What to do in Boston this weekend (Sept 12 - 14)

Also, if you have an event, new attraction, new hotel, or restaurant opening you’d like me to cover, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Like the newsletter? Feel free to buy me a coffee.

Two Boston restaurants are officially some of the best in the country. According to The NYT Restaurant list, anyway, La Padrona — the Italian eatery in Back Bay — and McGonagle’s Pub in Dorchester both snagged a spot on The NYT 2025 Top 50 Restaurants list. (Boston Business Journal).

Labubu-laden French-Japanese spot opened in Seaport. Come for the Instagrammable decor, stay for the $35 Wagyu steak frites, specialty hand rolls, and the matchatini — a matcha espresso martini. While Mai (31 Northern Ave, Boston, MA) looks like it’s all hype, food critics are already saying this place is worth going to Seaport for. (Boston Magazine)

A new comfort food spot is now open in Boston’s Theatre District. The masterminds behind Buttermilk & Bourbon, Citrus & Salt, and The Clock Tavern have opened a new eatery featuring staple comfort foods like wings, BLTs, steak tips, and nachos. The restaurant, Ghost Light Tavern, can be found at 253 Tremont St (Boston, MA 02116) in the former home of Nash Bar & Stage. (Boston Restaurant Talk)

If you’re not familiar with this is an original work of art yet, or want to shop their work in person, now’s your chance. The art/clothing line by Boston artist Miles Perry is popping up at Faneuil Marketplace (1 S Market St, Boston, MA 02109) next to The Black Dog. The opening reception is Thursday, September 11, from 5 to 9 pm, and the shop will be open daily through the end of the month.

Other stores opening this week include J. Crew’s first Boston flagship store (46 Newbury St, Boston, MA), in the two-story Newbury Street building that Brooks Brothers called home for over 90 years. (Boston Magazine)

Flourish & Foundry, a locally owned home goods store, is celebrating its Grand Opening on Thursday, September 11, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 pm. Located in Fanueil Marketplace (2 S Market St, Ground Floor, Boston, MA 02109), the store brings a welcome breath of local flair to an area considered to be more for tourists than Bostonians.

No more compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. While the Biden-era policy would have ensured travelers were compensated for their time, airlines warned from the start that this would drive fare prices even higher. After a 93-page request to roll back the policy and other consumer protections, the Trump administration announced airlines wouldn’t be responsible for paying passengers for seriously delayed or cancelled flights. (Afar)

Southwest is trying to win travelers back with free wifi. Starting October 24, the airline is dropping all wifi fees. If there is a catch, it’s the fact that you have to sign up for their free Rapid Rewards loyalty membership program. (The Points Guy)

Amtrak’s new Acela trains are running slower than the old ones. While Amtrak promised the new trains would shave time off the Boston-to-DC commute, a Wall Street Journal analysis found the travel time between the two cities is now over 7 hours, compared to the just-under 6 hours, 56 minutes with the older trains. The new trains may be able to go faster, but only in certain sections of the route, thanks to aging infrastructure that Amtrak has promised will be fixed in the next few years. (Wall Street Journal)

They’re a private company, but Pacaso just reserved the Nasdaq ticker “$PCSO.”

No surprise the same firms that backed Uber, eBay, and Venmo already invested in Pacaso. What is unique is Pacaso is giving the same opportunity to everyday investors. And 10,000+ people have already joined them.

Created a former Zillow exec who sold his first venture for $120M, Pacaso brings co-ownership to the $1.3T vacation home industry.

They’ve generated $1B+ worth of luxury home transactions across 2,000+ owners. That’s good for more than $110M in gross profit since inception, including 41% YoY growth last year alone.

And you can join them today for just $2.90/share. But don’t wait too long. Invest in Pacaso before the opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}

Everything here is happening this weekend only. Scroll down for recurring events every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Boston. For more ideas of what to do, check my Boston Guide.

Like the newsletter? Feel free to buy me a coffee.

Oktoberfest is here, and Mighty Squirrel Fenway (1 David Ortiz Dr, Boston, MA 02215) is celebrating with Oktoberfest-ivities from Friday, September 12, through Sunday, September 14. This will be a weekend filled with live music, games, German beer, food, and more. Plus, every weekend through September, Mighty Squirrel will be hosting German bands, slinging German beers and food at Mighty Squirrel Fenway, Arsenal, and Waltham taprooms.

Bow Market is also getting in on the action, with a weekend-long Oktoberfest celebration at Remnant Brewing (2 Bow Market Way, Somerville, 02143) from Saturday, September 13, through Sunday, September 14. On Saturday, come out for the Stein holding competition and live music from Le Prestige, Undertow Brass, and Conical Caccocophy. On Sunday, Remnant is kicking off the Lederhosen Lager Run beginning at noon.

Get ready for an evening of fencing, fighting, and falling in love with the Boston Pops at The Princess Bride in Concert on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14. Tickets start at $79.99 (including fees).

Help celebrate Primark’s 10th Anniversary with a celebration at Primark Boston (10 Summer St, Boston, MA 02110) on Friday, September 12, from 2 - 8 pm. The Cookie Monstah will be serving up complimentary ice cream sandwiches outside, while braid bar Pretty Girl Pop and Boston artist Nick Shea will be inside, keeping the good vibes going. This is a free event open to the public.

Celebrate the season with Notch Oktoberfest at Notch Brewing (525 Western Ave, Brighton, MA) on Saturday, September 13, from 12 to 6 pm. Enjoy oompah music from TubaFrau Hofbrau Band, Bavarian food, a beer stein hoisting competition, a lederhosen contest, a pretzel eating contest, and more. This is a free event, with $20 commemorative steins available for purchase.

While everyone else is going to bed, the MassArt Night Market will just be getting started at Downtown Crossing (450 Washington St, Boston, MA) on Saturday, September 13, from 5 to 9 pm. This isn’t just a market; it’s a celebration of creativity with artist-led booths, performances, demos, and more. This is a free event.

Shop vintage treasures with a rooftop view at the Catch the Found Boston Vintage Market at Urban Park Roof Garden (325 Main St, Cambridge, MA) on Sunday, September 14, from 12 - 5 pm. This is a free event featuring over 50 different vintage and sustainable style vendors with over 150 racks of garments to go through.

Spend Sunday morning talking books at the September Queer Book Club meeting on Sunday, September 14, beginning at 10:30 am. This month, they’re discussing Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake. Tickets are $27.19, including a copy of the book.

Celebrate Boston’s food culture at the 15th Annual Boston Local Food Festival on Sunday, September 14, from 11 am to 5 pm on the Rose Kennedy Greenway (191 W Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110). Check out over 100 local vendors, chef demos, a Seafood Throwdown, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

Shop handmade crafts and delicious Thai treats at the Thai Market on Sunday, September 14, from 12 - 6 pm in Harvard Square (2 Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02138). There will be live music, cultural performances, food, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

Start your Sunday with an Immersive Yoga session with JOYN at WNDR Museum (500 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111) on Sunday, September 14, from 9 - 10 am. Tickets are $40 and include museum admission. Please bring your own mat.

Learn how to make hand-pulled noodles from scratch at the Hand-Pulled Noodle Class this Sunday, September 14, from 10 am to 12 pm at PAGU (310 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139). Tickets are $119 and include a two-hour hands-on workshop, materials, and goodies to take home with you.

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.

Like the newsletter? Feel free to buy me a coffee.

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 about 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.

Learn the real history of Salem with a Salem Witch Tour from Boston: History, Hysteria, & Handcrafted Brooms. These guided tours begin at Boston’s North Station and take you through the streets and history of Salem before ending in a private broom-making workshop (including a custom spell). Tickets are $149 - $159 and include a round-trip train ticket, broom-making class materials, spell satchel, and guided walking tour of Salem.

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.

Ease into the weekend with a Friday Yoga Flow for all levels at Boston Public Library Honan-Allston Branch (300 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134) every Friday through September 19 from 3 to 4 pm. This event is free, but registration is required as each class is customized to participants’ preferences. Yoga mats, blocks, and straps will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Surround yourself with skyline views during a Saturday Community Yoga session at Rooftop@Revere, on top of Revere Hotel Boston Common (200 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116), every Saturday from 10 - 11 am. Tickets are $10 and include a post-session smoothie.

Every Saturday from June 21 through September 6, start your weekend with the Sweat and Sip Summer Yoga Series on the rooftop of High Street Place (100 High Street, Boston, MA 02110). Classes are $20 and include a $10 voucher to spend at any of the High Street Place Food Hall vendors.

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.

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 Licensed 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, but you can 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 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.

If you need a weekend pick-me-up, come to The Moxy Boston Downtown (240 Tremont St, Boston 02116) for Rooftop Yoga on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 - 10 am. Led by Julianne Maquire (Saturday) and Claire Metrick (Sunday) from YogaHub, you’ll flow through a dynamic vinyasa yoga experience, expending energizing movement with breath and community. Tickets are $25.

If you’re new to oysters or want a fun way to spend a sunset this summer, don’t skip Shucking oysters by Boston Harbor with EBO Oysters + EBO Grocery-owner Alex Cervasio. Tickets are $65 and include a hands-on workshop on how to shuck oysters right on a dock in East Boston, fresh oysters, and a shucking knife you’ll get to take home.

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.

New to natural wines? Don’t miss the free wine tastings at Petrova Chocolates (61 Salem Street, Boston, MA) in the North End every Friday (3 - 7 pm) and Saturday (12 - 3). Each week, they open bottles of Eastern European natural wines from countries like Georgia, Bulgaria, and Greece. These tastings are free and require no tickets or reservations.

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.

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).

Come to The Urban Grape (303 Columbus Ave) in the South End on Saturday for The After Brunch, between 2 pm and 5 pm, for their weekly free wine tasting.

Shop local artisans every Thursday and Friday at the Downtown Boston Arts Market. Located in Downtown Crossing (8 Summer St, Boston, MA 02110) between Macy’s and Roche Brothers, this outdoor market will recur weekly from 11 am until 5 pm until October 24.

The Boston Open Market returns to Boylston Street, between Arlington and Charles (across from the Boston Public Library), every Saturday through October from 12 to 5 pm.

Alongside the Boston Waterfront, shop over 50 vendors at the Greenway Artisan Market on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Beginning May 3, the market will be held every Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday beginning June 1.

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).

The Unique Square Farmers Market returns for their 21st season in Somerville’s Union Square Plaza (66-70 Union Square Plaza, Somerville, MA 02143) every Saturday through October 25 (except Sept 20).

One of Boston’s largest open-air markets, SoWa Open Market (500 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA), is held every Sunday from 11 am - 5 pm until October 26. Stop by to shop with various regional and local vendors, including food and beverage trucks.

Shop the Seaport Summer Market (88 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210) every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Like the winter market, the summer market is filled with unique vendors selling a wide range of items, from original artwork to pet supplies. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase, along with a DJ and a game area for all ages.