Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Courtesy photo by Mike Johnson/FestPics

DRINK
Boston Beer Summit: Winter Jubilee

Over fifty different breweries will be represented at this year’s Beer Summit Winter Jubilee. Featuring a vast collection of about two hundred craft winter beers, the tasting will be divided into two sessions on Saturday, January 30, at Park Plaza Castle. The festival has been taking place in Boston since 2002, and Beer Summit co-owner Mike Munnelly says it started as a way to showcase the unique and strong flavors of winter brews. The event includes many standout local and regional beers, with about half of the breweries coming out of New England. “There are a lot of beer shows in the market, but we think we distinguish ourselves by having been around so long, plus the quality brewers we got, and location,” says Munnelly.

$55 per person, Saturday, January 30, 12:30-4 p.m. (afternoon session), 5:30-9 p.m. (night session), Park Plaza Castle, 130 Columbus Ave., Boston, beersummit.com.

Courtesy photo by Saki Iwamoto

FAMILY
Winterpalooza at the Boston Children’s Museum

During this year’s Winterpalooza, the Children’s Museum’s annual winter celebration, children will have the opportunity to take part in various indoor and outdoor activities, such as making paper snowflakes, outdoor bubble blowing, and indoor “sock skating.” Massachusetts’ first official groundhog, Ms. G, will also be at the event, as well as Mish Michaels, popular New England meteorologist and author of the children’s book Ms. G’s Shadowy Road to Fame. If she catches the winter blues, Ms. G will sit out the festivities, because groundhogs can’t be taken out of hibernation. But hopefully she’ll be in the mood to partake in her annual duties.

Event included with admission price, adults $16, children (1-15) $16, under 12 months free, Saturday, January 30, 11 a.m. – 4pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston, 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Courtesy photo by Bill Manley

FOOD
8th Annual Harvard Square Chocolate Festival

Not even last year’s brutal winter shook this decadent celebration of chocolate put on by the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA). An all-weather affair, this year’s festival will bring a variety of Harvard Square restaurants and retailers together for a weekend of chocolatey goodness. “They’ll come in on their skis if they have to,” Denise Jillson, Executive Director of the HSBA, says of the festival’s attendees, insisting it has happened before. During the weekend-long festivities, you can expect special menus at participating restaurants, exclusive discounts at local retailers, and free samples, all centering around chocolate. The highlight of the festival for the budget-conscious will likely be the free chocolate tasting event on Saturday on Brattle Plaza.

Free, Friday-Sunday, January 29-31, chocolate tasting on Saturday from 1-2 p.m., Brattle Plaza, 27 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-491-3434, harvardsquare.com.

Photo Courtsey of ICA Boston

ART
ICA After 5: Knitter’s Night Out

Ready to embrace your inner granny? Knitter’s Night Out is the latest program in the museum’s “ICA After 5” series. The event will include “casual instructions” as well as tea and cookies. In addition, the ICA will provide knitting needles and yarn. Led by artist Taylor McVay of New Craft Artists in Action, the Knitter’s Night Out takes place during gallery hours. Participants are encouraged to come and go as they please, giving attendees the opportunity to take a look at the various collections found in the ICA. Hannah Gathman, the ICA’s Associate Director of Special Events, explains that the one-time event is welcoming to both seasoned pros and curious beginners: “We’re hoping all levels of knitting will embrace it.”

Free with price of admission ($15 for Adults), Friday, January 29, 5-9 p.m., ICA, 100 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-478-3100, icaboston.org.

David Bowie as King Jareth in Labyrinth / Film still

MUSIC
David Bowie Tribute Concert

MIT Music and Theater Arts will be hosting a concert in homage to David Bowie. An all-volunteer orchestra will perform Philip Glass Symphonies No. 1, “Low” and No. 4, “Heroes,” a fitting selection, since the pieces were inspired by Bowie’s “Berlin Trilogy” albums. It will be the first time the arrangements have ever been played in Boston. MIT Professor of Music Evan Ziporyn is the organizer and conductor of the concert. “I’m a David Bowie fan, like everybody in the world, but I was more affected by [his death] than I thought I would be,” says Ziporyn. Realizing others felt the same way, and wanting to provide a positive outlet for such strong emotions, Ziporyn decided to organize the event. As an added benefit, all proceeds of the concert will go to the MIT Cancer Research Fund.

$15, free to MIT students, Friday, January 29, 7-9 p.m., Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, mta.mit.edu.