Got two pair of tickets to give out. Email giveaways@eventsinsider.com to win! The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street,Arlington, MA, .more
Review: Snowmobiling at Northern Outdoors
It’s a perfect experience: gliding through 14,500 miles of snowmobile trails in Maine and staying overnight at the Northern Outdoors resort. Click for my review! Northern OutdoorsThe Forks, ME, –.more
Win: Baby with the Bathwater by Christopher Durang
The satiric side of theather has never looked so small and soft. Just kidding! Wonderful play for those who like to laugh and smirk in dim lights. Got a pair of tix to give away. Email giveaways@eventsinsider.com to win! The Factory TheatreBoston, MA, –.more
Johnny’s Picks
NTrak Model Train Show
10am-4:30 pm on Saturday, February 15, 2014 and 12-4pm on Sunday, February 16, 2014 I’ve always wanted to see this annual model train show, too, less engineering and more hobby / artistic. It’s only $5 and the museum itself is free! National Heritage MuseumLexington, MA, –.more
School Vacation at Franklin Park Zoo
Did you know the Franklin Park Zoo is open all winter? See animal presentations with gorillas and lemurs. Franklin Park ZooBoston, MA, –.more
Special Olympics Passion Plunge
Dive into cold water… and you raise money. I’m not sure what the connection is exactly In Revere and also at Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA. Revere Beach & Nantasket BeachRevere, MA, –.more
Boskone
Do you like Science Fiction WAY too much? This is one of the most important conventions of the year and the guest of honor is Seanan McGuire. Don’t let your fandom down and go! Westin WaterfrontBoston, MA, –.more
Darwin Day
Every year on or around February 12th, people celebrate the birth of Charles Darwin and his great contributions to science. This week you can celebrate with the Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy. Corner Bakery CafeWarwick, RI, .more
Black History Month Celebration
February is Black History Month, and this is one of the best celebrations with dance and music performances by local youth groups. 3-5pm Free for all! Villa Victoria Center for the ArtsBoston, MA, –.more
Presidents’ Family Festival Day
I’ll Grant you that Lincoln to past presidents with live re-enactors is a rush at the JFK Museum! And the entire school vacation week is full of activities like arts and crafts and ice cream. The JFK Museum is great to visit anytime — interactive and interesting — and you can even try giving a presidential speech from their podium. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Columbia PointBoston, MA, .more
Full Moon Tour: Living in the Dark
It’s not exactly the dark ages but you could say so. Visit the Gore mansion in a way you haven’t before – by candlelight! and learn how our ancesters had to deal with living in the dark. Gore Place, 52 Gore Street,Waltham, MA, .more
Model Engineering Show
Personally I’d rather see the steam engines, aircraft engines, machinists tools, and trains at this engineer’s festival! It’s free with admission to the museum, which is great to visit any day. 10am – 4pm. Charles River Museum of IndustryWaltham, MA, .more
Mortified: Doomed Valentine’s Day Show
Remember all those cheesy love letters you once sent? You don’t? It’s probably for the best. Hear others share their mopey and overly-dramatic love bits in this fantastic performance that cynics will enjoy the most. 8pm. OberonCambridge, MA, –.more
National Engineers Week
School vacation week means even more interactive workshops at the Museum of Science, Boston for the Edison in you or your kid! Warning: the robot you build may take over the world and enslave humankind. MIT MUSEUM Building, N51 265 Massachusetts AvenueCambridge, MA, –.more
Lunar New Year Festival
THIS IS NOT THE WEBSITE AT ALL, WHERE’S THE INFO? 10:30am-4pm. Quincy HS will have lots of music and dance to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Although the venue is a high school, the promotion is top rate and I would bet it’s worth a visit. And it’s free! North Quincy High SchoolQuincy, MA, .more
‘The Last Burial of Abraham Lincoln’
7pm. Waltham Public Library Lecture HallWaltham, MA, .more
A Visit with Abraham Lincoln
I have a soft spot for historical re-enactments, especially when it’s Lincoln. Reserve immediately! 1-2pm. Concord MuseumConcord, MA, .more
Salem State University Darwin Festival
Also Salem State University will host a series of lectures and films. It’s definitely a festival, but looks very academic rather than social. Salem State UniversitySalem, MA, –.more
IPPI’S Valentine SUNDAY ICE FISHING DERBY ON SLUICE POND
What is ice fishing? You cut a hole in the ice and wait. Is that fun? Well, it would be fun to see it, I’m sure, if not to do it! 8am-1pm. Sluice Pond, Four Winds Pub Cove, 265 Broadway,Lynn, MA, .more
Unfeigned Love: The Letters of John & Abigail Adams
Yet another timeless couple that enjoyed pouring their hearts out on old sheets of paper. 7:30 pm. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Congress Street Bridge,Boston, MA, .more
Ice Weasel IX
Snow bear pits, melees and a woods battle. Also, a Greek Byzantine food fest that must be good, because if there’s one thing ancient civilizations knew how to do was building temples and bingeing on delicious appetizers. Pvt. George F. Schindler VFW Post #2547North Easton, MA, .more
An Embroiderers’ Schola
The Society for Creative Anachronism hosts medeival re-enactments that are usually period-accurate. This seems to be basically a dinner, but they promise ‘historical displays, games and entertainments’ without describing them. Huh. Camelot CoHousing Common HouseBerlin, MA, .more
Queen City Kamikaze
Are you a geek? It’s too cold to go outdoors, so why not meet people who also love anime and videogames? Yay! 10am-7pm. SchoolManchester, NH, .more
Find 16 New England Regions on Twitter
Hey! I’ve split my Twitter feed into 17 regions so that you can REALLY get just the events close to home, or pick what you like. Please check it out and add me to a ‘Twitter list’ too (google it). All Over, , –.more
Get the 2014 New England Guide
Mention my website to friends and get my 2013 New England Guide, with 1,200 off-beat destinations including dinosaur footprints, zoos, ziplines, where to go stargazing, and where to find an indoor water park in December! All Over, , –.more
Valentine’s Day
Sweethearts’ Night Out
(Mostly) Love songs sang by couples, exploring the cute and not-so-cute sides of love. A fantastic idea to explore and experience love from different perspectives. 7:30pm. The Parlour RoomNorthampton, MA, .more
‘Forbidden Love’ at The Boston Conservatory
A fantastic music journey to explore love from different perspectives through the most beautiful and romantic pieces of all time. A fantastic prelude to a wonderful V-Day’s evening. 8pm. Boston ConservatoryBoston, MA, .more
Valentine’s Day Speed Dating in French
Let me show you my tongue! I mean, my ‘langue de l’amour’ skills. Try speed dating with a twist, Ooh-la-l! Boston French Cultural CenterBoston, MA, .more
Special ‘Valentine’s Day’ Chocolate, Wine, and Bling Party!
Uhhh, fancy. Fine chocolate + wine + jewelry. A great way to satisfy both your sense of taste and sight. 6-8pm. Forum Restaurant, 755 Boylston Street,Boston, MA, .more
Watson Adventures Naked at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt
Watson Adventures adds a twist to this scavenger hunt inside the Museum of Fine Arts; this one’s Valentine’s Day themed and includes making fun of naked people in the paintings and a drinking game. Not bad, eh? You might find more than clues that day. 1pm. Museum of Fine ArtsBoston, MA, .more
6-9pm.Instead of a wild night out, how about a quiet night of culture at the Museum of Contemporary art? Take your own pace, eat a candlelight dinner, and they’ll even take care of your kids for you. MASS MoCANorth Adams, MA, .more
Valentine’s Day Weekend
Valentine’s Day Weekend. TBDProvincetown, MA, –.more
Chairlift Speed Dating
Wow! I love this creative concept. For Valentine’s Day, share the chairlift with another single as you go up to ski. But will you kiss before you get to the top? Live music, dating games, pick-up contest. 12:30-4pm. Black MountainJackson, NH, .more
Also Fun
Death of a Salesman
An American classic presented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston. The Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street, Copley SquareBoston, MA, –.more
COLLISION20:bilocate
An entire art exhibit based on things smashing into other things, with a techno-twist? Beam me up Scotty! Cyber Arts exhibits are always wild – hell, one time they used electricity to turn plankton colors. Plankton! 6-9pm. Boston Cyberarts Gallery, 141 Green Street,Jamaica Plain, MA, –.more
Cuisine en Locale: ONCE Upon a Valentine
Dine and dance; celebrate Valentine’s Day taking over the dance floor with your partner. 5:30-11pm. Cuisine en LocaleSomerville, MA, .more
Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival
Featuring both classics and new films, this festival is a liberal mix of decent stuff and total schlock, which I guess is kind of the point. It all culminates in a 24-hour movie marathon on the 18th! Keep checking their website for a list of films The festival is definitely happening, but for some reason they are STILL finalizing their schedule! Somerville TheatreSomerville, MA, –.more
Boston Loves Impressionism
It isn’t too often when a Museum lets the audience decide what works of art will be a part of their exhibitions, so if you love expressionism make your vote count! The top 30 paintings will be featured in the upcoming MFA’s exhibition ‘Boston Loves Impressionism’. Museum of Fine Arts, BostonBoston, MA, –.more
Meredith Goldstein
Listen to Boston.com’s columnist give her best advice on relationships and love 1:30-3pm. The Humanist Hub, 30 JFK StreetCambridge, MA, .more
Build Your Own Monster Puppet at Puppet Showplace
Puppets don’t get enough love. They’re not just for kids, you know! This intro class for adults will teach you how to make your very own moving-mouth puppet with rod arms, like the ones on the Muppet Show, just in time for the new Muppet movie! 2014:Tuesdays, 6:30-9pm. The Puppet Showplace TheatreBrookline, MA, –.more
An Arabian Adventure
Ride the magic carpet and fly into a whole new world of adventure with this musical and storybook-like feature show by the Puppet Showplace. Puppet Showplace TheatreBrookline, MA, –.more
Science Fiction Author Night
The creatures and flying machines will not attent the reading, but the cool authors of three science fiction novels will be there to sign your copy and read some awesome stories 7pm. The Harvard CoopCambridge, MA, .more
Snowshoeing/Take a Walk
There’s snow all around but there’s also fun all winter long! As long as there’s snow on the ground, come to the Gore Place for a snowshoeing tour around the lovely premises. Gore PlaceWaltham, MA, –.more
The Hypocrites’ ‘Romeo Juliet’ & ’12 Nights’
This is your chance to enjoy the mashup of two great stories as presented by the witty and fantastic Chicago company ‘the Hypocrites’. OBERONCambridge, MA, –.more
Engineers Week – New England
Whether you’re looking for a job, a scholarship, an internship or another entrepreneur to join forces with- if you’re an engineer this is the place to be. Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart Street,Boston, MA, .more
WinterFest North Adams
Taking place in downtown North Adams, Winter Fest is an event for the whole family involving all sorts of winter themed fun! Featuring ice-sculpting and a chowder cook-off in which restaurants around the Berkshires show off their original chowder recipes.The WinterFest in the (KING! -sorry, I can’t hide my Game of Thrones fandom sometimes) City in the North! Horse drawn wagon rides, ice-sculpting and more. 2013: 10am-4pm. Western Gateway Heritage State ParkNorth Adams, MA, .more
10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival
10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival. Downtown PittsfieldPittsfield, MA, –.more
Polar Plunge at Onota Lake
Polar Plunge at Onota Lake. Onota LakePittsfield, MA, .more
President’s Day Weekend
President’s Day Weekend. TBDProvincetown, MA, –.more
Date Night with Clay
WE MISSED THIS The Decordova is celebrating new installations and you’re invited. Interact with artists and nature in scenic Lincoln, MA. 2012: 11am-3pm. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond RdLincoln, MA, .more
Sculpture Park Snowshoe Tour
10am and 12:30 pm. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond RoadLincoln, MA, .more
Joe Val Bluegrass Festival
February is a great time of the year for a music festival, as long as it’s indoors. Otherwise the banjos freeze. I went to a bluegrass festival once and the repetitive chord structure made all the songs sound the same to me. Go figure! Sheraton HotelFramingham, MA, –.more
Snowshoe Tours at the DeCordova Museum
The DeCordova, my favorite museum in New England, is giving a snoeshow tour. You get a lesson by a trained Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) instructor. Make reservations in advance! deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond RdLincoln, MA, –.more
Winter Fest at Prescott Farm
11am-3pm. Sleigh rides and bonfires — what a great excuse to visit New Hampshire and go skiing, too! Prescott FarmLaconia, NH, .more
Cardboard Sled Race
OMG, I so much want to see this. Make a sled out of cardboard, race, and (hopefully) crash spec-TAC-ularly! 12:30pm. Arrowhead Recreation AreaClaremont, NH, .more
Murder Mystery at The Governor’s Inn
Why are Gonzo’s hands covered in blood? Be a part of a very intriguing musical evening. This year, the Mystery Dinner is also a tribute to the Muppets Show! All Fridays-Saturdays 6:30pm until March 23. Rochester, NH, –.more
Winter Carnival at King Pine Ski Area
Winter Carnival at King Pine Ski Area. King Pine Ski Area, 1251 Eaton Rd, EastMadison, NH, –.more
Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival
Chocolate and ice sculptures? I’ll bite! Yum! Salem Main StreetsSalem, MA, –.more
Irish Dance Class with Michela Summa
Irish Dance Class with Michela Summa. Dance Studio, O’Keefe Sports Complex, 225 Canal St.,Salem, MA, .more
Winter Wonder Days at the Roger Williams Park Zoo
Nothing to do? How about the zoo? Roger Williams Park offers half price admission January through February thanks to its ‘Winter Wonderdays’ promotion. Providence, RI, –.more
Newport Winter Festival
Newport Winter Festival. various locationsNewport, RI, –.more
Washington’s Birthday Celebrations. Old Sturbridge VillageSturbridge, MA, –.more
Performance
Review: ‘The Whipping Man’ at Arsenal Center for the Arts
‘The Whipping Man’ juxtaposes Passover with Civil War era drama to great effect. This intelligent and likely heartbreaking play comes to The New Rep 1/25 – 2/16. Arsenal Center for the ArtsWatertown, MA, –.more
Peggy Pickit Sees the Face of God
Got a of tix to give away for Fri. Feb. 14 . Email giveaways@eventsinsider.com to win! Apollinaire Theatre Company, Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnisimmet St.,Chelsea, MA, –.more
Witness Uganda
Press Opening is on Wednesday, February 12 @ 7:30pm. Loeb Drama CenterCambridge, MA, –.more
The Cherry Orchard
Although they lived in different times, Chekhov and Shakespeare shared a thorough understanding of human nature and emotions. This beautiful and deep play captures the tragedy of our missed connections and opportunities — so don’t miss it. Presented by Actors’ Shakespeare Project. The Dane Estate at Pine Manor CollegeChestnut Hill, MA, –.more
Review: HAIRSPRAY, The Broadway Musical
Enter to win a pair of tickets to ‘Hairspray’ at Wheelock college! Message giveaways@eventsinsider.com to win! ‘Hairspray’ is a fantastic musical about a big-boned girl with bigger dreams in the 1950s. This is quite the iconic show, too. The film versions transcend time and place and culture and even gender (with Jon Waters and John Travolta playing a woman in each of the films), via music, dance, and progressive thought – keep an eye our for our review Tuesday. Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway,Boston, MA, –.more
Moonbox Lights of Roberts with Sondheim’s Company
Moonbox Lights of Roberts with Sondheim’s Company. The Nancy and Edward Roberts Studio Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave,Boston, MA, –.more
Red Eye to Havre De Grace
Okay, a live-action opera about the last days of Edgar Allan Poe. I don’t think I need to say much more because it already sounds awesome, but feel free to check the details to see who’s behind the musical score of this one. Paramount TheatreBoston, MA, –.more
Peter M. Floyd ‘s Absence
Peter M. Floyd ‘s Absence. Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave,Boston, MA, –.more
BCA presents: BRINK v1
Support emerging Northeast artists in this unique exhibition devoted to them Opening Reception: Thursday, February 13 at 6-8pm. Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the ArtsBoston, MA, –.more
MRT presents ‘Equally Divided’
MRT presents ‘Equally Divided’. The Nancy L. Donahue TheatreLowell, MA, –.more
The Broken Hearts Brawl – valentine’s spin off party
For those about to rock…we suggest you check out ‘The Broken Hearts Brawl’ at Patriot Place. Why? 9 words. AC/DC cover band and Guns & Roses cover band. Spend the day after St. Valentines Day shrugging off all that lovey-dovey gunk and hitting the mosh pit. 8:45pm. Showcase Live StadiumFoxborough, MA, .more