Open Doors, presented by BNY Mellon, is a monthly event series that allows you to experience the innovation happening in different corners of Boston. It’s an opportunity for you to learn and find inspiration in neighborhoods across this vibrant, buzzing city that can sometimes be tricky to navigate.

What do you get when you mix one part working marina, one part cider house, two parts arts incubator and one part historic site? The East Boston Shipyard. 

On August 19, we're inviting entrepreneurs, artists, foodies, and more to share what makes East Boston one of the most unique, innovative, and seriously creative areas of our city. There aren't many places where you can you brew cider, create a collaborative art project, tour a 100-year old ship, watch a neon sign maker in action, and learn about cutting-edge scientific research all in one afternoon — and we want you to experience it all.

Whether you live in Eastie or will be crossing the harbor for the first time, August's Open Doors will provide a look inside and onramp to this neighborhood's multifaceted creative ecosystem.

Fermentation Flavors 101

4:00 - 6:00 PM | Tour + Tasting | Downeast Cider, 256 Marginal Street #32, East Boston, MA 02128

Join Downeast Cider’s cider makers in a learning and tasting session at their cider house. Did you know that Downeast is unique in it’s unfiltered cider? Come find out what that means, how to make cider, and how different ingredients affect the taste in surprising ways. Four 30-minute sessions, beginning at 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, and 5:30pm. Please register for one session only.

Windy Content Studio

4:00 - 6:00 PM | Interactive | Windy Films, 256 Marginal Street, 16C, East Boston, MA 02128

The Windy Content Studio is a space made for creatives to produce and curate content. Over the past year, Windy Films has opened their doors to Boston's creative community, sharing their space with emerging artists, producers, and change makers. And they want you to join this community! For Open Doors, the Studio has been activated to prompt you to be creative, draw, paint, take photos, and brainstorm with other creatives. Participants are invited to take the reigns, create, and celebrate production in the curated Windy Content Studio. Four 30-minute sessions, beginning at 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, and 5:30pm. Please register for one session only.

Lightship Tour

5:00 - 6:00 PM | Tour | Lightship Nantucket, 256 Marginal Street, Boston, MA 02128

If Open Doors is all about innovation, why are talking about a hundred-year-old ship? But the Lightship Nantucket isn't your average ship: It's actually a lighthouse, and a hub for innovative technologies used to collect observations for scientific research, communicate with sea-faring vessels, and welcome travelers to the shores of Massachusetts safely. 1-hour tour from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. 

Neon Build-Out Demonstration

4:00 - 6:00 PM | Demonstration | Warehouse 17, 256 Marginal Street, East Boston, MA 02128

The shipyard’s empty warehouse walls are ripe for displaying the very large, including a vintage neon sign of Paul Revere riding his mare “Brown Beauty". The sign originally towered over the vast Paul Revere Copper Mill in New Bedford, founded by Paul himself in 1801.  The sign’s owner and caretaker, aficionado Dave Waller, teaming up with Neon Williams, will be assembling this 40 foot spectacular and sharing its history with you outside his warehouse. Come learn about neon and check out Paul Revere on his wild ride.

Building a Creative Ecosystem Panel Discussion

4:00 - 5:00 PM | Panel | ICA Watershed, 256 Marginal St, East Boston, MA 02128

What does it mean to have a creative ecosystem? Why do so many creatives set up shop in Eastie and the shipyard? Learn about East Boston’s history of arts and creativity and where the future of the arts ecosystem lies in this innovative neighborhood. Seating will be available on a first come, first serve basis – after seating is full, there will be standing room.

Panelists include:

• Veronica Robles, Artist

• Matthew Pollock, HarborArts Gallery

• Moderator: Justin Pasquariello, East Boston Social Centers

Explore ICA Watershed Galleries

5:00 - 7:30 PM | Galleries Exhibition | ICA Watershed, 256 Marginal St, East Boston, MA 02128

A proud supporter of the East Boston arts scene, the ICA’s satellite Watershed location will open exclusively to HubWeek attendees for a special Monday appearance. The ICA Watershed, opened in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina in summer 2018, transformed a 15,000-square-foot, formerly condemned space into a vast and welcoming venue to see and experience large-scale art in East Boston. Explore the galleries for free.

Eat, Drink, & Get Connected

6:00 - 7:30 PM | Gathering | Windy Films, 256 Marginal Street, 16C, East Boston, MA 02128

Celebrate East Boston and its creative ecosystem with friends new and old at the Windy Films studio. Food and drink will be provided.