This “edition” of Boston Weekend is all about art: date nights (for parents) and summer arts classes for the kids.
For a last minute date night this Friday, June 5th we are going to a First Friday series by SoWa Artists Guild at 450 Harrison Ave in Boston’s South End. We have not yet attended their Friday events, but the website promises a multi-open studio type event presenting 60+ international artists working in different mediums. ( 5-9pm, every “first Friday” of every month).
South End is one of my favorite areas of Boston and there are many nice eateries nearby for dinner/coffee/drinks before or after the show (including my favorite Beehive with nightly live music). For this evening, I am considering a couple of places from this Tripadvisor’s list of best South-end restaurants.
Another date night idea I recommend in the next couple of days is the Boston Pops’ evening of Stephen Sondheim’s music (You may be familiar with this living Broadway legend’s musical scores from Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Gypsy and Follies). The Simply Sondheim event is at Symphony Hall on June 10 and 11. (Here is a link to Goldstar discounted $15-$47 tickets).
Unfortunately, there are no discounted tickets offered for Vakhtangov Academic Theatre of Russia new theatrical work Smile at Us, Oh Lord which is showing next Fri-Sat June 12-13 at Cutler Majestic Theater. Here is a theater’s link to the tickets (and more information) . Note that there are very few tickets left!
But it is not all about date nights. On Sunday, June 7, I look forward to my little ballerina’s performance in the year-end demonstration in her Boston Ballet’s (Newton Studio) class. If you are considering enrolling your child in one of their classes, this event may be of interest to you (12 pm on Sunday in Newton Studio, at 863 Washington Street, Newton). I am a big fan of Boston Ballet’s children’s program (I have also written about their adult ballet classes in my story on adult learning).

Boston Ballet School offers summer program for ages 5-19, the link to a full schedule is here.
Another Boston’s cultural “staple”, Museum of Fine Arts offers weekly and bi-weekly summer sessions for teens and tweens (age groups 12-14 and 15-18) in photography, animation, drawing and painting. For full selection of classes, here is a link to MFA’s website.

French Cultural Center on Marlboro street invites the kids (ages 5-18) to try their French language immersion programs taught by native speakers this summer (half or full day weekly sessions; here is a link to a full programs schedule.) I don’t know about you, but immersion in French without leaving Boston does sound amazing to me and I hope to enroll at least one of my kids – one of these summers (transportation to and from Boston is something to think about, but commuter trains and MBTA may be an option for older kids).
Wheelock Family Theater in Fenway offers a comprehensive selection of musical theater classes for kids ages 5-18. For full listing of their summer weekly sessions check this link.
Your children look so accomplished – ballet and drawing! How wonderful! That’s a great list. I had not heard of the Theatre of Russia. Are the performances in Russian or English?
Jolanta, I really do what I preach on this site:) and try to expose my kids to as many Boston’s cultural offerings as I can- even if only for a weekend workshop (of drawing, at MFA). The theater performance is in Russian, with English subtitles. I hear the director is brilliant, and some of the leading Russian theater actors are performing in the play.
We just love Boston! Thanks for a great reminder of so many things to do. Next time we are back in the USA, we will have to pay a visit.
Thanks for reading, Heidi!
This post puts a completely new spin on Boston for me. The kids have been asking to go, so our trip is on our “new future’ list.
I am sure you will find lots to do here!
Some great date night ideas here!
Great list! I also love Sunday in the South End for the food trucks. So much fun. Excited to head down there this summer!
Great idea, Robin! I was looking into that too!
I lived in Boston for nearly 2 years and absolutely loved it! Love those dining places in Southend Boston, need to go back one of these days when I am back visiting the States 🙂 My daughter would love the ballet school too!
We went to Gaslight that night and it was very stylish! Hope you have a chance to Boston soon, Samiya:)