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- what to do in Boston this weekend (jan 24 - 26)
what to do in Boston this weekend (jan 24 - 26)
James Beard Awards semifinalists are here in time to make weekend plans.
Nicole Tommasulo
23 Jan • Estimated Reading Time: 28 minutes
Table of Contents
P.S. If you have an event, new attraction, new hotel, or restaurant opening you’d like me to cover, don’t hesitate to reach out.
food news
our james beard awards semifinalists
The James Beard Foundation announced the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the James Beard Awards. Established in 1990, the awards are meant to celebrate excellence in dining experiences. This year, the awards have expanded, including new awards for Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Oustanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
Boston area chefs and restaurants usually boast a few semifinalists; this year is no exception. Douglass Williams, head of MIDA, is a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur, while Cassie Piuma of Sarma in Somerville is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef.
Alyssa Mikko DiPasquale of The Koji Club in Brighton is a semifinalist for the brand new category, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service. Boston can also boast The Wig Shop’s Oscar Simoza is a semifinalist for the new Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service category.
Somaek, a Korean restaurant specializing in home-cooked dishes, is a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. Plus, Merai in Brookline and Equal Measure are both semifinalists for Best New Bar.
When it comes to the Best Chef: Northeast semifinalists, Boston is lucky to have quite a few working at area restaurants. Rachel Miller, of Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn, Michael Serpa of Select Oyster, Erin Miller of Urban Hearth in Cambridge, Kwasi Kwasi of Comfort Kitchen, Valetine Howell of Black Cat in Jamaica Plain, Conor Dennehy of Tallula in Cambridge, and John DaSilva of Chickadee.
planning ahead:
valentine + galentine events
Valentine’s Day is less than a month away, and whether you love the holiday or hate it, there are a few fun events and deals happening around Boston that you should know about.
shops + sweet treats
Boston’s Little Miss Cupcape (250 Newbury St, Boston, 02116) has opened pre-orders for their Valentine’s Day menu, available for pickup or delivery between Jan 31 and Feb 16. Highlights include their Valentine’s Day Cupcake Pack, Conversational Heart Mini Cakes, Bake At Home Cookie Dough rolls, and a cute little box of XOXO Cupcakes. If you’re gluten-free or vegan, don’t worry; there are cupcakes for you, too! Use code SAVOR10% for 10% off your order. Can’t make it in to pickup your order? Little Miss Cupcape does same-day local delivery + overnight shipping.
If you want a one-stop shop for VDay/GDay supplies, head to EBO Grocery (110 Meridian St, East Boston, 02128) in East Boston. They have everything: oysters, caviar + necessary accouterments, fresh produce, used vinyl, and a whole wine wall to browse through.
classes + workshops
Grab your Galentine (or Valentine) and come to The Urban Grape for a special Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board Workshop on Tuesday, Feb 11. Tickets for two are $125 (solo are $95) and include a flight of three wines, a 10 × 10 board, cheeses, meats, and more fun accompaniments as you learn how to make your charcuterie board step-by-step.
Get festive with your gals at the Valentine’s Day Flower Arranging Workshop at AeronautBrewing Company (14 Tyler Street, Somerville, 02143) on Thursday, Feb 13, from 7 - 9 pm. Tickets are $85 and include a two-hour workshop with floral designer Rebecca Allamey of Moosh Floral, plus materials (cut flowers, greenery, vase, + floral clippers) you get to take home with you.
Go on a sensory journey through rare essences and exclusive ingredients to create a bespoke fragrance with Pine 617’s Valentines Perfume Making Class at Boston Public Market (100 Hanover Street, Boston, 02108) on Thursday, Feb 13, from 5:30 - 8 pm. Tickets are $72.50 if booked by Feb 3; otherwise, they are $125.
Spend an afternoon celebrating the season of love with a special Galentine’s Gathering at Be the Light Yoga Studio (482 Shirley St, Winthrop, 02152) on Saturday, Feb 15, from 12 - 1:30 pm. There will be a 30-minute empowering barre class and a 30-minute self-love-themed restorative yoga flow. Then, enjoy delicious acai bowls and coffee — courtesy of Selva Coffee House — while making friendship bracelets. Tickets are $22.
unique ways to celebrate
If you’re looking for a cute spot to have an intimate dinner with your Valentine or a few of your closest Galentines, book time at Over the Tunnel Bookstore inside EBO Grocery (110 Meridian St, East Boston, 02128). Why it’s a good deal: Part of your booking fee is put toward a credit to use in the grocery for your event (think: oysters, caviar, bubbles).
unique things to do in Boston:
jan 24 - jan 26
Everything here is happening this weekend only. Scroll down for recurring events every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Boston.
all weekend long
Beginning at 11 am on Jan 24, Beacon Hill’s The Hummus Shop (37 Charles Street) is celebrating the Grand Opening of its brick-and-mortar shop this weekend. The shop has been quietly operating since October 2024 but is ready to celebrate with friends and neighbors.
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a local Lunar New Year Lion Dance Dinner presented by PAGU (310 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 02139). Held on Jan 25, Jan 26, and Jan 29, there will be a family-style prix fixe menu, full bar, and sake flights following a Lion Dance, which will begin promptly at 6 pm. Tickets are $75.
friday
january 24
parties
Enjoy a modern take on a Scottish tradition at Not Your Usual Burns Ceilidh on Friday, Jan 24, at Crystal Ballroom (55 Davis Square, Somerville, 02144) from 6:30 - 10 pm. Hosted by the National Trust for Scotland Foundation, this event will feature poetry, song, dance, and light refreshments. Tickets are $30.
classes
Lasagna alla Bolognese looks more difficult to make than it actually is. Learn the ins and outs of this classic Italian dish at the Hands On: Lasagna class at Eataly Boston inside Prudential Center (800 Boylston St, Boston, 02199) on Friday, Jan 24, from 6 - 7 pm. Tickets are $95 and include a one-hour in-depth class on the making of and culture around Lasagna from Eataly’s Scuola Chef, antipasto during class, wine pairing, and, of course, your own finished Lasagna.
wellness
Tap into the element of water in this The Path of the Lotus: Water Flow winter workshop hosted on Friday, Jan 24, from 7:30 - 9:30 pm at Down Under School of Yoga (1054 Beacon Street, Brookline, 02446). Led by Brittney Burgess, this is the second of a four-part series focused on rising from the mud into the light through meditation, journal prompts, and a warm asana to help awaken your Svadhisthana. Tickets are $35. Please bring a journal, a writing instrument, and a yoga mat.
If the winter blues are getting to you, make time for the Warm Within: Ayurveda & Yoga Winter Workshop at Be the Light Yoga Studio (482 Shirley St, Winthrop, 02152) on Friday, Jan 24, from 6:30 - 8 pm. Come for the warming yoga flow and meditation, stay for the ayurveda-based tips for winter wellness, including seasonal teas and nourishing recipes. Tickets are $22.
saturday
january 25
classes
Enjoy a night of sipping and painting at Wine Tasting & Painting with Sunset Studios Boston at Zumix (260 Sumner St, East Boston, 02128) on Saturday, Jan 25, from 6 - 8 pm. Tickets are $60 (or $40 w/o wine) and include a step-by-step painting and tasting of some delicious wines.
Plant a garden of a different type with the Make A Candle Garden workshop at Rooting For You: Plant Boutique (520 Kendall St, Cambridge, 02142) on Saturday, Jan 25, from 12 - 2 pm. Tickets are $60 and include a two-hour workshop with step-by-step instructions on how to create your own custom candle garden. All supplies will also be provided.
wellness
Enjoy an hour of bliss this weekend with Sauna, Soak, + Still at The Estuary (74 Martin St, Essex, 01929) on Saturday, Jan 25. Reservations are $75 and include an hour of access to the sauna and herbal foot soak, plus locally sourced vegetarian snacks and herbal beverages for you and a friend.
Flow under the glow of the disco ball at Upstairs at Bow: Yoga Saturday Disco class held Upstairs at Bow (1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, 02143) on Saturday, Jan 25, from 12 - 1:15 pm with Zola of Be Easy Meditation. Tickets are $15, and $5 of every ticket will go to St. Mary’s Center for Women & Families.
tastings, pop-ups, + parties
Local non-alcoholic bottle boutique Dray Drinks (5 Columbia St, Cambridge) is celebrating the Grand Opening of their second location in Cambridge’s Central Square on Saturday, Jan 25, from 12 to 8 pm. Stop by and enjoy free NA beverage tastings, music, and more.
Mei Mei Dumplings (58 Old Colony Ave, South Boston) is celebrating its 2nd birthday and the Lunar New Year with a Bottomless Dumpling Party on Saturday, Jan 25. Tickets are $28.88 and get you access to a stunning dumpling buffet complete with everything from lemongrass pork dumplings to cheeseburger.
Come watch your favorite fashion industry movie, The Devil Wears Prada, in a special screening at Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Saturday, Jan 25, from 7 pm to 9 pm. The event is free, and food/drink will be available for purchase at the cafe. Tickets aren’t necessary, but RSVP so they know how many to expect.
If you missed out on grabbing tickets to The Haven’s Burns Night extravaganza, don’t worry; Portio Brewing Company (101 South Street, Somerville, 02143) is hosting its own Dark Beer, Light Verse: Celebration of Poetry & Beer. Learn the history of Portio’s dark beer styles, listen to poetry, and have your chance at writing your own Ode to Beer. Tickets are $20 and include two half-pours of their dark ales.
sunday
january 26
holocaust remembrance day 2025
Learn about the rise of the Nazi movement in Boston and New York before, during, and after the Second World War with How Antisemitism Grows: Lessons from Boston’s 1930s Nazi Movement, a talk presented by Dr. Charles Gallagher, S.J. on Sunday, Jan 26, from 5 - 6:30 pm at Boston University Hillel. This event is free and will also be live-streamed. Photo ID is required for entrance to the event.
workshops
Learn the ins and outs of incense creation at the Incense Making Workshop that Body Stone and Soul (456 Centre St, Boston, 02130) is hosting on Sunday, Jan 26, from 5:15 - 6:30 pm. Tickets are $35 and include the necessary materials for designing a personal signature incense scent.
If you’ve been too afraid to repot your houseplants at home, Mahoney’s Garden Center (449 Western Ave, Brighton, 02135) is hosting a Report Your Own Houseplant workshop on Sunday, Jan 26. Bring your plants (with pots 8” and under) between 10 am and 2 pm for expert guidance on selecting the proper pot size and potting soil. The event costs $5 and includes soil.
Indulge in an imaginative Winter Cardinal Paint and Sip class this Sunday, Jan 26, from 12 - 2 pm at Long Live Beerworks (152 Hampden Street, Boston, 02119). Tickets are $35 and include a two-hour step-by-step painting workshop where you’ll explore brushstroke techniques and captivating mediums.
wellness
Dedicate time to relaxing and recharging at a Reiki Sound Bath this Sunday, Jan 26, from 3 - 4 pm at Blissful Monkey Yoga Studio (663 Centre St, Boston, 02130). Tickets are $18, and space is limited. Mats, bolsters, blankets, and eye masks are provided.
Spend Sunday afternoon nourishing your body, mind, and spirit with a special Restorative Yoga & Reiki Workshop at Be the Light Yoga Studio (482 Shirley St, Winthrop, 02152) from 12 - 1:30 pm. Led by Peter Sacco (aka BulldogFlowBoston) alongside Reiki Masters Kathleen Coffey & Trish Van, this combined restorative yoga reiki session promises to keep you refreshed and revitalized. Tickets are $22.
End your weekend with a powerful Chakra Clearing & Balancing session on Sunday, Jan 26, from 6 - 7:30 pm at Trephin (25 Temple Place, 2nd floor, Boston, 02111). This experience will balance your chakra using the power of crystals, sound therapy, and Reiki to rejuvenate you as you head into a new week. Tickets are $35. Please bring a yoga mat, pillow, and blanket.
reoccurring winter events
As a reminder, the Commuter Rail has $10 weekend passes, which gives the ticketholder unlimited travel on Saturday and Sunday. Pass is activated during your first trip on Saturday and continues to stay active until Sunday night.
winteractive
If anyone knows how to enjoy winter after the holiday season slows, it’s Québec. Inspired by and partnering with our northern neighbors, the Downtown Boston Alliance has again brought WINTERACTIVE to Boston.
The exhibition is a walkable art experience stretching from Government Center to the Theater District. Not only are multiple Mr. Pinks hanging out, adding color and whimsy to the city, but there are also great light-up installations, giving Bostonians a reason to leave the house even after the sun goes down.
A map of the artwork is available here. The installations will be viewable from now until March 30, 2025.
tours
Taste your way through Back Bay with a Back Bay Evening Chocolate Tour. For $55, take a guided walking + tasting tour of one of Boston’s most beautiful neighborhoods while learning Back Bay’s historical and architectural significance. Plus, enjoy tastings at four different locations where you’ll sample hot chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, and cake from Back Bay’s most iconic establishments.
Boston Athenaeum routinely holds Art & Architecture Tours throughout the week and weekend. Tours are always free for members, $15 for adults, $10 for students/educators/military, $8 for children 11 and under, or $4 using your EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare cards.
Whether you’re a local or visiting Boston for the first time, there’s never a bad time to take a tour. For something a little different (and delicious), book a spot on the Freedom Trail: History Tour & Brewery Taste. Follow the Freedom Trail, stopping at 11 of 16 major landmarks along the trail, with Hub Town Tours before enjoying lunch and beer tasting at Democracy Brewing.
wellness
Last year, Moki Sauna debuted a winter pop-up downtown, inviting Bostonians to enjoy a pop-up sauna and polar plunge in an urban setting. This year, they’re back and have set up their wood-fired saunas and cedar cold plunge barrels at Somernova (14 Tyler St, Somerville, 02143) until April 15. Sessions start at $45 for 1 hour.
Start your weekend with a dose of wellness at The Hidden Art Gallery (25 Myrtle Street) in Beacon Hill, which hosts weekly Explore Meditation with Watercolor classes. Held every Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm, learn the basics of meditation while intuitively creating with watercolor. Classes are $55.
Reconnect with your ability to digest and rest during a Sound Bath Meditation with Ramon of Ib and Flow (247 Walnut St, Brookline, 02445). Sessions ($50) are held every Sunday.
Chase away — or press pause — on your end-of-weekend stress with a movie night at Sam Adams Boston Brewery (30 Germania St, Jamacia Plan, 02130). From 6 to 9 pm every Sunday, the brewery hosts a free weekly watch party. Their final January movie is Ice Age (Jan 26).
Wind down from the weekend and prepare for the week ahead with a Grounding Meditation session every Sunday from 5 - 6 pm at Blissful Monkey Yoga Studio (663 Centre Street, Boston, 02130) in Jamaica Plain. Led by Licenced Mental Health Counselor Brennan Mallonnee, you will be guided through techniques on how to calm stress responses and practice trauma-informed grounding techniques for anxiety. Tickets are $20. Yoga mats, cushions, and blankets are available for use, but you are welcome to bring your own.
If you’re trying to bring balance into your life this year, start your Sunday brunch with a gentle yoga flow with Brewery Yoga at Lamplighter CX. The class is held every Sunday from 12:30 - 1:30 pm at Lamplighter Brewing Co.’s CX location (110 North First Street, Cambridge, 02141) in their upstairs taproom. Tickets are $25 and include a beer token or complimentary non-alcoholic drink.
classes + workshops
Whether you already love screenprinting or are completely new to this printing method, DARK MODE hosts DIY Screenprinting workshops at their storefront in Bow Market (1 Bow Market Way, #24) in Somerville on Friday (7 pm) and Saturday (6 pm and 7 pm) nights. Tickets are $45, including t-shirts.
DARK MODE also hosts Candle Making and Intention Setting Workshops every Thursday at 7 pm in their storefront at Bow Market in Somerville. Tickets are $50.
Spend your Friday learning to make classic Italian cuisine with Self Up Cooking Classes (19 Kingston St) in Downtown Crossing from 6 pm - 9 pm. Every week, they host an Italian Dinner with Tiramisu Finale cooking class and dinner experience, where you can learn how to make a three-course meal, including a luscious tiramisu for dessert. Tickets are $100 and include all ingredients.
tastings
Coffee lovers, this one is for you. Every Friday at 10 am, Counter Culture Coffee (374 Somerville Ave) in Somerville opens their Training Center for free coffee tastings. Anyone who wants to can learn and commune over perfectly brewed, high-quality, sustainable coffee.
Come to DeLuca’s Market Wine Cellar (11 Charles Street, Boston, 02114) in Beacon Hill for a free wine tasting every Friday from 4 - 7 pm. Every week, resident wine expert Donovan handpicks a mix of familiar favorites and bottles from up-and-coming vineyards or hard-to-find vintages to share among participants. No ticket is required.
Every Friday at 6:30 pm, GrandTen Distilling (383 Dorchester Ave) in South Boston holds Friday Night Flights: a chance to get to know their full line-up of spirits (plus special limited-run bottles not available elsewhere) at an intimate tasting. Tickets are $25, and seating is limited (10 max).
On Saturdays, Boston Harbor Distillery (12R Ericsson St, Boston, 02122) leads VIP tours ($50) and barrel-side tastings of their spirits ($20).
Love Child holds free wine tastings every Friday (5 pm - 7 pm) and Saturday (12 pm - 3 pm) at their South Boston (364 West Broadway) location. These tastings are free and require no reservations.
Come to The Urban Grape (303 Columbus Ave) in Back Bay on Saturday for The After Brunch, between 2 pm and 5 pm, for their weekly free wine tasting.
winter pop-ups
Reoccuring: For a winter warmer on the other side of the harbor, visit Short Path Distillery’s (71 Kelvin St) Apres Ski Pop-Up. Hosted every Friday in January, come and enjoy a fresh menu of exclusive cocktails, including twists on classics like the Hot Toddy and Irish Coffee, plus more fun + bold drinks ready to quench your craving, no matter if you want sweet, spicy, smokey, or straight up boozy. Reservations required.
Reoccuring: Skip the slopes and head straight to Sam Adams Boston Brewery (30 Germania St, Jamaica Plain, 02130) for Après Sam on Saturday and Sunday in January. You can reserve a heated igloo (which includes a bucket of Cold Snap), hang in the Beer Garden with a local live DJ, or head to the Barrel Room Lodge, where an acoustic cover band will be playing.
Ongoing: To get festive above Boston, visit ViewBoston’s Stratus Winter Oasis. At the top of Prudential Tower (800 Boylston), Status Bar has been transformed into a winter wonderland where guests can sip seasonal cocktails while the city glitters around them. Tickets are $38, including admission to ViewBoston exhibits and one beer, wine, or signature cocktail. This also gives you access to The Beacon Bistro, View Boston’s restaurant.
Ongoing: To literally warm up after a walk around Seaport, book a table at Deck 12’s heated rooftop outdoor bar (65 Seaport Blvd). Like in previous years, there is an Apres theme, complete with heaters, fondues, chair lifts, gondolas, and more. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Ongoing: Stay warm while enjoying the city skyline at Seaport’s Rooftop at the Envoy (70 Sleeper St, Boston, 02210). Grab one of their signature hot cocktails (or crafted mocktails) and cozy up to your friends in one of the igloos, ice boxes, or around your own fire pit. $25 deposit to book; minimums depend on time + day.
ice skating in Boston
Boston Common’s Frog Pond Skating Rink (38 Beacon St) is open daily from 10 am - 10 pm, with the last entry admitted 30 minutes before closing. Anyone 58 inches or taller must pay $10 to skate. You can also rent skates ($15 for adults, $10 for kids), rent lockers, and get your skates sharpened ($7). New Year’s hours: Dec 31st: 8:00 AM – 1:00PM; Jan 1st: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
From now until mid-March, enjoy outdoor ice skating at Skate @ Canal District (300 Athenaeum St) in Kendall Square. Lessons and season passes are available. All-day admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students + seniors, and $1 for children 13 and under. Open daily (M, T: Noon - 5 pm; W, TH: Noon - 8 pm; Sat: 11 am - 9 pm; Sun: 11 am - 6 pm).
Located right behind the Stony Brook MBTA stop, the DCR Kelly Outdoor Rink (1 Marbury Terrace) in Jamaica Pain is a volunteer-run, donor-supported operation. Open now through mid-March, Sunday through Friday: 12 pm – 7:30 pm, Saturday: 1 pm – 7:30 pm. Skating is free, and all-day skate rental is $4 cash ($5 credit card).
winter markets
Farmer’s Market season never ends in Boston; it just moves inside. Visit Somerville’s Winter Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm inside The Center for the Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave).
Rosalind Village is celebrating the return of its Winter Farmers Market. Every Sunday from 11 am - 2 pm in the ABCD Parking Lot (32 Birch St, Boston, 02131), shop fresh produce, meat, fruits, and specialty foods, plus appearances from summer market favorites, including The Neighborhood Farm and Lilac Hedge Far.
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