Ones to Watch: Short Film Festival

Your next favorite artist is right here in Greater Boston. WBUR keeps its finger on the pulse of Boston's diverse and lively arts and culture scene on-air, online and now on stage. Join us for “Ones to Watch: Boston’s Emerging Artists,” a four-part series featuring up-and-coming artists across an array of genres: dance, comedy, film, theater and more. Join us for an evening of screenings of short films created by local filmmakers: Shaun Clarke, Maria Servellón, Brittany Severance, Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple. Their films range in topic, style and point of view, exploring intimate connections, an existential crisis, the beauty of dance and the supernatural. Following the films,WBUR film critic Sean Burns moderates a conversation about their craft, the challenges of making and financing movies and how to build an audience. Complimentary popcorn will be served! Lineup "The Air Before Me” by Shaun Clarke “Phantasma” by Maria Servellón “Periphery” by Brittany Severance “The Thaw” by Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple

WBUR CitySpace

"Mortified" Live

“Mortified” is back — and angstier than ever! Hailed as a “cultural phenomenon” by NewsWeek and celebrated for years by the likes of “This American Life,” “The Today Show,” The Onion AV Club and Entertainment Weekly, “Mortified” is a comic excavation of teen angst artifacts (journals, poems, letters, lyrics, home movies, schoolwork) as shared by their original authors — in front of total strangers. Since 2002, “Mortified” has been curating teen angst artifacts from people like you. The project began when founder David Nadelberg discovered an unsent love letter he wrote as a teenager. The letter sparked an idea and he sent an email to friends asking if anyone wanted to share their childhood writings on stage. That email went viral and soon, responses poured in from strangers near and far. Over two decades later, what started with a single letter transformed into a movement encouraging people everywhere to unearth the strange stuff they created as kids and share them with at least one person. You’d be surprised what you discover in the process. There are a million stories buried in the pages of people’s lives. It's "Mortified's" mission is to help people find them.

Dear Writer: Maggie Smith in conversation with Saeed Jones on advice for a creative life

Poet Maggie Smith is back with her eighth book — this time focused on writers and the act of creativity. Smith, a New York Times bestselling author whose poem “<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones">Good Bones</a>” garnered her a sudden and sustained brush with fame in 2016 establishing her as a “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/style/maggie-smith-poet.html">celebrity poet</a>,” has penned a guide for creatives based on her 20 years of teaching experience. In celebration of National Poetry Month, Smith will be joined by fellow award-winning poet Saeed Jones, who is currently an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.readsaeedjones.com/">artist-in-residence</a>&nbsp;in the Media, Health and Medicine program at Harvard Medical School. The pair will explore 10 elements that Smith has identified for a creative life: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection and hope. The evening will also include poetry readings from both Smith and Jones along with an audience Q&amp;A. Copies of “Dear Writer” will be available to purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith and Smith will sign copies following the conversation

Rabbit Moon: New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Haigh on her suspenseful new novel about family and secret lives

Join us to celebrate the release of “Rabbit Moon” with New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Haigh, in conversation with Jayne Anne Phillips, 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning author for “Night Watch.” Set in Shanghai, “Rabbit Moon” is a tense, propulsive drama where a fractured American family faces its complicated past. Copies of the book will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith and Haigh will sign following the conversation.

Ones to Watch: The Floor Lords empower local youth through the positivity of hip hop dance

Your next favorite artist is right here in Greater Boston. WBUR keeps its finger on the pulse of Boston's diverse and lively arts and culture scene on-air, online and now on stage. Join us for “Ones to Watch: Boston’s Emerging Artists,” a four-part series featuring up-and-coming artists across an array of genres: dance, comedy, film, theater and more. Join us for an evening with Floor Lords, who seek to use the positivity of hip hop dance to reach and empower inner city and local youth to understand how to direct their energy in a productive manner and foster creativity. The crew seek to bring success to these individuals and enrich their lives, using hip hop elements as avenues to teach and provide guidance in a positive, nurturing, and comfortable environment. With break dancing making its Olympic debut this summer, the genre continues to gain popularity. Floor Lords president and Roxbury native Alex “Bboy El Niño” Diaz competed in the Olympic trials for Team USA. They’ll join WBUR arts reporter Arielle Gray to discuss the history and mission of the crew, teach you some moves and present an electrifying performance you won’t want to miss.

The Running Nerd Game Show with host Laura Green

Tickets are currently sold out. We may release a small amount of tickets closer to the date of the show. We do not offer a wait list. Please see our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbur.org/events/policies-guide">policies</a>&nbsp;for more information.&nbsp; Comedian and runner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lauramcgreen/?hl=en">Laura Green</a>&nbsp;hosts a new, interactive game show she’ll present live for the first time at CitySpace as running fever takes over the city ahead of the 2025 Boston Marathon. Join us at The Running Nerd Game Show for an evening of stand-up comedy, surprise guests as contestants and an unhinged format where points don't matter but everyone wants to win. It is a combination of all your favorite game shows from growing up distilled into an unforgettable experience no one is quite sure where it's headed next — even the host! Shake off the pre-race nerves and come out to enjoy some niche comedy with fellow running nerds.

Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara 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. As the running world turns its gaze on Boston for the 129th running of the Boston Marathon, join us for a live taping of the podcast “Nobody Asked Us with Des &amp; Kara” with hosts Des Linen and Kara Goucher. Once competitors and Olympic teammates, now friends and podcast partners, Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion and Goucher, World Athletics Championships silver medalist and podium finisher in Boston, share their hot takes about all things running with a little bit of life-stuff sprinkled in too. Come for the insights on running and stay for the inspiration from two legends in the sport. No filter needed.

Curated Cuisine: An evening with food writer, editor and critic Ruth Reichl

Curated Cuisine is a 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 us for an evening with six-time James Beard Award winner Ruth Reichl who will reminisce about her long career and share her perspectives on how restaurant culture and food publishing is changing. Reichl is a New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, two novels (“Delicious!”; “The Paris Novel”) and the cookbook “My Kitchen Year.” She served as restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times in the 1980s and The New York Times in the 1990s before becoming editor in chief of Gourmet magazine in 1999 until it shuttered a decade later. Despite holding some of the most prestigious jobs in food writing, Reichl has always written in the voice of the ordinary cook and embraced an outsider persona. Tania Ralli, WBUR assistant managing editor of arts and culture and graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City, will moderate the conversation. Paperback copies of “The Paris Novel” will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith, Reichl will sign and guests will enjoy a bite from one of her favorite recipes following the conversation. This event is produced in partnership with <a href="https://www.bu.edu/foodandwine/">Boston University’s Metropolitan College Programs in Food &amp; Wine</a>.

Notorious: New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd’s new book on her most popular celebrity profiles

Maureen Dowd has been a New York Times columnist since 1995, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1999 for her columns on the impact of President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky. Although she mostly focuses on presidential politics, Dowd often profiles Hollywood movie stars, Silicon Valley executives and business titans. These delicious, gossipy, funny profiles are now collected in her new book, “Notorious: Portraits of Stars from Hollywood, Culture, Fashion, and Tech.” Here &amp; Now co-host Robin Young will join Dowd to discuss the book and some of her most popular celebrity profiles. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Dowd will sign following the conversation. About “Notorious” A sly and chatty collection of the revered Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist’s most notorious celebrity profiles. Shining a white-hot spotlight on America’s famous, from Hollywood legends to Broadway stars to media moguls, “Notorious” is a captivating assortment of Maureen Dowd’s most compelling style features and profiles. Using her signature wit and incisive commentary as a scalpel, Dowd dissects influential cultural elites, including:<ul><li>Leading Hollywood women from Uma Thurman to Jane Fonda to Greta Gerwig</li><li>Silver screen foxes such as Paul Newman, Idris Elba and Ralph Fiennes</li><li>Funny people like Tina Fey, Mel Brooks and Larry David</li><li>Fashionistas from Andre Leon Talley to Ann Roth to Tom Ford</li><li>And hubristic media and tech titans like Elon Musk, Bob Iger and Peter Thiel</li></ul>“Notorious” is the perfect antidote to our current political malaise and an intimate, gossipy romp through the culture of celebrity from a legend in American journalism.

Sláinte: A toast to Irish folk music in Boston

This year, <a href="https://speakeasystage.com/">SpeakEasy Stage Company</a> will host the New England premiere of the recently reimagined revival of “<a href="https://speakeasystage.com/shows/2025/02/a-man-of-no-importance/">A Man of No Importance</a>,” a charming musical set in Dublin, Ireland about the redemptive power of theatre, love and friendship. Join us at CitySpace to celebrate the premiere and Boston's Irish roots with an evening of folk music featuring performances from local fiddlers, Irish folk bands and actors from this new production. This celebration is the perfect way to gear up for Boston's favorite holiday: St. Patrick's Day! Guests will also enjoy complimentary reception before the show. Performers Wyatt Anton — actor, "A Man of No Importance" Aimee Doherty — actor, "A Man of No Importance" Ronan Green — actor, "A Man of No Importance" Cooper Sheeley — accompanist Julia Connor — fiddler Kyra Davies — fiddler Gwen Johnston — fiddler Slainte — Irish-American folk rock band Performances for “A Man of No Importance,” directed by Paul Daigneault, run Friday, February 21 through Sunday, March 22.

Ones To Watch Comedy Festival with host Bethany Van Delft

Your next favorite artist is right here in Greater Boston. WBUR keeps its finger on the pulse of Boston's diverse and lively arts and culture scene on-air, online and now on stage. Join us for “Ones to Watch: Boston’s Emerging Artists,” a four-part series featuring up-and-coming artists across an array of genres: dance, comedy, film, theater and more. Join us for an evening of comedy with four of Boston’s up and coming performers: Kristina Feliciano, El Kennedy, Uzair Malik and Mary Spadaro. They may not be household names YET, but each has a unique style and hilarious delivery that bode well for future fame. Bethany Van Delft, host of The Moth StorySLAM and crowned Boston Magazine’s Best Comedian two years in a row, will emcee the evening.

The Mega Awesome Super Huge Wicked Fun Podcast Playdate

CitySpace's two-day podcast festival for kids returns&nbsp;Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16&nbsp;with performances presented by WBUR and friends! Whether your child wants to understand how to tell what's true from what's false, learn about important people in history, hear stories from Ancient Greece or folk tales from around the world or discover the wonders found in nature, we have it all with live performances from “Circle Round,” “But Why,” The Big Fib,” “Greeking Out” “The Past and The Curious” and “Terrestrials.” Saturday, February 15 10:00 a.m. |&nbsp;Circle Round Circle Round&nbsp;adapts age-old folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich audio plays for modern kids ages 3-103. Join host&nbsp;Rebecca Sheir, composer&nbsp;Eric Shimelonis&nbsp;and a talented cast of actors as they bring two exciting folktales to life on stage. One will be a listener favorite chosen…by you! Copies of the&nbsp;Circle Round&nbsp;books will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith and Rebecca will sign after the show. 12:00 p.m. | "But Why" presents&nbsp;Hoots and Whistles How do owls see at night? And why do they spin their heads around? How do peregrine falcons fly? "But Why," Vermont Public's podcast for curious kids, explores the fascinating world of birds in this interactive show. Host Jane Lindholm will be joined by special guests—and live owls and hawks--as they answer questions submitted by kids from all over the world. By the end of the show, you'll be a bird-caller extraordinaire! 2:00 p.m. | "The Big Fib" In the era of fake news, kids need to learn to be able to tell what’s true from what’s false. And what better way to do that than a game show that puts kids in the driver’s seat, adults on the hot seat, and a sound-effects robot strapped to the roof? During the game, you'll meet two people who claim to be experts in a particular topic, but one of them is actually…a BIG FIBBER! Join host Deborah Goldstein and silly sound effects robot L.I.S.A. (aka Live In-Studio Audience robot) as a human child contestant asks insightful questions, weighs the evidence presented and helps us identify our BIG FIBBER! Sunday, Febuary 16 10:00 a.m. | Nat Geo Kids "Greeking Out" Oh, Muses! Hear this podcast and allow us to recall some of the greatest stories ever told. Stories of gods and goddesses, monsters, and heroes! Enjoy this kid-friendly retelling of classic ancient Greek myths for the whole family, featuring Featuring narrator Kenny Curtis and the Oracle of Wifi (played by Jillian Hughes). Copies of the "Greeking Out" books will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith and Kenny and Jillian will sign after the show. 12:00 p.m. | "The Past and The Curious" Don’t let anyone tell you History can’t be fun. "The Past And The Curious" host Mick Sullivan loves to get excited about people and places of the past - and he loves to share that excitement with others. This live show will weave together stories of curious and interesting people from the past – like a South African woman who discovered a species everyone thought was extinct, and an American woman who conquered Niagara Falls in pickle barrel on her 63rd birthday. In addition, Mick has developed a multimedia performance with original music, imagery, and engaging storytelling to share the fascinating story of The Longest Painting in the World. 2:00 p.m. | Radiolab for Kids Presents: “Terrestrials” "Terrestrials" is a show for kids and families that explores the strangeness that exists right here on Earth. In each episode, host Lulu Miller (co-host of “Radiolab”) introduces a creature or earthly phenomenon that will defy your expectations of how nature is supposed to work. For this brand-new live show, the team looks into a sea creature that is beloved to Bostonians — clams! They are stranger, wilder and older than you think! The team has cooked up an incredible chowder of stories, music and guests. And we will be calling on you, the audience, to ask questions of our special guests and to help us record a brand-new song. It’s gonna be a ball. Or, should we say, “a clam?”

"Keep It" Live with hosts Ira Madison III & Louis Virtel celebrating "Pure Innocent Fun"

Join WBUR and friends for a new 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 href="https://crooked.com/podcast-series/keep-it/">Keep It</a>” featuring hosts Ira Madison III and Louis Virtel. Wherever pop culture and politics collide, Madison and Virtel are on hand to examine the gorgeous wreckage from their uniquely queer perspective. Each week, the “Princes of Pop Culture” unpack the latest controversies, laude character actress appreciation and all the shade that’s fit to throw. In this special live taping, Madison will discuss his new nostalgic and raucous essay collection “Pure Innocent Fun.” Madison offers readers a brand-new pop-culture manifesto. Copies of “Pure Innocent Fun” will be available to purchase from our bookstore partner Frugal Bookstore and Madison will sign following the conversation.

Curated Cuisine: Easy Weeknight Dinners with NYT Cooking's Emily Weinstein, Melissa Clark and Eric Kim

Curated Cuisine is a 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 us for a conversation with Emily Weinstein, New York Times editor in chief of Cooking and the Food section, about her new book, “Easy Weeknight Dinners,” featuring recipes from Cooking’s extraordinary contributing writers. Inspired by one of The New York Times’s most popular newsletters, Weinstein’s “Five Weeknight Dishes,” this book offers 100 fast and flavorful meals that will satisfy whether you’re seeking a standout dinner for one, crowd pleasers for picky kids or something special for company. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean that you can’t have something excellent to eat. Weinstein will be joined by popular Cooking columnists Melissa Clark and Eric Kim, who will discuss recipe writing, go-to meals and tips for easy excellence in the kitchen. Copies of the book will be available for purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith, the chefs will sign and guests will enjoy a bite from the book following the conversation. This event is produced in partnership with <a href="https://cambridgeculinary.com/">Cambridge School of Culinary Arts</a>.

Jack the Whipper (with a guest appearance by Ses Carny)

Jack Lepiarz (AKA Jacques ze Whipper) and Ses Carny are BACK for another year performing their acclaimed "Secret Show," and this year, it's even longer than ever before! It's what happens when circus meets improv in a show that is easily the strangest thing to ever appear at CitySpace. Bring your friends, bring your significant other...just maybe don't bring the kids, unless they're very precocious. The show will be approximately two hours long with an intermission approximately 75 minutes in.

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.