5 things to do this weekend, including Winteractive and 'Changing Landcapes' at the Museum of Science

There’s plenty to see and do in Boston this weekend, but perhaps nothing more stirring or evocative than paying a visit to the newly opened Taco Bell at the former site of Great Scott, the closed music venue that may return someday but for now only lives on as a memory. I now feel like an elderly East Village resident in 2018 when Target opened its doors on 14th Street talking about "the good ol' days" in New York City. Enjoy your local stomping grounds while you can, before they turn the keys over to those seeking Crunchwrap Supremes and 7-Layer Nacho Fries Burritos. Luckily, if you need any inspiration for what grounds to stomp this weekend, we have five recommendations below, from art installations to film and more.

If you haven’t already checked out this season’s Winter Arts Guides, then you could already be missing out on events like this one. The Belmont World Film’s Family Festival is in its second weekend of films curated for audiences ages 3 to 12. Saturday’s lineup is entirely virtual, and Sunday’s schedule includes three programs at the Regent Theatre in Arlington: a shorts program based on Mo Willems’ books, a “International Films for Young Hearts” shorts program and a screening of the feature film “TOTEM.” Each program has its own recommended age range, so be sure to check the website for details. An intro to film camera techniques workshop for ages 10 and up will take place on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Belmont Media Center. For details on pricing, visit the festival’s website. [Want more winter film festival recommendations? Check out our guide here.]

If you’re like me, you could easily spend an hour staring at the audiokinetic sculpture by George Rhoads known as “Archimedean Excogitation” in the atrium at the Museum of Science before you realize that you haven’t even entered the exhibit halls. But once you make it in, one exhibit to check out is “Changing Landscapes: An Immersive Journey,” which opened in December. It’s a close look using floor-to-ceiling media as well as interactive elements to explore four UNESCO World Heritage sites across the globe: the pyramids of Giza, the churches of Venice, the Rapa Nui island community and the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde.

This weekend, the museum will mark the beginning of a yearlong effort to spotlight climate sustainability and solutions and “Changing Landscapes” to help illustrate the way these places have already been impacted by climate change. Outside of climate change exhibitions, adults may also want to visit the museum for its Friday and Saturday night planetarium programming, which pairs visuals on the massive projection screen with music. Four frequent shows feature the music of David Bowie, Beyoncé and Pink Floyd with another program called “The Divas Experience” showcasing the music of singers such as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Admission to the museum costs $28 for visitors 11 and up and $24 for children 3 to 10 years old.

From the comfort of your very own home, you can tune into “Groove & Grit,” a concert of music and spoken word featuring local Boston artists. Multimedia artist and 2022 WBUR Maker Daniel Callahan will be joined by bass clarinetist Rane Moore, pianist Sarah Bob and singer/cuatro player Fabiola Méndez, a member of The Artery 25. The concert will also have two world premieres of music by saxophonist/cuatro player Jonathan Suazo and rapper/instrumentalist Kevin Madison. The event is part of a larger series called the New Gallery Concert Series, which presents new pieces of music and art along with the artists behind them. Streaming the event costs $15, and an interactive Zoom reception will follow the one hour performance.

It’s like whale watching but from the comfort of land. Those who frequent downtown crossing may have already noticed an unusual sight on Franklin and Washington streets: a large-scale steel sculpture of a whale. It’s part of a four-month public art project called “Winteractive,” organized by the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District in conjunction with Montreal-based public art nonprofit Quartier Des Spectacles International. Aside from the whale, which is titled “Echoes: A Voice from Uncharted Waters,” you can also find, statues of people performing precarious feats such as trapeze work above a busy street, what looks like a glowing ice block with a unicorn inside, massive inflatable clown heads and more. Follow the Downtown Boston BID on Instagram as they continue to announce the 19 artworks in this series.

We’re approaching the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine in February, artists from Ukraine reflect on what has been lost and damaged but also the strength of everyday people during this period. “Don’t Close Your Eyes: Ukrainian Artists Respond to the War” features the works of 27 artists from throughout Ukraine. The collection incorporates a wide array of mediums including paintings, drawings, lithographs, film, mixed media and more to articulate the artists’ unique perspectives on war, hope, survival and the human spirit. The exhibit will be on view at The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord through Feb. 17. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the exhibition is free and open to the public.