What to Do This Labor Day Weekend

Move-in is already in full swing and thousands of students are expected to arrive from tomorrow, August 31, through Monday, September 2. New students can settle into their residences on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon. Move-in for continuing students is scheduled for Sunday, from noon to 5:30 p.m., and Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Classes begin Tuesday, September 3. But before you start hitting the books, check out some fun suggestions we’ve put together for things to do over the three-day Labor Day weekend. Enjoy!

Friday, August 30

Terrier Tailgate and Soccer Doubleheader

Double the games, double the fun. Cheer on the men’s soccer team as BU hosts Boston College in the season home opener. And be sure to stick around for the women’s soccer game against the University of South Carolina which follows immediately after. Come early for this year’s Terrier Tailgate, the annual pregame party that kicks off the season. The festivities feature an inflatable soccer net, a mini basketball hoop, and a bean bag toss, as well as music, contests, giveaways, and free food courtesy of Raising Cane’s and Domino’s Pizza. The first 1,000 fans will receive a free BU soccer scarf.

Gates at Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St., open at 4 p.m. for the Terrier Tailgate. The men’s soccer game against Boston College is at 5 p.m. The women’s soccer game against South Carolina starts immediately after. Admission is free for all BU fans; $5 for the general public.

Boston Restaurant Week

Today is your last chance to dine at some of the city’s best restaurants for an unbeatably low price. Hundreds of Boston-area restaurants are offering fixed-price meals at substantial savings. A two-course lunch is $15.13, a three-course lunch is $20.13, and a three-course dinner is $38.13 (prices are per person and do not include beverages, tax, and gratuities). Nearby establishments participating today include Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square and Elephant Walk in South Campus, as well as Top of the Hub, atop the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, with its spectacular views of the Boston skyline. Find a complete list of participating restaurants here.

The Greenway Sessions

Summer’s nearly over, but you can still catch the last of Berklee College of Music’s Greenway Sessions, a free outdoor concert series taking place in the Rose Kennedy Greenway’s North End Park. Tonight’s show features talented New England-based singer Melanie Lynx, who has appeared on Hollywood Week on American Idol, as well as at the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall. Along with Lynx’s spectacular singing, the session will feature some of the city’s tastiest food trucks.

Melanie Lynx performs today, August 30, at 6 p.m. at North End Park, 46 Cross St., Boston. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Government Center and walk about seven minutes to the park. The concert is free and open to the public.

BU Central Ice Cream Social

Searching for something to satisfy your sweet tooth Friday night? Head over to BU Central for the first event of the season—an ice cream social. You’ll get to indulge in a variety of homemade flavors from J. P. Licks, along with plenty of toppings. So bring your appetite and enjoy this relaxing kickoff to Weeks of Welcome 2013.

The BU Central Ice Cream Social begins at 10 p.m. at BU Central, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

Saturday, August 31

(ähts): The Boston Arts Festival 2013

The Boston Arts Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend, and it promises to be a scintillating event. Held at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, the festival features a specially built artists’ village, where the work of more than 60 juried artists from Boston will be exhibited and for sale. Performances on two stages will take place as well, showcasing musical acts Dwight and Nicole, Jesse Dee, and A Tribe Called Red. Peruse or purchase unique paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and more while you enjoy lively musical entertainment.

The Boston Arts Festival kicks off on Saturday, August 31, from noon to 8 p.m., and continues on Sunday, September 1, from noon to 8 p.m. The festival is held at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, 105 Atlantic Ave., Boston, and is free and open to the public. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Government Center. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the park.

Women’s Field Hockey Home Opener

Come to BU’s newest athletic facility to cheer on the women’s field hockey Terriers as they inaugurate New Balance Field, taking on Ohio at 1 p.m. The BU team was recently named the preseason favorite to capture the Patriot League’s 2013 conference title.

The women’s field hockey game against Ohio is Saturday, August 31, at 1 p.m. at New Balance Field, 285 Babcock St. The game is free and open to the public.

Drive-In Movie

No car necessary for this feature film. Just grab a blanket, a friend, and some snacks and head to the BU Beach, where you can enjoy a free screening of this summer’s blockbuster The Great Gatsby, director Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan.

The Great Gatsby will be shown on Saturday, August 31, at 8 p.m. on the BU Beach, behind Marsh Chapel, 735 Commonwealth Ave. It is free and open to BU students only.

Boston Harbor Fireworks

In honor of the Boston Arts Festival and the conclusion of the Summer on the Waterfront series, this city-sponsored fireworks display will light up Boston Harbor, starting at 9 p.m. Snag a spot in Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park (see The Boston Arts Festival 2013 above for directions) or anywhere along the HarborWalk for unobstructed views of what promises to be a fantastic pyrotechnic display.

Sunday, September 1

Scarlet Fever

Celebrate your Terrier pride at this first-of-its-kind festival and concert, being held on Nickerson Field. The event will feature performances by the cheer and dance teams and the BU Band. International pop music chart-topper Karmin will headline the festivities, which will also include rides, games, and plenty of giveaways. So suit up in your best scarlet-and-white and stop by to see old friends and to meet members of the Class of 2017.

Scarlet Fever takes place Sunday, September 1, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St. The festival is free and open to BU students only.

Cool Globes

Now on display throughout the city, Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet is a public art exhibition that seeks to raise awareness about solutions to climate change. The four dozen bright, colorful globes can be found in Copley Square, Logan Airport, and the Esplanade. Founded by activist Wendy Abrams, the globes are a community-wide effort, featuring the work of local sculptors and drawings from Boston elementary school students. The base of each globe provides information about various strategies for addressing the issue of climate change. The exhibition runs through October 15.

She Who Tells a Story

This powerful new show at the Museum of Fine Arts, titled She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World, challenges perceptions of Middle Eastern identity. Showcasing the work of 12 prominent female photographers working in the region, the exhibition includes photojournalism and fine art and explores both political and social issues and the difficult balance women must maintain between personal and cultural identity.

She Who Tells a Story is on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, through January 12, 2014. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Admission is free with BU ID, $25 for adults without BU ID. Take the Green Line E trolley or 39 bus to the Museum of Fine Arts stop or the Orange Line train or bus routes 8, 47, or CT2 to the Ruggles stop.

Monday, September 2

Frank Hatch Free Day at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

One of Boston’s most beloved and idiosyncratic art institutions, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is not only open on Labor Day, it’s free. The occasion? The Gardner’s annual Frank Hatch Free Day, which honors Francis “Frank” Hatch, a longtime museum trustee and supporter of Boston arts and culture. The event used to take place on New Year’s Day, but museum officials moved it to Labor Day so visitors could enjoy the gardens before frost sets in. Head over to the Fenway and discover for yourself why this Venetian palace, home to 2,500 paintings, tapestries, and sculpture by such renowned artists as Michelangelo and Rembrandt, is one of the city’s most popular destinations.

Free timed tickets will be available at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston, on Monday, September 2, beginning at 11 a.m. Tickets are timed for entry every 30 minutes, with the last entry at 4 p.m. Tickets will be distributed until capacity for the entire day is reached, so the ticket you receive may be for a time slot an hour or two later than you arrive. Admission includes access to the entire museum. Take the Green Line E trolley or 39 bus to the Museum of Fine Arts stop or the Orange Line train or bus routes 8, 47, or CT2 to the Ruggles stop. From the Museum of Fine Arts, it’s about a three-minute walk to the Gardner.

Jaws

Just the mention of this Oscar-winning Steven Spielberg (Hon.’09) film will send a shiver down your spine as you recall the movie’s ominous soundtrack. Watching the 1975 classic on television just doesn’t do it justice. Tonight you’ll have a chance to see that terrifying shark on the big screen in one of the Boston area’s grand old movie houses, Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theatre. Tonight’s screening is part of the Coolidge’s popular Big Screen Classics series. The film stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and has an unforgettable score by John Williams. Discover why this film nearly crippled beach tourism after its release. It will make you rethink that next trip to Revere Beach.

Jaws screens tonight, Monday, September 2, at 7 p.m. at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. By foot, head down St. Mary’s Street or St. Paul’s Street from Commonwealth Avenue to Beacon Street, and turn right. The walk takes 15 to 25 minutes. By public transportation, walk to the MBTA’s St. Mary’s stop on Beacon Street and take the outbound Green Line C trolley four stops to Coolidge Corner. Tickets are $9.25 for adults and $7.25 for seniors and children. Purchase them here.

Nick Offerman

Better known as Ron Swanson, the hilarious deadpan boss on NBC’s mockumentary Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman hits the stage at the Wilbur Theatre on Monday night, delivering a set that is sure to split your sides. He’s accompanied by special guest Megan Mullally (Offerman’s wife in real life), best known for her Emmy-winning turn as Karen on Will & Grace. Get your tickets to see this dream duo before it’s too late.

Nick Offerman is at the Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, on Monday, September 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to the Boylston Street stop. It’s about a five-minute walk to the theater.

Tom Vellner can be reached at tvellner@bu.edu; follow him on Twitter at @tomgvellner.