Boston Event Calendar

October 2009

October is one of the most glorious months in Boston as leaves all over the city turn crimson, gold, and orange. 

The Boston Events Calendar for October is dominated by Halloween.  As pumpkins appear on doorsteps and windows, you can get in on the fun at Boston movie theaters, shows at Boston theaters, and even concerts and the circus at the Garden.

If you're looking for outdoor things to do in Boston, be sure to stop by SoWa Open Market for super shopping on Sundays in the South End.   And if you're wondering what to do in Boston indoors, head for the Brattle Theatre where Dennis Lehane and others will read from their latest chiller collection, Boston Noir and autograph books.

Here are my top recommendations for fun Boston things to do - organized by date.

Quick Links:  Boston events calendars:   September   l   November   l   December

Mary McFadden: Goddess - At MassArt

When:   October 1 - December 5, Bakalar Gallery at MassArt (Massachusetts College of Art and Design)
Where: 621 Huntington Ave, Fenway, Boston
Nearest T station: Green Line E/Longwood
Cost:  Free
More information:  MassArt website

Renowned fashion designer Mary McFadden has designed over 100 fashion collections during her career, and you can see 30 of her haute couture gowns, numerous pieces of jewelry, and samples from her collection of historic textiles and jewelry. 

Boston Bruins at the Garden

When:  Thursday, October 1 at 7pm
Location:  TD Garden, Causeway Street, next to North Station, Boston
Nearest T stop: Orange Line/North Station
Parking:  Garages near TD Garden

Tickets through Ticketmaster 

The Boston Bruins zoom onto the ice for their opening game of the 2009 - 2010 ice hockey season against the Washington Capitals.  With 7 more home games this month (10/3, 10/8, 10/10, 10/12, 10/21, 10/29, 10/31), you'll have other chances to watch the Bruins work their magic in the rink if you can't get to this game.

OctoberFest at Harpoon Brewery

When:
   - October 2 - 5:30pm - 11pm (doors close at 9:30pm)
   - October 3 - 2pm - 9pm (doors close at 7:30pm)
Where: 306 Northern Ave, South Boston Waterfront
Nearest T station: Red Line/South Station; take Silver Line 2 or 3 to Harbor Street, or catch shuttle behind Federal Reserve building next to Fort Point Channel off Summer Street
Cost:  $20 for entrance includes one drink ticket (additional cost for food and additional drinks)
Age More information:  Harpoon Brewery website; 888-HAR-POON, ext 3

Celebrate fall at Harpoon Brewery's 20th annual German-style OctoberFest, one of the biggest in New England.   You'll find a big selection of Harpoon beers and ales including IPA and UFO Hefeweizen to sample, German food made by a local restaurant, bands playing German Oompah music, and lots of good spirits.

"Hello Fall!" Festival on the Greenway

October 3, 3:30 - 5pm - Dewey Square section (near South Station and Chinatown) of the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Downtown Boston
Cost:  Free
For more information:  Rose Kennedy Greenway website

"Try Something New" is the theme of this year's 2nd annual fall festival at the Greenway.  You can skate on artificial ice (!), enjoy a carnival ride, go on a Greenway treasure hunt (pick up a map when you get there), admire the "Flutter" art installation, chill out to the music of local bands, get your face painted, join Greenway and Harborwalk tours, try Nordic pole walking, cruise around Fort Point Channel, and even go on a carnival ride.  A farmers' market will give you the chance to buy some of the bounty of the season, and will also do cooking demos.

This fun-filled day aims to have something fun for everyone, toddlers through adults.  We have it on our calendar and are looking forward to trying that artificial ice!

Oyster Tasting Tutorial

October 3, 3:30 - 5pm - Legal Seafood Restaurant in Copley Place, 100 Huntington Ave, Back Bay, Boston

Although oysters have been popular in Boston restaurants for a long time, they've recently taken on star status in the city's many seafood restaurants.  This oyster tasting and tutorial led by experts from Legal Seafood.  You'll learn how to shuck and slurp oysters, and how to distinguish between the flavors of different varieties.  This, of course, means slurping some for yourself!  You'll leave happy after all that slurping, and armed with an "Oyster Survival Kit" that includes a DVD on "How to Shuck an Oyster" so that you can try your new-found skills at home.

Enrollment is through Boston Center for Adult Education.  Cost is $45, but only $40 if you're a BCAE member.

SoWa Open Market and Antiques Market

October 4, 11, 18, 25, 10am - 6pm
540 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston; nearest T station: Orange Line/Back Bay; free parking at 500 Harrison Ave.

The fabulous SoWa open air market and antiques market will be open for only 4 more Sundays this year - so stop by the popular South End destination while you still can.  The antiques market, new this year, is filled with interesting estate jewelry, decorative objects, and other goodies - I saw gorgeous vintage linens there a couple of weeks ago.  If you're thinking ahead to the holiday season already, you'll also find lots of great gifts among the offerings from the Open Market artists and artisans.

Free admission.  More details and photos at SoWa Open Market.

KISS in Concert

October 5, 7:30 pm - TD Garden, Boston
Location:  Causeway Street, next to North Station
Nearest T stop: North Station
Parking:  Boston garages near North Station / TD Garden

70s rock band KISS, as flamboyant as ever with their black and white face paint, goth-goes-Hollywood costumes, and occasional body armor, puts on a live show of old faves and new hits from their latest album, Sonic Boom.  They're on the first leg of a fan-routed tour, in which over 10,000 cities and towns across the U.S. and Canada mounted campaigns to lure them to play, so Boston fans must have done well in the competition.

Tickets range from $25 to $127.50.   Find best prices through Ticketmaster.

Bartók at the Gardner Museum

October 8, 6:30pm - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Fenway, Boston

One of the most marvelous and unusual classical concert venues in Boston is the Tapestry Room Gallery in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in the Fenway neighborhood.  On Oct. 8, Nicholas Kitchen and the renowned Borromeo String Quartet will present a multimedia program centered on Bartók's String Quartet No. 1 in A minor.  Following a discussion led by Kitchen, the Quartet will perform the piece, accompanied by projections of related.  Afterwards, you can attend a wine reception for the group in the museum's Courtyard. 

Tickets for the event are $23 Adults; $18 Seniors; $15 Members; $10 College Students; $5 Children ages 5-17.
Goldstar Events offers a 50% discount on adult tickets.

The Borromeo String Quartet will give 2 additional performances at the Gardner: The Complete Bartók Quartets, Part I on Sunday, October 11 at 1:30PM,and The Complete Bartók Quartets, Part II on Sunday, October 18 at 1:30PM.

Boston Celtics at the Garden

When:  Friday, October 9 at 7:30pm
Location:  TD Garden, Causeway Street, next to North Station, Boston
Nearest T stop: North Station
Parking:  Boston garages near North Station / TD Garden

Tickets through Ticketmaster 

The Boston Celtics play the New York Knickerbockers in this preseason game at TD Garden.   After their 2008 championship in the NBA Finals, you can feel the excitement in the air as fans hope for a season ending in an 18th trophy led by Captain Paul Pierce.  Keep your eyes on Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

Can't make the game on the 9th?  The Celtics have 3 more home games in October:  Oct 11 at 1pm agains the New Jersey Nets, Oct. 28 at 7:30pm against the Charlotte Bobcats, and Oct. 30 at 8pm against the Chicago Bulls.

Circus, Chinese Acrobats . . . and Elephant Walk

October 14, 15, and 16 at 7pm, October 17 at 10:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm, October 18 at 10:30am and 2:30pm - TD Garden, Boston
Location:  Causeway Street at North Station (enter through the North Station Terminal on Nashua Street or through Legends Way)
Nearest T station: North Station
Where to park near the Garden:  Boston parking garages near the North End

Get Tickets from Ticketmaster   

If you've been to the circus before and feel "whatever" about seeing another one, put aside those feelings and get ready to have lots of fun at this updated Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus spectacular called Over The Top.  You'll see dogs fly, elephants dance, and Bengal tigers.  Highlights include amazing Chinese acrobats performing gravity-defying feats with a double-decker trapeze.   If you're looking for things to do with kids, this show is a top pick - and adults will enjoy it too!

And if you're in the right place before and after the circus, you'll get to join a long-time Boston tradition . . . watching the elephants walk down Cambridge and Boston streets to the Garden.  

Cambridge traffic police estimate that this will be the schedule: 

Tuesday, October 13, 7pm:  Elephants begin their walk from train tracks between Vassar and Albany streets in Cambridge to Mass Ave (going through part of MIT) to Memorial Drive to Land Boulevard - and on to TD Garden.
Sunday, October 18, 5pm:  Elephants leave the Garden and return to train cars, following the same route in reverse.

Mayor Menino's Holiday Specials

When:  October 15,
Where:  MayorsHolidaySpecial.com

Check out the collection of holiday discounts on Boston events in the "Mayor's Holiday Special" offers in conjunction with Bostix and local cultural organizations.  Offer previews show 20% off many entertainment and cultural venues.  To make sure you're getting the best discount, don't forget to check Goldstar Events listings to see if half-price tickets are available. 

45th Head of the Charles Regatta

When:  October 17, 7:45am - 6pm, and October 18, 8am - 5pm
Where: Best viewing spots are anywhere between the BU Bridge (near Boston University) and the Eliot Bridge (near Buckingham, Brown, and Nichols Upper School campus).  Boston side of the river borders BU and Allston
Closest T stations: Red Line/Harvard Square - about a 7-8 minute walk to the river; Green Line/BU Central - also a close walk to the river (use the bridge to cross Storrow Drive).  You can also take the shuttle buses that you'll see in the area.
Parking:  Don't even think about it!
Cost:   Free (for spectators) - although you'll find a number of "special" viewing areas, concessions, etc., for a fee
For more information:  Head of the Charles website; also on my Boston Esplanade page

More than 7,500 athletes from Boston and around the world compete in the world's largest 2-day rowing event held on the Charles River.

300,000+ spectators watch these exciting races from the banks of the Charles River and best of all, the bridges.   When the weather is good, bring your camera because you'll see spectacular sights.  When the weather is bad . . . well, personally I find alternate indoor activities, but committed fans will bring their umbrellas and windbreakers and enjoy it just the same.

Three Little Pigs - Free Boston Event!

October 17 at 12 noon and 2pm
Location: Boston Conservatory's Seully Hall, 8 The Fenway, Fenway neighborhood, Boston, MA
For more information:   617-912-9240; website

Get ready for the best "Three Little Pigs" presentation you've ever seen!  The pig trio will ham it up (sorry, couldn't resist) while they huff, puff, and blow in this 45-minute operatic version of this favorite children's tale accompanied by Mozart's music.  The talented performers are the Boston Conservatory students.  Target audience:  5 - 12 year olds and their parent. 

Steve Morse Band

October 21, 8pm - Berklee Performance Center
Location: 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Back Bay, Boston, MA
Closest T station: Green Line/Hynes
For more information:   617-266-7455

Ticket information through Ticketmaster

Get ready for an evening of rock 'n' roll at this Berklee Performance Center concert by the Steve Morse band, led by the famed Deep Purple guitarist.

Mysteries of the Northeast

October 21, 6pm - Abbey Room, Boston Public Library
Location: 700 Boylston Street, Copley Square, Back Bay, Boston, MA
Closest T station: Green Line/Copley
For more information: 617-536-5400; website
Cost:  Free

Just in time for Halloween, four masters of mystery and murder tales set in New England come together to discuss their noir thrillers.  Mark Arsenault (Loot the Moon), Dan Judson (The Violet Hour), Archer Mayor (The Price of Malice), and Norb Vonnegut (Top Producer) explore all the flavors of murder in maccabre New England.  Bring your copies of their books to this free Fall 2009 Author Talk event for them to sign. 

Here are links to Amazon for your convenience if you need to purchase copies:  Loot the Moon, The Violet Hour , The Price of Malice: A Joe Gunther Novel (Joe Gunther Novels), Top Producer: A Novel

Boston Book Festival

When:  October 24, 10am - 4pm
Where: Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, and outdoors in Copley Square
Cost:  Free
More information:  website

More than 90 writers, scholars, public radio hosts, and television producers will come together in two dozen forums at the Boston Public Library, Old South Church and Trinity Church to celebrate books, exchange ideas, and explore special topics. Musicians will perform jazz, bluegrass, and more outdoors on a covered stage, and exhibitors will set up on the plaza across from the library in Copley Square.

Just to give you a flavor of what to expect, famed Boston chef (No. 9 Park plus 6 other local restaurants) will discuss her new cookbook her new cookbook, “Stir: Mixing It Up in the Italian Tradition.”   Actress Alicia Silverstone will talk about a vegan diet and her new book “The Kind Diet.”  

And this is just a small sliver of what the Festival offers.  See their website for full details!

Harry Potter - "The Exhibition" at MOS

When:  October 25 - January 2010
Where:  Museum of Science, Boston
Cost:  Non-members:  $26 Adults, $24 Seniors, $23 Kids; includes same-day entrance to MOS Exhibits Hall
Discounts:   MOS Members (Adults, Seniors, Kids) pay only $5
Tickets:  Museum of Science on-line store

A lot of buzz surrounds this blockbuster exhibit of 200+ authentic costumes and props used in the Harry Potter films.  You'll see all of them, including Harry's wand and eyeglasses and the Marauder's Map, displayed in film set-like settings designed to make you feel like you've entered Harry's world.  An optional audio tour lets you listen to the film's creators tell behind-the-scenes stories.

Especially if you're planning to come on a weekend day, you should reserve tickets in advance.

MOS suggests allowing about an hour to see the exhibit.  But if you haven't been to the Museum before and if you're coming with kids, you can easily spend most of the day here. 

A Tale of Two Cities

When:  October 25 - November 1, matinees and evening performances
Where:  Wheelock Family Theatre, Fenway, Boston
Cost:  $25 Adults
Discounts:  Get 50% off adult tickets from Goldstar Events (free sign-up)

Wheelock Family Theatre, located on the Wheelock College Campus in Fenway, presents A Tale of Two Cities, based on Charles Dickens' novel about the effect of political intrigue and tumult on individual lives during the French Revolution.  Bill Mootos and Jane Staab star as Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge in this exploration of class, violence, betrayal, love, hatred, revolution, and individual choices.

Be warned: tickets to the high-quality Wheelock Family Theatre productions tend to sell out quickly.  I'm booking tickets for this one myself . . . with my older daughter studying the Age of Enlightenment in high school this year, it's the perfect chance to combine a night at the theater with some academic enrichment.

Boston Noir with Dennis Lehane

When:  October 25, 5pm - 7pm
Where:  Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge
Nearest T station:   Red Line/Harvard Square
More information:   617-876-6837; website 
Cost:  Free

Fans of Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone can join Boston thriller author Dennis Lehane and others at the Brattle Theatre to celebrate the publication of Boston Noir, a collection of collection of short stories by Lehane, Stewart O'Nan, Patricia Powell and more about the dark side of the city.  Each story is set in a different neighborhood, with Lehane writing grippingly about his home territory, Dorchester.  Hear the writers read from their chapters - and then get them to autograph your copy of the book.

The Brattle's "Boston Noir" repertory series also kicks off on October 25 with 3 screenings of Gone Baby Gone (Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman, John Ashton).  Other Beantime crime classics in this rep series include The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum), The Brink's Job (Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands), The Departed (Martin Scorsese as Whitey Bulger is a must-see), chiller Mystic River, and finally The Boston Strangler. 

New movie theater premiere! 

What:   Stuart Street Playhouse  - Boston's newest art house cinema! 
When: October 30, Theatre District , Boston
Where:  200 Stuart Street, Theatre Distric t/ Bay Village
For more information:   Stuart Street Playhouse website
Tickets:  $10; $8 for seniors on weekdays and some matinees

Once one of Boston's most renowned movie theaters, the Stuart Street Playhouse has spent the last 12-13 years as a live theater and performance space.  Now it returns to its roots as a Boston movie theater . . . this time, reborn as an art house cinema.  Initial offerings include "Paris," the Juliette Binoche drama, and "The September Issue," a fashion documentary starring Anna Wintour as herself. 

Located near the newly opened W Boston Hotel in a part of town that's looking quite spiffy these days, the new Playhouse movie theater is creating a lot of excitement.  Stop by for a show . . . and perhaps dinner at a nearby Theatre District restaurant such as Montien, or Bay Village restaurant such as Erbaluce or Pigalle.

Take a Walk on the Dark Side . . .

When: October 31, 5:30 - 7pm, Beacon Hill, Boston
Where:  The steps in front of the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Street across from Boston Common
For more information:   Boston by Foot website
Cost:  $15 ($5 for Boston by Foot members) -  Purchase tour tickets directly from your guide - no reservations are required

. . . of Beacon Hill, that is.  Your guide for this ghoulish annual event, sponsored by local tour company Boston by Foot, will take you on a jaunt through the narrow, dark - could they be haunted? - streets of Beacon Hill.  Well, maybe they're not that dark, but you will see lots of great Halloween decorations and hear macabre tales about ghosts, murder, and mayhem in Old Boston.  Feel free to come in costume!