From left: Shea Rose is among the many performers at Outside the Box; "Ben-Hur" will be screened on Sunday; Madame Moustache plays the 2013 Bastille Day Party on Friday
Making plans? Short on ideas? No worries. See Milva DiDomizio's picks for the top things to do around the Hub this weekend.
FRIDAY
A NATIONAL HOLIDAY We just had our major American holiday, now it's time to observe France's big day. Take to the streets for dancing, music, and celebration at the Bastille Day Party 2013 presented by the French Cultural Center and World Music/CRASHarts. Atlas Soul, headed by Frenchman Jacques Pardo, will play original tunes and sing-a-long French classic pop. Madame Moustache, a quintet featuring guitar, bass, fiddle, drums, and vocal harmonies, will also perform. In between all that dancing, refresh yourself with French cuisine and beverages from area restaurants. July 12, 6-11 p.m. $30 at the door, under 10 free. Rain or shine. Marlborough Street between Berkeley and Clarendon, Boston. 617-912-0400, www.frenchculturalcenter.org
WELL DONE COMEDY With all the jokes they play on each other, it's a wonder high school pals Sal Vulcano, James Murray, Joe Gatto, and Brian Quinn, otherwise known as The Tenderloins, are still friends. The Staten Island natives and stars of truTV's "Impractical Jokers" present two shows in Boston. July 12, 7:30 and 10 p.m. $37. Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. www.thewilbur.com
FARMHOUSE BREWS In Belgium, farm owners used to serve their saisonnieres (farm hands) a light, low alcohol beer to refresh them on hot summer days. "Summerfest: A Celebration of Farmhouse Ale," Craft Beer's second annual summer celebration, highlights farmhouse ales by New England brewers. July 12-13, 6-9:30 p.m. July 13, 1-4:30 p.m. $50. Space 57, 200 Stuart St., Boston. www.drinkcraftbeer.com/summerfest
INTERNET LOSS Brenna can't find her soulmate, but it's not for lack of using Google. Boston Actors Theater presents "Paper City Phoenix" by Walt McGough, a comedy about human connection in the internet age. July 12-13, 8 p.m. July 14, 2 p.m. Additional shows through July 27. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students. Boston Playwrights' Theatre, 949 Comm. Ave., Boston. 866-811-4111, www.bostonactorstheater.com
SATURDAY
PACKAGE DEAL Philanthropist Ted Cutler is realizing a longtime vision with the founding of Outside the Box, a nine-day free festival filled with music, dance, theater, family programs, and a food fest. Among the featured acts are Alejandro Escovedo, Los Lobos, Blind Boys of Alabama, James Montgomery, Ricky Skaggs, Shea Rose, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. July 13-21. Free. Boston Common and other locations around the city. Full schedule at www.outsidetheboxboston.org
ALL IN A DAY'S WORK What can the Boston theater community accomplish in one day? Find out at Fresh Ink Theatre and Interim Writers' "The Mad Dash: A Theatrical Endeavor in 24 Hours." The fundraiser hands local playwrights a prompt and gives them 12 hours to produce scripts, which are handed off to eight directors, who are supplied with a cast and a few hours rehearsal time. Then, it's showtime for eight original 10-minute plays. July 13, 8 p.m. $20, $15 advance. Central Square YMCA, 820 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. www.freshinktheatre.com
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SONS Brothers Adrian and Tony Perry enjoy classic rock acts including The Beatles, Cheap Trick, The Rolling Stones, and (we guess) Aerosmith. That's no surprise, since their dad is Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry. In their band Dead Boots, they channel those influences and others including punk, arena rock, and pop. July 13, 8 p.m. doors. $12, $10 advance. Middle East Downstairs, 472-480 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. 617-864-3278, www.mideastclub.com
SOME LIKE IT HOT Want some extra sizzle in your summer? Go to Caliente!, the sixth annual Latin music festival celebrating Boston's wealth of Latin music, culture, and community. Grammy-nominated salsa artist Jerry Rivera headlines, and Berklee College of Music faculty member Eguie Castrillo opens. July 13, 7 p.m. Free. City Hall Plaza, North Stage, 1 Congress St., Boston. 617-635-3911, www.cityofboston.gov/arts
SUNDAY
LET HUR RIP Before MGM's 1925 epic movie version of "Ben-Hur," there was a 1907 one-reel, 15-minute version filmed in NYC that featured Brooklyn's Manhattan Beach as the Holy Land. The short warms up for the long in this installment of the film series "Silents, Please." Jeff Rapsis provides live musical accompaniment. July 14, 1 p.m. $15. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville. 617-625-5700, www.somervilletheatreonline.com
STORM THE BEEHIVE Back in 1789, a French mob stormed the Bastille and helped trigger the French Revolution. Celebrate La Fête Nationale, French National Day, with special cocktails, champagne, dinner with a French flair (vichyssoise soup, fresh ahi tuna salade niçoise, and steak tartare frites are among the specials), and live music by Lamine Toure. July 14, dinner 5:30 p.m.-midnight, music 8 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover. The Beehive, 541 Tremont St., Boston. 617-423-0069, www.beehiveboston.com
