5 things to do this weekend, including Groundhog Day at Drumlin Farm and 'Fruits by the Foot'

If I had to put money on it, I forecast Punxsutawney Phil crawling back into his cozy hole for another six weeks of winter. Luckily for us, there’s plenty to do even in the cold weather. From a new exhibit in Worcester to a queer comedy showcase, there’s much more to check out than your own shadow.

You may be familiar with the art of Boston-based Sneha Shrestha without even realizing it. Also known by her street name, Imagine, Shrestha has several attention-grabbing murals throughout Massachusetts, including Allston, Cambridge, Lynn, Dorchester and Worcester. She’s also known for her paintings, especially those reimagining Nepali language and lettering in bright and multichromatic ways. One of those works was recently acquired by the Museum of Fine Art, Boston. (Plus, she was also a member of the inaugural ARTery 25 cohort!) She returns to Worcester for “Ritual and Devotion,” a solo show at the College of the Holy Cross’ Cantor Art Gallery that focuses on her convergence of the sacred and the secular. It includes works of paint as well as a new sculpture that is 6 feet by 5 feet titled “Dwarpalika.” Shrestha will be at the gallery on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. for a conversation with curator Rachel Parikh, and an opening reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

Nothing makes sense about Groundhog Day, but that’s alright with me. I don’t care that groundhogs don’t have any mystic wisdom to impart on us. If I’m simply reminded of their furry existence once a year for some nonsensical reason, I’ll take it. Ms. G gets it too. She’s the official groundhog of Massachusetts, and she’s not even bothering with the whole outdoor charade this year. Instead, she’ll be gracing visitors with her presence at a morning meet and greet at Drumlin Farm from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Mass Audubon’s Metro West Regional Director Scott McCue and Senior Naturalist Tia Pinney will offer a few words and guests are welcome to enjoy other activities at the wildlife sanctuary, including exploring the trails and creating groundhog-related crafts. The event is $9 for adults and teens, and $6 for seniors and children.

Come for the laughs and stick around for the community at queer comedy showcase “Fruits by the Foot” in Roslindale. Co-producers Lizzie Sivitz and Zach Stewart launched the showcase in January of 2023 to bring queer comedians and audiences together, and after only a year, the monthly show has already built up a loyal fanbase. Recent shows have filled the seats at Distraction Brewery, and “Fruits by the Foot” has its first show of 2024 this Saturday. In addition to co-hosts Sivitz and Stewart, this weekend’s lineup will feature Amma Marfo, Thom Crowley, Mary Spadaro and Jackson Watts. Tickets are $15, and the show starts at 8 p.m. [Read more about the creation of “Fruits by the Foot” here.]

Even without the concert, a night at Aeronaut Cannery and Taproom in Everett has all the proper fixings for a casual night out. They have many beverages on tap including a New England IPA called Permanent Daylight and a cherry merlot hard seltzer. They also have an award-winning option for the Pilsner lovers among us: the globally ranked Robot Crush. Plenty of options for those dipping their toe back in the boozy pond after dry January. Patrons this Saturday will get the added entertainment of a concert by local jam band Slack Tide. The group formed back in 2015 as an avenue for band members to experiment, improvise and draw on their inspirations: the Grateful Dead, Phish and the musical movement that was supposed to save the ‘90s: ska. The Cannery also has a host of arcade games, including pinball and PacMan, to keep you entertained from first sip to final call. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

As quickly as it arrived, it will soon be gone. “Lynching Tree” will have spent only 16 days at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum when it ends its run on Sunday. The exhibit is a single photo taken by filmmaker and artist Steve McQueen when location scouting for “12 Years a Slave,” which won Best Picture at the Oscars in 2014. The subject of the photo is a tree that sits on a plantation outside of New Orleans. Although there’s nothing overtly violent about the photo alone, this grand oak tree and many like it were used for lynchings. McQueen uses a lightbox to display the photograph, which illuminates the image from behind with a soft glow. It’s hard to say when this photo will be seen again. It’s only the second time that this exhibit has been on display in an American museum. The Gardner Museum uses a timed entry system, and last weekend, many time slots were sold out. [Read more about Steve McQueen’s “Lynching Tree” from WBUR’s Arielle Gray here.]