Exhale’s arts and entertainment expert has curated Boston’s best weekend happenings, so you don’t have to. Check out our Labor Day edition.

It’s a Date!

Arts and Music Festival and a Trendy Taco Spot
Monday, September 3

Photo courtesy of Bread & Roses Heritage Festival

Music to our ears: Performers at the Bread & Roses Heritage Festival

Do This
Spend your day off in style at the Bread & Roses Heritage Festival, a multicultural, open-air, arts and musical festival. Take a historic trolley tour of downtown Lawrence, participate in live art making, and sample food from a number of local vendors. Performances throughout the festival range from DJ Sabine’s diasporic Afrobeats to the The Funky Dawgz Brass Band’s New Orleans-inspired twist on contemporary songs.

Bread & Roses Heritage Festival
11:30 am–6 pm
Free admission
200 Common St., Lawrence; Free street parking and lot parking behind Everett Mill

Then What?

Photo: cocorays.net

Taco Monday: At CocoRay’s, Mexican gets a Puerto Rican twist to transform favorites like pork tacos

Stroll 20 minutes (or drive five) to CocoRay’s for post-festival tacos. This Mexican-Puerto Rican fusion restaurant opened in May after years of dishing out eats from a food truck. Now they serve up empanadas, loaded nachos, and tortas in a trendy, casual space. They also offer vegan and vegetarian tacos and an extensive smoothie menu to beat that end-of-summer heat. Rather eat in front of live music? Take your meal to go and dine at the festival.

CocoRay’s
12 pm–9 pm, Mon.–Sat.
$1–$2 appetizers, $7–$13 entrees
197 Parker St., Lawrence; Free on-site parking

Friends Zone

Yoga at Remnant Brewery, Shopping at Bow Market, and Brunch at Juliet
Saturday, September 1

Photo: Andrea Savino

Stretching and suds: Letting go of stress with yoga (and maybe beer) at Remnant Brewing Company

Do This
Fill your fitness quota with vinyasa flow yoga at Remnant Brewing Company. Sweat it out in the brewery’s private garden and then reward yourself with a cold beer. Not into hops? The Remnant café offers a wide selection of caffeinated confections. Bonus: The brewery is dog friendly, so you can bring your canine companion along for the ride.

Remnant Brewing Company
10 am–11 am
$10/person
2 Bow Market Way, Somerville
85 bus to Bow Street at Warren Ave., street parking

Then What?

Photo: calliopepaperie.com

Well noted: Calliope Paperie at Bow Market offers a whimsical selection of stationery, greeting cards, and notebooks

Step outside the brewery and you’ll find yourself in Bow Market, home to over 30 local food, art, and retail shops. Fashionistas will love We Thieves, a perfect blend of curated vintage and emerging designers. Organizers will swoon over the patterned stationery, notebooks, and greeting cards at Calliope Paperie. Beauty gurus can pop in to Brows by Renata for a quick threading. The Market really has something for everyone.

Bow Market
9 am–11 pm
Free admission
1 Bow Market Way, Somerville

Then What?

Photo courtesy of Juliet

Nice catch! A beautifully presented fish entree at Juliet

Walk a quick four minutes to brunch at Juliet, one of Somerville’s most unique and exclusive restaurants. For dinner, Juliet requires you purchase tickets in advance for their intimate16-seat meal. But for brunch, you can walk in and try the artistic menu à la carte. It’s a great way to experience the cuisine without the hefty price tag and cutthroat reservation process.

Juliet
8 am–10 pm, Wed.–Sat.; 8 am–8 pm Sun.
$12 craft cocktails, $6–$15 appetizers, $11–$29 entrees
257 Washington St., Somerville

Family Fun

For Kids Who Like Science, Humor, and Breakfast for Dinner
Saturday, September 1

Photo: MIT Museum

Eye, Robot: Animal meets machine at an artificial intelligence exhibit at the MIT Museum

Do This
For a little education (and entertainment), stop by the MIT Museum—an alternative to the Museum of Science. This underrated gem is chock-full of kinetic sculptures, interactive exhibits, and hands-on programming, covering everything from the brain to 3-D sculpture. Rotating exhibits on art, history, and science mean there’s always something new to see.

MIT Museum
10 am–5 pm
$10/adults, $5/under 18  
265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Central Square T stop, parking $1.25/hour from 8 am–6 pm at the Bishop Allen Drive lot

Then What?

Photo: Caitlin Cunningham

Child’s play: An Improv Boston family show with kids’ participation

Treat the kids to a family show at Improv Boston—just a 10-minute walk from the MIT Museum. Winner of the Nickelodeon award for best children’s theater, the show features music, improv, and audience participation. Recommended for kids ages 4-12. Improv Boston also offers youth classes for children 8 and up, so participating in a performance is a great way to gauge your child’s interest.

Improv Boston
4 pm
$14/adults; $8/12 and under
40 Prospect St., Cambridge

Then What?

Photo: The Friendly Toast

Hash it out: If you’re not feeling pancakes, try one of the many other options like this mouthwatering quiche and potato combo

Keep the smiles coming with breakfast for dinner at The Friendly Toast, a 17-minute walk from Improv Boston. The fan-favorite retro spot offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options all day in a whimsical setting. Pro tip: Call ahead or use the Nowait app to put your name on the list early and bypass the line.

The Friendly Toast
8 am–10 pm, Fri. – Sat.; 8 am – 9 pm Sun.–Thurs
$6–$22 entrees
1 Kendall Sq., Cambridge