What to do in Boston this weekend (Jan 9 - 11)

If you have an event, a new attraction, a hotel, or a restaurant opening you’d like me to cover, please reach out!

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Move over, Michelin. On Beli (think: Goodreads for restaurants), Boston foodies’ most-bookmarked restaurants of the year included Little Sage (North End), Ssaanjh (Brookline), Nowon (Seaport), and Cambridge’s Black Ruby. (Boston.com)

South End vegan ice cream shop shuts down. Following the closure of the Jamaica Plain, Seaport, and Allston locations, FoMu has ceased operations in the South End. (Boston Restaurant Talk)

New North End Sushi Spot. If Umami Omakase is too intimidating (or pricy), you can now eat at her laidback sister spot, Umami Crudo, in Crudo’s former space on Salem St. Their goal is to become your favorite weekly sushi spot, not just somewhere you go on special occasions. (Boston Magazine)

Boston Harbor shellfish are now safe to eat. After decades-long multi-billion-dollar clean-ups, shellfish from Boston Harbor are now safe for human consumption for the first time in a century. (Boston.com)

First Watch comes to Boston. This popular Hanover-based breakfast, lunch, and brunch spot opened its first Boston location this week at 777 Boylston St. Their “Instagrammable,” chef-driven dishes include lemon ricotta pancakes, avocado toast, handcrafted sandwiches, and more. (NBC Boston)

Boston Chops closes its doors. Both the Downtown Crossing and South End locations of the Boston steakhouse have both ceased operation. According to their website, Boston Chops is making way for “new ownership and a revitalized concept.” (Boston Restaurant Talk)

Airspace closure in the Caribbean strands travelers. Travel in the Caribbean was thrown into chaos on Monday after a temporary air restriction around the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s president. Airlines are working to clear backlogs of delays and cancellations, including at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Afar)

Wynn Resorts, Everett reach hotel/commuter rail development deal. Just before he left office, Everett’s former mayor approved development of one or two hotels and a potential commuter rail station. (WBUR)

Tossing coins into the Trevi just got more expensive. Beginning in February, Rome will begin charging nonresidents 2 euros ($2.35 USD) for close-up viewing and coin tossing. (Afar)

Yes, there is a rocketship above Winthrop Square. The Downtown Boston Alliance is once again turning the city into a walking art gallery, with “Winteractive” art installations going in around the city. The exhibition officially kicks off on January 14, featuring 18 artworks. (CBS News)

What I’m listening to this week:

What I’m reading this week:

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A curated rundown of unique events happening this weekend in and around Boston that I’m either attending or wishing I were. If you’re looking for weekly happenings, like wine tastings and yoga classes, scroll to the next section.

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Spend an evening sipping brews and making moves at Beers & Checkmates at Sam Adams Brewery (50 Germania St, Boston, MA 02130) on Friday, January 9, from 6 to 8 pm. Sets and clocks will be provided. No entry fee. Food and drink available for purchase.

Whether or not you’re participating in Dry January this year, don’t miss Dry January: A sober-curious conversation and beverage tasting on Friday, January 9, at WBUR CitySpace (890 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215). Listen to a panel discussion on the challenges of Dry January and the rise of alcohol-free lifestyles while enjoying NA beverages from their Dry January market. Tickets range from $10 to $30.

Get a glimpse at what the year holds at the Astrology of 2026 workshop at Venus House (16 Cohasset St, Boston, MA 02131) on Saturday, January 10, from 5 to 6:30 pm. Astrologer Laura Domanico will walk you through the key themes and turning points for each month of the year, plus learn how this year’s planetary shifts can influence trends, moods, and opportunities. Tickets are $40.

Craft what you want your 2026 to look like at Crafts & Cocktails: Vision Boarding at Trident Booksellers & Cafe (338 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115) on Saturday, January 10, from 6 to 9 pm. Trident has supplies (magazines, glue, markers, etc), but feel free to bring your own. Tickets are $15. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Catch a performance of Vanessa, Samuel Barber’s gothic romance, on Saturday, January 10, at Symphony Hall (301 Mass Ave, Boston, MA). Boston Lyric Opera and Boston Symphony Orchestra join forces with the BLO Chorus and Tanglewood Festival Chorus to present this sordid tale in grand style. Tickets range from $53.99 - $176.99.

Watch The Godfather on 35mm at The Brattle (40 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA) on Saturday, January 10, at 12 pm. Tickets are $13.

Grab a friend and watch Boston Fleet v Ottawa on Sunday, January 11, from 12 to 2:30 pm at Drawdown Brewing (3204 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130). This is a free event with food and drink for purchase.

As a reminder, the Commuter Rail has $10 weekend passes, which give the ticket holder unlimited travel on Saturday and Sunday. The pass is activated during your first trip on Saturday and remains active until Sunday night.

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Shop the Charles River Farmers’ Market every Friday (12 - 6 pm) and Sunday (10 am - 3 pm) at The Charles Hotel (1 Bennet St, Cambridge, MA, 02138). During the winter, vendors are set up in red sheds and still have fresh bread, pasta, meat, and seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Jamaica Plain holds its weekly Farmers Market every Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm year-round in the Bank of America parking lot (677 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, 02130).

Shop the legendary Haymarket, America’s oldest open-air market, every Friday and Saturday from 6 am to 7 pm. Vendors offer fresh, affordable produce, dairy products, meat, and seafood. Just steps from Boston Public Market and MBTA’s Haymarket Station.

Every Saturday from November 1, 2025, through April 11, 2026, you can shop for local and healthy foods at the Somerville Winter Farmers Market at Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143). The market is held weekly from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm except for 11/29/25 and 12/27/25.

Boston Common Frog Pond Ice Skating is now open. Admission price is based on height: $12 for 58 inches and over, while anyone 58 inches and under is free. Locker rentals and skate rentals are also available.

Skate at DCR Kelly Outdoor Rink (Jamaica Plain) for $0 Sunday through Friday from 12 to 7:30 pm. Skate rentals are available for $4 (or $5 with a credit card).

Brookline’s Jack Kirrane Rink at Larz Anderson Park (Brookline) is open daily except Wednesdays (Fri: 12 - 3, 6 - 8 pm. Sat + Sun: 12 - 2; 2:30 - 4-30 pm. Tues + Thurs: 9 - 12). Admission is $10. Skate rentals are $8.

Kendall Square’s Skate @ Canal District is open daily (M: 12 - 5 pm, Tues - Thurs: 12 - 8 pm, F: 12 - 9 pm, Sat: 11 - 9 pm, Sun: 11 am - 6 pm). Admission is $7. Skate rentals are $12.

You can find a full rundown of recurring walking tours, food tours, bus tours, and trolley tours of Boston in my Beginner’s Guide to Boston.

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.

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 a complimentary non-alcoholic drink.

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to navigate Boston by bicycle but have been too intimidated to start, join a Weekend In-And-Back Guided Ride with A Better City TMA. On Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm this spring and summer, join a free, three-hour bicycle ride from one of the many bike paths outside the city (meeting location disclosed upon sign up) and traverse the Urban Loop through downtown before returning to the start location.

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.

Love Child hosts free wine tastings every Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm and Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm at their South Boston location (364 West Broadway, Boston, MA). These tastings are free and require no reservations.

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 can learn and connect over perfectly brewed, high-quality, sustainable coffee.

Come to DeLuca’s Market Wine Cellar (11 Charles Street, Boston, MA 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.

On Saturdays, Boston Harbor Distillery (12R Ericsson St, Boston, 02122) leads VIP tours ($50) and barrel-side tastings of their spirits ($20).