5/9/14 ARTY FUN OF NOTE

It's outdoors time! The duckling parade is this weekend at the Garden, the Lilac Picnic for Mother's Day at the Arboretum (now with food trucks), the Swan Boats are floating, the days are right for hiking. But still, you need some AHT!

Screen Free Week

This continues into this weekend with nature sketching, storytelling, science and more free fun. Check out the rest of the line up

The Art of Science: Girls Day @ the MIT Museum

12-4pm at the MIT Museum.

Free with museum admission, it's Girl's Day! Meet MIT scientists and engineers and ask them what it's like to be a scientist, and participate in hands-on demos.

Fort Point Boston Open Studios

Today 4-7pm and Sat and Sun 12-5pm. Tour over 75 artist studios in one of the more vibrant arts areas of the city, free. There is also free parking thanks to Gillette/P&G in the parking lot at A Street and Binford Street (this is a new parking location, across the street from previous years). There are hands on activities and theater performances. Grab a map and get going! 

Oz with Orchestra

Check out the matinee of Oz with Orchestra for kids at the Symphony. The Boston Pops provides the soundtrack while you watch the 1939 version of the movie. 3pm Saturday and Sunday. Kids matinee tickets are half price (12 and under) if you call SymphonyCharge at 868-266-1200.

Dancing in the Street

Come see free dance performances all over Somerville in May and June. 

Music in the Calderwood Courtyard

Tickets for the summer concert series in the courtyard at the MFA are on sale now.

5/1/14 ARTY FUN OF NOTE

It's that time of the week where I attempt to inspire you to get out and have some arty fun. I'm in one of these events this week, so I'm keeping this short. There are two main events you should know about this weekend for more arty fun than you can handle:

ARTS FIRST at HARVARD

There are over 100 free events to take advantage of right in Harvard Square this weekend as part of Arts First. Just strolling through the square Saturday will be an event, with tons of performances happening out where your kids can dance and shout. Or, you can plan your Arts First days carefully: there's an app for that!

SOMERVILLE OPEN STUDIOS

Somerville is said to have more artists per square foot than anywhere in the country but Brooklyn. And Somerville Open Studios is one of the biggest open studio events in the country as a result. It is done really well, with excellent maps, free trolleys, pedicabs, and hundreds of artists studios open to the public for free, all weekend. You can go on a massive viewing binge, shop for particular gifts or art for your house or collection, fantasize about other people's studios, eat a lot of free snacks, and best of all, hang out with me in the Mad Oyster Studio building. While it is tempting to go to only the biggest of Somerville's many excellent artist buildings, don't miss the smaller ones and individuals as a result. Peruse the website and make a plan. Note that not all studio buildings are stroller-friendly, and you should keep an eye on your kids, but kids are welcome and often mightily inspired.