Boston Food and Drink Events, August 2023

Welcome to Eater’s periodic roundup of weekend food and drink events worth checking out around town. Want to let us know about an upcoming Boston-area event? Get in touch at [email protected].

Friday, September 1

ALLSTON — Celebrate Allston Christmas with a Christmas in September bash at Silhouette Lounge from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Scarf down all-beef hot dogs ($1 for the first hot dog between 4 to 6 p.m., $3.50 each from 6 p.m. to closing) called “Sil Dogs,” and enjoy drink specials like the Grinch — a shot of peppermint RumChata with crème de menthe — as you rock around the Christmas tree in the festively decked-out lounge.

SOUTH BOSTON — City Tap House in Fort Point blasts back in time with a weekend-long Y2K-themed spectacular. Starting Friday at 8 p.m. through Sunday at 3 p.m., head to the brewpub for live DJs, drink specials (the ingeniously named Total Request LIME is a cherry-lime spritz), and more. Weekend brunch specials include odes to nostalgic snacks like Gushers and Dunkaroos.

Saturday, September 2

BROOKLINE — Buzzy Bar Vlaha—celebrating the rustic cuisine of nomads within northern and central Greece, which is “a little off the beaten track,” according to culinary director Brendan Pelley—launches weekend brunch starting at 10 a.m. Highlights on the new menu include boukies, or small shareable plates based on parcels of food nomads ate for breakfast on their journeys. These dishes include pork and fennel sausage wrapped in phyllo and served with honey mustard yogurt, plus Greek yogurt with honey, walnut, and kiwi. More usual brunch suspects include scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms, tomato, and black truffle, and shakshouka served with grilled sourdough.

PROVINCETOWN — Chef Jake Hernatski (an alum of No. 9 Park and Cambridge’s now-shuttered Shepherd) kicks off a series of pop-up dinners every Saturday through November at Gifford House, which is currently enjoying a renaissance under new ownership. Tickets for the four-course prixe-fixe event are $90, with a seating at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The menu features fried mussels with Pernod sabayon, pan-roasted skate with zucchini and anchovy butter, and blueberry pie with sweet corn ice cream, along with other delights. Stay tuned for more events in the series.

SOUTH BOSTON — Cannonball Cafe, which opened on Dorchester Avenue in late fall 2021, hosts a farmers market from 9 a.m. to noon. Head to the petite cafe’s lively outdoor space for fresh produce and more, with Charlotte’s Crafts as the day’s featured vendor. The cafe is open until 1 p.m., and you can fuel up with coffee, smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches, too.

Sunday, September 3

BOSTON — Bring your best glam-rock gear and show off your style (or more accurately, Styles) for a Harry Styles-themed brunch or dinner at Sunset Cantina. Hosted by Hidden, the menu is hush-hush — though assume plenty of food puns on his smash hits like “Watermelon Sugar High.” Tickets are $55 a pop and include a meal and a glass of booze or a soft drink. Try your luck at trivia and games, too.

Friday, August 25

BOSTON — Starting at noon on Friday and lasting through Sunday evening, mangia all weekend during the feasts of Saint Anthony and Saint Lucy. The festival, featuring plenty of Italian fare, takes place on Endicott, Thacher and North Margin Streets in the historic North End. Swing by the Filippo Berio tent — and sample the brand’s new pesto and classic olive oils while you’re there — to catch Boston chefs crafting Italian classics. Then head to the Regina Pizzeria open-air piazza for the eatery’s famous slices. Parades, processions, and live music are on the menu all weekend, too.

CAMBRIDGE — Gufo, from the team behind SRV and the Salty Pig, opened its doors in Cambridge in late July. Now’s your chance to head to the modern Italian restaurant to enjoy its all-day cafe and coffee counter, which just opened for service. Coffee counter service starts at 8 a.m., and you can enjoy a breakfast sandwich of an egg and cheese frittata with bacon, tomato aioli, and arugula on either fresh focaccia or ciabatta, plus loads of both sweet and savory baked goods like salt and pepper pecorino scones. Lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. also just took flight.

Saturday, August 26

CAMBRIDGE — Savor some sweetness at Curio Spice Co. during the Portoula Greek honey popup from noon to 4 p.m. Owner Nikki Menounos Daigel offers artisan honey from her native Greece, including fir, oak, and pine honey to drizzle on cheeses and more. Sample her wares during this open-house style event, and take a peek at the spice pairings that Curio has to offer.

REVERE — Sashay to the Sand Bar in Revere from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a day of revelry hosted by North Shore Pride. Drag diva and Boston legend Mizery — also catch her at ManRay, Club Café, and elsewhere in the area — hosts the 21+ event. Tickets are $20 and do not include drinks or food.

Sunday, August 27

BOSTON — This last Sunday in August means another blissful, car-free afternoon stroll when Newbury Street becomes a pedestrian-only avenue. Consider it the perfect time for a patio crawl of the neighborhood’s many restaurants, including Little Whale Oyster Bar for lobster rolls and all the oysters you can eat. Plus, Aceituna Grill’s Newbury location, which opened in the spring, just launched patio service. An expanded version of the familiar fast-casual local chain, check out bites like filet mignon kabobs, mini pitas, and Mediterranean nachos alongside a killer cocktail list.

BOSTON — Banish the Sunday scaries with an afternoon hangout at Club Café. The longstanding Back Bay cabaret, restaurant, and gay nightlife spot offers half-price appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas from 2 to 6 p.m. as part of their Sunday Funday. Savor southwest eggrolls, plus a steak tips wrap with caramelized onion and cheese and a barbecue chicken pizza with fresh mozzarella. Better yet: stay until 10 p.m. for the Sunday tea dance, when DJ Barry Scott spins classic disco hits.

CAMBRIDGE — Head to Green Rose Heritage Park at 155 Harvard Street in Cambridge from noon to 6 p.m. for the fourth annual Everybody’s Gotta Eat community cookout. Curated by Emmanuel Mervil, the culinary force behind the catering, social media marketing, and community-driven org, expect a full day of food, entertainment, raffles, vendors, and more — all in celebration of the community and Black-owned businesses. Diddy Burger, Flavor Kayter, and Craig Mac ‘n’ Cheese are among the lineup of food offerings.

SOUTH BOSTON — Dumpling darling Mei Mei lets you get in on the action with hands-on dumpling-making classes in its Iron Works spot. Book a class for $88, either from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. or 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and learn the tricks to fold and pan-sear lemongrass pork and five-spice tofu mushroom dumplings. Snack on your creations, and head home with dumplings and recipe cards to whip up more down the line.