Savoring late summer

Dan Rios and Alycia Sacco star in the outdoor production of ''Romeo and Juliet'' at Gore Place in Waltham.

Say it isn't so. With Labor Day looming, summertime activities are winding down. But you don't have to trade the beach-towel mindset for a cardigan just yet. This week's events offer a chance to catch some of the last outdoor concerts, take a breezy art walk, savor the fruit and festivities at you-pick-'em farms, and take in a local production of free Shakespeare in the fresh air. Just grab your lawn chair and go.

ROMEO, JULIET, AND A BREEZE: One bench, one ladder, and the lush lawn of Waltham's Gore Estate are all that the Lonesome Coyote Theater Company needs. This new troupe presents a free, outdoor production of "Romeo and Juliet" tonight through Sunday at the historic Gore Street property, off Route 20, and they are keeping it simple for a good reason.

"We don't have costumes. The actors wear everyday clothes. We don't have special lighting. We just use a few flood lights. And we don't have a fancy set. It's just two pieces: a bench and a ladder," said director and troupe cofounder Jack Crory of Waltham. "We just present a simple, straightforward, minimal staging of the show, so people can really focus on the work of the actors, the story . . . and the beautiful poetry."

Having just a few props also makes it easy to keep a production free for playgoers, which is Lonesome Coyote's main goal. The group plans to stage one free Shakespeare play each summer in suburban locations, Crory said, and its first venue was an easy choice.

"I live in Waltham and love and visit Gore Place a lot. It's just such a beautiful place," said Crory. "And there's so much in the landscape we can use. Trees are always very good for Shakespeare."

The troupe is composed mainly of theater professionals, including Crory, who has directed well-received plays for Theatre Omnibus at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown. Stoneham Theatre regular Alycia Sacco and recent Fitchburg State theater graduate Dan Rios star as Juliet and Romeo. Cast members from area communities include Anthony Cascio and Amanda Brown, both of Waltham, and Chris Wrenn and Sam Dailey, both of Watertown. All, Crory said, are avid fans of the Bard.

"Shakespeare is something that's really necessary right now," said Crory. "In popular culture and in news and popular music and art, we've kind of lost the sense of what it means to be really articulate about feelings and the important themes of life, and Shakespeare is about as articulate and precise as you can be about the important things like love and family and death. So any chance we can get to perform it, we'll take."

"Romeo and Juliet" is being performed outdoors at 7 p.m. through Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday at Gore Place, 52 Gore St, Waltham. Free. In case of rain, call 978-314-6403; 781-894-2798; goreplace.org.

FLYING, WALKING ART: This weekend offers two opportunities to mix a late-summer walk with a little culture.

In Framingham's Nobscot section, the "Big Bugs" outdoor sculpture exhibition at Garden in the Woods continues with a Butterfly Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Stroll the flowering grounds to take in the giant insects by artist David Rogers, then drop your jaw in the meadows where the wildflowers and butterflies are in peak season.

"The meadow is spectacular this year. We're talking about 7- to 8-foot-high wildflowers, and everything is covered in butterflies," said spokeswoman Debra Strick.

Aside from a wealth of monarch butterflies and swallowtails flitting above the brilliant colors of swamp sunflowers, ironweed, and purple milkweed, activities for youngsters are plentiful - and, in some cases, unusual. Don't miss the caterpillar project, where you can actually hear these insatiable critters munching. "It's nature up close and personal," said Strick.

Meanwhile, the monthly summertime Natick Art Walk takes place tonight. Roughly 20 area artists will show their work, which will be on display in businesses and studios downtown, at the crossroads of routes 27 and 135.

Young area musicians will provide entertainment in some venues, and free snacks will abound. The works on display will include painting, pottery, metalwork, stained glass, jewelry, sculptures, and mixed-media.

"It's just an excellent summer evening activity," said Deborah Parrit, speaking for the event's organizer, the Natick Center Associates. "Everything's within just a few blocks walk and there's a real festival atmosphere."

Butterfly Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham. Admission: $8; seniors, students $6; ages 3-18 $4. Garden hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day. Rain or shine. 508-877-7630, newenglandwild.org.

Natick Art Walk, 6 to 8 p.m. tonight in Natick Center, routes 27 and 135. Rain or shine. Free. natickcenter.org, 508-653-2526.

THE PICK OF THE CROP: There's still time to take a big, juicy bite out of summer at area pick-it-yourself farms. The wet weather has pushed back the local peach season, which should finally be getting underway this week (growers recommend calling first if you are counting on picking peaches or any other particular fruit variety). And both the Belkin Family Lookout Farm in Natick and Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton have sweetened the deal with entertainment.

At the Natick spread, where peaches, ginger gold apples, and nectarines are in season, magicians Danny Hustle and David Hall perform Saturday and Sunday, respectively, from 1 to 2 p.m., and the farm's playground, petting zoo, and train rides are open and running as usual.

The Bolton winery, which expects to have ripe blackberries and peaches, is hosting a cooking demonstration from its "Express Your Passion" contest, featuring area cooks who submitted food and wine recipes.

On Saturday, one of the contest's three top finalists, Kim Albro, teaches how to make her dish combining sea scallops, spinach, and apple in a sparkling apple and wine cream sauce. The following Saturday, third finalist Lydia Lodonsky will get exact about how to make a true Caesar salad. Both demonstrations, starting at 3 p.m., are free.

Belkin Family Lookout Farm, 89 Pleasant St., South Natick. Admission $8. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 508-653-0653, lookoutfarm.com.

Nashoba Valley Winery, 100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton. Open 1-5 p.m. daily when picking. Admission free. 978-779-5521, nashobawinery.com.

SOUNDS AND SILENCE: Waltham closes out its free summer music series with a bang on Saturday with the third annual Mayor's Doo-wop Concert. Jay Siegel and the Tokens, the Crystals, the Reminisants, and the John Penny Band will deliver the tunes. Local restaurants will sell the snacks. And with this lineup, the crowd will certainly cut the rug (or in this case, the lawn).

In Framingham at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, Concerts on the Green hosts oldies and pop band Tailspin, and wraps up the season Aug. 29 with a hoe-down of a concert with country-western Lincoln County Band.

Finally, the Saturday Morning Discovery Series in Marlborough, held at 11 a.m. on Union Common, presents comic mime Robert Rivest this weekend, and ends its summer season on Aug. 30 with a capella troupe Simple Harmonic Motion.

Mayor's Doo-wop Concert, 6-10 p.m. Saturday (concessions open at 4 p.m.), Waltham Common, Main and Moody streets. Rain location: Waltham High School, 617 Lexington St. Free. www.reminisants.com, city.waltham.ma.us.

Tailspin performs 6:30-8:30 p.m. tomorrow on Framingham Center Common, off Edgell Road. Free. Food or cash donations will be accepted for Metrowest Harvest (Food for the Hungry). 508-532-5485, framingham.com.

Mime Robert Rivest performs 11 a.m. Saturday on Union Common, Main and Bolton streets, Marlborough. Free. 978-562-1646, upwitharts.org.

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