Gorgeous French faience ceramics make debut in Nevers in the World exhibition

<a href="https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/whats-on/upcoming/node/207736">Nevers in the World&nbsp;</a>is an intimate exhibition of 11 newly-acquired seventeenth- to nineteenth-century French ceramics that were recently donated to the <a href="https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum">Davis Museum at Wellesley College</a>. The French faience vessels are highly stylized glazed ceramics, created using a tin-glaze technique that originated in the Middle East, likely around Iraq, as a response to the vibrant white porcelain of China. Over time, this technique spread to Egypt, Spain, Italy, and eventually France, where it evolved into a distinctive art form. The works will be on view from February 7 to June 1, 2025 as part of three new free exhibitions at the Davis Museum, celebrating new acquisitions. The Nevers in the World exhibition spotlights these beautifully glazed vessels, used mostly for dining tables, and illustrate a cross-cultural migration from their early origins in Iraq to the early iterations of Italian pieces and expanded color palettes and shapes by the French.

The Davis Museum

Sovereign Memory: Photography, Remembrance, and Displaced Histories, opens at the Davis Museum

<a href="https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/whats-on/upcoming/node/207731">Sovereign Memory: Photography, Remembrance, and Displaced Histories,</a> a new exhibition opening at <a href="https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum/visit/directions">the Davis Museum</a>, explores photography as a strategy for healing. The artists each employ the photograph as a connective tissue, stitching together individuals, families, and communities to severed histories and identities. About 40 works will be on view from February 7 to June 1, 2025, along with two other new exhibitions at the Davis Museum, all highlighting new acquisitions. All of the artists in Sovereign Memory share a concern with how images profoundly shape the stories of where we come from–and who we are

Boston premiere of “Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine, A NOVA Special Presentation” 

The New England Aquarium and GBH present a special behind-the-scenes look at NOVA’s three-part series “Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine” as part of the Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series. Featuring imagery by acclaimed film producer and veteran photojournalist Brian Skerry, the series examines the changes taking place in the Gulf of Maine, a body of water that is warming 97 percent faster than the global ocean. Blending science, exploration, natural history, and stories of human experience, “Sea Change” illuminates how the gulf may serve as a preview of what might happen in other parts of the world due to climate change. Following the screening, which will include highlights from the series, there will be a panel discussion and Q&amp;A with Skerry, a longtime Aquarium Explorer-in-Residence and National Geographic underwater photographer, and other members of the filmmaking team about their experiences documenting and studying this spectacular wilderness, and how the communities that live and work along the Gulf of Maine’s shores are working to sustain its future. The Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series is presented free to the public through the generosity of the <a href="http://www.lowellinstitute.org/">Lowell Institute</a>.

New England Aquarium Simons Theatre

Award-winning actor and author Courtney B. Vance kicks off Give Black Alliance’s 2024 #TheCouchConversations 

<a href="https://www.giveblackall.org/" target="_blank">Give Black Alliance</a>, formerly known as New England Blacks in Philanthropy, is kicking off its 2024 <a href="https://www.giveblackall.org/the-couch-conversations" target="_blank">#TheCouchConversations webinar series</a> with a session entitled The Right to Be Here featuring co-authors <a href="https://www.giveblackall.org/the-couch-conversations/the-right-to-be-here" target="_blank">Courtney B. Vance and Dr. Robin L. Smith</a>. They will discuss the issues raised in their book, “The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power.” Calling attention to the issue of Black male mental health, a challenge that few are sharing about and many struggle through, the event is being held during National Mental Health Awareness Month and as part of Give Black Alliance’s “The Right to ….” theme for the year looking at a variety of rights that we are losing or need to focus on as a community. With their book, Vance and Smith seek to change the conversation around mental health for Black men. Vance draws on personal experiences like losing his father and godson to suicide, and the book is interwoven with Smith’s professional expertise to explore identity, grief, relationships, and race. Courtney B. Vance is a Tony and Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor who has performed on stage, on film, and on television. His credits include historically noteworthy films and series including Hamburger Hill, The Hunt for Red October, The Preacher’s Wife, FX’s “The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story,” and HBO’s “Lovecraft Country.” He is co-founder of Bassett Vance Productions with his wife and celebrated actress, Angela Bassett. Dr. Robin L. Smith is a licensed psychologist and bestselling author of “Lies at the Altar: The Truth about Great Marriages” and “Hungry: The Truth about Being Full.” She is a sought-after speaker, media personality, ordained minister, and host of SiriusXM’s “The Dr. Robin Show.” She holds a PhD in counseling psychology from Temple University and a master’s degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. <a href="https://www.giveblackall.org/" target="_blank">Give Black® Alliance</a> seeks to educate Black donors and the philanthropic community at large about issues affecting Black lives and needs; develop strategies to strengthen the power of Black philanthropy; and offer tools and programs to open communication between Black donors and philanthropists, charities, service providers, and communities, notably within the Black community. Their goal is to inform, reform, and transform the landscape for Black philanthropists.

Online

A Tale of Ice, Warm Water, and the Future: A Conversation with Dr. Fiamma Straneo

In the early 2000s, glaciers in Greenland started melting faster than expected, which led to a rise in sea level. Attention turned to the ocean: Could it be that the glaciers in this iceberg-infested, remote, and dangerous place were responding to ocean warming? To find the answer, a team assembled to explore where Greenland’s glaciers flow into the ocean. The New England Aquarium Lecture Series and the Lorenz Center of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at MIT present <a href="https://www.lorenz.mit.edu/john-carlson-lectures">the John H. Carlson Lecture</a> featuring Dr. Fiamma Straneo. Dr. Straneo, a professor of oceans and climate and co-director of the Scripps Polar Center at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), will share the story of a novel investigation that utilized robots, icebreakers, helicopters, seals, and detective skills to confirm a warming ocean’s impacts on an ice sheet. It’s a fascinating account of the people—oceanographers, glaciologists, climate scientists, engineers, technicians, vessel operators, and local experts—who worked together to make this discovery possible. Dr. Fiamma Straneo is a professor of oceans and climate and co-director of the Scripps Polar Center at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. Prior to joining UCSD, she worked as a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Her research focuses on the high latitude North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and their interaction with the atmosphere, sea ice, and the Greenland Ice Sheet. Dr. Straneo has led over 20 field expeditions to the Arctic and Greenland. She recently chaired the Ocean Forcing Working Group for the Ice Sheet Modeling Intercomparison Project for the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change and is contributing author for the same report. Dr. Straneo’s awards and fellowships include the Leopold Leadership Program from Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment, the Sverdrup Award from the American Geophysical Union, the Keeling Lecture at UCSD, the Walker-Ames Fellowship at the University of Washington, and an Honorary Ph.D. from the University of Bergen, Norway. Dr. Straneo earned a Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the University of Washington, following a Laurea cum laude in Physics from the University of Milan, Italy. Free of charge and open to the public, this lecture is made possible by a generous gift from MIT alumnus John H. Carlson to the Lorenz Center in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, MIT, and is presented in partnership with the New England Aquarium and the Lowell Institute.

Simons Theatre

Boston Equal Pay Day Panel and Resource Fair

Women in Boston will work until April 20, 2023, to earn the equivalent of what men earned in the 12 months of 2022.&nbsp;According to the Boston Women’s Workforce Council’s (BWWC) data, Boston women work nearly four months more than men to earn the same pay.&nbsp;To mark Equal Pay Day, the BWWC and the Boston Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement (MOWA) are hosting a panel discussion and resource fair that will bring together Greater Boston employers, City partners, and community members to discuss the unique barriers of specific industries in recruiting/retaining underrepresented candidates and identify new strategies and existing resources to bridge the opportunity gaps. A resource fair will follow the panel, where community members can interact with Greater Boston employers, local organizations, and City partners to learn more about job opportunities, job training, and professional development programs. Food and childcare will be provided. Panelists include: <ul><li>Angela Liu, Interim President, Hack.Diversity</li><li>Trinh Nguyen, Chief of Worker Empowerment, City of Boston</li><li>Mary Skelton Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor and Strategist, Board of Directors, Amplify Latinx (Moderator)</li><li>Ron Taylor, Executive Vice President and Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Natixis Investment Managers</li></ul> Resource fair participants include: Arbella Insurance, Boston University, City of Boston - Worker Empowerment Cabinet; Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement, Commonwealth Corporation, Energetiq Technology, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, MassBio, MassTLC, MomUp, Mujeres Unidas Avanzando, Office of Economic Empowerment - MA Treasury, Suffolk University, The Trustees of Reservations, Women's Money Matters, YW Boston and more.

Bruce C. Boilling Municipal Building

New England Aquarium to host 2022 Scout Film Festival

The New England Aquarium is hosting the sixth annual <a href="https://www.scoutfilmfestival.org/">Scout Film Festival</a> October 28–30, 2022. The international film festival supports, empowers, and connects emerging filmmakers and visual storytellers worldwide aged 24 and under working in short film, photography, and innovation. The event offers screenings, keynote speakers, and educational programming with leading industry professionals, creators, and entrepreneurs on topics ranging from environmental justice to mental health.   Central to the Aquarium’s mission is its work to inspire others to act on behalf of the ocean. This partnership is a unique opportunity for youth and audiences worldwide to expand their ways of thinking through film, visual storytelling, immersive experiences, education, and innovation.   “Nurturing the next generation of ocean advocates is a key priority for the New England Aquarium,” said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO. “We are thrilled to partner with Scout Film Festival to celebrate and encourage young storytellers to help protect our blue planet.”   Programming includes a showcase of this year's best emerging short films and a catalog of talks and workshops. All programs held at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre are free of charge but <a href="https://scoutfilmfestival.org/keynote-speakers-2022">registration is required</a> for each session. Speakers include:   ·     Anastasia Vlasova (Friday, Oct. 28 at 1:45 p.m.) – During this intimate keynote, Anastasia Vlasova shares her personal journey and the impact social media had on her mental health and physical wellbeing. She describes the tools and resources she used to overcome her psychological addiction which began the moment she deleted her Instagram account. This presentation aims to raise awareness of the consequences of social media addiction among young people and highlight the positive role digital wellness plays in our creativity. *The keynote will be followed by the Boston premiere screening of the film Our Turn To Talk, a panel discussion, and Q&amp;A. After the program, attendees are invites to participate in a quiet, private walk-through of the New England Aquarium. ·     Whitney C. Johnson (Friday, Oct. 28 at 6:00 p.m.) – Whitney C. Johnson, Director of Visuals and Immersive Experiences at National Geographic, walks us through how her team adapted to produce the Year In Pictures, a first for the 133-year-old National Geographic magazine. Johnson also led the effort to expand storytelling methods in the midst of unexpected production challenges and physical limitations. "By embracing new ways to create and distribute our stories," she says, "it was possible to share these empowering moments with millions of people." This program is also part of the New England Aquarium Lecture Series and is presented free of charge thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute. ·     Ryan and Ethan Hawke (Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4:00 p.m.) – Producer Ryan Hawke and actor Ethan Hawke join theatre-goers via Zoom to present an open conversation about the commonalities and differences working in diverse media, the importance and nuance of collaboration, and their insights on how to follow your heart. The keynote will be followed by a Q&amp;A. ·     DeWanda Wise and Colin Trevorrow (Saturday, Oct. 29 at 5:00 p.m.) – DeWanda Wise and Colin Trevorrow of Jurassic World Dominion fame hold a “fireside chat” about their experiences in the film industry and what they are each most passionate about. The keynote will be followed by a Q&amp;A.   “We at Scout are honored to partner with the New England Aquarium in an effort to celebrate the power of visual storytelling, explore new ways of thinking and present authentic experiences that transcend the parameters of a screen,” said Scout Film Festival Founder Anna Colavito and Co-Founder Adriana Teresa Letorney.   Scout Film Festival is possible with the support of partners and filmmakers; the host and event sponsors, the New England Aquarium, The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston Seaport Studios, and District Hall Boston; and founding sponsors Visura.co and Barr Law Group.

Chemical oceanographer and Caltech professor Dr. Jess Adkins to discuss “The Ocean’s Natural Way to Stop Climate Change”

Dr. Jess Adkins, chemical oceanographer and Smits Family Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), is tackling the topic of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in his upcoming lecture, “The Ocean’s Natural Way to Stop Climate Change.” This in person event, which is part of both the<a href="https://eapsweb.mit.edu/events/carlson-lecture"> John Carlson Lecture Series</a> and the New England Aquarium Lecture Series, is presented by the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/lorenzcenter/">Lorenz Center</a> in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at MIT and the <a href="https://www.neaq.org/">New England Aquarium</a> with the generous support of the Lowell Institute. It will be held at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre and will also be livestreamed on Zoom. With the burning of fossil fuels, the human race is conducting an experiment of unprecedented magnitude. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is warming the planet, and we are not sure how this will turn out. Even as we move to electrify the economy and leave fossil fuels behind, we must find ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere to avoid the worst outcomes of climate change. Reducing CO2 emissions alone is no longer enough. Hear how a project that started with the basic science question of ‘How quickly do corals dissolve when the ocean acidifies?’ turned into a possible way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at scale. <a href="https://ese.caltech.edu/people/jess">Dr. Jess Adkins</a> is the Smits Family Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science in Caltech's Department of Environmental Science and Engineering. As a chemical oceanographer, Adkins focuses on geochemical investigations of past climates using corals, sediments, and their interstitial waters; rate of deep ocean circulation and its relation to mechanisms of rapid climate changes; metals as tracers of environmental processes; and radiocarbon and U-series chronology. After completing a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Haverford College, Adkins earned his PhD studying chemical oceanography, paleoclimatology, and geochemistry in the MIT-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program. Adkins joined the faculty of the California Institute of Technology in 2000.

Why We Should All Care About the Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Depths of the Sea with Dr. Sylvia Earle 

World-renowned oceanographer, explorer, and author Dr. Sylvia Earle kicks off the New England Aquarium’s fall 2022 free lecture series with her discussion, “Why We Should All Care About the Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Depths of the Sea.” The event will be held in person in the Aquarium’s Simons Theatre and will also be livestreamed on Zoom. Recognized as a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, Dr. Earle has led more than 100 ocean expeditions and spent some 7,500 hours underwater researching marine ecosystems and the deep ocean. She will share research from her new book, National Geographic Ocean: A Global Odyssey, and make the case for why the state of our sea matters to everyone, everywhere, all of the time—regardless of where we live. Dr. Sylvia Earle is the President and Chairman of Mission Blue, an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. (DOER), Chair of the Advisory Council for the Harte Research Institute, and former Chief Scientist of NOAA. Called “Her Deepness” by the New Yorker and the New York Times, she is an author and lecturer, and the recipient of more than 100 national and international honors and awards including being named Time Magazine’s first Hero for the Planet. The New England Aquarium Lecture Series is presented free to the public through the generosity of the Lowell Institute.

200th Brazilian Independence Day Celebration at Cape Ann Museum 

Independence Day of Brazil, or Sete de Setembro, is officially celebrated on September 7 to mark Brazil’s Declaration of Independence from Portugal in 1822. This year, to celebrate the 200th anniversary, the <a href="https://www.capeannmuseum.org/events/200th-brazilian-independence-day-celebration/">Cape Ann Museum</a> and Action Inc. are working with local Brazilian community members to share Brazilian food, culture, music and dance in Downtown Gloucester. Taste salgadinhos, dance capoeira and make your own Brazilian flag during this afternoon celebration. “We are surrounded by Brazilian culture here on Cape Ann and are excited to see this reflected within the Museum,” said Oliver Barker, Director of Cape Ann Museum. “The Museum exists to tell the unique story of this place and the multiple communities that call Cape Ann home and we hope that everyone will join in this fun afternoon of activities and celebration with several of our community partners.” The Brazilian community has been growing on Cape Ann, mostly Downtown Gloucester, for over 35 years. Over 4,000 Brazilians currently live across Cape Ann and have started businesses including local restaurants, hair salons, stores and cleaning companies. In 2022, Independence Day of Brazil is one of a number of key community celebrations that have been spearheaded by the Cape Ann Museum including Gloucester’s So Salty; 2nd Annual COVID Memorial; Gloucester Juneteenth Festival; Courtyard Concert Series; and concludes with Indigenous Heritage Day on September 24th at the Cape Ann Museum Green campus. Independence Day of Brazil activities on August 28th include: ·      Live music from Vidinha de Balada in the Cape Ann Museum (CAM) courtyard ·      DJ Marks in the Cape Ann Museum courtyard ·      Photographs by Sergio Oshira on display inside the CAM ·      Capoeira MdP performance at City Hall ·      Jiu Jitsu performance by DF Fitness at City Hall ·      Food for sale by Oliver’s Harbor Restaurant ·      Make your own Brazilian Flag in the CAM Sculpture Garden ·      Free face painting and balloons in the CAM Sculpture Garden ·      Community tables from the Sawyer Free Library, the Open Door, the 		Gloucester Education Foundation, North Shore Community Health Center, Schooner Adventure, the Gloucester Human Rights Committee, and more.

Cape Ann Museum

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.