Things To Do In Concord

This week’s event lineup caters to the body, mind, and soul. Treat your corporeal form to tastings of beer, wine, and gourmet food, your brain to a comedic discussion with a rapping scientist, and your inner essence to a focused doodling session and a romp with your pup at Somerville’s Riverfront Park. And as always, check Groupon for more great things to do in Boston. Red, White, & Brew Summerfest South End | Saturday, August 2, noon to 10 p.m. Raise your glass at an interactive wine- and beer-tasting event that showcases beverages from across the United States. In between sips, attendees can participate in a silent auction benefiting Project Smile and the Ellie Fund. (Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St.; $59, but you can save $24 with this Groupon) Petpalooza Somerville | Saturday, August 2–Sunday, August 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Organized by som|dog, the second annual pooch fest allows dog owners and their leashed friends to mingle and try their paws at dog fitness or dock diving. Of-age humans can also sample beer from Slumbrew. (Riverfront Park, 300 Grand Union Blvd., Somerville; free) Neighborhood Cooking Tour of the Parkway Roslindale | Monday, August 4, 6:15 p.m.–8 p.m. The Chefs’ Table Series TV show kicks off its celebration of the top Parkway restaurants with a special cooking demonstration and lavish meal from Manuel Sifnugel, chef-owner of Masona Grill. (Sons of Italy Hall, 30 Birch St.; $25; contact Carol at 617-323-0670) You’re the Expert Live Taping Cambridge | Tuesday, August 5, 7 p.m. Laughs and deep questions coincide in the You’re the Expert radio show and podcast, where three comedians grill a leader in an advanced scientific field. This live taping showcases the wisdom of Jonathan Garlick, a top stem-cell researcher who is also a rapper. (Oberon Theater, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge; $15; buy tickets here) Zentangle Drawing Class Arlington | Thursday, August 7, 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m Zentangle drawings take the random energy of doodling and channel it into stunning patterned images. Certified Zentangle teacher Patricia Carney leads classes for kids, teens, and adults, unleashing inner creativity during the relaxing sessions. (Artbeat, 212A Massachusetts Ave., Arlington; $25+; call 781-646-2200 to reserve a seat) You're the Expert photo courtesy of the radio show; Zentangle photo from Persephone Pomegranate (Flickr)

The Red Sox have emerged as World Series champions three times in less than ten years, and the fans of Red Sox Nation simply couldn’t be happier. To celebrate, diehard locals and history-buff tourists have taken to scheduling a behind-the-scenes tour of legendary Fenway Park, which challenges Chicago’s Wrigley Field for the title of America's most beloved baseball stadium. Run directly by the Boston Red Sox organization, these tours lead off with entertaining and well-informed guides. The one-hour walking experience starts off at the team store across from the park, where tourists can gobble up hats and souvenirs, or simply snap a few photos of the grand exterior. The public expedition then takes guests through various sections of the park, including unique seating locations like the famed left field Green Monster and the exclusive Press Box, where longtime announcers Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo sit during every home game broadcast. Amiable tour guides also provide interesting stories about some of the most important players in Red Sox history, including Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Carl Yastrzemski and Carlton Fisk, not to mention the always-gregarious David Ortiz, known throughout the league as Big Papi. They also discuss the beginning history of baseball, who some of the biggest names in Red Sox history are and how the storied Green Monster wall in left field came to be. On game days, select tours arrive three hours before first pitch to catch a glimpse of batting practice, tour the Green Monster some more or meet one of the team’s mascots, Wally the Green Monster, who can otherwise be spotted throughout the stadium during game days. Premium Sunday tours involve on-field access and a deeper lesson on Fenway’s history, and private group packages are available year-round, which might even involve hitting a ball or two yourself from the batting cage.

It is so easy to miss out on the tourist attractions in the city where you live. As a visitor, your focus can be on getting to know a place in just a few days, while at home, there is work to finish, laundry to be done, and friends to see, and sometimes that doesn’t leave much space for playing the tourist on your home turf. After spending some time living and traveling in France, I realized the benefits of really bringing the perspective of a tourist to your own city, and since coming back to Boston I’ve been trying to bring a little more “staycation” into our time at home. In that vein, my husband and I recently walked the Freedom Trail, the path connecting 16 important historical sites from Boston Common to Charlestown’s Bunker Hill Monument. It was something I hadn’t done since grade school, and it was just right for a day as a tourist in our own town. A line of red bricks marks the path, and you can follow this line for a self-guided tour. Brochures describing the significance of the various stops are available at the visitor’s center, and can also be downloaded from the Freedom Trail website. We splurged for a spot with the colonial-costumed and be-wigged tour guide – he was worth the ticket price ($11 each for adults, $7 for children under 12). We heard lots of interesting historical facts, plus some hilarious stories about personalities like Sam Adams, and that one time that the Granary Burying Ground gave way and someone fell into a crypt (yikes!). A mix of morbid and fascinating, the Granary Burying Ground was a highlight, and is a testament to Boston’s long history. Many of the gravestones are elaborately engraved, and several well-known historical figures, including Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere, are buried here. Stops along the red brick line include the oldest public school in the country, the site of the Boston Massacre, and Paul Revere’s house. Guided tours focus on a section of the route, with many exploring the area from the Common to Faneuil Hall while others focus on the North End. There is also a guided tour featuring African-Americans involved in the Revolutionary War, and of course, a historic pub crawl! Sign me up! For more details and to sign up for any of the Freedom Trail Tours, visit the website. Want to discover even more? Check out other things to do in Boston.