50 things to do this spring

DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park
Galleries are great to visit in the winter, offering stable climate-controlled zones in a season of temperamental and tempestuous weather. But with warm air returning, why not get your art fix outdoors in the sunshine? DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park in Lincoln (about 15 miles from Boston) is the perfect opportunity, featuring astonishing art in a 35-acre area alongside Flints Pond. Not too shabby.

Get out of Dodge
As much as it pains us to praise the MBTA, Bostonians should be happy that there’s a comprehensive transportation system at all. In many other cities, you’re up a creek if you haven’t got a car and want to make an escape. The best part of the city’s system might be the least utilized by downtown dwellers—the Commuter Rail. Fresh ocean air, natural wonders, historical landmarks and wildlife preserves are all easily reachable. A good place to begin is picturesque old fishing villages along the North Shore, like Marblehead and Gloucester. (mbta.com)

Emerging America Festival
The Huntington Theater, American Repertory Theater and the ICA are joining forces for their second year running to show all the stuff that’s too weird for their regular theater programming. For example, check out Dahlgren, a stage adaptation of Samuel R. Delany’s bizarre sci-fi novel by MIT’s Jay Scheib. The Gold Dust Orphan’s Ryan Landry tells the story of Norman Bates’ dead mom in Psyched. You get the idea. Did we mention there are parties? The fest runs from May 13 to 15. (emergingamericafestival.com)

Boston Marathon
The best part about the Boston Marathon is… not running it. The third Monday in April has historically been a day to celebrate hard work, determination, physical prowess and daytime drinking. If your boss doesn’t give you Patriot’s Day off, call in sick to work and head down to celebrate at (literally) any spot on Boylston Street, where you’ll be part of the hordes of sightseers lifting their glasses to some of the greatest athletes of our time. Pop into bars like The Pour House, Charley’s and The Beacon Hill Pub to watch the race and have a pint. And, don’t worry: if you’re fresh out of sick days the celebrations go on long after the whistle blows. (baa.org)

Jamaica Pond
Visionary landscape architect Frederick Olmstead liked Jamaica Pond, the centerpiece of the Emerald Necklace, for its "reflections and flickering half-lights," and a stroll through the woods around the pond will clue you into what he’s talking about. The best place to relax, though, might be on the water itself. Rowboats, kayaks and sailboats are available for rent. If you’ve got a fishing license for some reason, bring your pole and your best Huck Finn smirk.

“The Record” at the ICA
If you’re older than 25, you might remember the LP. It’s cover was 12 inches square and sported bright, flashy artwork so large you could see it with your naked eyes. Now it’s gone the way of the Model T Ford and Archie Bunker’s chair: it’s in a museum. Go pay your respects at the ICA’s group exhibition, paying tribute to the LP through multimedia, running April 15 through September 5.