Boston Weekend. Transitioning into Summer.

Music, Boats, Nature Walks and Theater- in any order.

This time of year is so deceptive here in Boston for families with school age kids. The weather is unmistakably summer-like, yet the weekends will remain busy with kids’ after-school activities for a good portion of June.  What a family to do but seize the weekend with a music concert here and a nature walk there…(and wait for the end of June when we can claim our coveted 10-12 weeks of guilt-free summer weekends).

This weekend, I suggest that you start the fun with FREE FAMILY CONCERT AND INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO (“Fantasies, fables, and faraway places”) on Saturday, May 30, at 2 pm at Weld Hall, Hyde Park Branch Library (35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136). The program promises exploration of musical inspirations followed by hands on instrument “Petting Zoo” in the Library’s beautiful outdoor Children’s Garden. Touching/blowing/striking of the instruments will be encouraged as kids will be guided by the musicians to try the instruments. Here is a link for more information on this event.

Another exciting (FREE) family concert is being held on Sunday May 31, 4:00 pm by Korn family musicians in honor of family patriarch Maxim Korn’s big birthday. Three generations of the Korn family will perform violin Music by Bach, Brahms, Paganini, Shubert, Shostakovich (and more); at Pakachoag Church (203 Pakachoag Street, Auburn, MA 01501). The Korn family is happy to share this event with the music aficionados (refreshments served after the concert).

It is going to be a nice day outdoors on Saturday for taking the kids on  Swan Boat rides in the Boston’s Public Garden (the boats have been freshly repainted). According to an article in Boston Discovery Guide, these boats (propelled by the pedal power) had been inspired by Wagner’s Opera Lohengrin and are the only ones of its kind in the world. (10am to 4pm through the end of June and until 5 in July and August; Adults $3, Children $1.50)

If you want a bigger boat, take one of the cruises offered by Boston Harbor Cruises from Long Warf in Boston. They offer 45 minutes narrated Constitution cruises (every hour on the half hour, 10:30-4:30pm); here is a link to discounted Goldstar tickets for under $15.

(They also offer a daily Sunset Cruises at 7pm; here is a link I found for you on Goldstar for discounted tickets).

If you’d rather take a (FREE!) hike, I suggest nearby Blue Hills Reservation in Milton. There are 126 miles worth of trails and you can see the entire metropolitan area from the summit of the highest of the Blue Hills, the Great Blue Hill (at 635 feet).

Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (in Boston) offers 90-minute Guided Free Tours featuring their collection and landscape history (Saturdays at 10:30am and Sundays at 1:00pm). No pre-registration required.

For another (quite unique!) outdoor experience, come down to the Rose Kennedy’s Greenway (Kneeland Street and Atlantic Avenue in Boston) and…. look up!

This is what you will see (Photo Courtesy: Brianne Miers of a A Traveling Life):

This most unusual 1-ton aerial sculpture titled As If It Were Already Here is created by Brookline artist Janet Echelman. (For other Free Art Exhibits to explore at Greenway Parks click Here)

For Boston theater events this weekend, I would like to highlight After All The Terrible Things I Do, an intimate new play “about bullying and second changes” presented by the Huntington Theater  at South End’s Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts May 22-June 21 (this Sat at 2pm and Sunday at 7pm) (Goldstar Discounted $30-$40 tickets are here).

Chekhov’s Three Sisters is presented by Wellesley Summer Theatre Company and The Arts at Wellesley at Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre (May 21 – June 21, 2015).  (Here are BosTix tickets $10+Fee). If you want more theater, check out my recent Boston Theater post here.

Whatever you choose to do – Celebrate the Weekend!