Written with Love: An Introduction to Calligraphy

Spend your Valentine’s Day creating a gift for yourself or a special someone. This two-hour workshop is perfect for beginners and anyone wanting to explore the timeless art of calligraphy. Esther N, founder of Maker’s Favourite Designs, will teach you the history of calligraphy, basic strokes and techniques, letter formation, and how to bring letters together into beautiful words using a brush pen. Examples of calligraphy from our collections, including love letters, marriage certificates, and more, will also be on display. Join us on the second floor of American Ancestors at the Brue Family Learning Center and receive hands-on practice with guided instruction, plenty of encouragement, and all the tools you need. By the end, you’ll have a beautiful hand-lettered Valentine’s card or love note. Fall in love with the art of calligraphy! The ticket price includes all necessary tools needed for the workshop, including: <ul><li>Soft and Hard Tip Fudenosuke Brush Pens</li><li>Cardstock paper</li></ul>

American Ancestors

The Ancestry of Pope Leo XIV: An American Story

Pope Leo XIV’s diverse family history has captivated global audiences since it was featured in&nbsp;The New York Times Magazine&nbsp;earlier this year. The new temporary exhibit within the Family Heritage Experience,&nbsp;The Ancestry of Pope Leo XIV: An American Story, invites visitors to explore this extraordinary story in depth. Compiled by American Ancestors’ expert genealogists and others, the exhibit spans 14 generations of family history, tracing the pontiff’s connections to nobility, freedom fighters, enslaved men and women, and modern-day cultural icons, including Justin Bieber and Angelina Jolie. Read ancestral stories, locate places of known origin across a world map, navigate original records, and learn how the Pope’s ancestry represents broader histories of migration, memory, and identity that continue to shape global conversations today. No pre-registration necessary. Entrance to the exhibit is included in the Family Heritage Experience admission fee and can be purchased on the day or online&nbsp;<a href="https://fhe.americanancestors.org/plan-your-visit">here</a>.

Exploring Military Memorabilia: Show & Tell

Military medals, uniforms, and more can be valuable links to the experience of loved ones and ancestors who served. Join Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert and Senior Archivist Judy Lucey for a brief lecture on these objects and a look at interesting items from our collection. Attendees are invited to bring their own historic military memorabilia to share and discuss with the group. Our experts will also help identify items and provide preservation advice. Note: Please leave weapons at home, regardless of antique status or condition.

Home Movie Day at American Ancestors

Join us as we celebrate Home Movie Day, presented in partnership with local film conservators and preservation experts. Senior Time-Based Media Conservator for Harvard Library Preservation Services, Melanie Meents, and Film Conservator, Adrianne Jorge, will provide equipment for attendees to view and share home movies in American Ancestors’ historic rotunda with other attendees. They will also share tips and resources for digitizing and caring for your home movies. Watch family memories come to life with the company of fellow family history enthusiasts—and plenty of popcorn! Planning to bring a home movie to share? Here’s what you need to know:<ul><li>Supported formats include 8mm film, super 8 film, and VHS.</li><li>Only one home movie per attendee may be shared. If you are bringing a VHS film, it will be limited to a 10-minute viewing.</li><li>Please bring your home movie to our headquarters at 97 Newbury Street at 12:00 p.m. the day of the program. Senior Time-Based Media Conservator for Harvard Library Preservation Services, Melanie Meets, and Film Conservator, Adrianne Jorge, will examine the film ahead of the program to ensure that it is in good condition for viewing.</li><li>Be prepared to share a few words about your home movie—who is in it, where it was taken, or any other details that you may know.</li></ul>Don’t have a home movie to share? We would love to have you in our viewing audience! Please come to celebrate the magic of home movies with others.

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

Kid-friendly events in Boston

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.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Julien Osborne

Where

julien_osb_aman

Experiences

Written with Love: An Introduction to Calligraphy

The Ancestry of Pope Leo XIV: An American Story

Exploring Military Memorabilia: Show & Tell

Home Movie Day at American Ancestors