Monday Picks

ART
Bringing together work from collections from around the world, incorporating familiar masters as well as lesser known artists, the exhibit El Greco to Velázquez establishes a clearer picture of the period of Philip III's rule of Spain between 1598–1621. Included in the exhibit are such beloved masterpieces as El Greco's stunning Baroque landscape "View of Toledo" and Velázquez's realist portraiture "Luis de Góngora y Argote." In conjunction with "Spanish Spring" the Museum's restaurants Bravo and Galleria will feature Spanish inspired menus as well. $23. $21 seniors and students. Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave. Boston. 800-440-6975. mfa.org

ROCK
Everyone knows George Washington was heavy into classic rock, but John Adams, he was always more of the electro type. Dude repped some of the earliest dance nights in Boston back in the day. His funky ghost sweats one out at the 4th annual Fenway Recordings Sessions Patriots Day Blowout. Brooklyn's Foreign Islands hold this one down with their spitting synth punk and dirt bag disco beats. Dance for your country. It's what Adams would have wanted. 18+. 7 p.m. $5. Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Ave., Allston. 617.566.9014. greatscottboston.com

MARATHON
We all want to get involved in the marathon somehow. Some of us, the crazy people, actually train to run the thing. But the rest of the regular folks, well, we like to use this historic display of heroic strength and endurance as an excuse to drink beer and eat. Put us in the latter category. Problem is, it tends to get a little crowded and pricey down around the finish line. Atlantic Fish, however, will be one of the only spots open to the public without a cover charge that day. While the athletes can worry about finishing the race, we'll be content trying to, err… finish items off their special menu like the Marathon Lobster Roll. Reservations required. Atlantic Fish, 761 Boylston St., Boston. 617-267-4000. atlanticfishco.com


FOOD/BOOKS
The last time we tried to bring an open bottle of wine into a book store, they kindly escorted us to the exit. No such problem today at Harvard Bookstore's Taza Chocolate Demo and Tasting, one of the store's new monthly informal get-togethers. Somerville's Taza makers of the only 100% stone ground chocolate in the country, will be on hand with a chocolate-making demo. Sip wine, sample the locally made chocolates, and try not to spill anything on the books -- apparently that makes people a little edgy. 7 p.m. Free. Harvard Bookstore,1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 617-661-1515. harvard.com

HISTORY
Hate to break it to all of our former American History professors, but the exact details of the Battle of Lexington and Concord are escaping us at the moment. Was that the one where Ben Franklin wrestled a grizzly bear in the harbor? We may never know. Anyway, the more factually oriented among us can get a more accurate approximation of what happened when the Lexington Training Band reenact the battle that started the Revolutionary war. Oh… so that why they call it Patriot's Day? The battle begins at 5:30 a.m., but there's a full day of festivities planned including parades and other Colonial reenactments. Man on bear action not guaranteed. Lexington Center, Lexington. battleroad.org

Boston Globe