An Art-umnal Scene
By November, the vibrant hues of the October
foliage have begun to fade to brown. But
don’t fret if you’ve missed the peak of the
foliage season, because there are plenty of
gorgeous colors to be found at numerous open
studios showcasing Boston’s burgeoning art
communities.
Start with a visit to the Allston Arts District 20th Annual Open Studios on November 11 & 12. This artists’ collaborative, situated in a neighborhood with deep artistic roots, displays the works of more than 35 featured artists, including the architecturally-inspired works of Jill Weber, the typographic designs of Firefly Press and Fran Gadino’s digital photography.
Another must-see for art lovers is Fenway Studios’ Holiday Open Studios on November 18 & 19. This National Historic Landmark showcases artists working in a variety of styles from expressionism to realism. Art enthusiasts can take a visual history lesson from Peter Williams’ New England maritime historical print series, be amazed at the vibrant detail of Loretta Cuda’s egg tempura creations and much more. Refer to listings.
Curtains
Up
After the traditional
summer drought, Boston’s Theatre District
starts humming again in autumn, so there’s
no better time to get lost in a dramatic (or
musical or comedic) evening of theater in
one of the Hub’s stunning vintage theaters.
A revival of the classic courtroom drama
Twelve Angry Men-—starring
Richard Thomas (“The Waltons”) and
George Wendt
(“Cheers”)—runs November 7–19 at
The Colonial Theatre.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling
Bee brings its quirky and comical Tony
Award-winning songs and soul to the
Wilbur Theatre in its
Boston premiere. The whole family will enjoy
Louis Sachar’s award-winning Holes as
it jumps from the page to the stage,
through the end of November at
Wheelock Family Theatre.
Show your Southie pride and support
Huntington Theatre Company’s
production of South Boston playwright David
Lindsay-Abaire’s critically acclaimed drama
Rabbit Hole. And fans of big singers and
even bigger bouffant hairdos will find it
worth the trip north to check out
North Shore Music Theatre’s
musical production of the Broadway smash hit
Hairspray, running through
November 19. Refer to
listings.
Arlo & Alice
Thanksgiving in America is
a time of many traditions—pumpkin pie,
parades and football, just to name a few. In
these parts, though, it isn’t really Turkey
Day until you’ve heard “Alice’s Restaurant.”
On November 15, socially conscious singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie makes his annual pilgrimage to the Hub, bringing his extensive catalogue of American folk to the Somerville Theater. The centerpiece of any Arlo show this time of year is “Alice’s Restaurant,” where Guthrie takes audiences on a hilarious journey that began with an incident of littering on Thanksgiving Day in Western Massachusetts, and became a statement about the politics of the American government during the Vietnam War. Originally released in 1967, this song (which is really more of a story that can run up to an hour in concert!) was a musical example of the commitment to social activism that defined the 60’s generation. With the comparison between the turbulent Sixties and today growing more prevalent, maybe this year a visit to “Alice’s Restaurant” is just what we all need. Refer to listing.
Ice, Ice, Baby
You don’t have to be the
next Michelle Kwan to love ice-skating.
Starting November 15, glide over to
Boston Common’s Frog Pond
to take a spin on the ice in America’s
oldest public park. This popular spot is
flooded daily with families, couples and
anyone else wishing for the opportunity to
be part of their own personal Currier and
Ives scene. And since the brutal winter cold
hasn’t set in, now is a great opportunity to
lace up your skates for an evening turn
under the stars (until 10 p.m. on weekends).
Be sure to warm up afterwards by sipping hot
cocoa at the Pond Cottage. Whether you’re
practicing your triple lutz or simply trying
to stay on your feet, the Frog Pond proves
that fun is best served frozen! Refer to
listing.
The Tastes of Fall
With the changing of the leaves comes the
changing of the menus at local restaurants.
As the crisp smell of autumn fills the air,
many of Boston’s best eateries are
introducing new menu items inspired by the
harvest season.
Sonsie (refer to listing) will tantalize your taste buds with their seasonal ode to apples. Start off with hot butternut squash soup with maple baked apples, cornmeal batter fried shrimp with pink apple coleslaw, or cider braised beef with soft cooked apples. Or try the ricotta-stuffed gnocchi with autumn squash cream and toasted walnuts for a main dish that will leave you pleasantly full.
Follow your nose to the sweet aromas of 33 Restaurant (refer to listing) to experience their new fall menu, which includes poached shrimp dumplings and the Mediterranean bass with basil-cured tomatoes and leek-artichoke confit.
You’ll fall for Cottonwood Restaurant and Café’s (refer to listing) grilled pork tenderloin with cinnamon ginger applesauce, braised red cabbage and roasted red bliss potatoes. Or, on a chilly late autumn night, warm up with the butternut squash mezzaluna pasta at Rustic Kitchen (refer to listing).
Let
the Games Begin
The lights over at Fenway Park may be dark,
but the rest of Boston’s celebrated sports
teams are just starting to heat things up
this month. With our beloved
Boston Bruins’ off-season additions
of defenseman Zdeno Chara and rookie center
Phil Kessel, this season promises to be an
exciting one for hockey fans. Watch the team
hit the ice at TD Banknorth Garden
November 9 & 16 against the Toronto
Maple Leafs, and November 11 against
the Ottawa Senators. And if you’re more
about the slam dunk than the slap shot, the
Garden is also home to one of basketball’s
most storied franchises—the green gladiators
themselves, the Boston
Celtics. Veterans Paul Pierce and
Wally Szczerbiak lead the young Celts
against the Orlando Magic (November 13)
and Indiana Pacers (November 15) this
month. And outside the city but close to the
hearts of Boston sports fans, the
New England Patriots
are lining up for a win against the New York
Jets when these storied rivals meet on the
gridiron November 11 at Foxboro’s
Gillette Stadium. Refer to
listings.
Making a List,
Checking it Twice
They say to give is better than to receive,
but not when the giving requires waiting in
department store lines that stretch all the
way to the North Pole. This year, beat the
December rush with early holiday shopping at
some of Boston’s top retail districts.
Shopping on Newbury Street, Back Bay’s trendy destination for stylish boutique merchandise, doesn’t have to result in maxed out credit cards. This Mecca for designer fashions and expensive tastes also offers less pricey but equally stylish shops for all your gift list needs. Stop by H&M (refer to listing) to snag some good deals on up-to-date fashions and while you’re there, don’t forget to peruse their accessories department for stocking stuffers galore. Borders Books and Music, H&M’s new neighbor opening mid-month, is a great one-shop stop for books, magazines, music and movies.
For the kids and kids at heart on your list, Harvard Square’s unique game and toy shops are a must. For odds, ends and thingamajigs, check out Black Ink (5 Brattle St., 617-497-1221) and their creative selection of housewares, personal goods and toys. For books and games that are both educational and entertaining, visit Curious George Goes to Wordsworth (1 JFK St., 617-498-0062) and The Games People Play (1100 Mass. Ave., 617-492-0711).
And if you’re a mall rat at heart or just
want to beat the autumn chill, the
Shops at Prudential Center
(refer to
listing) boasts over 75 shops,
restaurants, kiosks and specialty stores. Or
if you’re sticking to the other side of the
river, you’ll be sure to find something for
everyone on your list at the array of over
120 shops at CambridgeSide
Galleria (refer to
listing).
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