Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo via SoWa Open Market/Facebook

Market
SoWa Opening Weekend

SoWa, one of Boston’s most celebrated and anticipated outdoor markets, will return in full swing this weekend to the South End. This season is an exciting one for SoWa, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. More than 130 indie artists and designers and 70 specialty farmers will be selling their products to shoppers, so whether you’re scoping out some spunky bow ties, one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, or baskets and baskets full of fresh veggies, SoWa has something for you. Food lovers and food truck enthusiasts should also note that 30 food trucks will be on a rotating schedule at the market, a mix of crowd favorites like Roxy’s and Mei Mei, as well as some new faces! So if you feel like you’ll collapse unless you eat a lobster roll before strolling through the market, just know that there’s an available option.

Free, Sundays, May 5-October 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 460 Harrison Ave., sowaopenmarket.com

Festival
Bacon and Beer Festival at House of Blues

Bacon! Beer! Alliteration! All good things. Great things, in fact. This Saturday, head on over to House of Blues for samplings of the most delicious brews and bacon dishes Boston has to offer, ranging from places like Sam Adams Brewery and Brooklyn Brewery, and restaurants including Bambara, Union Bar, and Grille. Dee-lish!

$43, Saturday, May 4, 2:30 p.m., House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St., 888-693-2583, houseofblues.com

Music
Guggenheim Grotto at Club Passim

Guggenheim Grotto, a two-piece folk-pop band from Ireland, is bringing their musical mastery to Club Passim this Friday night. Taking influences from greats like Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, and Rufus Wrainwright, the duo is sure to put on a set you won’t soon forget, with a delicate mix of experimental harmonies and soulful lyrics. Pair it with the perfect beer and good company, and your Friday night out on the town is set.

$25, Friday, May 3, shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge, 617-492-5300, clubpassim.org

Event
Startup Walkabout Week

Everyone loves a good bar crawl, right? Well what about a crawl that gives you a behind-the-scenes peek into the city’s finest startups? Startup Walkabout Week is a free, weeklong event that hosts tours and information sessions about companies like Hubspot, Gemvara, The Tap Lab, and other innovative Boston startups. Everything from white board sessions to design events to donuts will be part of the experience, so make sure to sign up before the spots dwindle.

Free, April 30-May 3. Visit startupwalkabout.com for more info.

Art
Somerville Open Studios

Evidently, May is the month of open doors in Boston. This weekend, the artists of Somerville invite buyers, fans, and enthusiasts to take a peek not only into their working studios, but to experience what daily life is like for a working artist. Feel free to admire their work and get to know them, too! Photographers, painters, textile workers, or graphic designers, or more will be there. Take a look at the Artists Directory to plan our your weekend.

Free, May 4 and May 5, noon-6 p.m. Visit somervilleopenstudios.org for more info.