10 things to do in Boston this weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to events and cool happenings in and around Boston.
Skip Netflix this weekend — here are 10 ways to get out of your home and not be bored in the city. If you’d like BosTen delivered to your inbox every Thursday, click here. Want more things to do? Check out our events calendar at boston.com/events. You can also learn even more about awesome events around Boston by joining the BosTen Facebook group.
“The Office! A Musical Parody”
No matter how many times you burn through old seasons on Netflix, “The Office” isn’t coming back anytime soon. Instead, Dunder Mifflin super fans can enjoy a musical parody of the beloved NBC comedy, which debuted at Calderwood Pavilion this week. Created by the minds behind musical parodies of “Saved by the Bell” and “Friends,” among others, the show runs through Dec. 1. (Now through Sunday, Dec. 1 at various times; Calderwood Pavilion, Boston; $19.50 and up; all ages)
Arlington International Film Festival
The annual Arlington International Film Festival returns to the Capitol Theatre this Thursday with three days of films highlighting young and multicultural voices. The festival kicks off with the Oscar-nominated “Lifeboat,” a searing documentary from Skye Fitzgerald about Libyan refugees’ efforts to escape death by fleeing to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea. (Thursday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 10 at various times; Capitol Theatre, Arlington; $9-$85; all ages)
John Hiatt
Blues-rock artist John Hiatt may not be a household name, but the stars he’s written songs for sure are. Along with penning tunes for the likes of Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, and Willie Nelson, Hiatt has put out 23 albums of his own, including 2018’s “The Eclipse Sessions.” Hiatt will bring his formidable chops and vast catalog to Boston for an intimate evening at City Winery this Friday, with Colin Elmore opening. (Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.; City Winery, Boston; $75-$90; all ages)
Boston Christmas Festival
Like it or not, the second you finished watching that Halloween horror marathon, it officially became holiday season. The unstoppable torrent of sleigh bells and tinsel will kick into high gear at the World Trade Center with the 33rd annual Boston Christmas Festival, full of handcrafted gifts, specialty foods, a charity gingerbread competition between top chefs, and an overabundance of holiday cheer. (Friday, Nov. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 10 at various times; Seaport World Trade Center, Seaport District; $14, free for children under 14; all ages)
Jonathan Van Ness
The breakout star of the rebooted “Queer Eye” series, Jonathan Van Ness has proved himself a multi-talented force, counseling viewers on grooming and hairstyle tips and getting laughs with his podcast, among countless other media appearances. This weekend, he’ll be at the Orpheum Theatre performing his one-man show Road to Beijing, a mix of stand-up and performance art based on his deep-seated desire to become an Olympic figure skater. Due to the event’s popularity, a second show has been added, though resale tickets for the 8 p.m. show are still available. (Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Orpheum Theatre, Boston; $58 and up; all ages)
“Evil Dead”
Halloween may be over, but you can still find plenty of horror movies playing at local theaters. This Friday, Coolidge Corner Theatre will host a special midnight showing of the cult classic “Evil Dead,” which introduced the world to director Sam Raimi (“Spider-Man”) and his high school buddy Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. The low-budget film spawned two sequels, a reboot, and a TV series, and will be presented for the first time in 4k resolution and 5.1 surround sound mix, and will feature a reimagined score by original composer, Joseph LoDuca. (Friday, Nov. 8 at 11:59 p.m.; Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline; $13.25; rated R)
Boston Wicked Wine Fest
Young professionals can clink glasses and pop bottles at Revere Hotel Boston Common this Saturday for the fall edition of Boston Wicked Wine Fest, a day of wine sampling, socializing, and raising money for a good cause. Along with sipping vino, guests can join a silent auction for sports memorabilia to benefit Project Smile. (Saturday, Nov. 9 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Revere Hotel Boston Common, Boston; $49-$125; 21+)
Styx
Come sail away with Chicago prog-rock group Styx this Saturday, when the “Mr. Roboto” band visits the Orpheum Theatre. The group has been without original lead singer Dennis DeYoung for 20 years now, but the six-piece act can still rock a crowd, and even put out a new album in 2017. (Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Orpheum Theatre, Boston; $43.50; all ages)
Harpoon Friendsgiving
Harpoon will host its annual early Thanksgiving dinner benefiting the Greater Boston Food Bank this Sunday, featuring dishes made with Harpoon and UFO beers, plenty of their own beers, and live music and raffles. Ticket proceeds go toward feeding those in need. (Sunday, Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall, Boston; $70; 21+)
“The Terminator”
Despite relatively positive reviews from critics, 2019’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” has been such a severe box office disaster for Paramount that some industry observers expect the dystopian film franchise will be shut down for a long time. Regardless of whether studio honchos pull the plug on Skynet, you can still head to the Brattle this Sunday to catch the 1984 original, which launched the career of Linda Hamilton, made Arnold Schwarzenegger a household name, and celebrated its 25th anniversary last month. If you want to stick around, the theater will be showing Schwarzenegger’s “The Running Man” — which, like the original “Blade Runner,” is set in a dystopian version of 2019 — as an optional double feature. (Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Brattle Theatre, Cambridge; $9-15; rated R)
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