I have a friend. He’s got a name but suffice it to say he’s a he and he’s obsessed with movies. He’s quiet, but can reel off actors, awards, directors, dates, producers, trivia and lines from almost any feature film. I use him as a sort of walking IMDb – “What’s that movie with the black guy who’s a comedian but serious and he wears glasses–”

When one thinks of Boston, the city’s history often comes to mind first, anything from the Boston Massacre to the Boston Tea Party. Boston is indeed a historic city, and will be celebrating its history this weekend with a reenactment of the Boston Massacre in honor of its anniversary in March.

From the moment the lights go up and the orchestra hums the first notes of the opening act, Jersey Boys is a high-energy, toe-tapping, emotional rollercoaster up until the very last musical number.

What happened to chivalry? As someone who is an opponent of technology, I resort to blaming it – “it” being texting – for the shortening of words like the ever-so incessant “lol” and the many others that so often have me quickly looking for clues on Urban Dictionary.

The 15th Annual Polar Plunge is coming to Boston’s beaches this weekend.The plunge is a “mid-winter dip,” in which participants race into the ocean and quickly make their way back out. The competition used to award first place to the participant who could spend the longest time in the water, and pledges would pay a certain amount per minute spent in the water, but due to dangerous and unsafe conditions, first place is now awarded to the participant raising the most money prior to the event. The event was founded to raise money for Special Olympics Massachusetts, and each “plunger” has to raise $250 in order to receive a free t-shirt (those who don’t reach the minimum are still allowed to compete). It may be short notice to raise $250, but “chickens” are welcome to watch the event from the heated tent at no charge. Revere Beach, Revere, or Nantasket Beach, Hull; 10 a.m.; free (donations optional); kintera.org/faf/home.

On Feb. 1, Netflix released the entirety of the first season, all 13 episodes, allowing viewers to watch at their own pace. The series, produced by Beau Willimon and starring Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and Kate Mara, among others, is a political thriller dealing with the corrupt inner workings of Capitol Hill. That alone spells out a recipe for a hit show, however, some of the show’s booming success must also be credited to the way it is offered.

The bare broken walls, dirty wooden desks, worn out books and determined students from Graceland High School have high hopes. It is simple, because to educate is to defy the odds. These high school girls are the hope for a better future in Kenya.

Valentine’s Day: whether you are restless from a night of scrambling to set up a reservation at a fancy restaurant, hunting down a dozen red roses, or sobbing over a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Rocky Road while watching “10 Things I Hate About You,” don’t limit your options to the usual.

In a generation full of young people who define themselves by the number of likes on their Facebook profile picture, it should not surprising when an on online dating app surfaces as the latest way to meet people.

After some calculation, I’ve determined I spent about eight hours of my weekend making a CD. Not actually recording music, or anything cool like that – just scouring my iTunes for the perfect 15 songs for the perfect mixed CD. My friend and I are exchanging discs in an attempt to get an idea of what kind of music the other likes, i.e. if their taste sucks. There’s a lot on the line.