13 Free Things To Do in Boston, April 2014

Fly fishing photo via Shutterstock

Free Concerts at Berklee

For anyone who loves music, April is full of free concerts and performances at the Berklee College of Music. Look forward to will be “Spring Winds, Flutes and Piano,” which will feature the Berklee Flute Choir and the Spring Winds and Piano Ensemble playing original compositions and arrangements; “Roots Songwriter Night,” which will include acoustic performances by students, faculty, alumni, and a mystery guest; and the Berklee Jazz Orchestra Concert, performing under the direction of Greg Hopkins. For a full list of April performances, check out: berklee.edu/events/concerts.

Spring Winds, Flutes and Piano, Wednesday, April 2, 2 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston, berklee.edu.
Berklee in the Round: “Roots Songwriter Night,” Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m., Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St., Boston, berklee.edu.
Berklee Jazz Orchestra Spring Concert, Tuesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston, berklee.edu.

8th Annual Boston Muslim Film Festival: These Birds Walk

The American Islamic Congress is hosting its 8th Annual Boston Muslim Film Festival from March 25 to April 11. This event, organized in partnership with Harvard University’s Pakistani Student Association, will include a viewing of These Birds Walk, a story about a runaway looking for his home. The film will demonstrate the struggles faced by children living on the streets, show a story of resilience, and address some of the social issues of American Muslim identity.

Wednesday, April 2, 6 p.m. Harvard University, 10 Holyoke Place, Cambridge, 617-495-3434, RSVP at eventbrite.com.

Technology to Help Us Save Our Oceans

This lecture will be hosted by Shah Selbe, an engineer, conservation technologist, and National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Selbe will explain innovative approaches and technologies that can help marine reserves and how you can assist in saving our oceans.

Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m., Simons IMAX Theatre, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, 866-815-4629, neaq.org.

Needham Talks 2014: Ideas for Change

At this lecture, you will hear from three inspiring speakers who have created local and global change. Hear from Dr. William Rodriguez, CEO of Daktari Diagnostics, a company that develops inexpensive medical equipment to support health care and disease prevention in the developing world, Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, CEO of the Nonviolent Initiative for Democracy and a former member of the Iranian Parliament, and Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. The speakers will share their stories and explain how you can create change and take action in your own community.

Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m., Needham High School, 609 Webster St., Needham, needham.patch.com.

Fifth Anniversary Celebration and Ice Cream Social

Help the Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library celebrate their fifth anniversary with an ice cream social. Join for a chance to meet and mingle with your neighbors, community leaders, and library staff, listen to live music, and of course, enjoy the free ice cream. The event is open to people of all ages and is a chance to celebrate the library’s great work and bright future.

Thursday, April 3, 5-7 p.m., Grove Hall Branch, 41 Geneva Ave., Dorchester, bpl.org.

Events at the Harvard Book Store

For all you Boston bookworms, you can enjoy a slew of awesome authors speaking at the Harvard Bookstore this April. They’ll be Carl Hoffman, Teju Cole, and Ben Tarnoff just to name a few, but be sure to check out the store on April 5, when Elizabeth Earley will speak about her novel, A Map of Everything, and Steph Barrak and Janae Johnson will perform.

Saturday, April 5, 7 p.m., Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-661-1515, harvard.com.

Hands-On Bookmaking Workshop

If the bookmaking process interests you, join the members of Houseboat Press, known mostly for their photography books, as they lead a workshop exploring the editorial process and teaching the ABCs of bookmaking. Attendees will be given a large group of images and must consider their selections of one image over another in this mock process.

Saturday, April 5, 1 p.m., Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St., Boston, 617-426-5000, artsboston.org.

John Hancock Sport & Fitness Expo

If you’re a runner, and so many Bostonians are, come to the 36th Annual John Hancock Sport & Fitness Expo to meet fellow running enthusiasts and discover new products and services. The expo, which takes place marathon weekend, will have more than 200 exhibitors and will be attended by elite athletes, fitness experts, and thousands of serious runners.

Friday, April 18, 12 p.m.-7 p.m., Saturday April 19, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, April 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston, conventures.com.

Cambridge Science Festival

The annual Cambridge Science Festival is a multi-day event that celebrates science, math, and technology with tons of kid-friendly events, lectures, and demonstrations. With events like The Amazing Nano Brothers Juggling Show, High Voltage Analog Photography, and The Science of Baseball, there is something for every curious mind to enjoy, and you’re guaranteed to learn something new. For the full schedule of events, check out cambridgesciencefestival.org.

Saturday, April 19, 2 p.m.- Sunday, April 27, 4 p.m., MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-253-5927, cambridgesciencefestival.org.

4th Annual Easter Eggstravaganza

Why hide your Easter eggs in the backyard again this year when you can join Aletheia Church in Cambridge for lots of Easter fun. The event will have games for kids, face painting, fun music, and of course, a huge Easter egg hunt. Grab the family and get egg-cited.

Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., North Point Park, 6 Museum Way, Cambridge, 617-858-1614, aletheia.org.

Fly Fishing 101

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to fish, but never got around to it, or if you want to try something new in the warm spring weather, then go out to Dedham for fly fishing lessons. You’ll learn all the basics of fly fishing in this free class, including tips on fly casting and outfit rigging. The class is perfect for beginners of all ages.

April 19 and 26, Orvis Retail Store, Legacy Place Mall, 960 Providence Highway, Dedham, 781-329-7214, orvis.com.

Greater Boston Intercollegiate Poetry Festival

Head over to Boston College to hear amazing poetry from Boston’s brightest students as selected undergrads from 20 Boston-area colleges and universities read their poems at this annual event. Elizabeth “Betsy” Sholl, poet laureate of the state of Maine from 2006 to 2011, author of seven collections of poetry, and winner of numerous awards including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, will be the keynote speaker for the night.

Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., Murray Family Function Room, Yawkey Center, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, nearify.com.

Open Night at BU’s Coit Observatory

Get starstruck with the Department of Astronomy at Boston University as they give the public a chance to view the night sky like they’ve never seen it before: through telescopes. Join the observatory every Wednesday night in April to see the stars and learn about astronomy (weather permitting, of course).

Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m., Coit Observatory, 725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-353-2630, bu.edu/astronomy.