MUSIC
Boston Pops ft. Megan Hilty
The Boston Pops perform for the first time at Ipswitch’s Castle Hill to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Trustees of Reservations, an organization that preserves several natural and historic properties across New England. Broadway star Megan Hilty, best known as Glinda in “Wicked,” joins the Pops at this gloriously scenic Gilded Age estate. Seems like a wicked classy time to us.
Megan Hilty celebrates the Trustees’ big anniversary, a tap dance bonanza and more cool things to do this weekend
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August 6, 8 p.m.
Castle Hill, 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich
$75-$500, thetrustees.org/125th/pops.html
Natalie Dietz
The young Australian jazz singer-composer Natalie Dietz has received many honors in her short but prodigious career. Her warm, casual, natural voice convincingly conceals its ample professional training. Her mellow, fragrant songs have a melodic sensibility that’s generous to pop-oriented ears. Crossover success seems quite possible. Fans of Norah Jones will find much to like, if they haven’t already.
August 5, 7:30 p.m.
The Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge
$15, bit.ly/2aH0sB0
Mijo de Palma
This band hails from western Puerto Rico, where frontman Mijo de Palma draws inspiration from the countryside. They traffic in a bluesy pop style they call “Fusión Jíbara,” combining the classic Puerto Rican jíbaro genre with a collegiate singer-songwriter vibe and a touch of flamenco. They’ve been known to integrate poets and visual artists into their live shows.
August 5, 8 p.m.
Urbano Project, 29 Germania St., Jamaica Plain
$10, bit.ly/2adeU3R
ART
Fragment of Sister Head
The paper cutout work of sisters Nicole and Caitlin Duennebier looks like the weirdest pop-up book ever. Their epic piece “Battle for the Sweetlands” reminds us of Henry Darger’s hallucinatory battle scenes. The funny little humans loitering amidst the gloriously painted background of the triptych “Swims and Hingham Islands” remind us of Hieronymus Bosch’s mischievous figures.
August 5, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (and through August 19 by appointment)
Lens Gallery, 524 Harrison Ave. B1, Boston
Free, cleardesignlab.co
Latchkey Kids
In this show, centered on a collection of Dawn dolls frozen as if in “Star Wars” carbonite, mixed media artist Stephanie Todhunter reflects on the claim that Generation X is the least parented generation living in American today. Haphazardly and inconsistently colored, they serve as an effectively eerie symbol for arrested development, and frustrated femininity in particular.
August 4 through 27
Gallery 263, 263 Pearl St., Cambridge
Free, bit.ly/2asfDtj
DANCE
On Tap: Beantown Tapfest Faculty Showcase
This annual smorgasbord of tap dance mastery includes performances from Brenda Bufalino, Sarah Reich of Postmodern Jukebox, Josh Hilberman, Ian Berg and Subject:Matter, Ryan P. Casey and his Off Beat and Sean Fielder and the Boston Tap Company. Tap shows are pretty rare; one loaded with this much national talent, showcasing the wide diversity of the genre, is even rarer.
August 5, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Boston University Dance Theater, 915 Comm. Ave., Boston
$36, beantowntapfest.com
THEATER
Dog Paddle (or, struggling inelegantly against drowning)
Bridge Repertory Theater presents the U.S. premiere of this 2005 play by Swiss playwright Reto Finger, about five 30-somethings trying to make their loves and lives work in the wacky modern world. Bridge describes the short work (just an hour) as “part comedy, part poetry.” The August 12 performances include a special Swiss chocolate, cheese and wine tasting.
August 4 through 20
Central Square Theater, 450 Mass. Ave., Cambridge
$10-$80, bit.ly/2auOMSR
A Man of No Importance
This musical, presented here by Bad Habit Productions, tells the story of an Irish bus driver in the early 1960’s who encounters expected considerable resistance, to say the least, in his attempt to stage a production of Oscar Wilde’s “Salome” at his church. His own life is imagined as a play, with his fellow troupe members acting as the Greek Chorus.
August 6 through 28
Wimberly Stage, 527 Tremont St., Boston
$21, bostontheatrescene.com
FESTIVALS
PorchfestFEST
This family-friendly festival includes from locals musical acts including Debo Band, Ms. Jones, Devin Ferreira and Mattapan Records, Lawrence “Larry” Watson with Musical Ensemble and The Makanda Project. There’s also spoken word and a performance from Esh Circus Arts. They’ll also have such unusual attractions as “make-your-own-tutus” and “ask a teenager,” plus the Lawn on D’s signature light-up swingset.
August 6, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Lawn on D, 420 D St., Boston
Free, bit.ly/2afwPXO
MOVIES
The Frisco Kid
Han Solo was basically a space cowboy, so it’s no surprise that Harrison Ford found himself starring in this 1979 Western by Robert Aldritch. Like Han Solo, Ford’s character is an outlaw hired to escort a holy man on a mission—but this time it’s a rabbi played by Gene Wilder, hoping to set up a synagogue in San Francisco.
August 7, 4 p.m.
Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge
$7-$9, bit.ly/2aGbd4P
Super Troopers
According to popular consensus, the comedy troupe Broken Lizard has not topped this 2001 masterpiece of stupidity, their first of four widely-released films. Fans of the cops-as-fratboys comedy can tide themselves over for its upcoming, largely crowdfunded sequel, which began filming right here in Boston this past October, at this midnight screening.
August 6, 11:59 p.m.
Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville
$10, somervilletheatre.com
FOOD
Boston Seafood Festival
The Boston Fisheries Foundations hosts this event. Aside from having ample opportunities to pig out on seafood, you can catch chef demos, speakers and competitions like the “Battle of the Shuckers” and the fish cutting contest and a variety of other entertainments. The standard ticket is $15, but $50 gets you in on the lobster bake.
August 7, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Boston Fish Pier, 212 Northern Ave., Boston
$15-$50, bostonseafoodfestival.org
