Five Things: Free Ferry Rides Today

Update: Ferry tickets are sold out today.

1. Partly sunny skies today with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the mid 80s.

2. Take a day trip to the Boston Harbor Islands for free today. Ferry rides to Spectacle and George's Island are free of charge as part of Free Fun Fridays sponsored by Highland Street Foundation. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis at Long Wharf-North in downtown Boston (near the Aquarium). Get there early! Last year tickets sold out by 10:30 a.m. 

3. Massachusetts state ID cards are now available to applicants at the age of 14. A state ID makes it easier to obtain a work permit, cash paychecks, and prove identity to potential employees. Apply for yours here. 

4. Tonight, head to the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade for a free showing of Rango, the story of an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West. WBZ Free Friday Flix features a different movie every Friday at 6 p.m. Click here for a full schedule.

WBZ Free Friday Flix: Weekly outdoor film series on Friday evenings at sunset through Aug 26. Aug 5 Tangled, Aug 12 Toy Story 2, Aug 19 Rango, Aug 26 Iron Man 2. DCR Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Boston. 617-626-4970, 

5. Restaraunt week continues next week with dozens of restaurants offering 3-course fixed price dinners. Click for a list of local eateries and make a reservation.

Check out events in the South End on our calendar here.