This Thursday, Socialize like Isabella Stewart Gardner

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Isabella Stewart Gardner was as much a social butterfly as an art lover, so this Thursday, the eponymous museum is partying like it's 1899. Head over at 5:30pm for a modern-day version of the salon-style parties the patroness of the arts often hosted for her eclectic circle of friends, which included more than a few musicians, writers, painters, and scholars.

Together with Future Boston and the Startup Institute, the museum will be hosting guests with a full roster of activities. Join the twenty minute talks every hour on the hour at 6, 7, and 8pm to learn about Isabella Gardner and her collection, and then head over for a conversation with local artist Destiny Palmer and Gardner staffer Renana Greenberg about social circles past and present at 6:30pm and 7:30pm. Plus, get hands on with Studio Artivity: Sender Unknown, where you can make some art of your own! You'll be tasked with creating "a unique missive to send off into the world, and prepare to find something mysterious in your own mailbox." Intriguing!

No good party is complete without some social lubricant, so the bar in the Courtyard will be well stocked with beer, wine and sparkling white sangria, the museum's take on summer's resident refreshment to sip while you enjoy music from two live DJs until 9pm. Tickets are $5 to $15 (free for members.)—Renata Certo-Ware
· Third Thursdays: Social Circles [gardnermuseum.org]