Two Holiday Presents for You

Thought I'd share these two great deals for you.


If you know me, you know I like bikes. Boston deals is selling Hubway membership plus three day passes for friends for just $59.

Restaurant.com is selling $25 gift certificates for $1. Just enter the code 'Joy' at checkout.

Enjoy!

A Cultured Weekend

There's enough events to feast your mind, body and soul this weekend. Movies, yup, got those. Free booze - sure thing! Lectues on the science of hear? Of course! You asked for a bike ride in your finest tweed? You got it! Accapella contests, story slams, food trucks?

Well, maybe you didn't ask for all of this, but if you have a passion, it's almost guaranteed that there's something for you. Full calendar at the bottom of the page. Here's the highlights:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Friday 7 PM

So apparently the 'West End' of Boston is a neighborhood and it has a museum. And for some reason, they show films that seem to have nothing to do with Boston. At least they're awesome films and they're free. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly has got to be the best spaghetti western ever. (Next week's the Bicycle Thief too!)

Boston Bike Film Fest & The Tweed Ride

Saturday 7PM Sunday 10 AM

The annual Boston Bike Film Fest isn't free, but it's cheap and for a good cause. If you buy your ticket ahead of time, you also get to go on a bike tour of places where movies were filmed in Boston. (I'll be there for free, courtesy of the Weekly Dig - thanks guys!)

The Tweed Ride is free, or at least bring your own picnic. This year's ride starts at the Frog Pond and rolls down to Jamaica Plain. Come dressed in your tweed best.

Fort Point Open Studios

Friday - Sunday

Another neighborhood that took charge and just decided to give themselves a name - Fort Point. It's the area on the Boston waterfront behind the Children's Museum. Reminiscent of SoHo, but less claustrophobic, the place is filled with old warehouses that are now unaffordable designer shops and lofts. But it makes a great neighborhood for Open Studios - 150 of them, with lots of free wine and food, as you would expect at a good art show.

Bonus tip: Restaurant.com is 80% off right now. Use the code 'touchdown'.

Bikes, bikes, bikes!

Some of us are tough enough to go by bike all year round. :::ehem, me::: But I understand. Winter was cold. Now, no excuses! Get on yer bike! Not only is it healthy and the best way to get from point A to point B, but it's totally in. (Didn't you hear? Ewan McGregor was at the latest bicyclist tweed ride in London.)

And if this weather wasn't enough to get you riding round with the breeze in your hair - it's Boston Bike Week! For people who know what biking was like just a few years ago in Boston, this is pretty astounding. Bicycling Magazine had rated Boston one of the least friendly cycling cities. Bike lanes were hard to find. Most people locked their bike to lamppost and hoped it wasn't stolen.

Mayor Menino hired former cycling Olympic athlete to head up a new bike department. Now we have hundreds of miles of new bike lanes, hundreds of new bike racks, and a bike share program will launch this July. On my commute everyday, I pass (and get passed by) dozens of other cyclists.

So take advantage of the weather and get out there. Here's some events that'll give you some incentive.

Boston Tweed Ride, May 14, 2011

Cambridge to Boston, 11:00 - 4:00 PM

Join the Boston 3 Speed Club to ride from Lowelll Park in Cambridge to the all new Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill. Learn all about how Boston's waterworks and architecture helped the city back in the good ole' days. Dress up in your best 1850s-1950s clothing to ride in style.

Bike Week Kickoff Party in the Fenway, May 15, 2011

Giant Cycling World, Kilmarnock St, Boston, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Giant Cycling World and Boston Bikes co-host a party in the Fenway. Enjoy food, music, and a special stunt show by world record holder and mountain biking legend Jeff Lenosky. Top it off with a bike tour covering the new bike lanes in Boston. Festival and raffles: 1-2:30; Ride 2:45-4:00.

Mayor Menino's Bike Festival, May 20, 2011
City Hall Plaza, Boston, 7-9 AM
Give your car the day off. Enjoy a guided bike convoy to Boston's City Hall Plaza, where you'll be met with a free breakfast from Boloco, a bike festival and expo with music.

Bike Bash, May 25, 2011

Flat Top Johnny's, Cambridge, 6-8 PM
Open to all participants in the Mass Commuter Challenge (hint: all you need to do is register) There will be food, beer provided by Harpoon and free raffles for tons of prizes from local bike businesses and others.