Explore the rich history of the Old State House and Old South Meeting House with a knowledgeable and friendly guide. Discover the pivotal moments that unfolded within these iconic buildings and hear the stories of the people who shaped Boston and the nation. This walk offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and connect with the Revolutionary era in a personal, engaging way.

Challenge yourself to get from point A to point B in the most creative, entertaining, fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment. Parkour is like urban gymnastics, and lets you turn the entire world into your personal playground. In a non-competitive atmosphere, you’ll conquer natural and man-made obstacles by running, vaulting, jumping, climbing and rolling. Improve balance, coordination, strength, spatial awareness, and flexibility through games, exercises, and drills.

You may know parkour for its high-flying flips and big jumps, but its basic principles can also be used to help active older adults become physically stronger and more mentally confident. In this transformative course for ages 40+, improve your balance and agility with low-impact moves under the guidance of trained and supportive coaches. Learn how to avoid falls, or how best to fall if it happens; how to turn obstacles into opportunities; and how to incorporate functional fitness into your everyday movements.

Discover artistic and cultural creativity from around the world at the oldest continuously operating museum in the U.S. Led by a PEM docent, see a selection of notable works unique to the museum and hear the stories behind them. Explore how these pieces reflect the museum’s rich history and the diverse voices of the artists who created them. Learn what makes this museum special and why these works continue to inspire visitors today. Attendees are welcome to stay and enjoy the museum after the tour for no additional cost.

Learn the beautiful art of pointed pen calligraphy and gain the skills to create stunning cards, invitations, place cards, and more. Explore lettering basics, how to use and store nibs and ink, proper grip and posture, and essential strokes. We’ll practice letters, numbers, and flourishing techniques. All tools and materials are included. No experience required.

Claire Messud’s The Woman Upstairs (2013) is a riveting, disquieting novel about a lonely woman whose carefully contained life is transformed by an intense friendship with a couple and their young son, whose lives appear flawless. What could go wrong? Readers who want to look more closely at how great fiction works will deepen their appreciation of the novelist’s art through discussion of the novel’s narrators, dialogue, characters, details, and gestures. We’ll examine the choices that shape a powerful story and explore how writers create meaning on the page.

The version of the nativity story most people know never appears in the Bible. Of the four Gospels, only two suggest anything special about Jesus’s birth, and the stories they tell are very different. Modern readers often come to these texts with purely historical interests—what really happened—but this may not have been the main interest of early Christians. In the ancient world, stories of miraculous births were common, as the original audience of the Gospels would have known. We’ll place the nativity stories within their cultural and literary context. Analyzing these texts provides a window into the thought-world of early Christians and the development of ideas about Jesus.

Learn Reiki for self-healing; to support friends, family, and pets in their healing process; and/or to become a Reiki professional. Level 1: Receive the attunements believed to allow Reiki healing energy to flow through your hands. Each participant will get a complete Reiki treatment and then practice giving one to another student. We will cover health effects, how to best utilize this gentle healing modality for the benefit of yourself and others, and how to open a Reiki practice. Note: Receive a Reiki Level 1 certificate at the successful completion of the training. Level 2: Add power and versatility and enhance your Reiki with three specific practical techniques. Learn to intensify Reiki energy, combine the practice of Reiki with psychological and emotional issues, and discover how to heal from a distance. Note: A Reiki Level 2 Certificate will be issued at the successful completion of the training. Reiki Level 1 Certificate is a prerequisite for taking this class.

Tour the house and grounds of Medford’s Royall House and Slave Quarters, part of the 600-acre Ten Hills Farm and home to the largest slaveholders in Massachusetts history, as well as the enslaved Africans who made their lavish way of life possible. The house is among the finest local examples of colonial-era buildings still standing, and the slave quarters are the only remaining slave quarters in New England. Today, this museum’s architecture, household items, and archaeological artifacts bear witness to intertwined stories of wealth and bondage and explore the meanings of freedom and independence before, during, and since the American Revolution Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult. Please note: The museum is only wheelchair accessible on the first floor of the Royall House and the Slave Quarters. The only way to get up to the second floor of the Royall House is by using the stairs.

Ever been asked to “say a few words” at an award ceremony, give a toast at a wedding, or mark another special occasion, and felt your brain freeze? Learn practical tips and techniques from an experienced Toastmaster to help you write and deliver short speeches with confidence. Practice in a relaxed, supportive setting and leave ready to handle your next speaking request with a casual, “No big deal.”