Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo by Liza Voll provided

Book
Charles Simic at the Harvard Book Store

Pulitzer Prize recipient and former poet laureate Charles Simic will read from his latest collection of poems titled The Lunatic. Known for his witty, melancholy style, Simic’s work has captivated audiences for more than 50 years. Join Simic at the Harvard Book Store as he samples some of the 70 poems from his latest book, focused on nature, growing up in war-ravaged Yugoslavia, and mortality.

$5, Friday, April 10, 7 p.m., Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, harvard.com. 

Ballet
Boston Ballet

Experience the Boston Ballet for one night only at the Strand Theatre, featuring performances of this season’s work as well as original choreography. The show begins at 7 p.m., but the Boston Ballet will offer an interactive showcase that encourages the audience to rethink their perception of the ballet prior to the performance. Stop by early to learn more about the stage, studio, dancers, and community with a costume gallery, movement workshop, and information about each dancer’s background. Then, enjoy the evening’s special performance, featuring Boston Ballet’s company, Boston Ballet II, Boston Ballet School, and students in the Department of Education and Community Initiatives.

$5, Friday, April 10, 5:30 p.m., Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, bostonballet.org.

Charity
Banned in Boston: The Boston Survival Guide

If you need some tips about surviving life in the hub, who better to glean advice from than some of Boston’s best? Banned in Boston is an annual amateur comedy show starring local notables. Hosted by Matt Siegel of Kiss 108, the cast will include Governor Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, Congressmen Jim McGovern and Seth Moulton, Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton, Sam Kennedy of the Red Sox, and other local personalities. Proceeds will support Urban Improv, a nonprofit that provides interactive drama programs for Boston-area youth, encouraging them to express the issues they face on a day-to-day basis through acting.

$150+, Friday, April 10, 6-10 p.m., House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, urbanimprov.org. 

Race
Robot Race and 5K 

This weekend, the first-ever robot and human road race will take place in Cambridge. Lace up your sneakers and charge up your personally designed robo-racer before heading to the starting line on Sunday morning—or just come to cheer on your fellow humanoids and their cyborg counterparts. The event will begin with your standard 5K on two feet, then wrap up with a 100-yard robot dash.

$20-$25, Sunday, April 12, 9 a.m., Alewife Station, 36 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, registration required. 

Food
Taste of South Boston

For the 13th year in a row, the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation (SBNDC) will host the Taste of South Boston, a dinner event featuring 30 local chefs and restaurants from the neighborhood, including Stephi’s in Southie, The Paramount, and Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar as well as drinks provided by Harpoon and Al’s Liquors. Proceeds from the event will support the SBNDC’s mission to provide affordable housing for those in need in the community.

$50, Sunday, April 12, 6-9 p.m., Seaport Hotel, 1 Seaport Lane, Boston, tickets.