March was not easy on us in Boston. The past month alone saw upwards of twenty inches in snowfall, and just two weeks ago, public schools in the city shut down at the arrival of relentless accumulation. Needless to say, we’re sick and tired of winter in New England. Lucky for us, spring is officially here, and April is right around the corner. Suffering from grumpy moods and cabin fever? Toss on your shades and shed some layers, skip outside, and check out these things to do while celebrating of the death of cruel, miserable March. Oh, April. We’ve never been more excited to see you.
Drink Craft Beer Springfest
Space 57//April 5th to 6th
Spring and summer (and fall for that matter) in New England bring a lineup of great craft beer festivals. And what better way to say goodbye to the snowy season than sipping on 2-ounce samples of fine craft beer? Kick off your beer festival tour of 2013 at the Drink Craft Beer Springfest, coming to Space 57 for three sessions during the first weekend of April. Tickets are $50, but a day of celebrating hops (this year’s theme) in an unlimited quantity can provide some priceless post-winter therapy. If you’re planning on getting into your beer-fest groove this year, tickets for the Bacon and Beer Festival on May 4th go on sale on Friday, April 5th. Cheers!
Red Sox Home Opener
Fenway Park//April 8th
The arrival of spring also means the arrival of baseball season. Just as basketball is getting old, and hockey games are frosting over, baseball is just getting started. This year, the Red Sox home opener starts at 2 pm on Monday, April 8th, so duck out of work early and dive into your share of foot-long dogs and beer. Don’t want to buy tickets? The surrounding bars in Fenway are always filled with game day spirit, and many of them, like Bleacher Bar, Yard House, and Game On, have outdoor seating perfect for channeling that ballpark atmosphere. Check the complete Red Sox schedule here.
Marathon Monday
Hopkinton to Copley Square//April 15th
No matter how you choose to spend your Marathon Monday, the faux-holiday is reason to celebrate. A day off of work or class means breakfast barbecues and all-day outdoor drinking, whether for you that means backyard 8 a.m. keg stands, or marathon-themed cocktails enjoyed at bar patios along the course. Either way, it’s a Bostonian’s right of passage to let a little loose in honor of Patriot’s Day, springtime, and the runners who pound pavement for 26.2 miles. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for BostInno’s full Marathon Monday coverage!
Boston’s Independent Film Festival
Various locations//April 24th to 30th
While April may bring warmer temperatures, it also brings showers (which then bring May flowers, we’re often told). But even if you can’t spend every April weekend outdoors, basking in the sun, that doesn’t mean there won’t be anything to do. Independent Film Festival Boston is going on at the end of the month, and the IFFB team, including new festival Creative Advisor Casey Affleck, will be premiering 99 short films, documentaries, and narrative features over the course of the week. The films will be shown at The Somerville Theatre at Davis Square, The Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, The Coolidge Corner Theatre, UMass Boston, and Theatre 1 at the Revere Hotel. Movie buffs and indie film fans can enjoy world premieres and director Q&As, and with showings in different Boston neighbors, the scene won’t get old easily. Individual film tickets will go on sale in early April; festival passes will be available on the IFFB website soon.
Art in Bloom
The Museum of Fine Arts//April 27th to 29th
It’s easy to get excited over warm weather and the impending summer months, but slow down! Don’t forget to relax and soak up something other than daytime beer suds; for instance, head over to the MFA for Art in Bloom, where you can take a relaxing stroll through masterpiece-inspired floral arrangements. Either jump in on a tour or fly solo, and take in the aesthetics of pruned posies in the style of Monet. If you’re feeling extra cultured, join one of the tours given in French, Russian, Chinese or Italian. Who cares if you don’t understand it? By the end, you’ll have earned yourself a fancy cocktail.
