Category Archives: Free Stuff

Free Shakespeare on the Boston Common returns

Commonwealth Shakespeare CompanyOne month from today the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will open their nearly 3 week run of free Shakespeare on the Boston Common.  This year’s production will feature one of the Bard’s comedies: Love’s Labour’s LostThe play draws on themes of masculine love and desire, reckoning and rationalization, and reality versus fantasy.

Love’s Labour’s Lost
Directed by Steven Maler
July 20 – August 7, 2016
FREE and open to the public

I will write more about the free performances later this summer.  Please plan on coming down to the Boston Common one night with friends or maybe a special friend to enjoy the production directed by Steven Maler and the excellent cast.

Free summer workouts in Boston

The November Project Wednesday morning workout at Harvard

The November Project Wednesday morning workout at Harvard

Warmer weather in Boston means that staying fit is definitely cheaper. Group workouts are offered throughout the city weekday mornings and evenings and they are open to the public and free. Below are a few suggestions so get off your butt and check out one or more of these classes.

Esplanade and DCR Hatch Shell has many classes in the evening including Zumba every Tuesday, Yoga every Wednesday and CrossFit classes each Thursday, but note most of these classes do not begin until next month.

Frog Pond at the Boston Common is currently hosting yoga classes every Thursday at 6PM through September 1 by the carousel.  Bring your own mat and blocks if you can.

Post Office Square (a.k.a. Norman B. Levanthal Park) hosts morning and evening workouts that are free to the public.  Weekday workouts start daily on Monday, June 20th and include bootcamp, pilates, yoga and zumba. For the full schedule, please click here.

Rose Kennedy Greenway is hosting free boot camp classes every Wednesday at 6PM for all levels at the intersection for Cross and Hanover Street courtesy of Next Level Fitness.

November Project: Work out with a positive support group every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free workouts through the November Project.

Free Run Clubs in Boston are so plentiful it would be an entire post just listing all the clubs. Check out the link and pick a club that is convenient for you.

This post only lists a handful of the free fitness classes that will be available this summer. You can view and print the full Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series 2016 brochure here.

Donna Summer outdoor roller disco returns tomorrow

Boston, Together Boston, Donna Summer Roller DiscoTomorrow, Friday – June 19th, marks the return of Boston’s second annual Donna Summer outdoor Roller Disco at City Hall Plaza.

Friday, June 17th Boston hosts 3rd Donna Summer Roller Disco

More than 4,000 people come to this free annual outdoor party in Government Center. Skates are for rent, food is available for sale and of course there is some excellent music courtesy of DJ Kon.  Check out these photos from last summer’s Memorial Roller Disco to Boston native, Donna Summer. #HotStuff

BosGuy, Boston Guy

Join me at the Solidarity Through Pride champagne opening Thursday, June 2

Solidarity Through Pride at Alternative Art Space, Boston Pride

Champagne Opening, Thursday, June 2nd 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Alternative Art Space Gallery
60 Harrison Avenue, Suite 21C

Boston Pride Art Exhibit Solidarity through Pride

Lawn After Dark tonight is showing Fever Pitch

Fever Pitch at Lawn on D in Boston

8:15 pm – 10:00 pm | Lawn After Dark Movie Night: Fever Pitch

Don’t want the weekend to end? Head over to the Lawn on D this evening. To celebrate their opening weekend for the 2016 summer they will be showing Fever Pitch on a 40′ drive-in movie scree with a high-definition and concert grade sound system.  Popcorn and other movie snacks will be available for purchase.

Link here for more information

Lawn on D in Boston opens this weekend

Lawn on D BostonOne of Boston’s most popular parks is opening for the summer season this weekend, starting Saturday, May 21st.

Tom, a.k.a. @BostonTweet, snapped this photo earlier this week and posted it on Twitter with the caption, “The swings on @LawnonD are all set for opening day on Saturday“.

Source: BostonTweet

Source: BostonTweet

More details about the programming they have scheduled for their opening weekend is available on their website or on Facebook here.

SoWa First Friday

Sergio models for SoWa artist, Tom Ouellette at 450 Harrison Ave #208

Sergio models for SoWa artist, Tom Ouellette at 450 Harrison Ave #208

Friday, May 6 is SoWa First Friday, a monthly event that celebrates our community of artists and those who love art. The monthly celebration is free and open to the public and includes more than 20 galleries and 60 studios, that stay open from 5-9 PM with most of the participating galleries and artists located at 450 and 460 Harrison Avenue in the SoWa district of the South End.

If you’ve not been recently or if you are looking for something to do this Friday, come by after work to admire the local talent and to show your support for the local artists and galleries. There is something for everyone including fashion designers showcasing their latest garments, sculpture, abstract art and more.

For more information about the participating art galleries link here, and link here for more information about SoWa First Friday’s.

"Brain Wash" by Federico Uribe made from shoelaces and pins at Adelson Galleries Boston

“Brain Wash” by Federico Uribe made from shoelaces and pins at Adelson Galleries

GALVIN-ized Headwear at 450 Harrison Avenue

GALVIN-ized Headwear at 450 Harrison Avenue

Abigail Ogilvy Gallery at 460 Harrison Ave #C7

Abigail Ogilvy Gallery at 460 Harrison Ave #C7

SoWa First Friday art painting

Jaqueline Cedar exhibit: Be real at Steven Zevitas Gallery at 450 Harrison Ave.

The South End / SOWA markets open today

South End and SOWA Open Market Map 2
South End Open Market and the SOWA Market are separated by 3 blocks and keep similar hours 10 AM – 4PM. Both markets will also operate every Sunday through the end of October 2016 so come down and check them out.

Below are some details about the two markets that I pulled from their websites and recent emails.

The SOWA Market 
• Over 80 talented, carefully selected artisans are located in the parking lot at 450 Harrison Avenue / 365 Albany Street.
• Food Market with over 50 vendors as well as a “Farmers Table”, where vendors will cook their products to order. Located in the parking lot at 500 Harrison Ave.
• Over 15 of Boston’s Food Trucks and a new beer and wine garden will be set up nearby at 540 – 560 Harrison Avenue.

For more information link here.

The South End Open Market
• The Arts Market will feature over 100 local vendors.
• Food Truck Market will have 15 food trucks for you to try.
• Farmers’ Market will include 60 vendor stands every Sunday.

For more information link here.

Street pianos will return to Boston in September

pianoIn September 2013 seventy-five pianos were installed in public locations across Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville for anyone to play.  The “Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours” public piano installation was to commemorate the 75th season of the Celebrity Series of Boston.

Earlier this week The Celebrity Series of Boston reported that the popular art installment Play, Me, I’m Yours will return to Boston this fall (September 23-October 10, 2016). This time, sixty pianos will be decorated by local artists and spread across every neighborhood in Boston and select Cambridge locations.

However, before the pianos hit the streets of Boston, each piano will become a piece of visual art, created by a local artist. Celebrity Series is asking visual artists of all backgrounds, artistic abilities and mediums to apply to decorate one of the sixty pianos that will be available to the public this fall. Artist applications will be accepted through May 25 at streetpianosboston.org.

Provincetown art galleries

Jay Ho Gallery, Provincetown

Artwork by Chris Lopez

Several of Provincetown’s galleries are opening – a sure sign of spring here in New England.  Tomorrow, April 2 the Jo Hay Gallery at 167 Commercial Street across from Joe’s Coffee is hosting their Grand Reopening for the 2016 season from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The above image by artist Chris Lopez is just one example of the artists the gallery will be showcasing this season.

For more information about the gallery and to stay up to date with their latest shows, like their page on Facebook, here.

This spring check out Boston’s Walk To The Sea

Norman B. Leventhal Walk, Boston historyNearly everyone is familiar with The Freedom Trail. The 2.5 mile (mostly free) route that showcases Boston’s role in the American Revolution is written up in every guide book about the city but many remain unaware of the interesting and completely free 1 mile walk called Walk to the Sea

Starting at the State House in Beacon Hill and concluding in Boston Harbor, this 1-mile walk encompasses four centuries of history and only partially overlaps with the better known Freedom Trail. The Walk to the Sea website does a nice job showcasing the sites of interest as well as a map you can use on your phone or download and bring with you.

Are you planning a trip to Boston or are you new to the city? Reach out to me, and I’d be happy to provide some suggestions on what to see and do.

Boston Chops burger party Sunday, March 20

Boston ChopsOne of my favorite restaurants in Boston has just ensured that I’ll be stopping by on Sunday night when they serve their absolutely delicious hamburger (free of charge) at the bar starting at 10PM on Sunday, March 20th.

For those who will be out enjoying Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, pace yourself, and I’ll see you at the bar at Boston Chops.

Red Bull Flugtag event comes to Boston

IndiaThat event where teams try to fly but usually fail with flair.

Red Bull announced earlier this week that for the first time in its 25 year history the spectacle known as, Red Bull Flugtag would come to Boston this summer.

On Saturday, August 20th in front of thousands of onlookers a lucky few will attempt to fly but more likely end up taking a plunge as they take off from the DCH Hatch Shell.  The goal is to break the 258-foot distance record set back in 2013 in Long Beach, CA.  Hopefully the brain power from smarty-pants at places like Harvard and M.I.T. combined with strong winds can help lift one Boston team to beat the record.

Applications are officially open, with a submission deadline of May 13. Teams of five will be selected by June 2 to compete.

8th Annual Chocolate Festival

Back Bay Chocolate Walking TourIf you love chocolate then you need to get yourself to Harvard Square this weekend. Arrive on the early side for The Chocolate Festival’s free tasting on Saturday, 1-2PM on Brattle Plaza (in front of Crema Café at 27 Brattle Street) for chocolate treats from many of Harvard Square’s finest purveyors including Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot Candy, Crema Café, J.P. Licks and Toscano to name a few.

More details about this fun, free event is available here.

MFA Boston open and free to public on MLK day

MFA Art of the Americas wing opensEnjoy free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and surround yourself with art, culture and community. With the weather outside so cold, come and check out Boston’s largest museum and lose yourself for an hour or two. You may be surprised by what you find and how much you enjoy visiting.

More information about the MFA and their hours on MLK day, here.