What to do in Boston this weekend (Sept 5 - 7)

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.

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Happy September! Here’s what’s hitting local farm stands across New England this month. (savor + roam)

Blank Street Coffee is taking over the Twin Donuts building in Allston. But don’t worry; the NYC-based coffee shop quietly taking over Boston isn’t touching the iconic neon sign. (Boston Restaurant Talk)

Daily Catch’s walk-up window is now open. The popular North End food spot has opened a takeout and delivery-only window, offering a “curated,” street-food focused menu of its inside offerings. The Takeout Window at the Daily Catch (331 Hanover St, Boston, MA) is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm. (Boston.com)

Don’t sleep on Folio. Tucked inside Boston Athenaeum, this European-style bistro has the city’s newest tea service, plus a seasonal menu of handcrafted sharables, cocktails, and mocktails. (savor + roam)

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy — again. The company lost $186 million from mid-March to June, a period that typically sees peak budget travel times. Spirit anticipates going through a “comprehensive restructuring” beyond the restructuring that already took place during the last bankruptcy. (The Points Guy)

Sheraton Boston just completed a $100 million renovation. For its 60th birthday, the Back Bay hotel gave itself a luxurious makeover with a newly reimagined lobby, guestrooms, community spaces, dining venues, and more.

Some highlights of Sheraton Boston’s renovations include The Sheraton Club, a brand-new secluded retreat for qualifying Marriott Bonvoy members, and a transformed rooftop pool deck, complete with a retractable roof. (savor+roam)

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

No wonder 10K+ everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment 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.

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Another weekend, another feast in North End. From Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7, celebrate the annual San Gennaro Feast on Paul Revere Mall, featuring food and drink vendors, live music, dancing, and more, culminating in a mass and procession with the statue of San Gerrano. Entry is free, with food and beverages available for purchase.

Shop the South End Sidewalk Sale from Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7. Discover the South End’s shops and restaurants with exclusive deals and sales, featuring favorites like Polkadog Bakery, Boon Plant Bar, Parkside Bookshop, Sky Candle, The Wine Emporium, and more. For a full list of participating businesses, check out the interactive map.

Enjoy a weekend of stunning cinema at the first annual Jamaica Plain Film Festival, running Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7. The festival will feature work by local artists and independent filmmakers based in New England, including documentaries, shorts, and animated films. Tickets range from $10 - $15.

Celebrate the city’s high-caliber talent at the annual Boston Arts Festival, being held from Saturday, September 6, through Sunday, September 7, at Christopher Columbus Park (100 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110). Always free to attend, this year's event features more than 50 artists across many disciplines, including sculpture, jewelry, photography, and more.

Celebrate African and Caribbean culture at Cambridge Carnival, on Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, from 11 am to 5 pm, at Central Square’s University Park Commons (65 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139). This free event will feature live music, costumes, and dance performances, with food, drinks, and more available for purchase.

The first Friday of every month, SoWa Artists Guild (450 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118) opens its artist workshop doors for SoWa First Friday, giving fans a chance to meet the artists in person from 5 to 9 pm.

Celebrate the start of September with MFA First Fridays on Friday, September 5, from 6 to 9 pm at 465 Restaurant inside MFA Boston. (465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115). This month, the MFA is celebrating the opening of the 20th-century Sculpture Gallery with Spotlight Talks, art making, music from DJ Slick Vick, and more. Tickets are $0 for members, $27 for the general public. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Saturday, September 6, is your last chance to see the Lion Dance being performed at the Chinatown Gate (John F Fitzgerald Surface Rd & Beach St, Boston, MA 02111). The dance begins at noon.

Celebrate local artists at Art in the Park on Saturday, September 6, from 12 - 4 on the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway in East Boston between Grove and Marginal streets. Enjoy live music, art exhibitions, face painting for kids, and more. This event is free and open to the public.

If you have been meaning to check out The French Library (53 Marlborough St, Boston, MA 02116), come to the free Fall Open House on Saturday, September 6, from 11 am - 3 pm. There is a full schedule of events, including finding your French level, class registration, storytime, a French market, and more. This event is free, but you must register.

Anyone who wants to visit the Boston Athenaeum (10 ½ Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108) is welcome to explore all floors of the private library on Saturday, September 6, from 10 am to 3 pm during the Community Day Open House. This is a free event for all ages.

Spend your Saturday at the 15th Annual Asian American Day Festival being held on Saturday, September 6, from 10 am to 4 pm at Boston Common. This is a day full of free live performances and cultural demonstrations highlighting the richness and diversity of Asian traditions. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Spend your morning sweating for a cause at Pilates for Wishes with Papaya Pilates and Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Saturday, September 6, at Faneuil Hall South Plaza (1 S Market St $4, Boston, MA 02109) beginning at 9:30 am. Tickets are $25. Please bring your own mat and water.

Foodies, this one is for you: don’t miss the Somerville Fermentation Festival on Sunday, September 7, from 11 am to 4 pm at The Center For The Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143). This free event will feature a Speaker series, a diverse vendor marketplace, a (guided) make-your-own sauerkraut table, culture swap, book signing, live music, and more.

Flow under the Harvest Moon with Full Moon Yoga & Soundscape at Museum of Modern Renaissance (115 College Ave, Somerville, MA 02144) with Pete Sacco (BulldogFlowBoston) on Sunday, September 7, from 7 to 8:30 pm. Tickets are $15 and include a beginner-friendly 60-minute yoga flow plus a 15-minute soundscape in savasana.

To get a handle on the celestial drama happening right now, including the September 7 eclipse, don’t miss the Eclipse Gateway Workshop at Venus House (16 Cohasset St, Boston, MA 02130) on Sunday, September 7, from 2 to 3 pm. Tickets are $30 and include a personal chart, plus tools and insight on how to navigate this eclipse season, such as an understanding of the astrological significance of the Pisces Lunar Eclipse (Sept 7), the Virgo Solar Eclipse (Sept 21), and how these eclipses tie into 2025.

If you didn’t find enough to furnish your new apartment during Allston Christmas, don’t miss the 2nd Annual New Digs Market for the Recently Moved, presented by The Brighton Bazaar, on Sunday, September 7, from 12 - 7 pm at The Charles River Speedway (525 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02135). Sip a drink from Notch Brewing while you shop at small businesses for domestic treasures. Or, take a break and stop into one of the food stalls like Birds of Paradise Bar or The Koi Club. Pets are welcome at this free public event.

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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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.