Did you miss out on last week’s OtherWhere Market or are you looking for another Steampunk fix? Well, if the answer to either of these questions is yes, you’re in luck because it just so happens that the Watch City Steampunk Festival is scheduled to take place throughout Waltham from 9:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 7, 2016). This event will give you the opportunity to dress in your finest Victorian/Steampunk garb (or come in your modern-day clothing if you lack the appropriate attire) and explore everything that the Steampunk genre and the Victorian era has to offer. In fact, if you decide to attend the festival, you will have the chance to experience a variety of activities aimed at children and adults alike, including artwork, blacksmithing, crafts, costuming, dancing, games, lectures, live performances, music, a parade, sword fighting, and way more than I could ever hope to list here. For more information on the Watch City Steampunk Festival, which is free and open to the public, please visit the Watch City Steampunk Festival website.
Category: Outdoor Events
Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure
Do you want to do something with your kids this weekend, but they’re a little too old for an Easter egg hunt? Have you always been a big fan of board games and/or the TV show, The Amazing Race? Are you planning to be somewhere in the Boston area this weekend? Well, if you answered yes to some or all of these questions, Urban Adventure Quest may have the perfect way for you to entertain your family this weekend.
This is because Urban Adventure Quest is hosting an Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. every Saturday from now until the end of the year. This event will take you on a two to three hour tour of Boston where you will have the opportunity to use your smartphone to figure out clues, carry out challenging objectives, and learn more about this incredible city that so many people call home. For more information on the Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure, which begins at Boston Common for approximately $50 a team of 5 or less (there are often promotional discounts and special offers available online for Urban Adventure Quest as well), please visit the Urban Adventure Quest website.
Photo credit: Vignesh Ananth via Visualhunt.com / CC BY
South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
Saint Patrick’s Day may have been yesterday, but if you were one of the unlucky souls that got stuck working late, don’t worry. The luck of the Irish may still be with you. In fact, it just so happens that the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day parade is scheduled to take place this Sunday (March 20, 2016) at 1:00 P.M. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the holiday a little late, heading to South Boston could definitely be a good call.
The parade, which will start at the Broadway T station on West Broadway and head east until it loops around to end on Dorchester Street right next to Dorchester Avenue and the Andrew T stop, will feature just about everything, including bagpipes, duck boats, drums, minutemen, Stormtroopers, and a whole lot more. Best of all, the event is completely free (unless your kids talk you into buying them all of that magnificent green swag.) For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day parade, please visit the South Boston Parade website.
Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk via Visual Hunt / CC BY
Celebrating a Lion’s Birthday
Today is actually my mother’s birthday, and while it is a special day for my family, it’s certainly not the only birthday this weekend. In fact, as you have probably guessed, there are a number of people both famous and not-so-famous who are celebrating their birthdays this weekend as well. However, if you don’t happen to know any of these people, you may be looking for a way to join in on the celebratory fun. Fortunately, if this is indeed the case and you are looking for a way to join in on all of the birthday fun even though it’s not your birthday, it just so happens that there are a pair of lions at the Franklin Park Zoo who are celebrating their birthdays tomorrow.
Dinari and Kamaia, who are actually brothers, are both celebrating their seventh birthday from 10:15 AM to 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, March 12, 2016). This celebration will allow you to see the lions playing with special birthday enrichment items, learn interesting facts about the lions, and sign a giant birthday card. Best of all, you will actually be able to enjoy a slice of birthday cake if you are one of the first 200 people to join in on the festivities. For more information on the Lion Birthday Celebration at the Franklin Park Zoo, which is included in the zoo’s normal admission price, please visit Zoo New England’s Special Events page.
Photo credit: Corey Leopold via Visualhunt.com / CC BY
Boston: The Home of Weird Weather and History
There are very few places on Earth where the weather can go from 55 and sunny to 27 and snowing within 48 hours, but Boston has always been one of them. In fact, it was this kind of weather that made it so hard for the pilgrims that first settled here to survive the long, harsh, and completely bizarre winters of New England. However, Boston is not only known for its strange weather but also for its rich history, and one of the most unfortunate events in Boston history actually occurred exactly 246 years ago tomorrow on March 5, 1770. This tragic event, which is known as the Boston Massacre, played a large role in beginning the American Revolution, but even though it was an infamous event at the time, it has largely been forgotten by textbooks and the average person alike.
Fortunately, if you would like to explore Boston’s history and learn about one of the key catalysts of the American Revolution, you’re in luck because it just so happens that there is a Boston Massacre Commemoration and Reenactment this weekend. This event, which is scheduled to take place from 11:00 A.M. to approximately 8:00 P.M. on the anniversary of the event (tomorrow, March 5, 2016), will allow you and your children to see what the daily lives of the citizens of Boston and British soldiers within Boston would have been like at the time, watch a reenactment of the trial of the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, and see a reenactment of the Massacre itself. Best of all, the event is completely free for children 18 and under and is completely free for adults with the exception of the trial (space for the Trial of the Century is limited, and admission to the trial is included in admission to the Old State House.) For more information on the Boston Massacre Commemoration and Reenactment, which will take place in and around the Old State House in Boston, please visit the Bostonian Society’s Old State House Events page.
Ice Skating at Boston Common Frog Pond
The weather’s starting to get warmer, which means that if you’re an ice skating fan, time is starting to run out. In fact, with spring right around the corner, this weekend could very well be your last chance to get on the ice before it all starts to melt. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a place to skate, there is probably no better place in the Boston area than the Boston Common Frog Pond. This is because from the end of November to the middle of March, the Frog Pond becomes one of the most popular outdoor ice skating rinks around. The Boston Common Frog Pond, which is open for skating from 10:00 A.M. to 3:45 P.M. on Mondays, 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. every other day of the week (weather permitting), is also relatively inexpensive. Best of all, skaters that are 57 inches or shorter can skate for free as long as they have their own skates (you can rent skates at the Frog Pond for a rate of $12 per day for adults and $6.00 per day for Children.) For more information on the Winter Ice Skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond, please visit the Boston Common Frog Pond’s Winter Programs page.
Photo credit: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism via Visualhunt / CC BY-ND
14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival
The big game is this weekend, and it’s definitely looking like it will be a game to remember even though the Patriots aren’t in it (I know. I feel your pain.) In fact, even if the Panthers/Broncos matchup doesn’t live up to all of the hype, it certainly appears that all of the performances and commercials that the NFL has lined up for Super Bowl 50 will make it a spectacle for the ages. However, if you have a loved one who isn’t really into football and you want to do something with them before the big game (perhaps so you can drag them to a Super Bowl party without feeling guilty), you may want to head over to Salem this weekend (especially if your loved one is a fan of sweets.)
This is because the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival is scheduled to begin at 6:30 P.M. tonight (Friday, February 5, 2016). This festival, which runs until Sunday evening (February 7, 2016), will feature 23 ice sculptures (weather permitting), discounted trolley rides (also weather permitting), and discounts at a number of locations throughout downtown Salem. As a result, if you’re looking for a great way to check out Salem or you’re just looking for a way to take your significant other out for the night without breaking the bank, the Salem So Sweet Festival is definitely the way to go. For more information on the 14th Annual Salem’s So Sweet Festival, please visit Salem’s So Sweet on Facebook or visit the Salem Main Streets website.
Photo via VisualHunt
The Cure for a Rough Week
Have you ever had one of those weeks where nothing seemed to go right? One of those weeks where everything that possibly could go wrong did in spite of how carefully you planned everything out or how hard you tried to make everything work? Well, if you have, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, people across the world have had similar experiences since time first began. However, if you’re looking for a way to forget about a rough week, I’ve always found that the best way to put a terrible week behind you is to find something amusing to do. And, by amusing, I mean funny, so if you’re looking for something funny to do this weekend, you don’t need to look any further than Boston Common.
This is because the Cardboard Tube Fighting League (yes, you read that correctly) is hosting a cardboard tube battle from 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. on Saturday on Boston Common. This event, which is completely free and open to the public, will allow you and anyone over the age of 5 to battle each other with cardboard tubes (like the rolls that wrapping paper comes on). All of the tubes for the battle will be provided by the League (to ensure that all of the tubes are safe to use), but everyone is encouraged to come in cardboard armor and/or costume. For more information on the Cardboard Tube Fighting League event on Boston Common, please visit the Cardboard Tube Fighting League – Boston Facebook page.
Photo credit: BuddaBoy via Visual hunt / CC BY-ND
Halloween in the Witch City
Controlled chaos is probably the best term to describe Salem on a Saturday Halloween. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s got to be a dictionary somewhere that has a picture of downtown Salem next to the term because on an average Saturday Halloween, you can expect there to be in excess of 150,000 people in the Witch City. Now, to put this into prospective, 150,000 people is over three times the number of people that actually live in the city on a regular basis. That’s a lot of people, and that number can be even higher when the weather is really nice. This means that if you live in Salem or you’re planning a trip to Salem on Halloween night, you need to be prepared to embrace the madness.
However, in order to truly embrace the madness, there are a few things that you need to remember:
1. Choose Your Costume Carefully
There’s never a shortage of people in costume in Salem during October, and Halloween is, without a doubt, the peak of the costume season. However, most people just go with the first idea that pops into their head, and they don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what they’re wearing. Unfortunately, the temperature in Salem on Halloween night can range anywhere from 35 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the year, so it’s always a good idea to have a costume with some layers (especially if you can easily remove some of those layers and throw them in your bag or your car when you realize it’s warmer than you thought it was.)
As a result, if you decide to dress-up like an Arabian princess, a Chippendale dancer, a gladiator, a mermaid, a naughty nurse, or some other similarly scantily-clad individual, you may find that it can be pretty cold on a chilly fall night. It’s also important to consider what emergency personnel may think of your costume if the unthinkable happens and you need medical attention because, trust me, the nurses at the local hospitals are not going to find your naughty nurse costume as entertaining as you do. In addition to considering the warmth and emergency implications of your costume, it is also important to make sure that you wear comfortable shoes (you’ll be doing a lot of walking), make sure that you do not have any weapons of any kind (real or fake because the city prohibits both costume and real weapons), and avoid long trailing items like capes or gowns (because they may get caught on things and trip you, trip other people, and/or just get torn to shreds.)
2. Take Public Transportation If You Can
As page 5 of the Haunted Happenings Guide states: “Traffic in October can be scary!” This is certainly true for Halloween and is especially true for a Halloween on a Saturday because, weather permitting, there will be somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 people trying to get into Salem tomorrow. This means that trying to drive into the city and find somewhere to park may be worse than and, quite possibly, more expensive than your worst nightmare. As a result, taking the Commuter Rail or the Salem Ferry can be a much easier way to enjoy Salem’s All Hallows Eve festivities because these services will allow you to avoid the traffic and the enormous parking fees.
If you feel like you have to drive into the city because public transportation just isn’t going to work for you though, try to come in early. The earlier in the day you come, the less traffic there will be.
3. If There’s Something You Really Want to Do In Salem, Book It Now!
The one thing that is absolutely, positively guaranteed on Halloween night, regardless of whether it is a Saturday or not, is that everything in Salem will be packed (unless the weather is horrible.) This means that if there is something that you really want to get into on Halloween night, try to see if you can get tickets for it now. Some places in Salem will not take reservations for Halloween night because they are guaranteed to fill up their seats from foot traffic alone. However, some places will take reservations and/or sell advance tickets, so it is always a good idea to see if you can book what you want to do now because it will give you a much better chance of getting into the restaurant or show that you want to check out.
Photo Credits
Hippie Girl Photo Credit: jramspott / Foter / CC BY
Broom Photo Credit: nanaow2006 / Foter / CC BY
Necronomicon Photo credit: liftarn / Foter / CC BY-SA
It’s Time for Some Hocus Pocus
I have lived in the area north of Boston for most of my life, but before I lived on the North Shore, I really didn’t know the Witch City all that well. In fact, I had come to Salem a fair amount as a teenager, but usually only for a day here or a day there during Haunted Happenings. As a result, when I first saw the Disney film, Hocus Pocus, I knew it was set in Salem, but I really had no idea how much of the film was actually shot in Salem. I figured some of it probably was, but I really didn’t know how much of it was because, quite frankly, I couldn’t identify most of the landmarks that were used in the film. This, of course, has changed by this point, and I can tell you (with some help from my wife) that most of the film was, in fact, shot in a studio in California. However, there is a good chunk of the film, especially the scenes that take place during the day, that were actually shot in Salem.
This means that if you are familiar with the area you can have some fun identifying the various locations that appear in the film, and if you know absolutely nothing about the area, you can at least enjoy the Salem ambience. Now, if you would like the opportunity to see the film that has become a local favorite and a cult classic throughout the world, you’re in luck because the final film of Magic 106.7’s 2015 Haunted Movie Series is Hocus Pocus. This, of course, is quite fortunate because it means that you can see the tale of three bumbling sisters who are accidently resurrected on Halloween night to spread mischief throughout the world 300 years after they were executed for witchcraft, and you can see it in the city that the film takes place in. Best of all, the film is being shown free of charge, so you won’t have to pay a thing (unless your kids compel you to buy everything in sight.) For more information on the free showing of Hocus Pocus, which is scheduled to take place on Salem Common tomorrow, October 24, 2015 at 8:00 P.M., please visit the Magic 106.7 Haunted Movie Series page.
Photo credit: Alan Light / Foter / CC BY