Friday, November 21, 2008

FRI 11/21: Wine, Bad Poetry, Depp Talk, Rock

Good Night States
The Friday posts have been sucking lately, because I try to cram so much in. The weekend stuff should be the best post of the week, and I feel confident that I'll correct this. I'm throwing part of a separate post about the wine thing below. (It was really good "cheap experience".)

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FRI 11/21

5pm to 7pm
"Friday Flight School: 606 Congress Uncorked"
at 606 Congress, Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, 606 Congress St, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
$5 donation

I went to check this out last week, and here are some thoughts I was working on.

I'm not one to hang out in hotel restaurants, especially in the Seaport District. This is my second time going someplace I thought would be fancy and was surprised at how relaxed and casual the atmosphere was. I probably would feel a little uncomfortable with a sleeveless t-shirt and daisy-dukes on (except when I'm at home), but I had a collared shirt & jeans on.

You head into the hotel, and the restaurant is easy to find. I told the hostess that I was here for the "Friday Flight" and she graciously directed me to the back of the restaurant. You'll be greeted by Sean the Manager and the wine people of the night. Last week, they had 4 wines from Oregon from 2 different winery that they brought in an order. The wines were quite good, and the bethel Heights Pinot Noir was great. There was a rose that wasn't my 'cup of tea', but it was better than expected. The two women that were representing the wines were friendly, helpful, and gave good descriptions of each.

Besides the table of cheeses and crackers, little appetizer plates were brought around. I had a crab salad on crostini, mozzarella & heirloom tomato w/ microgreens, and a fried mac-n-cheese ball. All very tasty!

Your $5 is a donation to Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. This is one of those places that is on the honor system with a large vase on the cheese & crackers table to drop your dough. You definitely get your $5 worth, and it's a good cause.

Sadly, tonight is the last in the Friday Flight series for this year, but Sean told me they're thinking of something new to do after the holidays are over. The final theme is "highlights" from the restaurant's wine list featuring "the list’s shining stars, best buys, and unexpected gems."

You can show up any time between 5pm and 7pm, and they'll get you going. After tasting the 4 wines they didn't shoo me out at all. I was offer more wine and little plates. Awesome! For $5, you get a generous slice of the "good life".

I came away with a really good opinion of 606 Congress. It's an upscale place without being pretentious that makes good food. (I noticed their Thanksgiving dinner prices weren't much different than other good restaurants that I've seen...)

FRI 11/21

7pm
Murray Pomerance, "Deep Depp: Travails of Celebrity in the Global Era": Lecture
at Room B-05, College of Communication, 640 Comm Ave (BU campus)
FREE

Johnny Depp is an awesome actor with a truly impressive breadth of roles. As fascinating a subject as Depp is, it might be just as fascinating to watch a film critic geek out over the dark, brooding thespian in an "illustrated talk".

FRI 11/21

8pm
"The Bad Poets Society": An Unique Festival of Inferior Rhymes
at Spiegel Auditorium/Blacksmith House, 56 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

I'm not feeling ironic enough to get into this at the moment, but I bet this could be really funny.

FRI 11/21

8pm
Good Night States, The Brooklyns, The Bloodsugars, Merlin Moon, Cooper, Flaming Awesome
at All Asia Cafe, 334 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$6 / 21+ (after 10pm)

If you feel like rocking out on the Cambridge side of the Charles, this is a pleasantly diverse line-up. Even if you don't go, I suggest checking out the synthy, powerpoppy indie-rock of Good Night States from Pittsburgh. Good stuff! Also the The Brooklyns (from Boston), The Bloodsugars (from NYC), and Merlin Moon (from L.A.). To the band "Cooper": That's a stupid friggin' name in the age of the Internet. I don't know anything about you except your inability to come up with a good band name.

Starting off the night is the local improve group, Flaming Awesome. Where else are you going to get this kind of entertainment for $6. I think the comedy will start at 8pm and it won't get rocking before 9pm (maybe 9:30...?).

FRI 11/21

8:30pm
International Pop Overthrow Festival
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

You can see below for my general description of the International Pop Overthrow fest. Tonight is an outstanding line-up with mighty chunks of rock, superlative songwriting, and great playing.

Tonight's schedule:

8:30pm: Henning Ohlenbusch
9pm: Salvatore Baglio
9:30pm: The Motion Sick
10pm: John Powhida International Airport
10:30pm: Fireking
11pm: The Doom Buggies
11:30pm: 1.4.5.



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