50 things to do this spring

Seasonal blooms
The most heartening sign that spring is coming is the emergence of tiny flower buds all around the city. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Arnold Arboretum take the enjoyment one step further in their annual springtime floral celebrations. Every April, the hyacinths that drop from the upper levels of the museum’s garden atrium bloom for one month, displaying their vibrant orange blooms for the winter-weary visitors. If lilacs are more your style, the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain boasts one of the oldest and largest collections of lilac bushes in the world, predating even the founding of the Arboretum in 1872. The Arboretum celebrates this fact every year with its annual lilac festival on the second Sunday in May, when thousands of visitors come to view the suddenly-blooming, fragrant flowers.

Free Friday Flicks
WBZ radio has been sponsoring outdoor films at the Hatch Shell along Storrow Drive for 25 years and running. So grab a blanket or lawn chair and relax—the ambience and fresh air can make even the most insidious Adam Sandler film worth watching. And it’s free! Past movies include everyone-friendly faves like Shrek and Back to the Future. The series begins at sunset on Friday, June 17. (celebrateboston.com/free-friday-flicks.htm)

Community Boating
Everyone digs a stroll along the Charles River in the spring, but few ever think to actually get in it. Just next to the Esplanade, you’ll find a fleet of available watercraft for rent at Community Boating. First-time boaters need to take an orientation class before getting out on the water and more instruction if they plan on sailing. A variety of membership levels are available, but everyone can get in on boating-related get-togethers like seminars, Friday night barbeques and more.

James Joyce Ramble
The lore holds that this olde event dates back to 1984, when someone commented that reading Finnegan’s Wake was like running a marathon. And so was borne this annual run through Dedham’s streets (which is safer than walking) whilst well-read spectators shout highly literate, inscrutable quotes to egg on participants. Yaw, yaw, yaw! Leapor Orthor! Fear siecken! May 1. (ramble.org)

Hash House Harriers
Why walk while drunk when you can run? This is basically a high-speed pub crawl, in which the Harriers partake in an alcohol-fueled marathon and then retire to a bar and sing very dirty songs (they call them “hymns”). If you join, they may favor you with an x-rated pseudonym like Cum Titty or Sphincter Sicle—hey, we all have dreams. The next run takes place on April 16 in Jamaica Plain. (bostonhash.com)

Walk for Hunger

Put those longer daylight hours to good use. Project Bread’s 43rd Annual Walk for Hunger will take to the streets on May 1. Money goes toward funding 400 emergency food programs in 135 Massachusetts cities and towns. The trek kicks off on Boston Common and then makes a 20-mile loop around the city, covering Comm Ave, Beacon Street, Newton Centre, the Cambridge Boat Club and Harvard University. Walkers are treated to music at 12 different points, with free snacks and refreshments at the halfway mark.