The weekend is waxing its toboggan.
The esteemed National Toboggan Championships in Maine open registration for the February 2010 event today, so if careening down a mountain at 40mph on a rickety sled with two or three friends is your idea of a good time, this is your event. Winners get bragging rights at the post-race cabin parties, and endless Cool Runnings comparisons.
Martha's Vineyard kicks off its food and wine festival Friday, and it has Andy Husbands of Hell's Kitchen fame to add a little reality-show bravado to the opening reception. Which is great, but in truth, we're more excited about the oyster dinners and champagne tastings.
If Nantucket is in your travel plans this weekend, a one-day Hogtoberfest is going down at the American Seasons, and between the tutorials on how to use every part of the pig, to pig candy like the Chocolate Bacon Bark, there's a chance you may actually get tired of pork by the end of the day. We're guessing not, though.
As one can never really have too much hog, you'll want to head to Groton on Sunday for a beer and pig hoedown featuring a crack team of city chefs spit-roasting an entire pig together. Then feast on the outcome with artisanal and craft beers and live bluegrass music (by law, all hoedowns must include live bluegrass music).
Sunday is the final installment of the Head of the Charles, so instead of fighting the traffic all day, head down to the riverside Reunion Village tent to bask in the pageantry. Along with the best view in town, you'll enjoy beer, wine and outdoor TVs to watch what you can't see up river…as well as maybe a little NFL action.
Oktoberfest is winding down most places, but the last gasps of it are still being squeezed out at Tremont 647 (and we applaud them for their thoroughness). For $25, you'll wash away the Monday blues with unlimited bratwursts, apple strudels, Bavarian cheese dips and hearty German beer. Go out with a bang, people.
