Free summer events: Somerville's ArtBeat festival, Keanu on the Waterfront, and more
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SURF'S UP
Where better to watch Keanu Reeves go up against a group of bank-robbing surfers in 'Point Break' than by Boston's Waterfront? On Wednesday, the Coolidge Corner Theatre will host a free outdoor screening of the 1991 cult classic at the Greenway's Wharf District Park. But it won't just be mindless fun — to kick off the program, an MIT neuroscientist will teach attendees about the science behind the film's high-octane action.
July 16, 8 p.m. Wharf District Park, 74-8 Milk St.
PEP IN YOUR STEP
Evening walks in Fenway will be soundtracked by free-flowing jazz from Noah Allen & the Peace, who will play a mix of original music and jazz standards by the likes of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. The group will perform as part of this year's Swingin' in the Fens, a free outdoor concert series hosted by Berklee College of Music and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
July 16, 6:30 p.m. Ramler Park, 130 Peterborough St.
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Noah Allen will perform with his group at this year's Swingin' in the Fens concert in Ramler Park.
Noah Allen
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
Looking for a weekly pick-me-up? Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción's Tito Puente Latin Music Series will liven up parks around Boston every Thursday through Aug. 14, and attendees can join salsa dance lines led by MetaMovements, a transnational Latin dance collective based in Caribbean nations and around the US. This week, tropical music singer Hugo Díaz will perform at the Plaza Betances park in the South End.
July 17, 7 p.m. Plaza Betances, 100 W. Dedham St.
HERBS GALORE
Every Thursday, the Superette Herb Garden in Seaport opens its doors for herb harvesting, where attendees can take home their pick of fresh mint, dill, cilantro, and basil. Neighboring restaurant Borrachito Taqueria & Spirits is offering a 'Herb Your Enthusiasm' cocktail, so you can see those herbs in action, but keep in mind: This pour's not for free.
Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. The Superette, 131 Seaport Blvd.
PRETEND IT'S NOT HOT
Local musicians, artisans, and food vendors populate the streets of Davis Square for the 37th annual ArtBeat festival on Saturday. For this year's theme, 'Freeze,' interactive activities like arctic animal mask making, frosty decorations throughout the streets, and a juggling snowman stilt walker turn the neighborhood into a winter wonderland. Events will take place throughout the day, including a multicultural dance showcase at the Somerville Theatre's Crystal Ballroom.
July 19,
noon-9 p.m. Davis Square, 1 Davis Square, Somerville.
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GONE GOLFING
Swing an iron with Old Ironsides at the USS Constitution Museum, where a free mini golf course will be open through the end of October. Each hole on the multi-obstacle course features a fact about the US Navy to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. USS Constitution Museum, 88 Constitution Road.
A WALK TO REMEMBER
Take a walk with history by embarking on the African American Women in 19th-century Cambridge walking tour. The self-guided educational experience was curated by Harvard's History Department and the Cambridge Black History Project, and visits the homes of civic leader Maria L. Baldwin and novelist Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins, as well as other spaces occupied and owned by influential Black women who left their mark on the city.
Tour begins at the Maria Baldwin House, 196 Prospect St., Cambridge.
Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to
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Ryan Yau can be reached at
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