The Weekender: February 27 to March 2

Photo by Hrant Khachatryan/Unsplash

February 27 to March 2

As we enter March and (hopefully) bid farewell to icy, snowy winter, it’s time for Bostonians to come out of hibernation and hit the town this weekend. The options are almost endless: view a foreign-language film at the Baltic Film Festival, then get your gown or tux ready for an Oscars viewing party. And on two nights, have a laugh at an adult-themed show at Brookline’s Puppet Showplace Theater. 

Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson 

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, celebrates the work of Roxbury’s late John Wilson, an esteemed artist and longtime BU College of Fine Arts professor, who explored subjects that include anti-Black violence, the civil rights movement, labor, and family life—with a particular focus on fatherhood. Wilson was born in 1922, and his powerful works span over six decades of fighting injustice and imagining different futures. This collection, the largest of Wilson’s works, was organized in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (where the exhibition will then move), and is made up of about 110 works in a range of mediums, including drawings, sculptures, and illustrated books. Accompanying the MFA show are two projects by students at the CFA School of Visual Arts, where Wilson taught for more than 20 years. Read BU Today’s story on the show here. 

Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson is on view through June 22 at the MFA, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Find the museum’s hours here. MFA admission is free for all BU students, faculty, and staff. 

Puppets at Night: WHAT THE DUCK?!?

If you’re a fan of Boston’s stand-up scene, take a chance on the art of stand-up puppetry. This Friday and Saturday, Brookline’s Puppet Showplace Theater welcomes children’s entertainer, psychologist, and activist Susan Linn, in a playful spin on stand-up comedy. Linn’s show, WHAT THE DUCK?!? has her joined on stage by her avian companion, Audrey Duck, and together they’ll explore the human condition and various philosophical musings in a hilarious, if occasionally neurotic, set. 

February 28 and March 1, 8 pm, Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. Purchase pay-what-you-can tickets, starting at $15, here. 

Boston Baltic Film Festival

The three-day Boston Baltic Film Festival, which honors films from the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, is a collaboration between ArtsEmerson, the American National Latvian League, and the Baltic Film Committee. Some films to look forward to include BOOM! a new Latvian film following 13-year-old Hugo, who, after a skateboarding accident, gains superpowers. Another highlight is The Shadow, an Estonian thriller centered around Juhan Liiv, an amateur detective who solves several gruesome murder cases while suffering from the effects of schizophrenia.

Friday, February 28 through Sunday, March 2, Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Boston. Tickets are $15 per film; find the festival schedule here. 

Jamaica Pond parkrun

Welcome spring’s looming arrival in Boston with a run around Jamaica Pond, a local hotspot in Jamaica Plain, for relaxing views of nature. Each week, the sneaker company Brooks organizes local free 5K community events, led entirely by volunteers, called parkrun. Running, jogging, or walking is AOK, so it’s the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air and socialize. Elsewhere in Boston, check out some of parkrun’s programs at Danehy Park in Cambridge or Cutler Park in Needham.

Saturday, March 1, 9 am. This event is free, but be sure to register ahead of time here.

Oscar Watch Party at Trident Booksellers & Café 

Hollywood’s biggest night is this Sunday, where the best new movies go head-to-head for the coveted Academy Awards. The show is being hosted by an Oscars first-timer, late-night comedian Conan O’Brien, and can be viewed on the big screen at Trident Booksellers & Café’s annual Oscar viewing party. Guests should dress to impress and can play games and order themed snacks and drinks (kitchen closes at 10 pm) as they watch the show. Seating is first come, first served.

Sunday, March 2, 7 pm, Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury St., Boston.