'A Christmas Carol'

On December 2, 1867, Charles Dickens began his first American reading tour of "A Christmas Carol" in Boston. Since 2002, WBUR has hosted a reading of this timeless holiday tale originally at the Omni Parker House, the historic site of Dickens’ first performance. This year, our tradition will continue at CitySpace with a reading by your some of your favorite WBUR hosts: Steve Brown, Meghna Chakrabarti, Tiziana Dearing, Ben Brock Johnson and Robin Young with musical performances by The Mistletones. Celebrate the 23rd anniversary of this annual event and support the women of Rosie's Place with your ticket purchase. Founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States, Rosie's Place provides a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa will be served to guests during intermission.

WBUR CitySpace

Blue Heron Presents: ‘Christmas in 16th-Century Spain’ concert and conversation with Meghna Chakrabarti

Acclaimed vocal ensemble <a href="https://www.blueheron.org/">Blue Heron</a> returns to CitySpace for a celebration of Christmas in 16th-century Spain, featuring mystical motets by Cristóbal de Morales, vivacious villancicos by Francisco Guerrero and a dash of comedy — Mateo Flecha’s rollicking tale of a shipwreck on Christmas Day, “La Bomba.” In between performances, artistic director Scott Metcalfe will sit down with On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss the music. Blue Heron combines vivid live performance with the study of original source materials and historical performance practices. They span a wide repertoire, including 15th-century English and Franco-Flemish polyphony, Spanish music between 1500 and 1600 and neglected early 16th-century English music. The ensemble also regularly performs earlier and later music, from “Le Cantique des Cantiques” (1952) for twelve voices by Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, and “Devran” (2017) by Boston’s Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol.

‘Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah’ Live

Join WBUR and friends for a series of live tapings of your favorite podcasts. Meet the people who are shaping the podcast landscape and be the first to hear their next episode, get a sneak peek of audio left on the cutting room floor or dig deeper into the stories that captivated you. Join us for a live taping of a bonus episode of “<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/deep-cover">Deep Cover,</a>” as part of their season six investigation, “The Truth About Sarah.” Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jake Halpern and acclaimed investigative journalist Jess McHugh untangle the mysterious webs of deception around Sarah Cavanagh that upended the lives of countless people. Cavanaugh, a decorated veteran, young woman fighting cancer and a hero, was everything people wanted her to be — until she wasn’t. Turns out, no one knew the real Cavanagh. Not her comrades. Not her wife. No one. Halpern and McHugh will take you behind the scenes of their investigation, including never-before publicly heard recordings from their extensive interviews and be joined by special guests. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the podcast, you won’t want to miss this evening of storytelling and thought-provoking conversations.

"Vibe Check" Live with special guest Carlos Simon

In association with Jan. 29-31 Boston Symphony Orchestra presentations of "Good News Mass." Get tickets for "Good News Mass"&nbsp;<a href="https://https//www.bso.org/events/jan-29-31-lang-simon?performance=2026-01-29-19%3A30">here</a>. Enjoy a live taping of "Vibe Check," the weekly podcast where Saeed Jones (poet and essayist, “How We Fight For Our Lives,” “Alive at the End of the World”) and Zach Stafford (journalist and Tony Award-winning producer, “A Strange Loop”) make sense of what’s going on in news and culture – and how it all feels. Carlos Simon, Deborah and Philip Edmundson Composer Chair for Boston Symphony Orchestra, joins the duo for a conversation on being a composer in America today and the development of his "Good News Mass," a new BSO co-commission that draws deeply on the gospel music he learned growing up in his father’s church. Musical selections from "Good News Mass" will open and close the show.

The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin

The Crossword Show returns to CitySpace for a performance of "Puzzle #3: Cross Country," revamped and turbocharged for 2025. Heads up, regulars: this will be the Boston debut of this particular puzzle and show. Host Zach Sherwin (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Epic Rap Battles of History,” MAD Magazine) presides as two guest comedians solve an actual crossword puzzle live onstage, with everything displayed on our screen so you can follow along. It’s like the New York Times crossword meets NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me,” with more rap than you’d expect. As the solvers decipher the clues, Sherwin takes the show down rabbit holes of comedy, music, wordplay and trivia, all inspired by the answer words. Everything ties together at the end for a grand finale that’s as satisfying as it is mind-blowing. You don’t need any crossword expertise to be dazzled by this delightful, brainy, one-of-a-kind experience!

MICE Presents: Comics in the divided age

How United States history is remembered is often dictated by the loudest voices in the room. In our charged political environment the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 has been intensely debated with <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/20/g-s1-36809/trump-pardons-january-6-riot">significantly different viewpoints</a>. Harvard Law School professor Alan Jenkins <a href="https://hls.harvard.edu/today/in-his-graphic-novel-series-about-jan-6-author-alan-jenkins-asks-what-if/">grew alarmed</a> about the historical record of Jan. 6 and the future of democracy. A comic book enthusiast, he channeled his concern into “1/6: The Graphic Novel,” developed with graphic novelist Gan Golan and illustrator Will Rosado. The novel imagines what would have happened if the insurrection had succeeded. Like the re-casting of history on Jan. 6, the national conversation around the killing of Black Americans by law enforcement, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/magazine/trump-civil-rights-law-discrimination.html">has changed</a> amid a second Donald Trump presidency. But cartoonist Ben Passmore has taken the moment to cast a longer historical lens on Black activism with his graphic novel, “Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance.” In partnership with <a href="https://www.micexpo.org/events/mice-2025">The Massachusetts Independent Comics Exp</a>o (MICE,) Joel Christian Gill, cartoonist, associate professor of art and chair of the Department of Visual Narrative at Boston University, will lead a conversation with Jenkins and Passmore centered on social justice comics. Copies of “1/6” and “Black Arms to Hold You Up” will be available for purchase from and JeJenkins and Passmore will sign following the conversation.

How United States history is remembered is often dictated by the loudest voices in the room. In our charged political environment the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 has been intensely debated with <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/20/g-s1-36809/trump-pardons-january-6-riot">significantly different viewpoints</a>. Harvard Law School professor Alan Jenkins <a href="https://hls.harvard.edu/today/in-his-graphic-novel-series-about-jan-6-author-alan-jenkins-asks-what-if/">grew alarmed</a> about the historical record of Jan. 6 and the future of democracy. A comic book enthusiast, he channeled his concern into “1/6: The Graphic Novel,” developed with graphic novelist Gan Golan and illustrator Will Rosado. The novel imagines what would have happened if the insurrection had succeeded. Like the re-casting of history on Jan. 6, the national conversation around the killing of Black Americans by law enforcement, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/magazine/trump-civil-rights-law-discrimination.html">has changed</a> amid a second Donald Trump presidency. But cartoonist Ben Passmore has taken the moment to cast a longer historical lens on Black activism with his graphic novel, “Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance.” In partnership with <a href="https://www.micexpo.org/events/mice-2025">The Massachusetts Independent Comics Exp</a>o (MICE,) Joel Christian Gill, cartoonist, associate professor of art and chair of the Department of Visual Narrative at Boston University, will lead a conversation with Jenkins and Passmore centered on social justice comics. Copies of “1/6” and “Black Arms to Hold You Up” will be available for purchase from and Jenkins and Passmore will sign following the conversation.

A night with The Atlantic: America at 250

The Atlantic recently launched “The Unfinished Revolution,” a project that examines the founding of the United States and brings the nation’s history to bear on its present — and its future. To celebrate this project, join Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, and&nbsp;Meghna Chakrabarti, host of&nbsp;On Point, for a conversation about America at 250 and the most urgent, complex and challenging questions the country is facing. Then, Goldberg will interview Congressman Jake Auchincloss, a rising political star in Massachusetts, to discuss his thoughts on our current political climate, the future of democracy and how the country can collectively move through the next 250 years. Guests will enjoy a reception with complimentary bites and drinks before the program.

Field Trip: Holiday wreath making class with Rococo Floral Co.

Looking for your new favorite hangout? Take a Field Trip to CitySpace! Join us for a series of meetups where you can chill with your friends, meet new people who share your interests, spend time doing things you love, discover local businesses / organizations and, most of all, have a blast! <a href="https://rococofloralco.com/">Rococo Floral Co.</a> is back and ready to spread holiday cheer! In this workshop their team will teach you how to spruce up your average wreath with winter greens, textures, and ribbons galore. You'll walk away with your very own wreath and the skills to decorate with winter elements for years to come!" Materials included: a wreath, assorted evergreens, assorted natural textures (pinecones, birch branches, dried fruits, berries), assorted ribbons, select baubles and all the tools to assemble.

'Greeking Out' Live

Join WBUR CitySpace and friends for a series of live tapings of your favorite podcasts. Meet the people who are shaping the podcast landscape and be the first to hear their next episode, get a sneak peek of audio left on the cutting room floor or dig deeper into the stories that captivated you. Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes, the creators of National Geographic Kids’ wildly successful podcast “Greeking Out,” are back to share the greatest feats and the funniest secrets of the gods and heroes of Greek mythology. Enjoy this kid-friendly retelling of classic ancient Greek myths for the whole family. These stories of heroic victories, perilous adventures and plain old mischief will delight kids and adults alike. Plus, fans of the “Percy Jackson” series will love discovering the real myths behind their favorite (and least favorite) characters. Copies of all the “Greeking Out” books including the latest, “Tales from the Underworld,” will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner <a href="https://brooklinebooksmith.com/">Brookline Booksmith</a> and Curtis and Hughes will sign after the show.

Curated Cuisine: Exploring the craft of cocktails with America’s Test Kitchen

Curated Cuisine is a WBUR CitySpace monthly series examining all things edible, from the chefs cooking the food to the writers reviewing the recipes. Meet the people shaping the food industry, both local and national and enjoy a post-show bite inspired by the conversation. Join America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated to unleash your inner bartender with a demystifying dive into the world of classic and contemporary cocktail making. Organized around categories including martinis, Manhattans, highballs, sours, flips, tropical, and more, “Cocktails Illustrated” is the ultimate “how-to” cocktail cookbook. Dan Souza, chief content officer of America’s Test Kitchen, and test cook Joe Gitter will be in conversation with Here &amp; Now managing producer and cocktail aficionado Todd Mundt. Expand your repertoire, learn new techniques and find out why glassware matters. Guests will enjoy a complimentary cocktail or mocktail before the conversation. Copies of the book will be available to purchase from our bookstore partner <a href="https://brooklinebooksmith.com/">Brookline Booksmith</a> and Souza will sign after the event.

‘All the Empty Rooms’ film screening and conversation with CBS News' Steve Hartman and director Joshua Seftel

A visual meditation on absence, memory and the unseen ripples of America's gun violence epidemic. “All The Empty Rooms” follows veteran CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they embark on a seven-year-long project to document the empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. Tired of whitewashing tragedy with obligatory uplift, Hartman steps away from his heartwarming human interest stories to pursue a project his network never approved. As gun violence claims more young lives than any other cause in America, these quiet bedrooms reveal truths more powerful than statistics ever could. Following the screening of the short film, join Hartman, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director Joshua Seftel, and pediatric trauma surgeon and firearm injury prevention researcher, Dr. Chethan Sathya, for a heart-wrenching conversation about the toll of gun violence on these families.

‘Weight For It’ Live with special guest Katie Sturino

Join WBUR CitySpace and friends for a series of live tapings of your favorite podcasts. Meet the people who are shaping the podcast landscape and be the first to hear their next episode, get a sneak peek of audio left on the cutting room floor or dig deeper into the stories that captivated you. Join host Ronald Young Jr. for a taping of his critically acclaimed podcast “<a href="https://www.radiotopia.fm/podcasts/weight-for-it">Weight For It</a>,” which unpacks the nuanced thoughts of fat folks, and of all folks who think about their weight all the time. In season 3 (coming in September), Young will dive deeper into the ways he feels increasing pressure to lose weight. Is everyone on a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/28/wegovy-new-uses-cost-safety">GLP-1</a>? Is body positivity fully over and is hating fat people fully resuming? Each episode will examine the ways in which these questions are presenting themselves in Young’s everyday life. During the live taping, Young will be joined by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katiesturino/">Katie Sturino</a>, body acceptance advocate, founder of Megababe and author of “Sunny Side Up.” As a prominent figure in the body positivity community, she will explore ways in which the scrutiny of being a public figure, specifically now that she’s losing weight, has impacted her perspective on her work. Young and Sturino will also talk about her <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/style/katie-sturino-novel-body-positivity.html">foray into writing</a> and what it means to create plus sized characters in mainstream media. Copies of “Sunny Side Up” will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner <a href="https://brooklinebooksmith.com/">Brookline Booksmith</a> and Sturino will sign following the conversation.

Stand Strong: A night of self-defense training and empowerment

Every year, nearly one in four women will experience sexual violence on college campuses, but research shows that empowerment self-defense programs reduce these assaults by 50% or more. Join us for a self-defense class where you will learn practical skills and tips on how to stay safe. We’ll kick off the evening with remarks from Diane Rosenfeld, founding director of the Gender Violence Program and lecturer at Harvard Law School. Then, executive director of IMPACT Boston Meg Stone will lead a high-energy, hands-on self-defense training. You’ll learn assertive communication, bystander skills and simple, powerful ways to protect yourself and others — no matter your gender, ability, background or experience. We’ll end the evening with dance music and networking. Copies of Rosenfeld’s book “The Bonobo Sisterhood” and Stone’s book “The Cost of Fear” will be available to purchase from our bookstore partner <a href="https://brooklinebooksmith.com/">Brookline Booksmith</a> and both authors will sign following the event.

New York Times Games night with Everdeen Mason

Calling all New York Times Games fans! Join us for a live puzzle solve of Spelling Bee with Games editorial director Everdeen Mason. Challenge yourself to find all the words in Spelling Bee along with the rest of the audience in a fun and interactive game night. We bet you’ll feel like a Genius or Queen Bee in no time! Plus, find out more about how games are developed and what puzzles make the cut. Mason has been leading the charge to push people out of their game-solving comfort zone at The Times for over five years. “I want to turn up the dial on that sense of discovery and wonder,” she said.

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.

Where

wburcityspace

Experiences

'A Christmas Carol'

Blue Heron Presents: ‘Christmas in 16th-Century Spain’ concert and conversation with Meghna Chakrabarti

‘Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah’ Live

"Vibe Check" Live with special guest Carlos Simon

The Crossword Show with Zach Sherwin

MICE Presents: Comics in the divided age

MICE Presents: Comics in the divided age

A night with The Atlantic: America at 250

Field Trip: Holiday wreath making class with Rococo Floral Co.

'Greeking Out' Live

Curated Cuisine: Exploring the craft of cocktails with America’s Test Kitchen

‘All the Empty Rooms’ film screening and conversation with CBS News' Steve Hartman and director Joshua Seftel

‘Weight For It’ Live with special guest Katie Sturino

Stand Strong: A night of self-defense training and empowerment

New York Times Games night with Everdeen Mason