By Rowena Lindsay, deputy inside editor
Entry of the Week: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Try a different take on comedy and come see one of America’s preeminent humor authors, David Sedaris, give a talk hosted by Celebrity Series of Boston at the Boston Symphony Hall this Wednesday. Known for his essay collections “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Let’s Talk About Diabetes With Owls,” Sedaris was first recognized by NPR in 1992. His books are largely autobiographical, taking a self-deprecating look at his middle class suburban life, jobs, education and obsessive behaviors. Speaking with this trademark style, Sedaris is bound to put on a good show and keep everyone laughing. Boston Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave.; 8 p.m.; $45-50.
Thursday, Oct. 9
Get into the Halloween spirit with this holiday twist on the classic Paint Bar experience, where an art studio and a bar intersect to help patrons create art while sipping on cocktails. Head over to the Boston Paint Bar on Newbury Street and paint a spooky Halloween scene on a pumpkin with the help of the instructor’s step-by-step instructions. The pumpkins are plastic so they will last through the holiday season and for years to come. The painting for this week is of a witch flying over a nighttime Boston cityscape. While The Paint Bar does serve alcohol for an additional cost, underage students are welcome to join as well. 248 Newbury St.; 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.; $35.
Friday, Oct. 10
Calling all fans of skiing, snowboarding, cinematography and film to go see the 2014 Boston Winter Film Festival’s best ski and snowboard films on the big screen at the Simon’s IMAX theatre in the New England Aquarium. At the festival, there will be screenings of feature films, shorts, documentaries and amateur submissions shot at a variety of locations from remote mountains to New England’s favorite resorts. The festival will include pieces from filmmakers such as videographer teams 4Bi9, Think Thank, Level 1 and CApiTA. There will also be cameos from athletes starring in the films, live music and a raffle. New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf; 8 – 11:30 p.m.; $20.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Faneuil Hall is always host to the odd troubadour or two, but this weekend the marketplace is pulling out all of the stops. Stroll through and you will see a gathering of dozens of the marketplace’s best street performers at this year’s Street Performers Fall Festival. Over the course of the weekend, the festival will feature acts varying from musicians and dancers to magicians and sword swallowers. The festival is free and will include entertainment to satisfy everyone. Stop by to see some serious talent and maybe even pick up a new hobby if you’re feeling ambitious. A schedule of the acts is available at faneuilhallmarketplace.com. 4 S. Market St.; 11 a.m – 7 p.m.; free.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Spend some time in the great outdoors before it starts getting too cold and kayak along the Charles River with the Charles River Kayak Tour. Groups, led by Boston Common volunteers, kayak together on a loop around the river bank that lasts about two hours and goes as far as the Boston University bridge to give participants a chance to see Boston from a new angle. Kayaks are $10 per hour for singles and $15 per hour for doubles. Spend some time with friends and see the city from a new angle. Charles River Canoe and Kayak, 15 Broad Canal Way; 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.; $20-30.
Monday, Oct. 13
English rock band Bastille is coming to Boston to play a show at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. The band, named after Bastille Day, released its first album “Bad Blood” in 2013, which includes the hit single “Pompeii.” Originally from London, the band is making its way across the US on tour, stopping in Boston for the first time since performing at Boston Calling in May. They will be joined onstage by opener Grizfolk, an L.A.-based electro-folk rock group, hailing from Stockholm. Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave.; 8 p.m.; $40–50.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Try a new twist on a tour of Boston with the Urban Adventure Quest scavenger hunt. The web-based hunt will begin at the Boston Common and will take participants on a two-mile journey through parts of the Freedom Trail and the North End. Simply connect with your smartphone on urbanadventurequest.com and let it navigate you through the city as you solve clues and complete challenges that bring you to famous sites and teach you local history. You can sign up to play any time and get a 20 percent discount with the promo code ZVENTSBoston. The whole quest typically takes about two to three hours and teams can have up to five participants. Various locations; anytime; $50 per team.
Photo courtesy WBUR, Creative Commons
