Published September 3, 2010
Missing "Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" She's back in the Bean this weekend. (Scorpions and Centaurs/Flickr)
Don’t let Hurricane Earl ruin your weekend: It is a long one, after all. Put high winds, back-to-school jitters and the unofficial end of summer out of your mind with some cold beer and good music. It’s the perfect weekend to indulge your inner rebel with a little ink or to reminisce about the glory days of teen TV. But whatever you do, make sure you stick it to the man (and the impending natural disaster).
Get your fill on delicious Massachusetts beer. It'll take the edge off. (C-Monster/Flickr)
EAT
- Friday, Sept. 3, 6 to 10 p.m.
- World Trade Center, Head House Concourse, 200 Seaport Blvd.
- $29 for the first 500 tickets; $35 for tickets after that
Now lovingly referred to by its planners as Earlfest (yes, really), the first annual Summerfest will celebrate all things local beer. Featuring more than 20 Massachusetts brewers and 80 beers, the festival will host everyone from Ipswitch Ale Brewery to Westport’s Just Beer, and many of the breweries will be rolling out Oktoberfest brews, pumpkin beers and other fall-worthy selections. All of a sudden, September doesn’t taste so bad.
That had to hurt. (Philippe Leroyer/Flickr)
DO
- Friday, Sept. 3, 1 p.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. to midnight; Monday, 12 to 10 p.m.
- Boston Back Bay Sheraton, 39 Dalton St.
- $25 for a single day pass, $55 for a four-day pass
Whether you’re looking to get inked or just want to take it all in, the ninth annual celebration of body art is in town all weekend long. The convention hosts tattoo fanatics from all walks of life as well as vendors, collectors and artists, many of whom will be tattooing on site. There will also be burlesque performances, martial-arts demonstrations, art galleries and parties throughout the weekend.
I tip my hat to you! Get your Renaissance on this weekend. (Cowbark/Flickr)
King Richard’s Renaissance Faire
- Saturday, Sept. 4, and Monday, Sept. 6, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 235 Main St., Carver
- $25 for adults, $15 for children, free for children under 4
Take in this epic blast from the past, as jugglers, aerialists, puppeteers, jousters and other Renaissance-worthy performers set up camp at the 80-acre site. Gnaw on a giant turkey leg, check out tigers and white lions, or just take advantage of the chance to wear a medieval ensemble.
2010 Massachusetts State Strongman Championships
- Saturday, Sept. 4, 9 a.m.
This is a very strong man. (Neonbubble/Flickr)
- Paxton Power Gym
- $10, free for children under 5
Need an incentive to kick-start your gym regiment? Take in some serious heavy lifting (and pulling…and pushing…and throwing) at the Strongman/Strongwoman Championships. Or, you could just watch this video — though it’ll probably be more fun live.
LISTEN
- Friday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. to close; Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 12 p.m. to close
- Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge
- $10 day pass, $30 weekend pass
This weekend at Passim: not this kind of campfire, but just as good. (Boby Dimitrov/Flickr)
The next best thing to a real campfire, Club Passim’s annual folk extravaganza kicks off Friday as it draws a host of both local and national talent to its cozy stage in Harvard Square. Check out acts such as Berklee-bred The Whiskey Boys, South-meets-North duo Rod Picott and Amanda Shires, and playful Vermonsters Wooden Dinosaur.
- Saturday, Sept. 4, and Sunday, Sept. 5, starting at 2 p.m.
- Tanglewood Music Center, Lennox
- Tickets start at $18; $34 for one-day lawn passes
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home in the Berkshires hosts Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling, “Saturday Night Live” bassist James Genus and other big name jazz acts. If you ever needed an excuse to escape to the picturesque Berkshires, this is it.
- Monday, Sept. 6, from 12 to 6 p.m.
- The North Common, Lawrence
- Free
The 1912 “Bread and Roses” strike in Lawrence was a watershed moment in labor history, and the annual festival is meant to honor the city’s strong ties to the true spirit of Labor Day. The event features a variety of music and dance, poetry and drama, ethnic food, historical demonstrations, and walking and trolley tours, all on or starting from Lawrence’s Common.
SEE
- Friday, Saturday and Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Distillery Gallery, 516 East Second St., South Boston
- Free
If you ever find yourself craving a little “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” or “Beverly Hills 90210” (the original, not the awful remake), you’re not alone. A group of artists commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the original teen drama with paintings inspired by the heyday of teen TV — because we all know that “Gossip Girl” alone isn’t enough to fill the gaping hole in our hearts.
A piece by Shirley Palomino from the class of 2010. (Courtesy of the Jewett Gallery)
- Friday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 4, from 12 to 5 p.m.
- Sculpture Garden, third floor of the Jewett Arts Center, Wellesley College
- Free
Wait, you can do that with pencils? Ooh and aah over student work from Wellesley Professor Daniela Rivera’s spring 2010 ARTS 314 course.
- Friday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.
- Salem Theatre Company Theatre, 90 Lafayette St., Salem
- $25
A theatrical belly-dance production — how much cooler can you get than that? This original performance by the Salem Theatre Company chronicles the exploits of Lilith, the ancient Middle Eastern goddess and demoness. Fitting side note: Lilith was believed to originate as a Mesopotamian storm demon. Maybe she wants to date Earl.