How each family treats this long weekend is a personal choice.  Some volunteer or attend special MLK Jr. breakfasts, speeches, events.  Others treat it is an extra day to get caught up on family time, housework, recovering from some winter illness, or having that winter vacation that was perhaps co-opted by the flu this year.  Commemorative holidays are important, they remind us of how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.  On the other hand, like those lesser “Hallmark” holidays, just because we as a nation choose to celebrate on a particular day, doesn’t mean that you have to.  Some live by the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” all year round.  So however you spend this weekend.  Enjoy it. Appreciate what you have.  And take a moment to think about the meaning of some of these words and share thoughts:

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Then continue the day, the weekend, the year, consciously or perhaps just subconsciously taking steps towards these goals.

Saturday, January 16th

Harlem Gospel Choir at Saunders Theatre  (Cambridge)

Theatre/Pantomime:  Tale of the Frog Prince (Black Box Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts)

Mill Works Exhibit and Appraisal fair at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (Waltham)

Not so standard education at Eastern Standard’s day of classes.  There is still room in the “Punches for Parties” class which will get you through your New Year’s open house parties, spring celebrations and school parties.  (Boston)

Build a Lightsaber with Parts and Crafts (Somerville)

Sunday, January 17th

Gourmet Game Day at The Butcher Shop Tasty game day bites to-go if you’d rather watch the game at home too. (South End, Boston)

1/2 Price Raw Bar during the Patriot’s Football Game at Summer Shack (Boston, Dedham, Cambridge)

Sunday Jazz Brunch at Bar Boulud (Boston)

I don’t need to watch the Super Bowl, but I will totally watch the Super Bowl for this:

Monday, January 18th

MLK Day of Service with Many Helping Hands (Cambridge)

MLK Community Breakfast (Belmont)

MLK Breakfast (Boston)

MLK Day of Service and Celebration (Faneuil Hall, Boston)

MLK Open House at the MFA (free admission)

MLK Day of Service at Franklin Park (Dorchester)

MLK Tribute Concert (New England Conservatory, Waiting List only)

Gospel, Folk and Blues at the JFK Library: George Russell Jr. and Company in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Discover how music, including spirituals, gospel and folk-blues, played an important role in both the Underground Railroad and the Civil Rights Movement. (Boston)