What do a street fair, fire throwing, and Shakespeare have in common? They’re all happening in Boston this week, and you can attend for free — or at a discount. Check out our roundup of cheap (but worth it) happenings in the area in this week’s Boston at a Bargain.
Free events
CINEFILE BlackBox, Boston University’s first Black student film organization, is hosting its second annual festival. The evening features 11 shorts by Black student filmmakers from BU, Morehouse College, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Florida, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and the College of Staten Island, selected by a panel of industry pros. The film festival is hosted with BU’s Black Media symposium on Saturday at the university’s Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground. Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St. Brookline. eventbrite.com
WORLD OF [WATER]COLOR Lyrik in Back Bay hosts weekly watercolor workshops led by Lowell artist Ashley Eisenman through Oct. 10. She will bring stencils of some of her most popular designs for those who need a springboard, but attendees can also create their own design and ask her for guidance. All materials are provided. Sept. 26, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Lyrik Plaza, 400 Newbury St. lyrikbackbay.com/happening
IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON Actors From The London Stage will present Shakespeare’s classic play “Twelfth Night” this weekend at Wellesley College. Actress Shona Babayemi will star as Olivia, who, when declared lost at sea following a shipwreck, disguises herself as a man, Cesario. But things get complicated when a love triangle (inevitably) ensues. Made up of a rotating batch of five classically-trained actors playing multiple roles, AFLS is one of the oldest traveling Shakespeare companies of its kind. Sept. 26-28, 7 p.m. Free. Wellesley College, Alumnae Hall Auditorium, 106 Central St., Wellesley. simpletix.com
ON FIRE The Ignite Street Food and Fire Festival returns with global cuisine, fire throwing, and puppet performers, including a 10-foot-tall cat named Lima Bean and a roaming tiger from MassArt alum A.C. Gibson. And after more than a decade, the festival still has plenty of local pride: “We try to always have global talent that represents Somerville,” said Heather Balchunas, arts coordinator at Somerville Arts Council. Sept. 30, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free. 90 Union Square, Somerville. somervilleartscouncil.org
BEST IN THE BIZ Free yoga, free coffee, and free apple cider? Sign us up. Pop-up market curators Bizzy Women Social’s fall festival offers a full day of family-friendly activities — including a friendship-bracelet station that would make Taylor Swift proud — and a wide array of vendors. Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Boston Logan Airport Revere Beach, 400 Ocean Ave., Revere. bizzywomensocial.com
ALLSTON BALL The Allston Village Street Fair returns Sunday after a pandemic-related hiatus. This year, DJ (and emcee) WhySham hosts a dance party from 5 to 6 p.m., between performances from the GemsTones, Eli Yacinthe Band, and Bees Deluxe. Approximately 90 arts and crafts and food vendors will be on site, as well as a food truck food court featuring Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Tandoor & Curry On Wheels, Mi Corazon Taqueria, and Ulmans Ice Cream. Sept. 29, noon-6 p.m. Entry is free. Harvard Avenue from Brighton Avenue to Cambridge Street, Allston. allstonvillagestreetfair.com
A BRAINWAVE BASH Gamers of all ages can head to the MIT Museum for a night of play and science. As part of the Cambridge Science Festival, attendees can face off against a robot in Connect 4, pick up skills from Doom-playing bacteria, and see if a hacked oscilloscope can hit a 30-note streak on Guitar Hero. STEM TikTokkers and bioengineering PhD students Malik and Miles George will take on live challengers in Super Smash Brothers while simultaneously putting their MIT educations to use, answering science trivia from the crowd. Sept. 26, 6-8 p.m. Free. Game On! at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Gambrill Center, Building E-28, Cambridge. mitmuseum.mit.edu
Deals & steals
THE 52ND FLOOR Your professor was right: The sky’s the limit. Or at least that’s the case for students with View Boston’s new weekly deal. Starting this week, students with a valid ID will get access to all three floors of the observation deck for $10 on Thursdays after 7 p.m. The discount is set to run through the end of the school year. Thursdays, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. $10 with student ID. View Boston, 800 Boylston St. viewboston.com
Emily Wyrwa can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @emilywyrwa.
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