I keep telling myself it’s only mid-August, but we’re getting dangerously close to late August, and I don’t like the sound of that. Time to get serious about the last few weeks of summer. We’ve got a few ideas, starting with the best things happening around Boston this weekend.

Before you get too deep into weekend plans, enter to win tickets to Jason Schmidt and you could be seeing him for free on Saturday.

JUST ANNOUNCED

• Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu and some of skating’s biggest stars are bringing us behind the sequins for one night only. See the costume concepts and design choices behind the looks at Figure Skating x Fashion: Styling on August 26th at View Boston. Get tickets!*

• Berklee is taking it to the streets for its first-ever Block Party on September 19th. The Fenway festival brings five alumni headliners to one stage for a day-long celebration.

• Getting a table at The Lost Kitchen is tough. Luckily, getting a seat with Erin French is much easier. The bestselling author brings her new cookbook, Seize the Supper, to The Wilbur on October 14th.

• Dark Star Orchestra has spent decades perfecting the Grateful Dead experience. Close your eyes and you'd swear it was the real thing. Grab tickets for November 14th.

• Find even more just-announced Boston shows to add to your calendar!

GAME DAY GUIDE: PATRIOT PLACE

Heading to Foxboro for Pats vs. Eagles this weekend? Make a day of it. Patriot Place has plenty to do before and after kickoff, with new spots to eat, drink and shop popping up all the time. Read our full guide for how to park, what to do and, most importantly, where to fuel up before the game.

TONIGHT

LOCALS ONLY

• Your Euro Summer starts tonight in Back Bay. Eataly is turning its patio into a proper Italian piazza with fresh seafood, spritzes, live music and la dolce vita.

• Boston Single Mingle is switching up your dating routine with a round of speed dating tonight. At the very least, you’ll get a drink out of it (and probably a good story).

• Japanese technique meets bold Thai flavor at tonight’s Uni x Merai tasting. The one-night menu comes with cocktails and optional sake and sato pairings.

• Steel pans take over Cambridge tomorrow for Pan in the Park, a free celebration of Caribbean culture and community.

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