4 min read
Exhale’s arts and entertainment expert has curated Boston’s best weekend happenings, so you don’t have to.
It’s a Date!
Friday, Nov. 9
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Photo: Facebook
Cheese it! Bantam Cider’s Big Cheese & Charcuterie Party blends classic antipasto with innovative ciders
Celebrate the weekend with the best of all possible parties, Bantam Cider’s 5th Annual Big Cheese & Charcuterie Party. Head to Bantam’s Somerville taproom for an elaborate spread of hand-carved prosciutto, a variety of cheeses, and all the accoutrements your heart desires (yes, including tiny pickles). The first drink and all the food is included in the ticket price; subsequent drinks are $6.50 each.
Bantam Cider Company Taproom
7 pm–10 pm
$44/person
40 Merriam St., Somerville
30 Prospect St stop on the CT2 bus, limited street parking
Then What?
Photo: Vinay Umapathy/Facebook
Pony up: Eclectic pop band Lily and Horn Horse will perform at Hassle Fest
Walk 15 minutes to The Lilypad art space and lounge for Hassle Fest 10, an annual celebration of outsider culture, music, and art. Put on by BRAIN ARTS, a 501(c)(3) local volunteer-run nonprofit, the festival highlights independent music producers from around the country. Jam to music like Lily and Horn Horse’s fun, eclectic take on pop, which fuses electronic beats with horns, and check out The Lilypad’s current visual art installation by Dan Masi.
The Lilypad
7:30 pm–midnight
$15/person
1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge
Hampshire St at Cambridge St stop on the 91 bus, limited street parking
Friends Zone
Saturday, Nov. 10
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Photo courtesy of The Makery
Make it work! Revitalize your wardrobe at The Makery’s Eco Transformations workshop
Make Tim Gunn proud with your own Project Runway action at The Makery in Brookline. Its Eco Transformations workshop teaches you how to repurpose your old clothes into new and exciting pieces through alterations and creativity. Bring any garment you want to reuse and an open mind. If you choose an ambitious project, you can even schedule an additional session with the Eco Transformations teachers to make sure you get the perfect result.
The Makery
9 am–12 pm
$60/person
2 Sewall Ave., Brookline
Coolidge Corner T stop, limited street parking
Then What?
Photo: Facebook
Not throwing away my shot: Hamilton Restaurant & Bar offers Founding Father-themed cocktails
Walk five minutes to rest your weary sewing fingers at one of Brookline’s newest hot spots, Hamilton Restaurant & Bar. Named for the historic figure rather than Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical, Hamilton serves up Founding Father-themed cocktails that pack a serious punch. Each drink is rooted in history; for example, Alexander Hamilton himself preferred hot chocolate to liquor, so his namesake beverage incorporates Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur and chocolate bitters with bourbon. If only history class had been this stimulating.
Hamilton Restaurant & Bar
10 am–2 am
$12–$14 cocktails, $9–$14 appetizers
1366 Beacon St., Brookline
Coolidge Corner T stop, limited street parking
Then What?
No trip to Brookline is complete without a stop at the Coolidge Corner classic Brookline Booksmith. You can pick up one of our favorite local new releases from female authors or browse the discount tables for hidden gems. Don’t forget to pop into the used book cellar downstairs, which has over 25,000 volumes at bargain basement prices. The Booksmith is a dream even if you’re not a bibliophile; it’s got a magazine, paper goods, and gift selection to rival any big-box store.
Brookline Booksmith
8:30 am–11 pm
Books starting at $5
279 Harvard St., Brookline
Coolidge Corner T stop, limited street parking
Family Fun
Sunday, Nov. 11
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Photo: Facebook
Wearing Pucci? Dapper dogs will strut the runway at the BarkHappy Boston fashion show
Head to the South Shore Plaza with the kids for the cuddliest fashion event of the season: BarkHappy Boston’s charity doggy fashion show. That’s right, decked-out dogs walking the runway—and your own four-legged friend is invited to attend. In addition to an excess of cute puppy photo ops, tickets include treats for your pooch, free drinks, appetizers, and goody bags from Nordstrom (for the humans), coupons for ClassPass and Wine Sip Love, and digital shots by a professional photographer. Mom, dog, and kids will all leave happy.
Nordstrom South Shore Plaza
10 am–12 pm
$18/person
250 Granite St., Braintree
S Shore Plaza stop on the 236 bus, on-site parking
Then What?
Keep the day sweet with a stop at Montilio’s Baking Company. For more than 50 years the family-owned bakery has been bringing European-inspired sweets to Boston. It’s made inauguration cakes for Presidents Reagan, Nixon, and George H.W. Bush. Choose from a wide selection of goodies, including Patriots-themed cupcakes (‘tis the season), or go savory with a homemade pizza. If you’re in a rush, grab ready-to-eat stuffed shells to go.
Montilio’s Baking Company
7 am–8 pm
Pastries starting at $2
703 Granite St., Braintree
On-site parking
