The WEEKENDER

Eat, Shop, Go

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo this Sunday with some delicious tacos, enchiladas, nachos, and more at the Painted Burro in Somerville’s Davis Square. Photo courtesy of the Painted Burro

It’s the last weekend of the spring semester (finals start May 7). For many students, that means a last chance to get out and enjoy the city. And there are lots of events designed to give you a break from the stress of cramming for exams. How about taking in a comedy show featuring some of the nation’s best female stand-ups or treating yourself to a free comic book? Or celebrate Cinco de Mayo at a great local Mexican restaurant. Those events and more are featured in “The Weekender,” our weekly guide to goings-on about town. If you have suggestions for events or places we should feature, leave them in the Comment section below.

The Painted Burro

It’s Cinco de Mayo this Sunday, the annual holiday that marks the anniversary of the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. Here in the United States, the day has become an occasion to celebrate Mexican culture. Join in the fun and stop by the Painted Burro in Somerville for some delicious authentic Mexican cuisine. This Davis Square hotspot is famous for its weekend brunch, which includes classics like huevos rancheros and a tres quesos omelet. Dinner is great too, offering an awesome selection of dishes like carne asada, and a wide selection of tacos, enchiladas, and tortas. Wash it all down with one of the Painted Burro’s eight different margaritas. We recommend the spicy el diablo, made with jalapeño-infused tequila, Combier, lime, and simple syrup. And in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the restaurant will offer a variety of specials, listed here.

The Painted Burro, 219 Elm St., Somerville, is open for dinner Monday through Friday, 5 to 11 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 4 to 11 pm. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm, and the bar is open nightly until 1 am. Take an MBTA Red Line train to Davis Square.

New England Comics, Coolidge Corner

As any comic book fan will tell you, Saturday, May 4, is free comic book day. Take advantage of the giveaways by stopping by New England Comics in nearby Coolidge Corner, where you’ll find a great selection of free comic books. You’ll also find a wide variety of traditional superhero comics, toys, manga, and more for sale. The store has one of the largest collections around of collectible cards and trading cards for games like Pokemon, World of Warcraft, Magic: the Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Looking for a gift for a friend and don’t know what to choose? No worries. The knowledgeable and friendly staff will help you find just the right item.

New England Comics, 316 Harvard St., Brookline, is open Monday and Tuesday, noon to 7 pm, Wednesday, 11 am to 8 pm, Thursday and Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm, Friday, 11 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, noon to 6 pm. Take an MBTA Green Line C trolley to Coolidge Corner.

Support your local comic book store this Saturday in celebration of Free Comic Book Day.

Women in Comedy Festival at Bill’s Bar

You’ll find plenty to laugh about this weekend when Bill’s Bar & Lounge in the Fenway hosts the Women in Comedy Festival’s best stand-up comics. From Thursday through Saturday, you can catch some of the funniest female stand-up comics in the country, many who have appeared on Comedy Central and shows like NBC’s Last Comic Standing and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Enjoy great pub food and $2 beers. The event is 21+.

The Women in Comedy Festival is at Bill’s Bar & Lounge, 5 Lansdowne St., Boston, Thursday, May 2, through Saturday, May 4. There are two shows on Thursday, at 7 and 9:30 pm. Shows Friday and Saturday are at 7 pm. Doors open at 6 pm. This is a 21+ event, so bring a valid ID. Purchase tickets ($10) for Thursday’s show here, tickets for Friday and Saturday’s shows ($15) here.

Looking for a laugh? Head over to Bill’s Bar in the Fenway this weekend for the Women in Comedy Festival, featuring some of the country’s best stand-up comics. Photo courtesy of the Women in Comedy Festival

TEDxCambridge

This TED event, on Friday, May 3, bills itself as the “premier evening event experience that celebrates the remarkable innovation, creativity, and inspiration found within the region and beyond.” Featuring six distinguished speakers and two live performances, it promises to be a fun and thought-provoking evening. Panelists include an evolutionary anthropologist, a behavioral scientist, a moral philosopher, and more. Find the full lineup here.

TEDxCambridge is Friday, May 3, at 7 pm at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston. Purchase tickets ($65 to $85) here. Take an MBTA Green Line train to Boylston.

Kendall Square Food and Innovation Tour

In search of technological innovation? There’s no better place to find it than Cambridge’s Kendall Square, home to dozens of biotech and pharma companies. Each Saturday, this unique food tour offers guests a chance to learn about local history and the neighborhood’s latest innovations, while sampling food at some of the area’s hottest restaurants. The three-hour, seven-stop tour includes a visit to the Entrepreneurial Walk of Fame, a secret rooftop garden, and a chance to nosh on pizza, dumplings, and a specialty cocktail.

The Kendall Square Food and Innovation Tour is Saturday, May 4, from 2 to 5 pm. Tickets are $60 and must be purchased in advance. See your ticket for where to meet up. Take an MBTA Red Line train to Kendall.

Senior Alex Pena (COM) can be reached at alexgp97@bu.edu.