By Sophie Cannon, deputy A&E editor
Thursday, Jan. 26
Take out your earbuds and listen to a real live podcast happening right in front of you. ListenUp! is a monthly event series at the Boston Public Library in collaboration with the radio station 89.7 WBGH. Radio hosts Craig LeMoult and Edgar B. Herwick III are back again to round out the month on a topic that has been all over the news and our minds since the inauguration: Transition. Listen to and have the chance to discuss LeMoult and Herwick’s thoughts on change, transitions and leadership in the electorate and their personal lives through a collection of stories. This event cannot conclude without an active audience, so make sure to stop by the library for this timely talk. 6 – 8 p.m.; 700 Boylston St., Boston; free.
Friday, Jan. 27
Become the belle of the ballfield this Friday at Fenway Park at Snowball 2017. Presented by Northeastern’s Resident Student Association (RSA), Snowball 2017 is a winter semi-formal dance open to all Northeastern students and others with the NU+1 ticket sold on the myNEU portal. The Dell EMC Club will surely have the best music to dance the night away, but if that’s not enough, there will also be food, drinks, a photobooth and other surprises throughout the night. This is a perfect excuse to throw aside the sweatpants and dig out that old high school formal dress or suit and dance away the winter blues. 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.; Fenway Park, Boston; $13.
Saturday, Jan. 28
In love with that cocoa? Dark, milk, bakers, white and semi-sweet that is! Chocolate of all colors and sweetnesses will be the feature of the Chocolate Walking Tour in Back Bay. Walk off the cocoa calories you’ll be eating throughout the tour during a scenic stroll through the neighborhood, stopping at only the best chocolatiers and bakeries along the way. Starting off at the famous Flour bakery, participants will walk 2.5 miles through Boston, passing the Prudential Center, Copley Square and the Boston Public Library. More important than the landmarks, however, are the types of crazy chocolate concoctions to be eaten on the way. Sample Swiss Dom Perignon Champagne Truffles, explore the world of free-trade chocolate treats, take a chocolate ice cream break and finish with a creepy crawler covered in cocoa. 10:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.; 131 Clarendon St.<comma> Boston; ticket price varies.
Sunday, Jan. 29
Samba, salsa and embrace your inner Shakira in a beginners Latin American dance class for all. Join Veronica Robles Cultural Center in a free interactive class led by the founder and director herself, Veronica Robles. Before the class, tour the studio space and get a chance to learn about the many cultural programs and projects put on by the center during the rest of the year. The organization’s mission is to promote the unique and amazing Latin American traditions in the form of music, dance, art and writing, and teach them to the coming generations. With a mission to teach and inspire, this interactive and informational dance class is like no other, so don’t miss your chance to explore this rich heritage. 2 – 5 p.m.; 175 McClellan Highway, East Boston; free with an RSVP.
Monday, Jan. 30
If a picture is worth a thousand words, than a painting inspired by revolution must be worth a million. “Resistance Culture: An Art Show for Revolutionaries” is a gallery and reception about just that: Resistance. “Resistance Culture” is a gallery curated using submissions from the general public, including works of students from all over the Boston area and beyond. These works will be displayed in a gallery from Jan. 30 – Feb. 10 in the Student Life Gallery’s Kennedy Building at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The reception will honor the artists who created the works and bring more attention to the gallery. During the reception, there will be a silent auction whose proceeds will benefit MassArt as well as an art-based charity that will be announced at the event. In a gallery of all different artists and mediums, this event is sure to stir up revolutionary feelings and inspire change through the arts. 6:30 – 10 p.m.; 625 Huntington Ave., Boston; free.
Tuesday, Jan. 31
Fam. Swag. Turnt. All coined as slang terms, but where did they come from and what are they used for? These words may not mean much, but to the LGBTQA+ community, many slang words are vital to self-expression and communication within the community as a whole. Using art to explore this idea, the VanDernoot Gallery at Lesley University teamed up with the Boston LGBTQIA Artist Alliance (BLAA) to create “Coded.” This is not your average art show. “Coded” is made from almost every type of art, included but not limited to, 2-D, 3-D, interactive, performance and digital. In a time period where different sexualities are becoming more prominent in mainstream culture, this event explores how language helps to define, explain and unite not only the LGBTQA+ community but its allies and those who wish to learn more. See gallery hours here. 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; free.
Wednesday, Feb. 1
Apple pie, corn on the cob and hamburgers with fries? The American dream was built on a hearty appetite, and this event explains the origins of the traditional American diet. Titled “Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine,” the Museum of Science looks to explore eight distinct flavors that make up the American palate. We all know sweet, salty, bitter and sour, but what else do our tongues know that we don’t? Sarah Lohman, a food historian, is here to help guide us through the tastebuds of the American eater. Hungry history buffs are in for a treat, because after the presentation, participants are welcome to visit a chocolate exhibit along with a reception and signing by Lohman. 7 – 9 p.m.; 1 Science Park, Boston; free.
Photo courtesy Creative Commons
