Boston Food and Drink Happenings to Check Out This Weekend

Welcome to Eater’s periodic roundup of weekend food and drink events worth checking out around town. Want to let us know about an upcoming Boston-area event? Get in touch at boston@eater.com.

Friday, July 28

MALDEN — Idle Hands Craft Ale welcomes Italian street-food pop-up Koselig Posto into its Malden taproom for a day of arancini and ale, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Koselig Posto is a mashup of Italian fare with Norwegian cozy vibes (“koselig” means roughly the same thing as the Danish “hygge” — hinting at that irresistible feeling of being wrapped in a knit sweater by a fire). Comforting flavors crafted by Koselig Posto include arancini filled with pesto, along with sausage, peppers, and onions among the rotating offerings. Wash the bites down with the Gretel German-style pilsner and other brews from Idle Hands.

NEWBURYPORT — The lively Newburyport Greek Food Festival is back in a big way for the first time since the pandemic. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at the intersection of Park and Harris Streets hosts the event, which starts at 11 a.m. on Friday and runs through 3 p.m. on Sunday. Get your fill of gyros, pastries (including loukoumades — delightful deep-freed dough balls drizzled with honey), and other foods, plus perk up with strong Greek coffee and sip imported beers and wines.

Saturday, July 29

BOSTON — The two-day Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts takes over City Hall Plaza this weekend. Starting at noon, head to the festival for your fill of Latin food, pick up some crafts and souvenirs, and enjoy entertainment from acts from both Boston and Puerto Rico.

EVERETT — Get your groove on at the Night Shift Brewing Everett taproom for the free Lite It Up: Battle of the Bands, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Local artists Ruckus, Alex and the People, Mighty Smooth, Three Sided Die, Cosmic Vultures, Cosmic Rush, and DJ Suss take to two stages. Attendees can cast a single vote for their favorite band, with the top two taking home a cash prize. Bonetown Burgers and the Night Shift Eats food trucks will be there with bites to accompany the beats. Dog are welcome, and the event happens rain or shine. Savor a drink special that mixes Nite Lite (the brewery’s American light lager) with orange spritz syrup, citrus gin, and fresh lemon, too.

Sunday, July 30

CAMBRIDGE — Local favorite ramen shop Yume Wo Katare hosts an ice cream pop-up with Churn & Co. Creamery. Expect Sicilian pistachio, malted & salted — a combo of fudge, cookie dough, and pretzel — and an Oreo and s’mores mashup among the flavors from the Danvers-based small-batch ice cream maker. If you haven’t been keeping up with Yume’s Instagram, too, you’re missing out. The ramen shop has been hosting special events all summer long (for example, on July 26, the first 15 customers to bring a bouquet of roses to the shop got free ramen). Owner Jake Vo has been documenting Yume’s off-season business plans and daily ramen-selling goals for a delicious behind-the-scenes.

DORCHESTER — Dorchester Brewing Co. hosts the free Bears, Brews & Boys: Summer HEAT event on its open rooftop patio and rooftop greenhouse (and head to the brewery’s first floor if you need to hightail it from the heat) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The inclusive and gay-friendly event offers a chance to mingle while sipping the brewery’s ciders, hard seltzers, wines, and brews. Also on offer: hard slushies to cool off, with grub served by on-site eatery M&M BBQ.

SOMERVILLE — Single and ready to mingle with a time crunch? Head over to the Thirsty Scholar from 6 p.m. through 8 p.m. to go on 14 mini dates. The event is aimed at singles ages 26 to 37, and ladies take a seat at a table while guys drop by every five minutes to see if the sparks fly. The event includes one complimentary beer or wine. Mutual matches are notified within 24 hours to see if they’d like to explore their chemistry further.

Saturday, August 5

PROVINCETOWN — Here’s advanced notice (so you can start working on your looks and practicing your talent, naturally) that Provincetown Brewing Co. is hosting its third-annual Miss Beaded Mistress Pageant in its taproom from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event sees amateur drag artists and would-be stars vying for the title during eveningwear, swimwear, talent, and interview portions. The winner will snag $500 and will also see their likeness emblazoned on cans of the brewery’s Bearded Mistress IPA, available all over Provincetown, in Boston, and beyond. The evening also benefits the Dorchester-based non-profit Verna Felton. If your summer travels take you to Provincetown, check out the brewery’s recently refreshed bites from James-Beard-winning chef Kelly Fields, and enjoy eats from other essential restaurants in this seaside haven. Or if you’re staying closer to home, find the brewery’s pours at Dbar, Blend, both locations of Boston Chops, plus other eateries and gay spots around.

Friday, July 21

CAMBRIDGE — The Bastille Day festivities aren’t over yet. The Harvard Square Business Association and Bonde Fine Wine Shop are hosting an outdoor Bastille Day celebration tonight on Church Street in Harvard Square from 5 to 10 p.m. Listen to live music performances and snack on treats from La Saison, Le Macaron, and French sandwiches from Source.

SOMERVILLE — AfroVybe, a festival celebrating all things Africa, is taking over Bow Market all weekend long. Tonight, head to the market for a Cameroonian supper club led by chef Huguette Mireille with wine pairings by the Wine Linguist and cocktails from the Nook, plus live music and a photo booth. On Saturday, Destiny African Market, the Slushy Lady, and the Nook will be set up for more food and cocktails; and the event closes out on Sunday with a West African brunch featuring food from Roxbury mainstay Suya Joint, Neighborhood Kitchen in Medford, and cocktails from the Nook. Find tickets and more information for all the weekend’s events right here.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS — Just in case you haven’t heard yet, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie drops this weekend. Plenty of restaurants and bars are getting in on the pink-hued fun this weekend and throughout the month in celebration of the movie's release. Boston Magazine has a full rundown of Barbie-themed drinks, food, and events to check out around the city.

Saturday, July 22

BOSTON — The third annual Boston While Black Family Reunion is taking place at the Seaport, on the Lawn at D, from 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. There’s a whole bunch of activities for adults and kids taking place all afternoon, and food trucks at the event include Caribbean American spot Fresh Food Generation, Haitian favorite Gourmet Kreyol, and Latin soul food Lord Dawgz.

BOSTON — In East Boston, the annual Eastie Week is in full swing this month. On Saturday afternoon, head to Piers Park (95 Marginal Street) for the Sabores de Nuestra Cultura family festival with free treats, live music, games, and free sailboat rides with the Piers Park Sailing Center. Then, mark your calendars to come back on Tuesday, July 25, for Taste of Eastie, where you can sample food from nearly 30 participating restaurants at the Tall Ship of East Boston.

SOMERVILLE — Back at Bow Market, the Rebel Rebel crew is hosting chef Tristan Kwong, also known as the Fruit Somm at Brooklyn’s Cantonese American hotspot Bonnie’s, for a one-day-only pop-up on Saturday afternoon. On the prospective menu, there are cold smashed cucumbers, sesame noodles, a Tiger’s Milk ceviche, lamb larb, and, of course, a killer fruit plate. The pop-up starts at 2 p.m. and goes until 6 p.m. or until they sell out.

Sunday, July 23

CAMBRIDGE — For its latest Roundtable event, Central Square restaurant Pagu is headed outside for a Sunday afternoon barbecue and block party in partnership with Everybody Gotta Eat’s Emmanuel Mervil and Dorchester hot spot Comfort Kitchen. The stacked menu includes suckling pig tacos, green crab paella, and jerk chicken, and a portion of all ticket sales are going to benefit the Round Culinary Pilot Program, a Moses Youth Center initiative. Tickets are $35 apiece and are available here.

CAMBRIDGE — At Inman Square Japanese spot Momi Nonmi, chef Chris Chung is hosting a special pop-up kaiseki jubako brunch ($99 per person) for both takeout and dine-in this Sunday and in early August (8/6). Each shokado bento box includes an appetizer, sashimi, and steamed, grilled, and simmered dishes, as well as a few other chef’s choice bites. Reservations for the brunch are available here.

Friday, July 14

BOSTON — In celebration of Bastille Day, Miel Brasserie at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Boston is running a special Bastille Day menu (oysters! steak tartare! steak au poivre!) on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are available here.

BOSTON — The Institute of Contemporary Art is kicking off a free waterfront summer music series, “Vinyl Nights,” tonight at its Seaport digs, accompanied by light bites and a raw bar from the Catered Affair and natural wines curated by Rebel Rebel and Wild Child owner Lauren Friel. The all-vinyl DJ lineup tonight includes Soulelujah, known for spinning soul, funk, and R&B jams every Saturday night at the Sinclair in Cambridge. The party starts at 5 p.m.

SOMERVILLE — Back at Wild Child’s home base in Bow Market, cookbook author Stacey Mei Yan Fong is discussing her new cookbook 50 Pies, 50 States tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Each $15 ticket includes a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage.

Saturday, July 15

BOSTON — The Little Saigon district in Dorchester’s Fields Corner is hosting its second annual Little Saigon night market on Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. Stroll along Dorchester Avenue, from Park Street and Adams Street (Including Town Field Park) and feast on food from two dozen participating vendors, including Dorchester Vietnamese favorites like Phở Hòa and Hương Quê.

Sunday, July 16

BOSTON — There are a couple of fun events going on at the Time Out Market food hall in Fenway: Compete in the second week of a month-long cornhole tournament every Sunday at 2 p.m., and then stick around for the food hall’s monthly drag bingo night with host Plane Jane starting at 6 p.m.

CAMBRIDGE — Not strictly a food event, but the beloved restaurant-slash-live music venue the Middle East in Cambridge’s Central Square is hosting a breakdancing competition on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Come see the Floor Lords — Boston’s oldest breakdancing crew — tear up the floor alongside other teams competing in the national Snipes Pro Breaking Tour. Tickets start at $20 and are available here.

Friday, July 7

BOSTON — The tenth edition of the acclaimed Caribbean food festival Boston JerkFest kicks off tonight in Allston, at the Harvard Athletic Complex (145 North Harvard Street) with a Rum and Brew tasting from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Watch cocktail demos, cheer on your favorite Boston bartender as they compete in a Caribbean rum cocktail throwdown, and sample dozens of rums, ciders, beers, and more during the Friday night event. Tickets start at $45 and are available here.

Saturday, July 8

BOSTON — The Boston JerkFest festivities keep rolling on day two, with 12 local restaurants including Jamaica Mi Hungry, Irie Jamaican Style Restaurant, and Comfort Kitchen bringing their best jerk dishes to the party. Don’t miss the multiple cooking competitions, including the seafood throwdown where Comfort Kitchen chef and partner Kwasi Kwaa will take the stage to defend his winning title from last year. Tickets start at $5 for kids and $35 for adults (or $70 for a two-day pass) and are available here.

BOSTON — Jamie Bissonette, the decorated chef behind Boston hot spots like Toro and Little Donkey, is DJing a Saturday night dance party at Scottish restaurant the Haven in Jamaica Plain. Tickets are $10 per person and are available here.

Sunday, July 9

CAMBRIDGE — Harvard Square landmark Harvest is launching an ice cream pop-up on Sundays out on its patio starting on July 9. From 1 to 4 p.m., stop by the restaurant for fun, fancy scoops dreamed up by Harvest’s pastry team, like kettle corn ice cream and a watermelon hibiscus sorbet, tucked into cups and waffle cones made in-house.

CAMBRIDGE — Gather with other cycling enthusiasts at Lamplighter Brewing (at its Broadway location) on Sunday night for a pint and a screening of There from Here, a documentary on bikepacking through Vermont, followed by a Q&A with the director and subjects of the film. Free tickets are available here.

SOMERVILLE — The talented vendors at Somerville’s Bow Market are joining forces for an oyster festival on Sunday afternoon. Look out for button shortbreads with salmon roe from Nine Winters bakery, Filet o’ Fish empanadas from Buenas, fried oyster pizza from HotBox, and a whole lot more. Tickets start at $18 per person and are available here.