9
best bets for enjoying spring in the Hub
waddle this way
Boston’s been the setting
for a lot of notable pieces of literature,
but perhaps none so as enduring and beloved
by families as Robert McCloskey’s Make Way
for Ducklings. On May 10, Boston Common acts
as the setting for the popular annual
Duckling Day Parade, in which youngsters and
their families get to play the part of
ducklings and retrace the steps of the
Mallard family through the park, all led by
the Harvard University Marching Band. It’s a
tradition that generations of Boston
children have enjoyed, and a true harbinger
of spring’s full glory here in the Hub.
Refer to
special events listing.
tour boston on
two wheels
They say that “once you learn
how, you never forget,” and there’s no
better time than springtime to remember the
joy of riding around on a bicycle—all the
while taking in the most beautiful sights
Boston has to offer. Fans of pedal power can
check out Boston Bike Tours (617-308-5902,
www.bostonbiketours.com) who offer daily
tours of Beacon Hill and Harvard Square, as
well as weekend jaunts through other area
neighborhoods; or Urban Adventours (refer to
sightseeing listing), a company that leads bike
tours from one end of the city to the
other—including evening Fenway neighborhood
tours that let you soak up pre-Red Sox game
excitement—and even delivers rental bikes to
you, anywhere in the city, on their
eco-friendly BioBus.
a party for mother earth
Earth Day may have been in April, but
it’s never too late to celebrate our
glorious planet. Local FM station WBOS, in
conjunction with Whole Foods Market, hosts
the 16th annual Earthfest at the Hatch Shell
on the Charles River Esplanade on May 30
from noon–5 p.m. In addition to performances
by a slew of 1990s alt-rock favorites like
Soul Asylum, Massachusetts’ own Lemonheads,
Seven Mary Three and Shawn Mullins, the
event features Kids’ Planet—an interactive
family area boasting musical acts,
entertainment and enviornmental/ educational
activities for all ages—as well as exhibits
and displays by local and national
eco-friendly orgnaizations and non-profits,
intended to help raise awareness about how
we can all help preserve the world we live
in. For more information, visit
www.earthfest.com.
the heck with hibernating
Franklin Park Zoo, founded in 1911, is home
to more than 200 species of
animals—including gorillas, lions, tigers
and giraffes. And spring is the time of the
year when a number of the animals who spend
the winter in hiding make their debut to the
delight of crowds of families and animal
lovers. Visitors to Franklin Park this
spring can see two of the Zoo’s newer
arrivals—Ramon, an ocelot kitten, and an
as-yet-unnamed barn owl chick—as well as all
their furry and feathered friends. Refer to
wildlife listing.
stop to smell the flowers
The Arnold Arboretum is one of Boston’s most
popular spots in the springtime for nature
lovers, with nearly 7,000 varieties of trees
and flowers spread out over 265 acres. But
when the second Sunday of May rolls around,
there’s really only one blossom at the
Arboretum that’s on everyone’s mind—the
lilac. That’s because it’s the annual
Lilac
Sunday, being celebrated for the 101st time
at the Arborteum on May 10. In addition to
the beautiful blossoms, Lilac Sunday also
boasts live entertainment and is the only
day of the year in which guests are allowed
to picnic on the Arboretum grounds. So, pack
a lunch, pack the family and come out to
Jamaica Plain to sample the lilac life.
Refer to
sightseeing listing.
rocking out
A
sure sign of spring is the sight of pale,
squinting rock ‘n’ roll fans emerging from a
long winter of nothing but indoor shows in
darkened clubs. Beginning this month,
outdoor concert spots like the
Bank of
America Pavilion on the waterfont, the
Comcast Center in suburban Mansfield and
even venerable Fenway Park lure music lovers
out into the sun for outdoor shows by
British balladeers Keane (May 11 at the
Pavilion), the annual KISS 108-FM radio show
starring Black Eyed Peas, The All-American
Rejects, Ciara and others (May 17 at the
Tweeter), and Dave Matthews Band (May 29 &
30 at Fenway Park). Refer to
music listings.
secret gardens...revealed!
Boston in
bloom is a beautiful thing indeed, but the
only thing better than enjoying the city’s
bountiful parks and greenspaces is getting a
chance to appreciate some natural beauty
that few others get to see. That’s why the
annual Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill tour,
sponsored by the Beacon Hill Garden Club, is
such an especially anticipated event by greenthumbs and flower fanatics of all
designations. On May 21, participants
receive maps to a dozen private gardens
secreted away in the venerable old Beacon
Hill neighborhood—lush and peaceful spots
situated right in the heart of the city but
hidden away from the hustle and bustle of it
all. See how city folk manage to keep their
gardens growing and enjoy a day of
tranquility and beauty where you’d least
expect to find it. Refer to
special events listing.
ride The swan boats
Perhaps the most
beloved fixtures in the Public Garden are
the world-famous Swan Boats. Owned and
operated by the Paget family since 1877, the
stately paddle wheel-propelled vehicles take
passengers on short jaunts around the
central Lagoon. The trip, one of the best
bargains for visitors in town (only $2.75
for adults, $1.50 for kids), is
unquestionably the most relaxing way to take
in the Garden and the surrounding skyline.
Refer to
sightseeing listing.
journey to the
art of the city
Some folks mistakenly
believe that appreciating fine art can only
be done within the confines of musty old
museums. This month, enjoy beautiful works
by some of the city’s top artistic talents
while strolling the streets of two of
Boston’s most picturesque neighborhoods.
Stroll by the waterfront during the ninth
annual Fort Point Art Walk on
May 8 & 9,
visiting open studios by 75 artists in one
of Boston’s oldest artist communities. Then,
on May 16 & 17, visit the lovely South End
neighborhood for the SoWa (South of
Washington Street) Art Walk and Open
Studios. Whatever your artistic tastes,
you’re bound to find beautiful items to lend
a touch of springlike beauty to your home.
Visit www.fortpointarts.org or
www.sowaartwalk.com for more information. 
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