Save Your Weekends: Summer Scorcher Edition

By Melissa Massello, July 18, 2013

As we say in Boston, “It’s a wicked scorcher out there.”

With no signs of cooling down, for at least a few more days, we’ve got options: embrace it and sweat it out outdoors in the name of free fun; hibernate in the AC; or head for the water.

Whichever option you choose, here are a few ways you can save your weekend. Stay cool & safe out there — and, personal PSA, don’t ever, EVER, leave a pet in the car in this heat, not even for a minute!

Mirabella Pool Day
11 am to 8 pm
Daily through September 2nd
475 Commercial Street
Boston, MA
(North End)

My favorite of all the city-run public swimming pools, the Mirabella pool is clean, cold, and has stunning panoramic views of Charlestown Harbor. Get thee blanket and beach bag and T or bike it over to the North End for a $10 day splashing & sunning — $3 if you can swing a guest pass from a friend who’s a North End resident with a pool membership.

Free Harvey Bars from Hood
Thursday July 18th & Friday July 19th
11 am to 3 pm
City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
(Government Center)

HP Hood, founded in Charlestown in 1846 and now based in Lynnfield, is intrinsically linked to summers and birthday parties for generations of Bostonians. (My own family indulged in some Hoodsie cups on the deck at the Cape over 4th of July to beat the sweltering sun.) This week, Hood is launching their newest dessert, the Harvey Bar (named after founder Harvey Perley Hood), by handing out free samples and coupons today and tomorrow on City Hall Plaza. Just look for the pedicab drivers rocking bow ties! (More info over on Boston.com.)

Rooftop @ Revere
Daily
Revere Hotel
Boston, MA
(Arlington/Chinatown)

Sure, it might be a splurge at $35/day for pool access, especially compared to the Mirabella pool (above), but the Revere also hosts free yoga with lululemon on Tuesday evenings throughout July (RSVP to Revere concierge, required). Plus, the pool is technically covered, so if by chance the weather takes a turn for the worse, you’re totally set. (Oh, and did I mention the bar?) If you need more convincing of the value of your day pass dollars, check this Instagram shot of the Revere rooftoop pool… ‘Nuff said.

1st Annual Outside the Box Festival
Daily through Sunday July 21st
Boston Common & City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
(Park Street/Government Center)
FREE

Camp out for the evening on Saturday (July 20th) starting at 5pm to catch free concerts from local legends Buffalo Tom (5pm) and Mighty Mighty Bosstones (8pm). There’s also the Fork Lift Food Festival on City Hall Plaza (11 am to 9 pm today 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+).

Shakespeare in the Park
Sunday July 21st
7 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 (8 pm nightly July 23-28, with an additional 2pm matinee performance on July 27th). 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 nmore efficient options: reserve a picnic box from The Earl of Sandwich for $15; reserve a chair ahead of time for $35 (new this year). More info & tickets at TwoGents.Eventbrite.com.

ArtBeat
Friday July 19th & Saturday July 20th
Somerville, MA
(Davis Square)
FREE, $3 suggested donation to Somerville Arts Council

Stuff the Truck for Beyonce
Saturday July 20th
10 am to 12 pm
Goodwill HQ
1010 Harrison Ave
Boston, MA
(South End/Dudley Square)

Beyonce has teamed up with Goodwill for her entire Mrs Carter tour, which stops in Boston this week! Bring a bag of donations to Goodwill HQ on the South End-Roxbury line (1010 Harrison Ave) this Saturday morning to “stuff the truck” and enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Tuesday night’s show at the Garden, among other VIP prizes. Tara and I will be at the show, rocking our best secondhand Sasha Fierce looks & dancing our booties off!

Hippie Chic
Opened July 16th (through November 11th)
Museum of Fine Arts
Huntington Ave
Boston, MA
(Longwood)

It’s all about free love, free AC & 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 24th
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.) After you find Nirvana, play like a little kid in the Greenway fountains to cool off completely!