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12 fun things to do in Boston this weekend – Metro US

12 fun things to do in Boston this weekend

Joan Jett

MOVIES

Sunset Cinema

The Museum of Fine Arts gets in on the free outdoor movie game this summer with three films. “Divorce, French Style” is the first, this Thursday, followed by “Cool Hand Luke” in August and the new classic “Get Out” in September. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. with lawn games, music and art-making activities preceding each film, which begin at sundown.

July 13 through Sept. 14, Museum of Fine Art, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, free, mfa.org

MUSIC

Gaelynn Lee

Gaelynn Lee is a violinist and singer-songwriter from Minnesota, who gained a lot of attention as the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. Trained in Celtic and Americana traditions, she masterfully employs loop pedals to create a gorgeous, ethereal folk sound. Disabled due to a congenital bone disease, she also advocates for greater accessibility for people with disabilities.

July 13, 8 p.m., Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St., Boston, $10-$12, berklee.edu

Hyper Space Tour: Boston with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

This classic rock bill is a perfect illustration of ‘70s and early 80’s rock extremes. On one end there’s the grandiose, note-perfect and borderline symphonic power pop of local heroes Boston. On the other, there’s the no-nonsense, leather-clad dive-bar snarl of opener Joan Jett. Arguably, the two tendencies would fuse into hair metal, but that’s for another tour.

July 13, 7:30 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, $28-$254, ticketmaster.com

Lydia Lunch

The aggressively anti-commercial and anti-melodic “no wave” scene of late ‘70s New York seems more influential than ever, and Lydia Lunch, furious frontwoman of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, remains that scene’s iconic figure. She returns to the U.S. from her Barcelona Batcave to periodically remind us that punk’s not dead, but undead. Thank you for your service, Lydia.

July 15, 7:30 p.m., Cambridge Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Richard Allen Dr., Cambridge, $15, bostonhassle.com

THEATER

Waiting for Waiting for Godot

This clever spin on Samuel Becket’s absurdist masterpiece “Waiting for Godot” focuses on Ester and Val, understudies for the main actors in a production of the play, who wait backstage for their chance at the spotlight, just as their characters await the mysterious Godot in the play itself. As always, Hub Theater Company’s tickets are pay-what-you-can.

July 14 through 29, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, hubtheatreboston.ticketleap.com

COMEDY

Air Farce One

Most Friday and Saturday nights you can catch Improv Asylum’s top comedy wiz kids aboard Air Farce One, spewing out a mix of pre-written, topical sketches and instantly fabricated nuggets of improv. How do they do it? Let’s just say they’re professionals, you’re on a need to know basis, and you need to know no more.

Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $20, laughboston.com

FESTIVALS

ArtBeat

This annual festival, held by the Somerville Art Council, always has a theme. This year’s is “voice,” not just in its physical aspects—yells, whispers, growls, barks—but also in its abstract sense as a symbol of expression, both political and personal. There are three different stages in Davis Square with a wide variety of performances in music, dance and more.

July 14 and 15, Davis Square, Somerville, free, somervilleartscouncil.org

Festival Betances

This festival, held each year in honor of the Puerto Rican national icon Ramón Emeterio Betances, is one of New England’s major pan-Latino cultural festivals, drawing over 3,000 to its international assembly of music and dance performance, arts and crafts, food, kids’ activities and, last but not least, the greased pole competition.

July 15 and 16, Villa Victoria Community of Boston’s South End, 100 W. Dedham St., Boston, free, ibaboston.org

LADIES’ NIGHT OUT

Thunder from Down Under

This sexy/campy all-male revue isn’t, perhaps, strictly for the ladies, just whoever wants to see a bunch of hot Australian guys being very, very hot. Each is supposed to embody “a different female fantasy,” provided, of course, that your female fantasy involves a bronzed, ripped dude being wicked hot—then you’ll have an embarrassment of riches.

July 14, 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $23-$48, thewilbur.com

FOOD AND DRINK

Boston Beer and BBQ Fest

This orgy of backyard epicureanism claims participation from 25 New England craft breweries and seven local BBQ establishments. You’ll get a sample from each of the seven, and unlimited samples of beer and cider. We’d offer highlights, but honestly, the whole menu seems like a highlight—let’s just say you’ll sleep hard after this one.

July 14-15, Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St., Boston, $55, 21+, drinkcraftbeer.com

FAMILIES

WGBH FunFest

This long-running, kid-oriented festival used to be known as the Ice Cream FunFest, and the all-you-can-eat ice cream smorgasbord, with brands from all over, is still a big part of it. But there’s also live music and activities for kids like face painting and inflatable rides, and a chance to meet their favorite PBS children’s TV characters.

July 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., WGBH Studios, $10, wgbh.org

ART

Mia Cross: Second Skin

13FOREST Gallery presents this young local artist, who’s built up an impressive CV only three years out of BU. She’s preoccupied with the colors of human figures, so much so that some of the work here is just bars of color representing, for instance, the eyes of 32 different Facebook friends. The opening reception is Saturday at 4 p.m.

July 15 through September 8, 13FOREST Gallery, 167A Mass. Ave., Arlington, free, 13forest.com