Save Your Weekends: Celebrate with Cupcakes & Caribbean Style

By Melissa Massello, June 27, 2013

There’s a whole lot to celebrate this week: DOMA and Prop8 were overturned, and Flawless Goddess Wendy Davis successfully stalled setbacks to women’s rights in Texas. (We still have work to do on reinstating the Voter Rights Act, but let’s not think about that for now.) It’s almost Independence Day, time to dance, eat amazing food, dance some more (to work off those calories), and connect as a community. Plus, everything fun happening this weekend is either free or under $40 bucks.

How d’ya like them apples?

Jose McIntyre’s Summer Block Party
Thursday June 27th
5 to 10 pm
83 Central Street
Boston, MA
(Aquarium)
Tickets: $10 at the door

Even though you may not have been(ahem, probably weren’t) of age the first time you went there, celebrate Jose Mac’s 21st birthday tonight with a summer block party! Sponsored by Radio BDC, there’s a live performance from Air Traffic Controller and proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association/Boston Fire. Hell, why not: it’s Thirsty Thursday and the July 4th holiday week is just a few days away!

Free Salsa at City Hall
Friday June 28th
(rain date: July 12th)
5:30 to 8:30 pm
City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
(Government Center/Haymarket)
FREE

Embrace the hot, humid weather by getting into the spicy Latin spirit at this free community salsa dancing event, sponsored by ONEin3 Boston and Salsa in the Park as part of the Mayor’s Million Pound Challenge. Get there early to snag a free pedometer & track all that ass-shaking!

Boston JerkFest
Saturday June 29th
Two sessions: 11-3, 4-8
Ben Franklin Institute
Boston, MA
(Back Bay/South End)
Tickets: $15/$35 for adults; $6 for kids

Celebrate everything Caribbean in Boston at this annual fundraiser for Cambridge Carnival International. Nosh on authentic Caribbean food from top local chefs (Jamaican beef patties FTW!) and shop for hard-to-find Caribbean specialty goods to take home, all while jamming to live music. Purchase a $35 “Rum & Brew” ticket for free samples of Caribbean-themed adult beverages and you also get free rides to & from the event sponsored by Sidecar!

Free Art & Architecture Tours
Saturday June 29th
11 am
Boston Public Library
McKim Building (Dartmouth Street entrance)
Boston, MA
(Back Bay/Copley)

Ever wondered who designed those gorgeous courtyard fountains, or sculpted that enormous lion, in the original building of the Boston Public Library? Take advantage of this free 1-hour tour six days a week, no appointment neccessary, first come first served up to 8 people per tour. (Group tours are $50.) More info at BPL.org

Make Your Own Cellphone at MIT
Saturday June 29th & Sunday June 30th
1 to 6 pm
MIT Media Lab
Cambridge, MA
(Kendall/MIT)
Email to get on the waitlist: [email protected]
Fee: $150 (covers materials & two-day workshop)

CupcakeCamp Boston 2013
Sunday June 30th
11 am to 4 pm
Davis Square
Rain or shine
Tickets: $7 gets you 8 cupcakes, donate a “Fiver to a Farmer”

Indulge your cupcake cravings to full effect at the 4th annual CupcakeCamp in Boston. Each $7 ticket gets you 8 cupcakes (4 from amateur bakers, 4 from professional bakers), plus live music and free Zumba all afternoon, a cupcake relay race and a cupcake eating contest with prizes donated by seriously amazing local producers Slumbrew and Taza Chocolate, among others. All proceeds go to support the indoor Winter Farmers Market at Arts at the Armory.

Boston Food Swap 2nd Swapiversary Potluck
Sunday June 30th
1 to 4 pm
Collaboratory 4.0
40 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA
(Back Bay)
FREE

Show off your creative culinary skills at this celebratory potluck supper & food swap marking the second anniversary of the Boston Food Swap launch. RSVP for this free community event based on which course you’d like to bring (Main Dish, Appetizer, Dessert, Side Dish) and meet local makers as obsessed with delicious DIYs as you are. RSVP on Eventbrite.