It’s a Date!
Saturday, Oct. 13

Photo courtesy of the Boston Book Festival

Reading rainbow: Buy books and meet authors at the Boston Book Festival

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Celebrate your love story by browsing through dozens of others at the Boston Book Festival. Commending written works of all genres, the day is jam-packed with book signings, panel discussions, readings, and, of course, book shopping. Kick things off with a morning dance party to get your literary energy going or warm up your creative juices with a comic-making workshop led by Cagen Luse. Check the schedule in advance so you don’t miss any of your favorite authors.

Copley Square
10 am–6 pm
Free admission
560 Boylston St., Boston
Copley T stop, limited street parking

Then What?

Photo courtesy of the New England Chocolate Festival

Learn the ABCs of cacao: Doesn’t look like attendance is an issue in chocolate class

Once your mind is nourished, walk a few blocks to the New England Chocolate Festival to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here, 16 of New England’s highest quality and most ethical chocolate makers come together to spread that special brand of cacao-flavored joy. Try your hand at the Chocolate Escape Room, listen in on lectures by industry professionals, and purchase your favorites directly from the chocolatiers who make them. For an additional fee, you can take a workshop and learn how to make those chocolate confections yourself.

Boston Center for Adult Education
10 am–6 pm
$25/adult, $10/child
122 Arlington St., Boston
Arlington T stop, limited street parking

Then What?

Photo: Facebook

Welcome the jungle: We could easily plant ourselves in the lush interior of Nahita

If you feel like you need real sustenance after all that chocolate, or at least a beverage, head to the recently opened Nahita restaurant. A new vision by the former owner of Liquid Art House, Nahita reimagines the space as a fusion of Latin and Asian flavors. The Peruvian and Japanese mix offers everything from street corn to sushi as well as an expansive cocktail list. The lush plant-filled space will have you feeling like you’re in a luxe jungle, minus the mosquitos.

Nahita
5:30 pm–12:30 am
$10–$17 shared plates, $20–$32 ceviche, $28–$44 entrées
100 Arlington St., Boston
Arlington T stop, limited street parking

Friends Zone
Friday, Oct. 12

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Photo: my.arboretum.harvard.edu

Plant based: Terry Huang gets to the root of things in his Fifty Shades of Green talk

If you’ve never thought of flora as a sexy topic, think again. Terry Huang, Living Collections Fellow at the Arnold Arboretum, is exposing the wild side of plant life in his lecture/comedy routine Fifty Shades of Green: Tales from the Hothouse. It turns out plants not only have sex lives, but their drama also rivals a telenovela. After the talk you can stroll around the arboretum to see if you can spot any of the plant varieties Huang mentioned, but you may not be able to look them in the eye.

Arnold Arboretum
7:30 pm–8:30 pm
$10/person
125 Arborway, Boston
Forest Hills T stop, parking on site

Then What?

Photo: Facebook

Sing it and wing it: Enjoy karaoke and bar food at The Jeanie Johnston

Plants aren’t the only ones who get to have fun. Head to The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill for classic bar bites and karaoke. Snack on jalapeño poppers or wings (BBQ, buffalo, or teriyaki) and provide lead vocals for your favorite tunes. The neighborhood spot also offers Geeks Who Drink trivia, darts, and game night on different days of the week.

The Jeanie Johnston Pub & Grill
12 pm–2 am
$8–$10 appetizers, $8–$15 entrées
144 South St., Jamaica Plain
Forest Hills T stop, street parking

Family Fun
Sunday, Oct. 14

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Photo: Jovielle Gers/lsflamenco.com

For blossoming dancers: Let the kids soak up a little Southern Spain with a flamenco dance class

Get your kids moving and learning about different cultures at the LS Kids Flamenco Class in Cambridge. Future dancers ages five and up can learn traditional flamenco steps while exercising and interacting with their peers. If you discover that you have the next Rita Moreno or Joaquín Cortés on your hands (or the kids just enjoyed the Latin moves), classes continue throughout the season and culminate with a recital performance in December.

LS Flamenco
9:30 am–10:20 am
$15/person
536 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Central Square T stop, $5 all-day parking at Green St. Garage

Then What?

Photo courtesy of Veggie Galaxy

Out of this world: The vegetarian Kendall Sq. burger, complete with onion rings, at Veggie Galaxy

Satisfy the appetite the kids have worked up from dancing with brunch at Veggie Galaxy. Styled like a classic diner, the restaurant serves up retro favorites with a plant-based spin. The Mac ‘n Stack features fried seitan chick’n with tempeh bacon, lettuce, and sriracha mayo between two mac-and-cheese waffles. It’s all the savory flavors and textures of comfort food, without the meat. Any dish can be made vegetarian or vegan. The menu also offers beer, wine, and brunch cocktails for adults and frappes and floats for the kids.

Veggie Galaxy
9 am–10 pm
$6–$13 breakfast, $9–$15 lunch
450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Central Square T stop, $5 all-day parking at Green St. Garage

Then What?

Photo: Facebook

Market value: You never know what you might find at the Central Flea

Top off the day with a stop at the Central Flea Market on Sidney St., just a five-minute walk from Veggie Galaxy. Vintage vendors and antique furniture dealers offer their wares alongside local artists and food trucks. Search for the perfect retro dress at the Swift & Faire Co. vintage clothing booth or have a family caricature drawn. If you can’t make it this week, the market is open every Sunday through the end of October.

Central Flea
11 am–5 pm
Free admission
91 Sidney St., Cambridge
Central Square T stop, $5 all-day parking at Green St. Garage