5 things to do this weekend, including Boston's Revolutionary Women walking tour and a '90s jazz night

One of my favorite artists, Caroline Polachek, recently released a cover of “Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth,” a 1980s synth song originally by Roger Doyle and produced by Bono. I heard Polachek’s version for the first time on a sunny morning earlier this week, and the sweet, simple and hopeful message of the title (which is repeated throughout the chorus) had me feeling excited for all that’s to come with the changing of the season. If you’re looking for your own seasonal inspiration, we have five options to help you in your quest — from a tour about Boston’s women of the American Revolution to a celebration of a lesbian-owned queer bar in Worcester. If you want more, might we suggest a delicious prix fixe meal? That and more below.

This isn’t your average night of covers. Saxophonist Mark Zaleski has curated a program of punk, R&B, metal and Top 40 hits that he and his band will reinterpret through a two-set evening of jazz. Joining Zaleski will be Jason Palmer on trumpet, Glenn Zaleski on piano, Matt Dwonszyk on bass and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. Audiences can expect music from Radiohead, Michael Jackson, Nirvana and more. If you’re looking for an excuse to review your 30-year-old mixtapes, possibly even with a new perspective, this is your chance. The concert will be held at the Regattabar in the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. General admission tickets are $30.

Lesbian bars are few and far between. There are only 32 in the country, according to the Lesbian Bar Project. One of those bars is celebrating its one-year anniversary, and it’s slated to be a weekend-long party. The kickoff begins Friday with singer-songwriter Alex Rohan at 8 p.m. and continues Saturday with raffles and giveaways both days. Drag Brunch on Sunday is sold out, but if you miss the celebrations this weekend, there’s always something going on at Femme. Check out the full list of events for this weekend and beyond, including board game nights, open mic poetry and beverage tastings.

You can almost always find something going on at Tufts University’s Department of Music calendar. The school frequently hosts in-person and live-streamed concerts, many of which are free. On Saturday, there’s something fun for families, especially those with young children. Pianist Andy Rangell will perform an adaption of “Babar,” the musical piece for piano and narrator by Francis Poulenc. The 1940 score is inspired by the classic Jean de Brunhoff tale about a beloved and often fashionably dressed elephant. After the concert, the department will host a Super Arts Saturday with dance, music, art and a sing-along with “Rainbow Jeff” Rawitsch. Both events are free and open to the public.

Here’s a tip for Restaurant Week: don’t wait for the final days. You can start this Sunday for deals and discounts at over 150 locations throughout Boston and Cambridge. Multi-course prix fixe lunch menus range from $22 to $36 and dinners from $36 to $55. You can see the full list of restaurants, on the Restaurant Week’s website. For those seeking outdoor, vegetarian or takeout options, look for the little icons throughout the list indicating each restaurant’s offerings. You should also look out for details on what days of the week restaurants will offer their Restaurant Week specials, with some only selecting weekdays or certain times of day. Famed steakhouse Abe & Louie’s, for example, only has weekday lunch specials, while Boston’s Union Oyster House has options for lunch and dinner every day but Saturday. Can’t make it this week? No problem. Although it’s called Restaurant “Week,” it actually runs for 14 days.

Do you know the story of Phillis Wheatley’s exchange with Thomas Jefferson? How about the first woman to serve as second lady, Abigail Adams? You can hear about these stories and more on the Revolutionary Women Tour, as told by the historical figures themselves! Well, people in costume, which is as close as you’re going to get to the real thing in 2024. It’s a special tour running on select Saturdays and Sundays during the month of March. Tours meet at 10:45 a.m. at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center. If you can’t make it to one of the Revolutionary Women Tour times, you can also check out “Walk Into History,” The Freedom Trail’s daily tour that brings guests from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall and nine other historic sites along the way. General admission tickets cost $17, and tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are $8.