Take a moment to exhale this weekend. We’ve curated plans for couples, friends and families so you don’t have to! This is all the information you need in a step-by-step guide to make your planning easier.

It’s a Date!

Friday, November 12

Leah Kosch and Aurora Martin will perform a concert inspired by the gallery exhibit. Photo from the Golden Hour Concert Series Eventbrite Page

Do This

Welcome the winter golden hour with an exquisite evening of music by soprano Aurora Martin and pianist Laura Kosch. The performance, titled “Elusive Reality” is inspired by the gallery’s current exhibition, “Convergence” and features American compositions that blur the lines of the reality. You’ll hear the works of Florence Price, Charles Ives, Kurt Weill and Jack Heggie. After the concert enjoy light refreshments and spend more time with the artwork that inspired the performance.

Chase Young Gallery

7:00pm – 8:30pm
$35 per person
540 Harrison Avenue, Boston
365 Albany St., parking lot $2.50/hour, Washington St., at E Berkeley St., stop on the SL4 bus

Then What?

Brasserie in the South End pays homage to both French and East Coast cuisine.
Photo from Brasserie Facebook Page

Walk down Harrison Avenue to Brasserie, the new iteration of Gaslight, a longtime French hotspot in the South End. An ode to France here in Boston, Brasserie offers a menu full of French classics and East Coast standards. You’ll find escargot alongside Nantucket Bay scallops and New York Strip alongside Duck à l’Orange. The atmosphere is chic and intimate with vintage décor accenting the historic brick building.

Brasserie Boston

5:00pm – 10:00pm
Appetizers $12-$18, Entrees $18-$36
560 Harrison Avenue, Boston
365 Albany St., parking lot $2.50/hour, Washington St., at E Berkeley St., stop on the SL4 bus

Friends Zone

Saturday, November 13

Swap plants with other urban gardeners at The Plant Design Studio by Wesleaf Designs & Décor™ Photo courtesy of Wesleaf Designs & Décor™

Do This

Join Wesleaf Designs & Décor to celebrate their one-year anniversary with a Plant Swap & Sip event. Take along a plant that is no longer bringing you joy or thriving in your space and swap for someone else’s loved greenery. The shop encourages swappers to include care instructions with their plants. To supplement the afternoon, a wine tasting will be provided by local Hyde Park shop Montfleur Duvin. While you sip and savor, chat with other plant lovers and browse the chic design space.

The Plant Design Studio by Wesleaf Designs and Decor 

12:00pm -4:00pm Thursday and Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday
Free
1020 Great Plain Avenue, Needham
Street parking, Needham Center Commuter Rail stop

Then What?

Spend a few hours exploring the local shops in Needham Center. Photo from Closet Exchange Consignment Facebook Page

Walk down Great Plain Avenue to explore the thriving small businesses around Needham Center. Closet Exchange Consignment offers designer consignment for a fraction of the retail price. Hunt through gently worn Prada shoes, Valentino dresses and Louis Vuitton purses to find the perfect fall steal. Proud Mary Gifts, also on Great Plain Avenue curates charming products from stationary and bath products to jewelry and home goods. It’s a one-stop shop for holiday gifts.

Closet Exchange Consignment

11:00am – 5:00pm Tuesday – Saturday
Tops $25+, Dresses $50+, Shoes $100+
1020 Great Plain Avenue, Needham
Street parking, Needham Center Commuter Rail stop

Proud Mary Gifts

10:00am – 5:00pm Tuesday – Saturday
Stationary $8 – $20, Home Goods $5 – $30
1024 Great Plain Avenue, Needham

Then What?

Wrap up the evening with appetizers at The Farmhouse Photo from The Farmhouse Facebook Page

Rest your weary self (and shopping bags) with appetizers at The Farmhouse, a farm-to-table restaurant run by local owners Dora Tavel-Sanchez Luz and Gabriel Sanchez Luz. Modeled after their farmhouse in Maine and built using reclaimed wood from around New England, the restaurant exudes cozy charm. On the menu you’ll find craft cocktails, light bites and entrees using local ingredients. The Peaches & Burrata showcases roasted peaches, heirloom tomatoes, burratta, micro basil and balsamic reduction for a dreamy, light dish.

The Farmhouse

4:30pm-9:00pm Tuesday – Thursday, 4:30pm-10:00pm Friday & Saturday
Appetizers $9 – $17, Entrees $24 – $37, Cocktails $14
970 Great Plain Avenue, Needham

Family Fun

Mount Auburn Cemetery is one of the best urban leaf peeping spots. Photo from Mount Auburn Cemetery Facebook Page

Do This

Foliage has bloomed late in Boston this year, which means there’s still time to catch the vibrant colors of fall! Head to Mount Auburn Cemetery for some of Boston and Cambridge’s best leaf peeping. Park your car along the cemetery roads and stroll through the historic property enjoying the lush natural landscape. Pick up a family friend guide at the visitor center to use games like I Spy and Seasonal Bingo to helps kids engage with the history of the cemetery.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

8:00am – 6:00pm daily
Free
580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
Visitors may park on any road inside the Cemetery without a green line, Harvard Square T stop

Then What?

Enjoy a sweet treat at Sofra Bakery after your morning stroll. Photo from the Sofra Bakery Facebook Page

Head five minutes down Mount Auburn Street to Sofra Bakery to enjoy a well-earned piece of baklava after your long leaf peeping walk. “Sofra” is synonymous with generosity and hospitality in Turkish and this Middle Eastern bakery lives up to its name. In savory lunches options and sweet treats the bakery interprets classic flavors of Turkey, Lebanon and Greece with an innovative contemporary spin. Indulge in a slice of almond rose cake or explore the larger meal options like chicken shawarma and red lentil soup.

8:00am – 3:00pm Monday – Friday
Drinks $2-$8, Snacks $7-$11, Baked goods $1.25-$4
1 Belmont Street, Cambridge
Mount Auburn Cemetery road parking, Harvard Square T stop