Tag: Boston

Making Mother’s Day Memorable

The Flower of the Dark Side (Happy Mother's Day!)

There are some truly remarkable people in this world, but very few people are more remarkable than the average mother. I mean when you stop and think about it, who in their right mind would spend nine months with a tiny little person kicking them, making them sick, and causing every sort of havoc possible to ensure that this same little person could do all of these things to both of his or her parents for the next 18 years? Now, I know what you’re thinking “when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.” However, if everyone focused on the downside and ignored the rewarding experience that parenting can be, none of us would be here. As a result, the powers that be have designated this Sunday as Mother’s Day to recognize all of the women who have sacrificed a portion of their lives and/or their sanity to make sure that we are here to celebrate the occasion.

And, if you are looking for a way to celebrate, here are a couple of ways that you can make this Mother’s Day truly memorable. First, if you’re a relatively new mother or the mother of a young child and you’re looking for a way to celebrate mother’s day with your family, you may want to head over to Boston Common this weekend. This is because the Friends of the Public Garden are hosting Duckling Day, which is sponsored by the Motor Mart Garage, from 10:30 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. on Sunday (May 11, 2014.) This celebration of the famous book by Robert McCloskey, “Make Way For Ducklings, will feature clowns, a dramatic reading of “Make Way For Ducklings”, a duckling parade, face painting, magicians, music, puppet shows, play equipment courtesy of Knucklebones, and a whole lot more. In fact, there will even be massage therapists standing by to offer free massages to all of the moms out there that are looking for a chance to unwind. For more information on Duckling Day or to register for the event, please visit the Friends of the Public Garden Events page.

Secondly, if your mom is a big fan of flowers (specifically lilacs) and you’re looking for something that your mother would love, Arnold Arboretum may have the perfect way to make this Mother’s Day memorable. This is because the Arnold Arboretum is hosting Lilac Sunday this Sunday (May 11, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This daylong celebration will allow you and your family to eat, drink, partake in family-oriented activities, see more than 170 different kinds of lilacs, and more. For more information on Lilac Sunday, please visit the Arnold Arboretum News and Events page.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Catch the Rabbit!

Stormtroopers Hunting the Easter Bunny

Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The White Rabbit. There has never been a shortage of hard-to-catch bunnies. However, the most elusive rabbit of all has to be the Easter Bunny. In fact, when you stop and think about it, the Easter Bunny has to be one of the fastest rabbits that has ever “lived” because how many other people or animals (other than Santa Claus) can make it all the way around the world in one night to leave goodies for children everywhere? Fortunately, if your children are desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny this year or at least desperately hoping to grab some of his candy, here are some of the places where you may be able to locate this mysterious lagomorph this weekend.

First, if you’re planning to be in the city of Boston with your kids tomorrow (April 19, 2014), you should definitely head over to Faneuil Hall. Faneuil Hall is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt with eggs spread all throughout the marketplace from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. This event will allow you and your kids to search for eggs filled with candy and toys and two golden eggs that, if you can find them, will earn you a pile of gift cards to stores throughout the marketplace. Best of all, this event is completely free, and there will be additional prizes awarded to the children that find the most eggs. For more information on the Easter Egg Hunt at Faneuil Hall, please visit the Faneuil Hall Marketplace Events page.

Secondly, if you really want to go to Faneuil Hall, but you’re just not going to be able to make it by 10:00 A.M. or your kids are a little too old for Easter Eggs hunts (or, at least, they think they are), Faneuil Hall has a number of other events this weekend, including a Spring Sidewalk Sale and a Free Spring Concert by the Sugarbabies Band and Reverse Order tomorrow (April 19, 2014) from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. For more information on the Spring Sidewalk Sale, the Free Spring Concert, and/or other events at Faneuil Hall, please visit the Faneuil Hall Marketplace website.

Finally, if you really don’t have any interest in going into the city with your kids or you’re just looking for something a little closer to home, here are some of the other Easter Egg Hunts in the Boston area this weekend:

Tufts Park in Medford, MA at 1:00 P.M. on April, 19, 2014
The Harvard Coop in Cambridge, MA at 2:00 P.M on April 19. 2014
Bass Pro Shops in Foxborough, MA at 2:00 P.M. April 19 & 20, 2014
Mall Tots at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, MA from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. today (April 18, 2014.) (This event is for children under the age of 5.)

Photo credit: homard.net / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

2014 New Year’s Eve Events

First Night Ice Sculpture

A

As 2013 draws to a close, many people have already begun the age old tradition of reflecting on the past 365 days, deciding that they may have not been as good as they had originally anticipated, and hoping beyond hope that the next 365 days will be better.  However, if you’re one of the unfortunate souls who truly had a rough year (perhaps even one for the history books), you may be focusing more on the celebration that lies ahead than the events that took place during 2013.  Fortunately, if this is indeed the case, you’re in luck because there is certainly no shortage of events in the Boston area when it comes to First Night and the New Year’s celebration that accompanies it.

In fact, if you’re looking for something to do with your family to celebrate the New Year before the party gets too out of control, you may want to head on over to the Hynes Convention Center on Tuesday.  The Hynes Convention Center is hosting the First Night Boston Family Festival from 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on New Year’s Eve.  This festival is intended to allow younger children to ring in the new year a little early with circus trainers (yes, your kids can learn all the skills they need to run away with the circus), comedians, dancers, face painters, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and everything else that an adult could think of to keep a young child entertained (because, let’s face it, children are constantly coming up with ways to keep themselves entertained that we would never think of.)  For more information on the First Night Boston Family Festival, including times for each act, please visit the Official First Night Boston website.

If, on the other hand, you’ve had quite enough of your family for one year and would really like one night without them, you may want to consider attending Timeless: A Bond Evening.  Synergy Events is hosting the 6th Annual Timeless Gala from 8:30 P.M. on New Year’s Eve to 2:00 A.M. on New Year’s Day at the Colonnade Boston Hotel.  This black tie event will allow you to unwind with other adults in the 21 to 39 age range, Miss USA title holders, contestants for next year’s Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and a wide assortment of other interesting individuals while you dance the night away to music from some of the best DJs around.  Best of all, the whole evening has a James Bond theme, so you may be able to win some great prizes or, at the very least, score an awesome picture with your significant other by wearing your best James Bond suit or best Bond Girl dress.  For more information on the event and/or to order tickets, which are selling out fast, please visit the Timeless Gala Eventbrite website.

Photo credit: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism / Foter.com / CC BY-ND

Friday Fun: Race for a Good Cause

Have you ever wanted to feel what it was like to drive a race car or run like a cheetah? Have you ever wanted to race down the middle of the street or another area where racing is usually frowned upon without getting in trouble? Have you ever thought about turning a corner so fast that you leave everyone behind you in the dust? Well, if you answered “yes” to any and/or all of these questions, you may be in luck because there are a couple of events this weekend that will not only allow you to demonstrate your racing prowess but will also allow you to experience a warm, fuzzy feeling whether you win or lose.

First, the Boston Police Athletic League (PAL) is hosting the 5th Annual Boston PAL Grand Prix tomorrow, September 21, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event, which takes place in the Seaport District of Boston, is a team go-cart race in which members of each team of six will take turns driving through a street course that is designed to mimic a Formula 1 race track. However, the race track is not the only thing designed to mimic the Formula 1 experience, as the go-cart that each team will drive is said to handle in much the same way as an F1 race car. In fact, each go-cart will allow racers to soar by their families and friends at speeds of up to 45 mph. Fortunately, any friends and family that are a little squeamish at the thought of watching their loved ones race around the track, let alone driving it themselves, will have plenty of face painting, balloon animals, food, drinks, and other activities to keep them busy at the Grand Prix carnival. Best of all, all of the proceeds from the event will go to help pay for PAL’s youth programs. For more information on the 5th Annual Boston PAL Grand Prix and/or to register for the race, please visit the Boston Police Athletic League’s website or call 1-617-699-7099.

Secondly, if you’re more interested in a race that allows you to put your feet to the test than your driving skills, the Franklin Park Zoo may have the answer. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting the Run Wild 5K on Sunday, September 22, 2013. This race, which begins promptly at 8:30 a.m., features a 3.1 mile course that will allow runners to race through the zoo, Franklin Park, and White Stadium. Then, once the race is over, everyone 21 or over is invited to join their fellow runners for a “wild” party with drinks, music, games, and more. For more information on the Run Wild 5K or to register for the event, please visit the Race Menu website.

Friday Fun: Maritime Festivals and Movies

As the summer begins to wind down, it is usually a lot harder to find interesting things to do with your family. In fact, if you’ve been looking for something to do this weekend, you may have already realized that unless you consider barhopping to be a family activity, finding something that kids and parents alike will enjoy is quite a challenge. Fortunately, there are a couple of events going on in the Boston area and north of Boston this weekend that almost everyone will enjoy.

First, if you’re a big fan of antique boats or you simply like the sea, there is a festival in Salem, MA that you won’t want to miss. This festival, which is known as the Antique & Classic Boat Festival, features artists, a boat parade, a craft fair, music, photographers, over 40 vintage boats, and more maritime stuff than you can shake a stick at (or perhaps an oar.) Best of all, the Festival is a great way to entertain the family without breaking the bank as it is only $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. For more information, please visit the By The Sea website.

Secondly, if your family is more interested in movies than they are in maritime history, the HatchShell in Boston may have the solution. Tonight, August 23, 2013, the HatchShell will be showing Oz The Great and Powerful as part of their “Free Flicks” summer series. The movie, which is absolutely free, will begin at sunset and will end approximately 2 hours later (the total run time is 130 minutes.) For more information on the event itself, please visit the HatchShell website. For more information on the film, which tells the origin story of the wizard from the Wizard Of Oz, please visit the Oz the Great and Powerful website.

Friday Fun: Music and Art Weekend

I don’t know how the weather’s been where you are, but for most people, it’s been one strange summer. In fact, it was over 100 degrees in some places last week with the sun shining so brightly that most people were desperately trying to get out of the sun before they burst into flames. However, this week, at least in the Northeast, it’s 60 degrees and so wet that everyone and everything from the flowers to the small scurrying creatures that are trying to hide under the petals would really like to see that big, bright ball of flame in the sky dry things out a bit. To be honest, it’s just one of those summers where no one can really decide what they want because no matter what they wish for, they end up trying to hide inside where it is cool and dry. Fortunately, if you’re really getting sick of hiding inside your stuffy house with your A/C cranked up or your windows closed so the rain doesn’t get in, you’re in luck because there are a couple of interesting events happening in the Boston area this weekend.

If you’re a big fan of the arts, you may want to check out Copley Square. The Boston Globe, Citizen’s Bank, and WGBH are hosting the 2nd annual Summer Arts Weekend, which runs from tonight, Friday, July 26th at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 28th. This festival, which celebrates art in all its forms, will feature a number of live performances by local bands and Grammy-winning musicians, panels with reality TV chefs, dancers, and a whole lot more. However, one of the best things about the Summer Arts Weekend is that almost all of the events are absolutely free. For more information on the festival, please visit the Summer Arts Weekend website.

If, on the other hand, you like your art to be a little more on the traditional side, Lowell may have exactly what you’re looking for this weekend. The City of Lowell, the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Lowell National Historic Park, the Lowell Festival Foundation, and the National Council for the Traditional Arts are hosting the Lowell Folk Festival from tonight, Friday, July 26th at 6:40 p.m. to Sunday, July 28th at 6:15 p.m. This traditional music and art festival features folk music, woodcarving, stone carving, and a whole lot more from both local and visiting artists and musicians. And, if all of this isn’t a good enough reason for you to attend, all of the events at the Lowell Folk Festival are completely free (you will have to pay for drinks, food, or merchandise if you want any of that though.) For more information on the Lowell Folk Festival, please visit the 2013 Lowell Folk Festival 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: President’s Day Weekend

The sun is shining in the Northeast, the weather’s getting warmer, and a good chunk of the 2+ feet of snow that was dumped on the Northeastern United States last weekend by a historic storm has already begun to melt. The only question now is what are you going to do with your newly found ability to go outside without becoming an ice sculpture or a snowman (or a snowwoman as the case may be.) Well, if you’re trying to find something to do this weekend but coming up blank, here are a couple of ways that you can enjoy the weather while it lasts.

First, if you’ve always wanted your own boat or just enjoy all things maritime, you may want to make your way to Boston this weekend. The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is hosting the 2013 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, February 16, 2013.) This show is the largest boating event in the Northeastern United States, and it features over 750 boats, including powerboats, sailboats, and skiffs. In fact, the Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show not only offers an impressive number of boats but also offers boating seminars, a couple of boating sweepstakes, displays, and almost every boating accessory that you can imagine. For more information on the Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show, visit the show’s website.

Secondly, if you’re really not into boats or you just really hate the water in general , you may want to investigate some of the President’s Day events that are going on throughout the weekend. Most areas have a number of events celebrating our founding fathers, famous presidents, and/or the history of the United States in general. This is especially true if you are in the area of Massachusetts, Washington DC or Virginia as Old Sturbridge Village, Mount Vernon, and a number of other similar landmarks in these areas will be holding special events and/or offering discounted or free admission.