Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo by Chris on Flickr

Sports
Poles ‘n Paddles

The city’s first ping pong lounge is hosting a paddle showdown with a twist: pole dancing. Yes, you read that right. Performances showcasing the human body’s strength and grace will act as backdrop to tournaments at 12 different ping pong tables. “It’s going to be very stimulating in pretty much everywhere you turn there’s going to be something going on,” says LYLT Productions founder Rachel Whitney. “It’s a combination of Cirque de Soleil and an Olympic sport… It’s mixing art and athleticism.”

$10 online, $15 at the door, Saturday, November 22, 8 p.m., Blazing Paddles Boston, 82 Landsdowne St., facebook.com.

The Game—Harvard vs. Yale

The undefeated Harvard Crimson will take on the Yale Bulldogs (8-1) on Saturday for the 131st playing of The Game. One of the oldest football rivalries in college sports, the match-up takes place on Harvard’s turf this year, meaning students, alumni, and pranksters will come together to make the sporting event memorable as ever. Tickets sold out long ago, so if you don’t have any, you can still make the scene, tailgate for a bit, and root against the Yalies.

Saturday, November 22, kickoff at 12:30 p.m., but tailgating starts much, much earlier. Harvard Stadium, 63 N Harvard St., Allston. More info: gocrimson.com.

Culture
New Music Festival

The Boston Conservatory’s annual New Music Festival is back this November, and it’s celebrating women. The festival highlights exceptional compositions, with this year’s composer lineup including Claire Chase and Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw. Shaw is the first and youngest women to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. “The stylistic variety and emotional range of expression in this year’s New Music Festival may be our broadest to date,” says the festival’s Artistic Director, Eric Hewitt. “Whether you’re interested in sumptuous beauty, experimental new sounds, or savage energy, the extraordinary composers and performers of these works have something for every fan of art music.”

Wednesday, November 19-23, 8 p.m. nightly, Seully Hall, 8 The Fenway, bostonconservatory.edu.

SMFA Art Sale

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts is once again presenting an opportunity for you to own a piece of fine art while benefitting student scholarships. The annual SMFA Art Sale will showcase the work of students, alumni, and faculty, which include drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, videos, photographs, and a pop-up jewelry shop. The school’s largest fundraiser contains thousands of works within a large price range. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity to see what the SMFA does and what kind of artists we produce,” says Brooke Daniels, SMFA Communications Officer. “It’s a chance to find a new perspective on colleges and art in Boston.”

Thursday, November 20 through 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., School of the Museum of Fine Arts, 230 The Fenway, smfa.edu.

Helping Out
Cranksgiving Boston Bike Ride

Part bike ride, part urban scavenger hunt, and part food drive, the Cranksgiving Boston Bike Ride is a trio of activities that aims to give back to the community. The event is free, but participants must bring $15 in order to purchase non-perishables for the Somerville Homeless Coalition and the Boston Food Bank during the scavenger hunt. By cycling along city roads and winding up and down grocery aisles, cyclists can provide Thanksgiving meals just by doing their thing.

Saturday, November 22, 1 p.m., Copley Square, facebook.com.