Can you believe it’s Friday? It’s been quite a long week, so we’re jumping with joy. Plus, we love holiday weekends – especially this one since it marks the beginning of BBQ season. Here are a few fun ideas for the long weekend ahead:

Museum Hopping. The forecast is looking a bit dismal, but don’t let that get you down! We have such incredible museums in Boston and there are a few exhibits we’re really jazzed about right now. If cool ancient history is your thing, be sure to check out the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Museum of Science. The Museum of Fine Arts is hosting a Memorial Day Community Weekend by offering free admission and a plethora of really great events to celebrate Boston and support efforts of The One Fund.

Get Into the Rhythm. It’s not too late to take in some good music at Boston Calling, a two-day music festival taking over City Hall Plaza this weekend. VIP tickets are still available through their site. We’d love to see Of Monsters and Men perform.

Remembering the Reason. Long weekends are amazing and it can be easy to get swept away in the fun of it all. It’s important to remember the symbolism behind the holiday and pay tribute. We love strolling through The Commons to see all the American flags rooted in the grass. If you are interested in attending a Memorial Day event, here’s a list of observances across the city.

Play with Fire. We’ve always wanted to check out Diablo Glass School. If you are looking to dip your toes in slowly, stop by Diablo tomorrow evening for wine and cheese – along with a glassblowing demonstration.

An Evening Away. Have you been to a WaterFire in Providence before? We love the beauty and contrast of the barges alit against the water’s reflection. There’s always a great crowd, delicious food, and a contagious summer vibe. This weekend marks the first WaterFire of the season. Sure, Providence may not be in Massachusetts, but it’s so close and absolutely worthwhile for the WaterFire alone.

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It’s no secret that we love the Fort Point neighborhood – great art, great coffee, new restaurants to try, and so many other wonderful things. Through the end of this month, an exhibition of artist Ari Hauben‘s work is one more reason to come to Fort Point. Hauben, who is also a Boston Public School art teacher, has brought together pieces that react to the increasing standardization in schools. Titled ”Above the Standard (an education in the art of Mr. Hauben),” the show is an immersive experience. Some of the floors have been plastered with layers of multiple choice answer sheets that the visitors slowly wear down as they walk on them. In a corner of the room, the forms of two children perch above the space, ripping up tests and letting them fall. While some pieces, such as drawings on the wooden desk tops used in public schools, directly relate to the theme of education, others touch upon various aspects of society, including the economy, politics, and the environment. The thought put into each piece is apparent – for example, images of old warehouses are constructed using newspaper stories about unemployment, resin, and spray paint, inviting the viewer to take a closer look. We are glad we did.

Above the Standard (an education in the art of Mr. Hauben). Open to the public until June 1, Thursday-Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 12-6 pm, Sunday 12-5 pm. 50 Melcher Street, Boston (corner of Melcher and A Street).

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If there’s something we love – it’s learning and trying new things, beer included!

The 6th annual American Craft Beer Fest, hosted by BeerAdvocate and Harpoon Brewery, is the east coast’s largest celebration of American craft beer. This multi-day event features more than 600 craft beers from over 140 brewers. As always, this annual event is a big hit, and is almost all sold out – so get your tickets fast for Friday evening before they are all gone.

If you aren’t able to attend on Friday evening, consider stopping by the pre-throwdown celebration at Stoddard’s on Thursday, May 30 at 6pm. Additional info can be found here.

Hoppy drinking!

American Craft Beer Fest, Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, May 31-June 1, $47.50 plus processing fee, 21+. To purchase tickets, please go here and for more information, be sure to visit BeerAdvocate’s website.

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Gardening season has arrived! We are grateful for the abundance of community and shared gardens in Boston. We love gardening for many reasons – the fresh vegetables, the smell of dirt, and herbs for cooking and garnishing! In our opinion, nothing beats a tall glass of fresh lemonade topped with basil, or a delicious cocktail with a fresh twist.

This weekend, South Boston’s Social Wines is setting up a Community Cocktail Herb Garden with South Boston Grows. The herbs will be complimentary for all customers of Social Wines with a small suggested donation to support South Boston Grows.

We can taste the mojitos already!

Image Credit: Natalie Chassaigne Kurtzman

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While we love to be fashionable, we have to admit that we love comfort even more. The best of both worlds is when soft and luxurious fabrics also make us look good! We found plenty to tempt us at the recent opening of Peruvian Connection on Newbury Street. The new location is one of only seven brick-and-mortar shops for the brand, although in it’s more than 35 years it has accrued throngs of devoted fans online.

The Peruvian Connection started when Annie Hurlbut, an anthropology student researching women’s roles in the Andean markets of Peru, became fascinated by the exquisite handwoven textiles sold at the markets. Annie and her mother realized that there was demand for these beautiful pieces in the United States, and began importing a small collection of textiles which they sold through high-end department stores and by catalog. The business has grown, and so has the range of offerings, however the central thread continues to be artisan-made clothing in native Andean fibers such as alpaca and Pima cotton. Check out the shop the next time you stroll Newbury Street!

Peruvian Connection, 170 Newbury Street, Boston. Open Monday-Friday 10 am-7 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday 12-5 pm. Phone: 857-753-4546. 

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A few weeks back, we took a day trip to Cuttyhunk Island, part of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. It was a brisk, cool day and the ferry just opened for the season. There’s something about fresh chowder, the salty sea breeze, and being on the open water. Plus, there were seals!

Cuttyhunk is a quiet place with only fifty-two year-round residents! There are no restaurants on land and certainly no bars, either. We totally loved that, though – the laid back, simple vibe was refreshing. We hope to go back at some point over the summer. It will certainly be interesting to see how vibrant the community becomes!

Have you been to Cuttyhunk before? What was your favorite part of the scenic island?

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Between yesterday’s humidity and the upcoming holiday weekend, there’s no doubt about it: summer is in the air. Although many people tend to jet out of town during the summer months (and we do, too, from time to time), there’s an abundance of events (and many free!) taking place all throughout the city and surrounding area. Boston is a wonderful place to be in the summer, that’s for certain.

The variety of festivals and outdoor splendor that enlivens Boston in the summer months is so wonderful. We’re already saving the date for several upcoming events, including the 6th Annual Boston Handmade Marketplace. We love finding gifts for a dear friend – and even better when local and handmade.

The Somerville Arts Council and Boston Handmade teamed up to create the Boston Handmade Marketplace, where more than twenty local artists and craftspeople sell handmade jewelry, ceramics, fine art, paper goods, and plenty more. They also invite arts organizations and craft studios, who represent an array of media and neighborhoods across the area.

If you’re in town, be sure to get out there and support this vibrant community of local artists and independent business owners.

6th Annual Boston Handmade Marketplace, Union Square (intersection of Washington, Prospect & Somerville Ave.), Somerville, July 13, 3-7pm, with a rain date of July 14. For additional details, please visit Boston Handmade online.

Image Credit: Boston Handmade

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The warmer months in New England bring about a multitude of amazing activities – whether it be a picnic, eating lobster along the shore, or cozying up with a book in grassy knoll. But our favorite of all? The farmers market. We love fresh food, flowers and breezy afternoons. Although you can get fresh, local produce throughout the year, it’s just not the same as roaming around one of the many outdoor markets that spring upon New England come May.

Many local markets are dusting off and opening for the season this week. To find a market by you, please visit the Mass Farmers Market website.

Image Credit: Natalie Chassaigne Kurtzman

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Hooray, the weekend is here! Here are a few of our picks for the next few days:

Flash Forward. This weekend, we hope to check out Flash Forward Festival Boston, featuring emerging photographers from the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Free and open to the public, the festival is hosted by the Fairmont Battery Wharf. The events includes indoor and outdoor exhibitions,including an installation on the Harborwalk, lectures, and nightly events.

Somerville’s Art Market. Strolling a market for handmade crafts and sampling dishes from Boston’s growing food truck scene are two of our absolute favorite ways to while away the weekend. Now in addition to the always amazing SOWA Open Market on Sundays, we can peruse the unique offerings of Assembled: The Handmade Arts Market in Somerville on Saturdays. We are so excited to check this newcomer out – the first market is this Saturday!

Treasure Hunting. Take advantage of the nice weather this weekend to get out of the city – the Brimfield Antique Market continues this weekend, and promises to be full of hidden treasures!

New Shades. All the spring sun in the forecast is further reason to stop by the new Warby Parker store, opening today on Newbury Street! We love their glasses for so many reasons, and the sales people can help even the most indecisive shoppers (that’s us!) find the perfect pair.

HarpoonFest. Harpoon is throwing a party this weekend! Celebrate local beer, local music, and summer at HarpoonFest, Friday from 5:30-11pm, and Saturday from 2-9 pm. More details on the event website.

Burger and Brews. Support music education for Boston Youth at this House of Blues event tonight, starting at 7:30 pm. Enjoy beer from Nantucket’s Cisco Brewers, burgers from Boston restaurants, a silent auction and more.

Do you have an upcoming event that you’d like to see listed on The Weekender? To be considered, send us a note at info@thebostondaybook.com. Have a wonderful weekend! xo

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The Dead Sea Scrolls came to light during the 1940s, found by a shepherd hidden in a cave along the shores of the sea. The scrolls, which had not been seen for 2,000 years, include the oldest known texts of the Bible, along with other contemporary writings. The Dead Sea Scrolls: Life in Ancient Times exhibit, opening Sunday at the Museum of Science, is an amazing opportunity to be face-to-face with fragments of these priceless scrolls, one of the most important archaeological finds of the last 100 years. The writings are contextualized within a collection of antiquities from the area, including a fragment of Jeruselem’s Western Wall, ossuaries from the time, and more. We can’t wait to delve into this fascinating exhibit!

PS. For those really interested in the topic, check out this special event on Tuesday evening!

Dead Sea Scrolls: Life in Ancient Times. On view May 19-October 20. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. Special timed ticket required: adults $32, seniors $29, children $27, members $8. Tickets available online, or call 617-723-2500. Exhibit created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collections of the Israel National Treasures, produced by Discovery Times Square and The Franklin Institute. 

Photo Credit: Darryl Moran/ The Franklin Institute

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