Friday Fun: How to Beat the Heat

It may not officially be summertime yet, but the warm weather is definitely here. In fact, if you’re living in the Boston area or you’re planning to go just about anywhere in the Northeast this weekend, you’ll probably see temperatures in the mid 80’s to low 90’s. This means that while the weather may be perfect if you’re planning to spend a few hours outside, it’s going to be pretty hot if you’re planning on doing anything other than sitting or swimming. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to entertain your family without succumbing to the heat, there are some upcoming events that are conveniently located in air-conditioned buildings (or somewhere with a cool ocean breeze.)

The first place that you may want to check out if you’re looking for a way to beat the heat this weekend is the Boston Sailing Center. The Boston Sailing Center is offering free sailing cruises from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1st. Each of these cruises will typically last approximately 20 to 30 minutes and will give you the opportunity to either sit back and relax as you cruise down the waterfront or try your hand at steering the boat. For more information on the Boston Sailing Center’s Free Sailing Open House, please visit the Boston Sailing Center website.

The second place that you may want to check out if you’re looking for a way to escape the heat this weekend is the New England Aquarium. The New England Aquarium is offering free admission to its IMAX theatre at 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 2nd. This means that you and your family will be able to see sharks, turtles, fish, and all of the other creatures that live in and around the coral reefs of the world (12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.) or more penguins than you’ve ever seen before (1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.) on one of the biggest screens you will ever see without paying a dime. For more information, please visit the New England Aquarium’s website.

The third and final place that you may want to check out if your kids are big fans of Harry Potter and you’re looking for somewhere cool to spend the day is the Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum of Fine Arts and Watson Adventures is holding a Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday. This event will allow kids ages 10 and up (even kids that are technically adults, but still kids at heart) to track down centaurs, dragons, giants, owls, unicorns, and other creatures and objects from the world of Harry Potter in the artwork of the museum. To find out more about the event or to register for it, please visit the Watson Adventures website.

Friday Fun: Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is a time to go outside, fire up the grill, and most importantly, honor the memories of all of the brave men and women who have given their lives to protect our way of life. Unfortunately, a lot of the activities that we typically associate with Memorial Day weekend are difficult to perform in poor weather. Let’s face it. Trying to fire up a grill or watch a parade is no easy task when the rain is pouring so hard that you look like a drowned rat as soon as you get out the door. As a result, many people are already trying to figure out what they are going to do if it really does rain all weekend. Fortunately, if you are one of these people and you’re more than a little concerned about the weather, there are a number of events occurring in the Boston area that will allow you to celebrate the holiday without getting too wet.

First, if you’re a big fan of art or just a big fan of Boston, you may want to check out the Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum of Fine Arts is not only offering free admission and discounts in the museum’s stores this weekend, but is also displaying a series of special exhibits that are designed to honor the City of Boston and show support for all of the people who were affected by the Boston Marathon bombing. In fact, the museum is planning to donate all of the money that it receives from on-site contributions this weekend to the One Fund to help the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and their families. For more information on the events happening this weekend at the Museum of Fine Arts, please visit the MFA website.

Secondly, if you’re a big fan of maritime history, you may want to head down to the USS Constitution Museum. The USS Constitution Museum is holding a series of special activities this weekend that are specifically designed to teach children and their parents what it was like to be a Marine or a Sailor aboard the USS Constitution. Some of the activities occurring at the museum this weekend include lessons on how to march, how to make an Officer’s Hat, the tools that Marines and Sailors had to use, and, for an additional fee of $2, how to build a ship. For more information on these events, please visit the USS Constitution website or call (617) 426-1812.

Finally, if a museum just doesn’t seem like a fun way to spend your Memorial Day weekend and music is more your thing, you may want to make your way over to Lexington. The Lexington Symphony is holding a special concert on Memorial Day to honor the 300th anniversary of the Town of Lexington. This concert will actually feature several never-before-heard pieces that explore freedom, the American Revolution, and a number of other patriotic themes. For more information, please visit the Lexington Symphony Website.

Friday Fun: Music Festivals and More

There’s no question that summer is rapidly approaching. The weather is getting warmer, the sun is staying out longer, and the house cats of the world are propelling themselves towards windows to get as close to the squirrels as they can. However, no matter what you consider to be the strongest indication that summer is on its way, one question still remains. How are you going to enjoy the nice weather this weekend? Well, if you’re looking for a way to get outside and enjoy the nice weather in the Boston area this weekend, here are some outdoor events that you should definitely check out.

First, if you’re a neo hippy (yes, you read that right) or you’re just into 90’s bands that no one’s actually heard of, you may want to check out Radio 92.9’s Earth Fest. Earth Fest is sort of like a modern day Woodstock in the fact that it gives the unwashed masses a chance to stand in a field all day and watch a whole bunch of different bands play for free. Fortunately, Radio 92.9’s version of Woodstock is a little more family friendly than the original as it features a number of bands specifically for kids in addition to the bands that are aimed at all of the people who were actually around in the 90’s. Earth Fest will open its doors at around 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the DCR Hatch Shell in Boston. For more information on Wood…err…Earth Fest, check out the Earth Fest website.

Secondly, if you’re not really into 90’s music or hanging around in one place all day, you may find Porchfest more to your liking. The Somerville Arts Council has a somewhat strange but incredibly creative tradition of encouraging all of its local musicians to hold concerts throughout the city on a specific day each year. This tradition is known as Porchfest because each concert is actually held on the front porch of one of the musicians performing there. As a result, if you are in the Somerville area on Saturday and you want to check out the largest and quite frankly one of the most bizarre collections of music you will ever hear, you may want to take a look at the webpage for this year’s Porchfest.

Finally, if you’re not really into rocking out, but you’ve always been a big fan of Japan, you may want to check out Japan Festival Boston. Japan Festival Boston is an annual celebration of all things Japanese, and it has more Japanese food, vendors, and performers than you’ll know what to do with. In fact, the entire festival is designed to mimic a traditional Japanese festival, so you can expect a truly authentic Japanese experience with a Boston feel. For more information on Japan Festival Boston, please visit the Japan Festival Boston website.

Friday Fun: Mother’s Day

This weekend, as you may already know, is Mother’s Day weekend, which means that it is a time to celebrate all of the things that your mother has done for you and a time to apologize for all of the trouble that you have caused over the past year. Unfortunately, you’ve probably already realized that it’s not always easy to come up with a way to honor the incredible amount of time, effort, and money that your mother put into raising you. In fact, finding a way to atone for all of the mischief you may have caused when were younger (or are still causing) can be even more difficult, and if you’re one of the fine, upstanding individuals who totally forgot about the holiday, you may be desperately seeking a way to demonstrate your respect for your mother this weekend. Fortunately, if you’re at a loss as to what to do for your mother this Mother’s Day, you’ll be happy to know that there a number of events specifically designed to honor your mother occurring throughout the weekend.

First, if your mother has a favorite museum or a favorite hobby that is related to one of the museums in your local area, you may want to look into taking her there. Many museums have special events and/or discounts this weekend specifically for mothers, and your mother may be able to get into the museum for free or at a large discount, view special exhibits, have brunch with other mothers, and/or take part in a bunch of activities specifically geared towards mothers and their children. Some of the museums in the Northeast offering special exhibits, brunches, and/or free admission to mothers this weekend include the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the Discovery Museums, the Providence Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Secondly, if your mother isn’t really a big fan of museums, but she likes animals, you may want to check out your local zoo or aquarium. A large number of zoos and aquariums offer free admission, discounts on food and gifts, and other special offers for mothers this weekend. In fact, mothers living in the Boston area can get into the Franklin Park Zoo, the Stone Zoo, and the New England Aquarium for free on Sunday (although your mother will have to go with someone purchasing a full-priced ticket to take advantage of the Aquarium offer.)

Finally, if all else fails, you can always take your mother to her favorite restaurant. A lot of restaurants offer a special brunch or other special meals for mothers this weekend, and these meals can be a excellent way to celebrate the holiday and get some great food. However, it is important to remember that these brunches can be pretty pricey, and they tend to fill up fast. As a result, it is always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation before you head over to the restaurant.

Friday Fun: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a day filled with music, food, and, for some among us, a little too much tequila. However, it is important to remember that there is a lot more to Cinco de Mayo than some interesting music and cuisine. In fact, Cinco de Mayo is not only a day for many individuals to celebrate their Mexican heritage, but also a day to celebrate the historical significance of the events that took place on that day. This is because the celebration of Cinco de Mayo marks a significant Mexican victory in the city of Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862.

At the time, the French, upon the order of Napoleon III, were attempting to invade and seize control of Mexico. Fortunately for the Mexicans and not so fortunately for the French, the French force of approximately 8,000 well-trained, well-equipped men were decisively defeated by approximately 4,500 Mexican soldiers near the city of Puebla. The French eventually returned with reinforcements and conquered Mexico, but the victory at Puebla delayed the French takeover by almost a year. This delay is significant because it not only inspired the Mexican resistance that eventually overthrew the French occupation, but also prevented the French from aiding the Confederacy during the American Civil War. As a result, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of events that are not only important to people in Mexico but also to people in the United States as well. This means that everyone can join in on the celebration, and if you would like to join in, you may want to check out some of these events this weekend.

First, if you’re in the Boston area and you’re looking for a new way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, you may want to check out one of the Cinco de Mayo cruises. Boston Fun Cruises and several other Boston-based cruise companies are offering special cruises to celebrate the 5th of May with plenty of music, food, and beverages on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. For more information on these cruises and other Cinco de Mayo events in the Boston area, check out Boston.com’s Cinco de Mayo event page.

Secondly, if you’re in the Washington D.C. area and you’re looking for a more family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday, you may want to check out the National Cinco de Mayo Festival. The National Cinco de Mayo Festival is an enormous fiesta that is held on the National Mall each year from noon to 6 P.M. on May 5th. This festival is filled with art, food, music, dancing, dance contests, children’s arts and crafts, and a whole lot more. Need more information? No problem. Just check out the website of the festival’s hosts, the Maru Montero Dance Company.

Finally, if you’re in the San Francisco area or the San Diego area, you may want to check out the Mission neighborhood in San Francisco or Old Town in San Diego. Both of these areas have some of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States, and you can expect to encounter Mexican beverages, dancing, food, music, jewelry, and more Mexican culture and history than you will see anywhere else outside of Mexico. To find out more about the celebration in San Francisco, check out the San Francisco Cinco de Mayo Festival website. If you’re looking for more information on the San Diego celebration in Old Town, on the other hand, you may want to check out the Old Town Cinco De Mayo Fiesta website.