Mon. Jan. 18

The Museum of Fine Arts always does something neat on Monday holidays. That is, they open the place to the public at no charge. This means you have (probably) a day off and no excuse not to expose yourself to culture. There's no football on TV. Nope, today's a day to learn, explore, grow ... all that good stuff. And since it's Monday January 18, it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, maybe a day to honor Dr. King and not go shopping, but checking out the gospel sounds of the 12th Baptist Church's Choir, the singing of Shea Rose (in photo) with a Berklee College ensemble, a poetry slam, a screening of short films and, of course, a gallery tour which could involve Secrets of the Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000 BC; Object, Image, Collector: African and Oceanic Art in Focus and Cafe and Cabaret: Toulouse-Lautrec's Paris.  Open 10 am to 4:45 pm. Check website or call for specific times of events.

465 Huntington Ave., 617-267-9300 www.mfa.org