50 things to do this spring

Take to the streets in Chinatown
China Pearl’s dim sum brunch is great all year round. The gigantic dining room is always packed no matter the weather, and the carts piled high with unidentifiable (but unwaveringly delicious) plates know no season. However, once the winter has broken, Chinatown becomes more of a destination rather than simply a means to an end. Take a walk down Kneeland Street after you’ve eaten all you can eat, and stop in at the multitude of Chinese markets that spring up on the corners. You’ll find everything from Durian fruit to sardines stacked up for sale, and can spend the rest of the day wandering through the myriad of shops lining the busy streets. If you’re feeling really adventurous you can stop in at Chau Chow City for their infamous “off the menu” selection of flaming drinks. Ask for the Flaming Ferrari and see what we mean.

Patio bars
Who cares about that groundhog? The opening of local patio bars is one of the first telltale signs that spring is very much happening. Grab some friends, bring a sweater and get a drink or two at some of the local watering holes that boast open-air seating. Head down to some of our favorites like Charlie's Kitchen, Noir, Marliave or The Otherside Café for some springtime drinks and outdoor lounging. Just make sure that you get there early and/or save a lot of seats.

Learn to make stuff
If you’re looking to reinvent yourself this spring, Somerville is home to a quirky organization that can help. Artisan's Asylum is a hub of activity with a little something for everyone: “free craft Fridays” from 6pm to 11pm, and classes that range from sculpture metalworking to 3-D printing.

Tour outdoor art
Now that those giant mounds of ice have finally melted, it’s time to limber up once more. For art lovers, Cambridge is just brimming with excuses to move your feet. The Cambridge Arts Council offers online maps of various art spots throughout the city, for self-guided tours of free art on display. Swing by Lisa Carter’s striking, Swing era-style mural outside of Western Front in Cambridgeport, featuring raucous dancers kicking it into high gear. In Kendall Square, you can cruise by the environmental sculpture “Galaxy,” by Otto Piene, a bronze globe enveloped by mists of steam. For more ideas, check out cambridgema.gov.

Two pounds of flesh
Shakespeare sure could write a hell of a line. The Merchant of Venice—coming to the Cutler Majestic Theatre March 29 through April 10—has a lot of great ones, most notably Shylock’s insistence that he receive—literally—a “pound of flesh” as compensation for a debt. (Very “it puts the lotion in the basket,” no?) Starring Oscar-winning actor F. Murray Abraham, this production is sure to inspire you to make a little flesh-seeking trip of your own… to Brookline’s The Meat House, where you can do your best F. Murray impression at the counter. Agonizing usurer’s identity crisis not included.

Schlock Around the Clock
The Brattle Theatre’s annual Schlock Around the Clock festival has changed a bit from its original incarnation as a 24-hour B-movie marathon, but it still holds it down as the premiere schlocky movie series in the area. April 22 through April 24 is set to be a weekend of gratuitous nudity, clunky dialogue and effects right out of a SyFy Network original may not be for everyone; but if you enjoy the finer (re: terrible) aspects of the ’70s and ‘80s then this festival is for you. Creative Director Ned Hinkle is well-versed in all things kitschy from his experience collaborating with Alamo Drafthouse virtuoso Lars Nilsen on last year’s Grindhouse Festival, and is sure to have some terribly awesome tricks up his sleeves.