Saturday, March 01, 2008

Cheap Thrills: 2/29 to 3/7

The Figgs! My apologies to anyone wanted to read this earlier. I had a technical difficulty or two. As usual, here's some of my list...

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FRI 2/29
* Ben Karlin, "Things I've Learned from Women Who've Dumped Me"
* "Failure Support Group"
* Union Square Round Table
* "Dripping With Enthusiasm" (Part Deux)
* The Figgs -- and SAT 2/16

SAT 3/1
* 2nd Annual Atwood's Bacon Eating Contest
* Breaking the Silence, "Israeli Soldiers Talk" - Opening Reception
* Say Hi, The Big Sleep

SUN 3/2
* Viva Viva, Life Partners, Toothaches
* "Catalyst to History: Why Dreyfus Matters": Symposium

MON 3/3
* "The Power Of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Are Changing The World"
* First Monday at Jordan Hall
* Nate Rogers, Members of Baker, Jon Goney

TUES 3/4
* MIT Writers Series: Jhumpa Lahiri
* Preacher Jack

WED 3/5
* "Once Upon A Tide": Lecture
* Wonderful Spells, Pretty and Nice, Exit Clov, You Can Be A Wesley
* Boston Massacre Oration

THUR 3/6
* "Cape Wind": Reading & Discussion
* Barstool Sports "Cover Model of the Year" Party

FRI 3/7
* "Gentleman's Whisky and Chat Night"
* The Fleshtones, Lyres & The Prime Movers
* Jerkus Circus w/ The Steamy Bohemians
* "Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part I"

SAT 3/8
* Boone, Topheavy, Doom Buggies, Dave Clark Band, The Buckners

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FRI 2/29

6 pm
Ben Karlin, "Things I've Learned from Women Who've Dumped Me"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 (tix available at Harvard Book Store or 617-661-1515)

FRI 2/29

6:30pm
"Failure Support Group"
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt. Auburn, Harvard Sq, Cambridge
FREE

In real life, they're called "learning experiences", but let's be honest -- even an artistic endeavor can fail. Artists have been invited to discuss their botched art projects. Each will get 5 minutes to present, then there'll open discussion. (I'm curious if anyone will simply say they suck...?) I thought it would be ironic if no one showed up tonight, and THIS was a failure...

This IS open to art fans/haters. To heighten the mood you can enjoy complimentary "bad coffee", vanilla wafers, and accordion to accompany the "failure stories".

FRI 2/29

9pm
Union Square Round Table
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+

Comedy, music, and general entertainment for the ironic hipster from:
Chris Braiotta & TD Sidell, Nick Branigan, Steven Derocher , Marian Didio, Ben Dryer, Keira Horowitz , Caitlin Roy, Yoni Gordon & The Goods, and "special guests from NY" (who will be one or more of these guys).

Bostonist was looking for some posts today, so I wrote more than this for them (sorry).

FRI 2/29

9pm
"Dripping With Enthusiasm" (Part Deux)
at Tufts Oxfam Cafe, Miller Hall basement, 210 Packard Ave, Medford (Tufts campus)
FREE / All Ages

Sure "All Ages" often connotes "entertainment for the under-21 crowd", but it technically means "everyone of all ages". This all-night Leap Day dance party is open to all who can find it, so bring your granny!

Note: They don't serve alcohol (and they might not search your bag for a flask)...

FRI 2/29 and SAT 3/1

9pm
The Figgs, Watts (FRI), The Rudds (SAT)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

I could have listed other concerts tonight, but this is the only one that's worth your attention. The Figgs have been slugging it out for over a decade, and they still pack a mighty wallop of high-octane rock with some powerpop/soul/R&B thrown in here and there. They each have solo projects, but the sum is greater than the parts.

They should be playing to thousands, but we're lucky to get them for 2 nights at the best new music venue in a long time. Each night has a set by the opener and two sets by The Figgs (with The Rudds on Saturday!)

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SAT 3/1

Noon
2nd Annual Bacon Eating Contest
at Atwood's Tavern, 877 Cambridge St , Cambridge
FREE

Ten brave souls will gorge themselves on bacon for 5 minutes. Those who slow down to look at accidents might enjoy watching this... It says "11:30", but I think it'll be closer to noon...

SAT 3/1

10pm
Say Hi, The Big Sleep
at Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston
$10 / 21+

Say Hi (fka Say Hi To Your Mom) have come all the way from Seattle, so here's a snippet from the NY Times about them:

...a classic lo-fi bedroom band with quirky instrumentation and soft, self-deprecating vocals. But not many lo-fi bedroom bands have Mr. Elbogen's sly humor: his last album was an ironically half-baked concept album about vampires. His latest, ''The Wishes and the Glitch'', is less goofy but no less smart.
The Big Sleep sounds good to me as well.

SAT 3/1

7 pm
Breaking the Silence Exhibit: "Israeli Soldiers Talk" - Opening Reception
at Harvard Hillel, Beren Hall, Second Floor, 52 Mt. Auburn Street
FREE

Breaking the Silence is organization comprised of former Israeli soldiers that documents the abuse of Palestinian civilians. Besides photography and video from the occupied Palestinian Territories, two of the former IDF soldiers associated with Breaking the Silence will be present for opening remarks. This is the exhibit's first stop on a tour through the Northeast and will be on display until SUN 3/16.

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SUN 3/2

2pm to 5pm
"Catalyst to History: Why Dreyfus Matters": Symposium
at Jacob Sleeper Auditorium, 871 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
FREE

I'm not very familiar with the trial of Captain Dreyfus, but it seems to an important case in the history of military justice, trial by media, and anti-Semitism. One article deemed it a preview or "trial run" for the Holocaust. This panel discussion will be moderated by Dan Abrams (MSNBC) and will include Alan Dershowitz, Prof. Jeffrey Mehlman (French Lit, BU), and Prof. Robert Zelnick (Journalism, BU).

SUN 3/2

9:30pm
Viva Viva, Life Partners, Toothaches
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
$7 / 21+

What I like about Viva Viva is the way they swing their big, jagged rock guitars around their songs in a tasty blend of classic/contemporary. Maybe like The Black Crowes if they had indie-cred... You've also got some noisy rock from Life Partners -- and could The Toothaches anything other than pop?

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MON 3/3

6pm
"The Power Of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Are Changing The World"
at Taubman Building, 79 JFK St, Cambridge (Kennedy School of Govt)
FREE

In a new book, "The Power Of Unreasonable People", the case is made that social organizations (profit -and- nonprofit) offer many innovative, successful models for the rest of the business world. I think it might be interesting and inspiring to hear some of these examples -- and maybe hear some dissenting opinions. Pamela Hartigan, one of the co-authors, will be on the panel.

RSVP here, if you definitely want to get in.

MON 3/3

8pm
First Monday
at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St, Boston (New England Conservatory/Fenway)
FREE

For six months out of the year, the "First Monday" season offers my choice for the best free classical music in town. Faculty, alumni, and students of New England Conservatory various programs, and tonight has a good variety including a Brahms piece for 5 strings, a modern composition for piano/cello/violin, and songs with vocals by Cuban & Sicilian composers.

MON 3/3

9pm
Nate Rogers, Members of Baker, Jon Gorey
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
FREE

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TUES 3/4

7pm to 9pm
MIT Writers Series: Jhumpa Lahiri
at Kirsch Auditorium, Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Her short-story compilation won a Pulitzer, and her novel "The Namesake" was adapted into a film (starring Kumar of "Harold & Kumar..."). I saw that a future local appearance will have an admission fee, so here's a free event.

TUES 3/4

10pm
Preacher Jack
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Preacher Jack is back in Cambridge; can I get a hallelujah!? Fine. I don't need it... This guy is a real boogie-woogie/rockabilly treasure from the '50s, and he's from North Shore. I'm trying to let you know this is an experience you should eventually have while you live in the area. It's like going to church, but about a thousand times more entertaining.

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WED 3/5

6:30pm
Boston Massacre Oration
at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

Just as was done shortly after the Boston Massacre, several speeches will be given about that pivotal event in the American Revolution. Now, there will also be some discussion about the tradition. This could be a little dry, but it's the first event of the week to commemorate the event. On SAT 3/8, you can see one of the reenactments down the street where it happened in front of the Old State House.

The Old State House Museum also has free admission from 9am to 5pm today.

WED 3/5

9:30pm
Wonderful Spells, Pretty and Nice, Exit Clov, You Can Be A Wesley
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

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THUR 3/6

5:30pm
"Cape Wind": Reading & Discussion
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
FREE

THUR 3/6

9pm
Barstool Sports "Cover Model of the Year" Party
at Liquor Store, 120 Boylston St, Boston (in "The Alley" near Boston Common)
FREE w/ RSVP

I could go into the details, but most of you know whether you want to go by the event's name.

Ladies -- There is a competition/"fashion show" where you might win a trip to Vegas and a chance to compete for 2 tickets to next year's Superbowl.

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FRI 3/7

7pm
"Gentleman's Whisky and Chat Night"
at Grand, 374 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP

FRI 3/7

9pm
The Fleshtones, Lyres, The Prime Movers
at Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Avenue, Allston
$10 / 18+

FRI 3/7

9:30pm
Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

FRI 3/7

8pm to 10pm
"Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part I"
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
$5

FRI 3/7 & SAT 3/8

10am to 4pm
The Somerville Maple Syrup Project: "The Big Boil"
at Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Cambridge (Union Sq)
FREE

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SAT 3/8

8pm
Boone, Topheavy, Doom Buggies, Dave Clark Band, The Buckners
at Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston
$8 / 21+

Rescheduled show.

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Advance Warning:

WED 3/12

6pm to 8:30pm
Steve Goldman and Team: Baseball Prospectus 2008
at 5th Floor Reading Room, Barnes & Noble at BU, 660 Beacon St, Boston
FREE

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Quote of the Week:

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

-- George Bernard Shaw

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th-th-that's all, folks.

~r

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