Boston is known as a college town, but even when school is out for summer, there's plenty to do. Beantown offers something for everyone in the hot summer months. While there's always a visit to the Boston Common or taking a duck boat down the Charles River, some of the more interesting events, from a week of tall ships to a sandcastle wonderland to a showing of Sargent murals, are profiled below.
Bizarro at Six Flags New England: Bizarro is the latest incarnation of Superman: Ride of Steel being unveiled over Memorial Day weekend. Based on the alternate bizarro world of DC Comics' Superman universe, the ride sports a new blue and purple color scheme as well as a number of new special effects including fire installations and fog-filled tunnels. The track will remain the same as it was when the ride was still the blue-and-red Ride of Steel, with a maximum drop of 221 feet and a top speed of 77 mph over its roughly one mile of track. Despite the similarities to the old coaster, new and improved safety features, a new pre-ride narrative and new cars seem to ensure that Bizarro will be a sane choice for thrill-seekers this summer. Six Flags New England is located in Agawam, Mass., a suburb of Springfield.
Sail Boston 2009: From July 8-13, for the first time since 2000, tall ships will be coming to Boston. After racing from Vigo, Spain, to Tenerife in the Canary Islands to Bermuda to Charleston, S.C., the ships of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 will make a six-day stop in Boston for Sail Boston 2009 before the final legs of the race to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and finally to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The event will include harbor tours, a parade and various entertainment events. The ships will be docked in the Seaport District, Fan Pier Basin, Rowes Wharf and at wharfs near the North End and Charleston. The Sail Boston event in 2000 drew over 8 million spectators for its Parade of Sail. This year, the Grand Parade of Sail will take place on July 8, and 4 million are expected to watch as the ships enter Boston Harbor. This event has been in planning for nearly two years and has the city of Boston ready for a week of nautical glory.
New England Sand Sculpting Festival: From July 15-19, Revere Beach will be abuzz with spectators marveling at the delicate work of a few extremely talented artists. The New England Sand Sculpting Festival (NESSF) returns for its sixth year to Revere Beach, featuring 16 sand sculptors crafting works of art made from 10 tons of sand each, vying for the grand prize of $15,000. The sculptors each get 28 hours spaced over four days, during which they get to sculpt their masterpieces out of tightly packed blocks of sand. The sand is a special variety with a high silt content that is more conducive to sculpting, shipped in from New Hampshire specifically for the festival. All proceeds from the festival go to benefit the Revere Beach Partnership.
"Easy Rider" at the Brattle Theatre: This summer marks the 40th anniversary of Dennis Hopper's genre-changing 1969 film, "Easy Rider." The film follows Wyatt, also known as Captain America (Peter Fonda), and Billy (Dennis Hopper) on a motorcycle trip from L.A. to New Orleans for Mardi Gras while exploring the world of drugs and looking for the real America. With outstanding performances by Hopper, Fonda and Jack Nicholson, "Easy Rider" is a classic and a perfect summer film. A restored 35mm print will be presented four times a day (3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30) at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge the week of July 3-9.
Live Music: This summer, Boston will play host to a huge number of concerts. From pop to rock to hip hop and everything in between, Boston's summer music lineup has something for everyone. Here are some of the standouts: The Shins at Orpheum Theatre on May 20; The National, House of Blues, May 23; Unwigged and Unplugged: An Evening with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer at Wilbur Theatre on May 23; Leonard Cohen at the Wang Theatre, May 29; Dave Matthews Band with Willie Nelson, Fenway Park, May 29 and 30; Phish at Fenway Park on May 31; TV on the Radio at House of Blues on June 4; Gogol Bordello at House of Blues on June 5; The Decemberists at Bank of America Pavilion on June 9; Sunset Rubdown at the Middle East on June 11; Crosby, Stills and Nash at Bank of America Pavilion on June 14; Phoenix at Paradise Rock Club on June 17; the Jonas Brothers at TD Banknorth Garden on July 17; Elton John and Billy Joel at Gillette Stadium on July 18; Bo Bice at Showcase Live on July 24; AC/DC at Gillette Stadium on July 28; and Queensryche at House of Blues on July 30.
