Let the Skating Begin!

Right about now, my favorite winter sport starts all over Boston - ice skating. No need to have any fancy equipment, super warm outfits or crazy skills. No need to rent a car and drive out to some mountains and get a chalet. You can go skating right here in Boston. Or Cambridge, or JP, or wherever!

For a full list of city-owned rinks check out the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Most are free entry and offer cheap rentals, like Stony Brook's $2 skates. Unfortunately, you are no longer allowed to skate on the Jamaica Pond as this old-timey picture shows.

Kendall Square Rink Opening Party Saturday 11 AM - 9 PM

Free entry to the rink, ice show at 2 PM and free refreshments, which I'm hoping means hot chocolate and cookies.

Charles Hotel Rink Opening Party Sunday 12 -6 PM

This was supposed to be last week, but it was too warm. What's going on New England? So here's your chance - free performances at noon, free skating and rentals all day.

College Night at the Frog Pond Tuesday 5 - 9 PM

The Common's Frog Pond freezes over every winter to make the most picturesque, though pricey, skating spot. Tuesdays those with a college ID get a break - just $2 entry. Now where did I put that old ID?

There's a ton more going on this weekend - I Love Latkes Party in Harvard Square, Illumination Tour of Somerville, Battle of the Belgians at City Feed, Caroling Mob in JP - so check out the full calendar at the bottom of the site.

Cities Celebrate Themselves

Boston is actually tiny - just 600,000 residents or so. Combine that with all the surrounding towns and we hit a respectable 4.5 million. Still it seems small here. It's the fracturing of neighborhoods that I think gives Greater Boston it's special appeal. Each neighborhood has it's own hub, a center of life where you're likely to recognize folks if you spend enough time. I like knowing my cheese shop owner and that the guy who fixes my bike says 'hi' when he passes me on the bike path.

Summer is the best time to celebrate your own hood, and get to experience the best of others. Mark your calendar with some of these great corner-of-Greater-Boston festivals are coming up.

Night Sites Tour Thurs 9AM-11PM

Get to know Boston's waterfront with board members of the Designers Lighting Forum of New England. Hadn't heard about Fort Point before? Yeah, it's new for me too, but it's oh-so-up-and-coming.

Cambridge Dance Party Friday 7-11PM

This is the place to be on Friday night. The City of Cambridge shuts down Mass Ave. in front of city hall, has lights mounted from the roofs of buildings and throws a massive dance party in the street. Last time I went it was the year Michael Jackson died and it was one big MJ lovefest. Get down and boogie with the funnest folks that Cambridge has to offer.

Somerville Jazz and Blues Fest Saturday 12-7PM

Joe's Jazz and Blues Fest is the mayor's idea. Adorably enough, he played the trumpet in Somerville's High School Jazz Band. When you're mayor, you get to do what you want, so he's throwing a day-long free outdoor music show featuring artists from Somerville.

Green Roots Festival Sunday 12-5:30PM

More dancing with groovy people! A celebration done best by Jamaica Plain. This is kind of a Wake Up the Earth light. Some booths of organic food and hemp clothing. Some sweet musical acts like an old-time string band, a steel band and Brazilian drums. The festival's beneficiary is Bikes Not Bombs, so there'll also be lots of bicyclists.

Chinatown Festival Sunday 10AM-5PM

So admittedly the website is a little sparse (what is Chinese dough art???), but Chinatown does have some amazing public spaces, a sense of community and great food. And I've seen the lion dance - it's pretty damn great. I'd bet this festival is going to be pretty great.