5 Things To Do This Weekend, Including A Fashion Exhibition And A Musical Revue

One of my first jobs was working in the fragrance department for a company called Aramis, which at the time encompassed perfumes from DKNY, Tory Burch and Michael Kors. My favorite scent to spray and show customers was always Love Relentlessly by Tory Burch. One of the events I selected for this weekend is an exhibit by the prominent designer herself, which will juxtapose museum artifacts from the Hancock Shaker Village that inspired her new line. Other events that’ll fill up your calendar on this long weekend are a painting workshop, a festival and a musical revue.

Through June 8

The pandemic has hit businesses hard, but it looks like we’re moving on to the rebuilding phase. SpeakEasy Stage Company is hosting a performance of Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World” as a way to fundraise so that the theater can come back better than ever. The cast for this musical revue includes Rashed Alnuaimi, Laura Marie Duncan, Jennifer Ellis and more. The vocalists will perform scores that are tied together by the theme of having to make a decision one way or another.


Thursday, May 27

Hosted by Make Shift Boston, this event will be taught by artist Sumeya Ali who has been painting since 2016. The class will focus on how works of art have been used as a form of not only expression, but resistance. Throughout history, painting has interpreted and expressed current topics and pressing societal issues. Artworks from Black and brown folks will be presented during the class. (CART captions will be available.)


Saturday, May 29

As per usual, long weekends have to include a festival of sorts (no complaints about that, though). This one will include live rock, jazz and folk music from Tupelo Honey and Mark Small. In addition, the Plymouth festival will have over 40 vendors spread across the venue selling books, antiques and more, and there will also be raffles for you to enter. It’s kid-friendly and offers one of my favorite festival-going activities when I was younger — face painting!


Monday, May 31

Since 2003, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has been offering free admission on Memorial Day as a form of remembrance for Frank Hatch who was a community advocate and Gardner Museum trustee. While you’re there, you can check out Shen Wei’s exhibit, “Painting in Motion,” currently on view. Through the courtyard, the hydrangeas should be blooming. Although admission is free, advanced registration is required.


Opening Monday, May 31

Tory Burch’s show “Beauty Rests on Utility” at the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield was inspired by the Shaker’s purposeful design and joyous take on color. The exhibit is comprised of objects from the museum’s collection paired with an item from Burch’s Spring/Summer 2021 line. Burch attended a Quaker elementary school which garnered her inspiration, along with baskets around her family farm and handmade quilts. Burch’s line has hand-woven shoes and handbags with the goal in mind to make sure all the items are easy to wear, uncomplicated and beautiful.

"Tory Burch: Beauty Rests on Utility" opens May 31 at Hancock Shaker Village. (Courtesy Noa Griffel for Tory Burch)
“Tory Burch: Beauty Rests on Utility” opens May 31 at Hancock Shaker Village. (Courtesy Noa Griffel for Tory Burch)