Five Reasons to Leave the House This Weekend

Photo by ExpressMonorail on Flickr/Creative Commons

Family Fun
Muppet Madness

Every Patriot’s Day weekend, the Brattle Theatre pays homage to America’s favorite troupe of walking, talking, singing puppets. For four days, the theater will feature Muppet films, including The Muppet Moving Singalong (yes, participation is encouraged), The Great Muppet Caper, and The Muppets Take Manhattan. On Marathon Monday, you can even catch a triple feature of all your favorite Muppet films.

$9-$11, Friday, April 17–Monday, April 20, show times vary, Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, brattlefilm.org.

Comedy
Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival 

For one weekend, Eugene Mirman and his talented, comedian friends, will appear at both the Shubert and Brattle Theatres. Join Bill Nye the Science Guy, The Daily Show’s Jessica Williams, Jon Glaser of Parks and Recreation fame, and other comedians for the seventh annual edition of the standup comedy festival, which comes to New York and Boston only one weekend out of each year.

Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 19, times vary, shows at the Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge and the Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, eugenemirmancomedyfestival.com.

21+
Farm-to-Glass Mixology Throwdown 

Farm fresh ingredients meet state-of-the-art mixology in this showdown, where your tastebuds will decide a winner. Sample 10 cocktails crafted by local bartenders, such as Will Isaza of Fairsted Kitchen, David Spielberg of the Salty Pig, and Peter Polselli from La Brasa before casting your votes and sending the best mixologists to the final round. The winner will be crowned after the mystery CSA challenge, where each contestant will have to create a cocktail on the spot from their assigned ingredients. Proceeds from the event will aid the work of the Massachusetts Farmers Markets.

$65, Saturday, April 18, 1-3:30 p.m., W Hotel Boston, 100 Stuart St., Boston, tickets. 

Science
Meet-and-Greet with Astronaut Chris Cassidy

Want to get a glimpse into life outside the atmosphere? Join astronaut Chris Cassidy at the Museum of Science this weekend. He lived in space for 181 days as a member of the International Space Station crew, during which time he completed five space walks. Learn from Cassidy’s firsthand account of what it’s like to spend half a year in space.

Included with admission, Sunday, April 19, 2:30–4:00 p.m., Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, mos.org.

Poetry
Poetry Grudge Match: House Slam vs. Boston Poetry Slam 

In recognition of National Poetry Month, Boston’s two most revered slam groups will fight head-to-head (or word-for-word) to claim the citywide title. The House Slam from Haley House Bakery and Café will face-off against Boston Poetry Slam, using everything from comedy to heart-wrenching narratives to win the votes of the audience and judges. The evening will also feature performances from Somerville-based musician Steve Subrizi and Cambridge comedian Wes Hazard.

$10 in advance, $15 at the door, Sunday, April 19, 7-9 p.m., Oberon American Repertory Theater, Harvard University, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, americanrepertorytheater.org.