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An updated guide to popular restaurants and unique bars you can visit in the Cambridge neighborhood.

Triple D burger from Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage in Cambridge. Handout/Silvia Domanoski

By Nia Harmon and Shira Laucharoen
October 17, 2024

In Harvard Square, you will find a neighborhood bustling with students, neighbors, and first-time visitors. But the area is also home to a number of restaurants and bars, whether you’re looking for a burger with fries or a cocktail to sip on with brunch.

To help you navigate a host of enjoyable options, we’ve updated our guide to some of the most popular eateries and bars in the Cambridge neighborhood. Between browsing for books at the local shops or attending the Head of the Charles Regatta, you’re sure to find a new favorite spot.

Where to eat

Alden & Harlow

Beneath the Brattle Theater, you’ll find this hip, subterranean New American restaurant that’s perfect for a night out. While you’re browsing the menu, think of ordering the basil pasta served with carrot bolognese, the Secret Burger on a housemade roll, or the Ora King salmon served with ratatouille. Don’t miss out on dessert—the smoked chocolate bread pudding is a winner in our book.

40 Brattle St., Cambridge

Bosso Ramen Tavern

This izakaya opened last year, and since then, it’s become a neighborhood fixture. Bosso Ramen Tavern serves sushi, sake, and ramen, made with a homemade broth. For those who don’t eat meat, the vegan ramen includes soy meat, cashews, walnuts, and red chili oil. After a flavorful entree, cleanse your palate with the black sesame ice cream. The restaurant expanded to Newbury Street in Back Bay with Sushi by Bosso Ramen Tavern earlier this summer.

• Your guide to the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta: schedule, where to watch, top stories, and more
• Joe’s Pizza, an iconic New York City spot, opens in Harvard Square

24 Holyoke St., Cambridge

Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria

A casual spot on Brattle Street, Felipe’s is the place to go when you need a Mexican food fix. Order the Baja-style tacos, made with a choice of lightly breaded shrimp or fish, or enjoy nachos made with extra melted cheese, refried beans, and more. Reader Elaine S. from Belmont said, “A lot has changed in Harvard Square. Felipe’s is still a great and affordable social space with a limited but authentic selection of Mexican food… Best margaritas in Camberville.”

21 Brattle St., Cambridge

Henrietta’s Table

Inside the Charles Hotel, you may stumble upon Henrietta’s Table, a homey farm-to-table spot that sources produce from local purveyors and serves up classic New England cuisine. If you’re sitting down to brunch, you may want to order the salmon burger, served with spicy tartar sauce and mixed greens. For supper, you can dig into a Yankee pot roast, served with crispy shallots and gravy.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Warm up at this popular ramen restaurant, serving traditional Japanese staples since 2015. For starters, try the karaage, a Japanese-style deep fried chicken or the octopus takoyaki, a deep fried octopus ball topped with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and bonito flakes. Following your appetizer, enjoy a bowl of their signature tonkotsu shio ramen made with tonkotsu broth that is simmered to perfection for 20 hours. For those who don’t eat meat, a vegetarian ramen option is available. 

1 Bow St., Cambridge

Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage

Students love this joint, where you can build your own burger or choose from one of their creatively named options, like the Kamala Harris or The Ozempic. Reader Gene D. from Waltham called the spot “a local landmark,” adding that “the service is always friendly and fast, the campus ambiance is strong, and most importantly, the food is tasty! I’ve been dining there for years, and Mr. Bartley’s burgers are the best in the Boston area!”

1246 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

Orinoco Kitchen

For quality Venezuelan dining, visit Orinoco Kitchen. Try one of their many arepa options or the empanadas, which can be ordered with fillings like shredded beef or forest mushrooms, piquillo peppers, and cheese. The restaurant also serves a marinated chicken adobo that you can choose to eat with malanga gnocchi. The molten chocolate cake, made with pure dark chocolate, is a decadent finish. Orinoco also has a location in Brookline Village.

56 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge

Pronto

Looking to grab a quick bite before the races start? If so, Pronto has a hearty list of soups, sweets, and handheld options for breakfast and lunch. Try a sandwich named after famous landmarks and beloved cities, like the Big Ben on sourdough or the Cairo on French bread.

20 University Rd., Cambridge

Source Restaurant

Craving a slice of pizza? Head over to Source, which features “rustic yet refined food.” Neapolitan pies are cooked in a wood-fired oven, and you can choose from a variety of flavors: the classic margherita, the Tuscan kale, pepperoni, New York style, and more. You’ll also find pasta dishes on their menu, from the bucatini in a carbonara sauce to tagliatelli with bolognese sauce. Cocktails, wine, and beer round out their offerings.

27 Church St., Cambridge

The Friendly Toast

Enjoy a slow paced morning before the competitive races on the river at this funky retro brunch spot with an extensive list of options and an even cooler bar. Signature brunch choices include soulful favorites like chicken and waffles, breakfast tacos, and hash quiche. For a fun cocktail, try the Harvard Square made up of elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, and bubbles. 

1230 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

The Hourly Oyster House

If you’re looking to dine on seafood from New England and beyond, visit The Hourly Oyster House on Dunster Street. Order a seafood tower for your party, or fill up on blackened swordfish tacos, lobster rolls, or crusted halibut. A reader from Watertown said they have a great vibe and offer the best oysters in Boston. “It was better before COVID, but when we want oysters and can’t drive to the South Shore, we always come here,” she said.

15 Dunster St., Cambridge

Where to drink

Grafton Street Pub & Grill

Get a drink at Grafton Street, an Irish gastropub that is both contemporary and inviting. You’ll discover draft beers here, such as Mighty Squirrel Oktoberfest and Exhibit ‘A’ Goody Two Shoes, as well as ciders and spirits. To celebrate the fall, try a cocktail like the Fig Mule, composed of fig vodka, blueberry cordial, ginger beer, and lime.

59 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge

Grendel’s Den Restaurant & Bar

Students frequent Grendel’s, a neighborhood tavern with beer on draft, sangria by the pitcher, and a range of cocktails like the Naked and Famous, a mix of mezcal, Aperol, Chartreuse, and lime. The spot also offers “horoscope drinks,” a rotating selection of beverages based on the astrological charts. Grendel’s hosts live events, from music, to storytelling and poetry. Having been in the Square for over 50 years, they’re a classic haunt.

89 Winthrop St., Cambridge

Noir Bar

Noir Bar is a chic late-night lounge inside the Charles Hotel. Look out for craft cocktails like the Fleur de Lys, made with vodka, lime, herbes de Provence, and pear. Try the Monte Carlo Flip, which incorporates Italian amaro Averna, Amaro Sibilla, super cacao, and a whole egg. If you’re still wishing you had a bite to accompany your drink, request a flatbread, painted burrata, or a croque-monsieur. Noir promises to be an enjoyable night out with friends.

1 Bennett St., Cambridge

Russell House Tavern

A lively and comfortable spot, Russell House Tavern is a great place to sip drinks after work, boasting an extensive beer, wine, and cocktail list. You may be drawn in by the More Passion, which combines Leblon cachaça, passion fruit liqueur, agave, lime, grapefruit, and mint. To go with your beverages, order the local oysters, Harvard Square fries, or try a Tavern pizza.

14 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge

Wusong Road Tiki Bar

Hidden away in “the outskirts of Harvard Square,” Wusong Road marries Asian American cuisine and tropical Tiki escapism. Drinks include the Scorpion Bowl, made with Appleton Estate rum, brandy, gin, lemon, organge, pineapple, and hibiscus grenadine, as well as the Singapore Sling, made with Roku gin, cherry brandy, curacao, Benedictine, pineapple, and lime. You’ll find some bites on the menu here too, such as the coconut spareribs and Aloha sliders.

112 Mt Auburn St., Cambridge

STUDS newly opened a Harvard Square studio at 1 Brattle Square. By Elyse C. Goncalves

By Jackson M. Deutch, Bradford D. Kimball, and Claire L. Simon, Contributing Writers

Yesterday

STUDS, a national piercing and jewelry chain, recently opened its newest branch in Harvard Square, hoping to pierce the area’s student market.

According to the company’s social media, STUDS offers needle ear piercings and “high-quality” jewelry. The opening of the Harvard Square store marks the company’s fourth Massachusetts location, joining stores in Back Bay, Seaport, and Chestnut Hill.

The new studio, located at One Brattle Square, opened on Aug. 24. But according to Brianna C. Wright, the store’s assistant manager, the location has not gotten the traction they expected.

“Business has been pretty okay. Definitely not what we expected it to be,” Wright said. “We thought that we would be hitting it straight out the gate – super busy. It’s fairly quiet here.”

Wright said the store’s location may contribute to the slow business.

“Our neighboring stores, they told us that we’re kind of in a more hidden part of the Square,” she said.

One Brattle Square is the former home of Spyce, a robotic-powered restaurant that shuttered in 2022. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is set to open there in the near future.

STUDS Co-Founder Anna S. Harmon said the company was born as a solution to a problem she encountered in her 30s.

“Where do you go, if you’re me — and I was probably 34 at the time I was doing this — and you want to get another piercing, but you obviously have outgrown Claire’s and some of the other mall brands,” Harmon said. “The answer was nowhere, and so that is how STUDS was born.”

Harmon said while the company serves customers as young as 13, their “core audience” is ages 18 to 35.

“For me, Harvard Square epitomizes that demographic,” she said.

According to Harmon, STUDS hopes to attract more students to their location by offering a 10 percent student discount.

“Your parents can’t say anything to you about getting piercings. You should go live your life,” Harmon said.

STUDS emphasized that it uses needles for piercings rather than piercing guns, advertising on Instagram that they “only pierce with single-use piercing needles and implant-grade piercing jewelry (with titanium posts) for better precision, safety, and healing.”

Jess E. Perez, a senior piercer at the Harvard Square location, said Cambridge regulations have added hurdles to the process, including requiring exams for piercers.

“Boston is definitely the Wild West when it comes to piercings. Literally, you can really do anything in Boston, but here, you have to have certain criterias,” she said. “I had basically an expedited version of an eight-week course for skin and anatomy.”

Wright, who previously worked at the Back Bay location, said some students still go to other locations in Boston despite the new opening in Cambridge.

“But we’re here. We’re open,” she said. “Please come to us.”

Mary Crown – who moved from the Philippines to Boston two decades ago – stood amid the chatter of Tagalog and English, the smell of barbecuing pork, and the voice of America’s Got Talent semi-finalist Roland Abante singing “Dynamite.”

“I’ve never seen so many Filipinos,” she joked.

Crown was among the throngs gathered at the Church Street parking lot in Cambridge for the 3rd Annual Filipino American Festival on Oct. 6. The event was organized by the Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance in partnership with Harvard Square Business Association.

The event included dozens of booths selling drinks, clothes, and crafts. Clouds of smoke from sizzling meat billowed over the crowd celebrating Filipino American History Month.

Crown, who lives in South Boston, said she enjoyed hearing Filipino languages and smelling the food, because it reminded her of home.

“I don’t really attend a lot of stuff (like this),” Crown said, “because I miss my home if I see a lot of (Filipino) people.”

Still, Crown said she’s attended the festival every year since. She was struck this year by how many people showed up.

For Crown, the event evoked memories of her past. She said she had sat for about 20 minutes in the jeepney on display near the entrance, reflecting on when she rode them in the Philippines as a child. Jeepneys originated in the Philippines after World War II, when American military vehicles were left on the islands. They were then bought and renovated into what is now one of the main forms of public transportation in the Philippines.

Next to the jeepney, Joey Golja stood in a booth with T-shirts decorated with the vehicles and with the mascot of Jollibee, a popular Filipino fast-food restaurant chain, mixed with sports teams like the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. Golja is one of the founders of Project Barkada, a nonprofit based in New York. The shirts are sold to raise money to keep the jeepney at the festival running, in storage, and to tow it when necessary.

“It can drive,” Golja said, “but not four hours to Boston.”

Golja said the jeepney, or JeepNY as they call it, was brought to the U.S. by Apl.de.ap, the Filipino-born rapper and founding member of the music group the Black Eyed Peas. Golja said he called him up and asked if they could use it for community events.

Golja said it’s still in poor condition, even after fixing it up, but it’s good enough to bring to events, so people can sit in it and learn or reminisce.

The jeepney was on the other side of the festival from the stage, in front of which the Iskwelahang Pilipino cultural center students danced. The cultural center is in Bedford, where children are taught traditional Filipino dances and can join a dance group.

The Pangalay dance, or “fingernail” dance, was one of the dances they performed. Originating during the tribal period of the Philippines, it consists of dancers wearing long nails and mimicking the movement of the ocean to rhythmic music, which was played over a loudspeaker.

Throughout the event, which included fashion shows, a long line of visitors waited to eat from a stand by the Jamaican and Filipino restaurant, Bright Light. Pork, chicken adobo, lumpiang Shanghai, and pork sisig were the star dishes, as was halo-halo, a dessert made with condensed milk or coconut milk, crushed ice, ube ice cream and various sweet beans and jellies.

In fact, food dominated much of the event. At point, Chef Vallerie Castillo-Archer, the first female head chef of Philippine Airlines, even joined the festivities. And there was a balut-eating competition. Nine contestants were given two balut, salt, and a bottle of water. The players had to eat every edible part of the balut, a Filipino delicacy of an incubated duck egg that’s steamed and eaten from the shell.

After much slurping and chugging of water, University of Connecticut student Juanito Briones won.
“The hard part was the egg whites,” Briones said. “It kinda tastes like a gumball, very hard, so I just kept chewing, chewing, and washing it down with water Joey Chestnut-style.”

Get out your lederhosen, because it’s Oktoberfest in Boston! You don’t need to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and you need not be German to enjoy a family-friendly Octoberfest in New England. The hills are alive with the sound of oompah bands. From celebrations around Boston to Octoberfest events at nearby ski resorts, these events will have the whole family yodeling with delight! So bring your appetite and your dancing shoes for the live music and family fun at these Oktoberfest events around Boston. 

The calendar is packed with autumn activities, like the Best Harvest and Pumpkin Festivals near Boston for Fall Family Fun. And you can enjoy a taste of Oktoberfest anytime at Family-Friendly Boston Breweries and Beer Gardens. Lead photo: Children with Bavarian Pretzels, AdobeStock, created with Adobe Firefly.

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Oktoberfest near Boston

Wachusett Mountain Oktoberfest

Princeton
October 5 & 6, 2024

Wachusett Mountain puts a New England spin on a German tradition, with a 2-day celebration of Oktoberfest. Festivities include live music, stein-hoisting and keg-tossing. READ MORE

Oktoberfest at the Inn at East Hill Farm

Troy, NH
Sunday, October 6, 2024

The Inn at East Hill Farm’s Oktoberfest celebration includes live oompah music and a German-inspired feast, with shnitzel, strudel, and other Bavarian favorites. READ MORE

Chatham Oktoberfest

Chatham
Saturday, October 19, 2024

Chatham’s family-friendly Oktoberfest features live music on two stages, a kids’ zone, vendors, food trucks, and beer and wine. A showing of “Wallace and Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit” precedes the festival at 9:30. READ MORE

White Mountains Oktoberfest at Loon Mountain

Lincoln, NH
October 12 – 14, 2024

Loon Mountain hosts a three-day celebration of all things Bavarian. Festivities include family-friendly games and activities, face-painting, touch-a-truck, a 21+ biergarden, and much more. READ MORE

Brown Farm Oktoberfest

East Longmeadow
Saturday, October 19, 2024

Brown Farm’s Oktoberfest will feature local beers from One Way Brewing, family fun, food, and live music. The farm has nature trails for hiking. READ MORE

Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms

Ipswich
Saturday, October 12, 2024

Oktoberfest at Appleton Farms will offer a variety of beers, pizza from the kitchen, food trucks, lawn games, and a live oompah band to go with traditional German fun. READ MORE

Oktoberfest at Good Pickin’ Farm

Westford
Saturday, October 12, 2024

Westford’s Good Pickin’ Farm will mark Oktoberfest with live music, vendors, food, hayrides, PYO pumpkins, and selections from multiple breweries. READ MORE

Oktoberfest and Honk Parade

Cambridge
Sunday, October 6, 2024

The afternoon begins with the HONK! Parade, which departs Davis Square at noon and arrives in Harvard Square for Oktoberfest at 2 p.m. Grab a spot on Mass Avenue to watch live bands from all over the U.S. – an eclectic group of colorful musicians that are sure to delight. Food and craft vendors, as well as fa

BOSTON —

Looking for something fun to do in Massachusetts? Here are five suggestions:

• Topsfield Fair
• HONK! – Festival of Activist Street Bands
• Harvard Square Oktoberfest
• New Bedford Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
• 4th Annual Oktoberfest at Tall Ship

Commonwealth Wine School Team Leads Weekly Wine-Tasting Sessions, Enlightening Participants on the Latest Wine Trends and Perfect Pairings 

Commonwealth Wine School (CWS), nestled in the heart of vibrant Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is dedicated to providing the best in wine, spirits, beer, and sake education. Commonwealth is ready for the cozy, welcoming fall ahead by revealing its 2024 Fall wine-tasting schedule on Fridays, Saturdays, and some Thursdays.

Throughout September to December, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Commonwealth will host an array of tastings, from the ‘Core Facts About Apple Cider’ to ‘Curds and Cords’ to ‘Taste like a Master of Wine’ and more! These unique wine-tasting classes provide a more detailed exploration of wine for individuals who are passionate or just curious about wine and want to enhance their tasting skills.

Commonwealth offers various workshops, classes, private events, and certification-level programs from the prestigious WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) and the Wine Scholar Guild. This fall, certification courses include Grandes Pagos De España, Madeira Wine Specialist, Wines of Chile, Champagne Specialist, A Taste of France, and many more!

For more information on class details and pricing, please click the specific class below:

Wine Classes are available from September through December. 

• Friday, October 4, 2024 — Exploring Wines of the Southern — (Wines from the Southern Hemisphere, including Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and more, have become popular recently. Come learn more.) 
• Saturday, October 5, 2024 — Italian Wine What’s It All About — (Discover the world’s most popular grapes that originate in Italy, such as Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Glera.) 
• Friday, October 11, 2024 — Introduction to Wine Tasting — (Most of us know which wines we like and which ones we don’t, but how do we distinguish whether a wine is fruity, buttery, spicy, acidic or dry?) 
• Wednesdays, October 16-30, 2024 — French Wine Essentials — (If you’re a wine professional, inquisitive wine enthusiast, or energetic epicurean looking to enhance your experiences through food and wine, this class is for you) 
• Thursday, October 17, 2024 — Smugglers Run — Wine, Cheese, & Treats from Sicily — (Join for an evening sampling a lineup of tasty treats from some of Sicily’s most esteemed regions.) 
• Saturday, October 26, 2024 — The Smell Of Fear: Scary Wine and Cheeses — (Join for an evening testing your mettle as you explore cheese and wine’s darker side.) 
• Friday, November 1, 2024 — Wine Business — Negotiation Techniques and Cultural Competence — (Join for a highly interactive session focused on negotiation techniques and cultural competency in the international business of wine.) 
• Friday, November 1, 2024—Taste Like an MW—An Introduction to the Institute of Master of Wine — (Have you ever been curious to discover what it takes to become an MW? This is your time to try.) 
• Saturday, November 9, 2024 — Curds & Cords: Amazing Cider and Cheese Pairings — (A bite of rich, creamy cheese, then a sip of fresh & fruity cider…what’s not to love?) 
• Friday, November 15, 2024 — Oregon Pinot Party — (Celebrate the holiday season with the sophisticated, sippable, and food-friendly wines of the Willamette Valley in Oregon.) 
• Friday, November 22, 2024, Introduction to Wine Tasting — (Most of us know which wines we like and which ones we don’t, but how do we distinguish whether a wine is fruity, buttery, spicy, acidic or dry?) 
• Saturday, December 7, 2024, — Introduction to Wine Tasting — (Most of us know which wines we like and which ones we don’t, but how do we distinguish whether a wine is fruity, buttery, spicy, acidic or dry?)

For additional information, please visit their website, www.commonwealthwineschool.com.

About Commonwealth Wine School

Located in the heart of Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Commonwealth Wine School (CWS) is New England’s Premier School for Wine Education, dedicated to providing you the best in wine, spirits and sake education. Whether you are a beginner, connoisseur or industry professional, CWS’s dedicated and knowledgeable instructors share their expertise and passion to provide you with a fun and engaging experience. CWS offers a wide variety of workshops, classes and private events, as well as certification level programs from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Wine Scholar Guild, and the Society of Wine Educators.

‘Filipino American Festival’ returns to Harvard Square

CAMBRIDGE – The 3rd annual Filipino American Festival returns to Harvard Square in Cambridge for a day packed with live performances, cultural exhibits and authentic Filipino cuisine.

A key highlight of the festival on Sunday, Oct. 6 will be the first-ever Filipino Beer Garden in New England, offering iconic brews like San Miguel and Red Horse.

“We’re thrilled to bring this celebration of Filipino heritage to Harvard Square once again,” said Catherine Uy, president of the Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance. “It’s an opportunity to share the rich traditions, food, music and art of the Filipino community with the broader New England audience.”

This year’s event will feature:

• Cultural performances, including traditional dances from tinikling to modern acts, showcasing the diversity of Filipino talent  Continue reading
• Filipino cuisine, with vendors offering popular dishes like lechon, adobo and halo-halo
• Fashion show highlighting sustainable fabrics such as piña and abaca from Filipino designers
• Adobo workshop led by special guest Chef Valerie Castillo-Archer, the first Filipino American head of Catering Operations at Philippine Airlines
• Balut-eating and sipa contest, hosted by Harvard’s Filipino Preceptor Lady Aileen Orsal
• Philippine Jeepney Exhibit, showcasing the iconic “Auto Calesa,” a symbol of Filipino culture
• Harvard Peabody Museum Collaboration, featuring a special exhibit of Filipino artifacts dating back to the 1800s

BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.

Visit New England’s largest free contemporary art space

Now known as the MassArt Museum, MassArt’s Bakalar and Paine Galleries were recently reimagined with thousands more feet of space for paintings, photography, sculptures, installations, and performance art. In addition to viewing exhibits, this Thursday at 7 p.m. guests enjoy a half-hour long ceremonial activation of Katie Paterson’s artwork, “To Burn, Forest, Fire,” which burns incense that evokes the scents of the Earth’s earliest forest and the imagined aroma of its last. (Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.; 621 Huntington Ave., Boston; free) — Cheryl Fenton

Groove with the Lemon Twigs at Crystal Ballroom

The Lemon Twigs’ latest LP – “A Dream Is All We Know” (produced by Sean Ono Lennon) – is, in the words of Paper’s Erica Campbell, “a sonic manifestation of a fictional place they call ‘Mersey Beach,’” a portmanteau of sorts that they coined to reflect the spirit of their two biggest influences: The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Over the course of five LPs, the D’Addario brothers have incorporated pretty much every genre of rock (glam, art, indie) and pop (baroque, jangle, power) that has emerged in popular music over the past 60 years. And while the retro influences and love of the past are clear as day in their sound and style, the approach is fresh and current, which will be evident during their Thursday show at Crystal Ballroom. (Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m; 55 Davis Square, Somerville, $25 and up) — Blake Maddux

Bring the kids to these Halloween events in Salem

The historic city of Salem welcomes 1 million tourists during October for its month-long Haunted Happenings festival, billed as the largest celebration of Halloween in the world. Don’t let that daunting number keep you away, as there are dozens of different events throughout the month, many of which aren’t overcrowded. The season kicks off this Thursday with the nighttime Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. If you miss the parade, bring the kids to the Salem ZombieWalk, taking place Saturday on Salem Common. Other daily options include Professor Spindlewink’s World of Wizardry, a new attraction where kids can “journey to magic realms and discover an enchanted forest, a crystal cave, a room of fantastic beasts, and even an ice dragon,” and classes with The Good Witch of Salem, an educator who this year is hosting a magical children’s tea party, potion-making, broom and hat decorating, a character breakfast, and a costume ball. (Various times and locations throughout October) — Kristi Palma

Laugh along with Sebastian Maniscalco

Sebastian Maniscalco broke into the public consciousness in 2012 with his now-legendary “doorbell” bit, wherein he recalled the days when unexpected company was so welcome it had its own reserved store-bought cake, and expertly contrasted it with our current state of stranger-danger paranoia. (“Army crawl! Get in the closet!”) He’s since done too many painfully relatable routines to count, on everything from online reviews to being completely flummoxed by “Hamilton.” Who knows what topics will be on the table at the TD Garden this Friday and Saturday, but odds are he’ll be crawling and gesticulating his way into your heart. (Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.; 100 Legends Way, Boston, $59-$307) — Peter Chianca

Try something new with ‘Nassim’

The play “Nassim,” written and performed by Nassim Soleimanpour, sounds like it’d be a one-man show. But it’s not — each performance features a different local, unrehearsed actor reciting much of the show. The Iranian playwright demonstrates the difficulties of understanding a new language with a script in a sealed box waiting for a new reading each night. Most of what’s read is translated from Farsi to English, with all the loss inherent in translation, showing how language can both unite and divide us. The experimental and internationally touring show approaches performance number 500 during its three-week run at the Huntington Calderwood starting this Friday. Check their website as the show nears for each night’s guest performer. (Spoiler alert: On Oct. 16 it’s Keith Lockhart, of all people.) (Friday, Oct. 4 through Saturday Oct. 27 at various times; 527 Tremont St., Boston; $29-$135 — Natalie Gale

Hoist a stein at Harpoon Brewery Octoberfest

Despite what the name implies, almost all of the Boston-area Oktoberfest celebrations already took place in September. If you’re still in the festive mood, however, Harpoon Brewery hosts its 34th annual Octoberfest this Friday and Saturday. The largest celebration of the year at Harpoon’s Seaport taproom, the event goes beyond stein-hoisting competitions, holding pretzel eating contests and chicken dancing. The event takes place under open-air tents, with limited seating available. Then on Sunday, Dogtoberfest returns to Harpoon, welcoming dogs to the taproom and raising funds for the Kenary Brain Tumor Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MSPCA–Angell. (Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6 at various times; $35 and up; 21+) — Katelyn Umholtz

Enjoy food, rides and more at Topsfield Fair

Less than a week after the Big E wrapped up for the season, New England’s other giant fair opens for the season. Starting this Friday, head to the Topsfield Fair, the oldest agricultural fair in Massachusetts, for agricultural exhibits, concessions and vendors, carnival rides, art shows, and live entertainment at the Topsfield Fairgrounds. There’s no shortage of ways to have fun at the fair, like riding the Ferris wheel and playing carnival games on the Midway, ordering deep-fried Oreos, and seeing the largest pumpkin grown north of Boston. Visitors will also want to check out the winners of the fair’s many competitions, earning best in class awards for livestock, fruits and vegetables, fine art, baked goods, wine, honey, and more. (Friday, Oct. 4 through Monday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield; $15; all ages) — Natalie Gale

Let loose at Honk Festival

Two popular festivals will join forces this Sunday when Honk Fest, Somerville’s annual brass band extravaganza, heads to Harvard Square for its Oktoberfest celebration. Honk is actually a 3-day event, bringing dozens of activist brass bands from around the world to the neighborhoods of Somerville on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The final event of Honk involves a raucous parade, in which hundreds of musicians march from Davis Square to Harvard Square to join its Oktoberfest activities. Between the four hours of live music and the multiple beer gardens scattered around the square, it’s an Oktoberfest you’ll definitely want to check out. (Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6 at various times; Davis Square, Somerville; free) — Kevin Slane

Where to: Tenoch in Harvard Square.

Why: For tacos, tortas, and eventually cocktails inside The Garage.

The backstory: The original Tenoch opened on Medford’s Riverside Avenue in 2012, serving tortas: springy telera bread layered with black bean spread, avocado, chipotle mayonnaise, pickled onion, tomato, rubbery Oaxaca cheese, and marinated meats. Since then, owner Alvaro Sandoval, who grew up in Mexico, has expanded to the North End, Davis Square, and Melrose; he also opened a finer-dining spot, El Tacuba, near the original Tenoch in Medford Square. His latest endeavor is a new Tenoch inside Harvard Square’s storied Garage space, most recently occupied by Las Palmas. This version has slightly different menus from the others, including pork sausage and pig belly tacos.

Photo from harvardsquare.com

CAMBRIDGE – The 3rd annual Filipino American Festival returns to Harvard Square in Cambridge for a day packed with live performances, cultural exhibits and authentic Filipino cuisine.

A key highlight of the festival on Sunday, Oct. 6 will be the first-ever Filipino Beer Garden in New England, offering iconic brews like San Miguel and Red Horse.