Save Your Weekends: Bastille Day in Boston & More
Between the first annual weeklong free arts/music/food festival downtown, Bastille Day celebrations in Back Bay and at the MFA, enough free fitness classes to get your butt in bikini shape by your next beach getaway, and Harborfest on the waterfront and Greenway, there’s absolutely zero excuse for staying home and crying broke.
Instead, try:
“Liberte, egalite, fraternite…frugalite!”
18th Annual Boston French Film Festival
Starts Thursday July 11th
Museum of Fine Arts
Boston, MA
(Longwood)
38th Annual Bastille Day Party
Friday July 12th
6 to 11 pm
Marlborough Street, between Berkeley & Clarendon
Boston, MA
(Back Bay)
Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 at the door
After a short residency at the Liberty Hotel, the beloved block party celebration of all things French (hosted by the French Cultural Center) returns to its rightful home on Marlborough Street. Catch the show from Madame Moustache, a Quebecoise funk-rock-country band, nosh on delicious French food and wine, and dance like you just escaped from an 18th century prison.
Fizzy Friday with Louis Roederer
July 12th
5 to 7 pm
The Bristol Lounge Bar
200 Boylston Street
Boston, MA
(Back Bay)
FREE
In a special First Fridays series event for Bastille Day, taste free samples of true French Champagne from Louis Roederer while tweeting for posh prizes — just share your photos at the bar to @FSBoston and @LouisRoederer_ using the hashtag #BristolBar for a chance to win. More info over on BostonTweetup.com.
Joanne Chang Cookbook Signing
Saturday July 13th
2 pm
Brookline Booksmith
(Coolidge Corner)
FREE
Check out Chang’s recent Google talk for more of the reasons why we love her, then Green Line it out to Brookline for a copy of her best-selling cookbook, a chance to meet the chef herself, maybe even get some custom baking tips.
Shakespeare in the Park
July 14th, 15th & 17th
8:30 pm
Parkman Bandstand
Boston Common
Boston, MA
(Park Street)
FREE, $15, $35
Nothing says summer in the city like a free production of The Bard from Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, now with near-daily performances through July 28th. Stake out some blanket space for this year’s play, Two Gentleman of Verona, directed by Steven Maler, for free and pack your own nosh, or opt for (new this year) more efficient options: reserve a picnic box from The Earl of Sandwich for $15; reserve a chair ahead of time for $35. More at TwoGents.Eventbrite.com.
Chaturangas for Charity
Sunday July 14th
9 to 11 am
Lululemon at the Pru
776 Boylston Street
Boston, MA
(Copley/Prudential Center)
Suggested donation: $10-20 per person
Taught by Erica Bornstein of Back Bay Yoga/Sweat & Soul, proceeds go to support the Africa Yoga Project — an organization bringing the healing powers of yoga to areas affected by years of poverty and politicl unrest, such as in Kenya.
Hippie Chic
Opens July 16th
Museum of Fine Arts
Huntington Ave
Boston, MA
(Longwood)
Enough with the Samurais already (though you really should see them if you haven’t). Starting this Tuesday, it’s all about free love and fashion at the MFA with the opening of “Hippie Chic,” an exhibition exploring the counterculture style of the 60s and 70s. Budget bohemians can try borrowing a museum pass from the Boston Public Library, or waiting until First Fridays on August 2nd to get in free with their Bank of America card.
Waterfront Yoga
Wednesday July 17th
6:30 to 7:30 pm
Wharf District Park
on the Rose Kennedy Greenway
High Street
Boston, MA
(Aquarium)
FREE
BYO mat, towel & water for this free weekly outdoor sweat session and get your OM on between summer weekend getaways. Weather permitting.
1st Annual Outside the Box Festival
Saturday July 13th to Sunday July 21st
Boston Common & City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
(Park Street/Government Center)
FREE
Catch legendary punk scene musician Alejandro Escovedo free on the Common, this Saturday (July 13th) at 1pm, then camp out next Saturday (July 20th) all evening starting at 5pm to catch local legends like Buffalo Tom (5pm) and Mighty Mighty Bosstones (8pm). There’s also the Fork Lift Food Festival on City Hall Plaza from July 18th to July 21st (11 am to 9 pm Thursday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday), featuring fare from a star-studded cast of local chefs and (gasp! in Boston!) a Wine & Beer Pavilion for the day drinking of adult beverages with your fine street fare (21+).