The Weekender: October 21 to 24

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

Eat, shop, go

You probably spent your week bringing sweaters that had been packed away for months to the front of your closet. There’s no denying that fall has reared its breezy head, just in time for Family and Friends Weekend.

There’s no better time than this weekend to participate in the happenings, between receptions, open houses, and activities, because you’ve got your built-in crew already by your side. And don’t forget, Boston will be extra busy, because it’s also the Head of the Charles Regatta weekend.

Galleria Umberto

Bring cash and patience, and prepare for a line at this North End spot. This no-frills Sicilian eatery will give you a full belly at a more-than-sensible cost. For $2, you get thick, enormous, pizza squares that customers have been known to line up for at 10:30 am. Pizza in the morning might not be commonplace, but the store closes at 2:30 pm or whenever the food runs out. Mix up your order with a food spread straight out of Palermo, like the arancini, paninis, and panzerotti (a small calzone) also available for purchase.

Galleria Umberto, 289 Hanover St., is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:45 am to 2:30 pm.

Brattle Book Shop

Since you may be spending a little more time inside, cozy up with a book bought from one of America’s oldest and largest used bookstores. There are three stories jam-packed with books and magazines at Brattle Book Shop, as well as a large-scale outdoor library. In total, there’s an abundance of reads—over 250,000, to be exact, which have been accumulating since its opening in 1825. If you’ve been holding onto a first edition or collectible book, it might be worth some cash. Brattle Book Shop buys books from customers. 

Brattle Book Shop, 9 West St., Boston, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5:30 pm.

Boston Asian American Film Festival

The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) will be hosted virtually this year. The lineup—10 feature-length films and 5 shorts—is centered around the theme of amplifying Asian American voices and experiences. Some of the stories are part of an exclusive one-night screening, like A Tale of Three Chinatowns, which profiles the Chinatowns in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and in our own backyard, Boston. Some screenings even include a live Q&A with filmmakers to dive into the hearts and minds behind the stories.

The Boston Asian American Film Festival runs through October 24. Tickets range from $10 to $12 per film. There are also all-access passes available for $30 to $100. Viewers can purchase tickets and view the schedule here.

Yayoi Kusama’s LOVE IS CALLING at Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston

You must have been hibernating from Instagram if you missed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—Filled with the Brilliance of Life, an art display consisting of a mixture of mirrors and twinkling lights. Keep that same energy, because it’s impossible not to have your cameras out for the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston’s (ICA/Boston) latest Kusama exhibition, LOVE IS CALLING. The interactive display can only be described as colorful, polka-dotted tentacles that span from floor to ceiling. Visitors can peruse the fixtures by walking in between the art, while hearing Kusama reading an original poem. Be sure to drink up every moment, as visitors are limited to two minutes in the room. 

LOVE IS CALLING is on display at ICA/Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., until December 31, 2022. Timed tickets are required in advance; purchase them here. 

BU Men’s Ice Hockey Tailgate and Game

What’s game day without a tailgate? The Dean of Students office (DOS) is hosting a classic tailgate BBQ before the BU men’s hockey team takes on Merrimack College for a key conference game. Rain or shine, the DOS team has you covered on food and nonalcoholic beverages, with the addition of a cash bar for the 21-plus crowd. After the tailgate, it’s showtime at Agganis Arena. 

The Terrier Tailgate is from 5 to 7 pm at the StuVi I side lawn, 10 Buick St. The hockey game will be played at Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave. Tickets are required for both events. Guests must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test up to 72 hours before the game. Purchase hockey tickets here, and access to all other Family and Friends Weekend events here.