We’re lucky in Boston that there’s still plenty to do despite the cold and general dreariness. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with taking the opportunity to commit to cozy clothes and a night at home, there are too many happenings to not at least look at what’s going on this weekend – a French film, an open mic poetry night and a self-referential retrospective exhibit at the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts.
Thursday, Nov. 30
Listening to Duke Ellington’s 1960 album “Nutcracker Suite” has become one of my personal favorite holiday traditions. You can find his jazzy take on Tchaikovsky’s 1892 ballet on Spotify, and I recommend incorporating it into any Christmas party playlist. If you prefer to hear the arrangements live, visit the Berklee Performance Center at 8 p.m. on Thursday night. Berklee’s own “Diamond Cut” Big Band will tribute Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite” under the direction of Tia Fuller. As if that wasn’t enough of a draw, the concert will also feature select highlights from Berklee’s Conservatory Dance Division under the direction of Anthony Burrell. Tickets cost $12, with discounts for students, faculty and alumni. [Want more holiday concert recommendations? Check out our list here.]
Friday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 9
Here’s another chance to see a few of the fan-favorite picks from this year’s Boston French Film Festival. On Friday, the Museum of Fine Arts will show “Rise (En corps),” a 2022 film about a ballet dancer who, after an onstage accident, turns to contemporary dance. It’s a film that features plenty of young people performing expressive choreography with French dialogue about art with subtitles. On Friday, Dec. 8, the MFA will screen “The Innocent (L’Innocent),” a comedy about a marine biologist and his new stepfather with a past life of crime. Showing on Saturday, Dec. 9: “Masquerade (Mascarade)” is another tale about a dancer’s life post-injury. But this time, the former dancer finds himself scheming for riches and romance. Tickets are $12 for museum members and $15 for non-members.
Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 3
If you’re in the Kendall Square area in Cambridge this weekend, consider stopping by a holiday market featuring local makers and artists. The market opens from noon to 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday, and there will be live music from Casey Murray and Molly Tucker each day starting at 2 p.m. plus caroling by Revels. Offerings from vendors include handmade soap from Artifact Soapworks; ceramics from Ellen Ezorsky and Tomoko Terashita; handmade cards from several vendors; jewelry from Kristin Griffin and Liz Segal; as well as artists bringing stained glass, paintings, clothing, accessories, ornaments and more. The market is open to the public and you can check out all the vendors at the Cambridge Arts website.
Sunday, Dec. 3
There’s often a buzz around Trident Booksellers & Cafe. Maybe it’s the books. Maybe it’s the seasonal eggnog latte. Trident has a series of regular programs that are worth keeping in the back of your mind when looking for things to do throughout the year. Fridays are often Trivia Night with general knowledge questions. Tuesdays are often speed-dating (be sure to note that the speed-dating themes vary from week to week). There’s also a weekly Poetry Open Mic Night on Sundays. Visitors can come with a poem of their own or their choice of another poet’s work. Each slot gets about three minutes of stage time, and memorization is not required. If you’re new to open mic poetry nights, I recommend writing something short and sweet. Signups start at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Through Dec. 22
The Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts at Harvard University marks its 60th anniversary this year with a retrospective. The exhibit’s title — “This Machine Creates Opacities: Robert Fulton, Renée Green, Pierre Huyghe, and Pope.L” — is inspired by a quote from one of its featured works, but it also serves as a reference to the building’s architect, Swiss-French designer Le Corbusier, who is often referred to as the godfather of modern architecture. Le Corbusier’s outlook on architectural philosophy is captured in a phrase he grew famous for: “A house is a machine for living in.” The exhibit restages four works from the center’s history. It features the video “This is Not a Time for Dreaming” (2004), a puppet opera by Pierre Huyghe originally commissioned for the Carpenter Center’s 40th anniversary that tells the story of how Le Corbusier built the center. The exhibit also includes “Corbu Pops” (2009) by Pope.L, 16 mm film “Reality’s Invisible” (1971) by Robert Fulton and “Americas: Veritas” (2018) by Renée Green. Each of these works focuses on the Carpenter Center’s history and famed architect. The Carpenter Center is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and entry is free to the public.