mind. I have no idea, but I would guess there is not another city with as many institutions of higher education. Even someone like me who has lived in or near Boston for most of my life can not keep track of all the schools that call Boston home.
Last week I was sipping drinks with friends at Rocca when I was chatted up by two guys sitting next to me (make that yet another example of myth busting Boston’s cold reputation). As it turns out these friendly guys work at The Boston Conservatory. Now I’m familiar with several of Boston’s higher education institutions that are dedicated to The Arts, but this was one I was not.
Both guys rolled their eyes when I admitted this and suggested I check out the school’s website which I did today. The school is located in the Fenway and has all sorts of interesting programs the public (THAT’s YOU) can attend at little or no cost. Ever the one to identify Free Stuff to do in town, I thought I’d give The Boston Conservatory a huge shout out. You can check out their event calendar here.
Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend
Friday, February 5th is the first Friday of the month which means the South End’s many artist galleries at 450 Harrison Avenue will be open to the public. Parking is plentiful and you can spend a couple of hours looking through some very unique galleries. If you get thirsty after all that walking there are several lounges and restaurants just steps away (sorry those are not free).
On Saturday and Sunday right next to 450 Harrison Avenue on Thayer Street, sixty designers, artists and artisans are attending the 1st Annual Cabin Fever Indie Gift Show. According to the website, cabinfevershow.com, you can choose from all sorts of gift items. The show is put on by the people who run the South End’s SoWa Open market. I’m thinking of stopping by – they have asked that everyone pay $2 admission – which is nearly free (esp. when you consider parking is free). If you happen to be unfamiliar with the South End check out their website which provides directions.
"Othello" on the Common this Summer
Hub Arts blog has mentioned that Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will offer “Othello” as its 15th annual Shakespeare on the Common production in July and August 2010. I know that this is quite a ways off, but Othello is one of my all time favorite plays by Shakespeare and dreaming of a warm summer night out on the Common is a great way to escape the bitter reality that it is absolutely freezing in Boston just now.Exact dates and casting for the performances this summer have not been scheduled, but I’ll be certain to write more about this as the time approaches. Until then, I’ll use this trusty promo from the 1995 production which starred Lawrence Fishurne as Othello and Kenneth Branaugh as the despicable Iago.
Comcast Offering "The French Chef" Episodes for Free
Do you love cooking shows? Do you live in the Boston area? Well if so, you are in luck. The blog, Boston Restaurant Talk, has a post today indicating that Comcast has has brought a number of “The French Chef” episodes to their On Demand Service. Partnering with WGBH, the cable company is offering more than 20 episodes of this public television series for free through January 4, 2010. Julia Child’s “The French Chef” series first premiered in 1963 and lasted for 10 years. The series began two years after the release of her now-famous book “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” which was the centerpiece of the movie “Julie and Julia” a popular movie released in 2009.
BosGuy 