Wednesday, November 19, 2008

WED 11/19: Skate, Spoken Word, Hypnosis, Opera, Film, Rock

Skating on Frog Pond, Boston Common
If I wasn't on the verge of feeling normal after a few days of cold/flu symptoms, I might go to any and every one of these things.

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WED 11/19

5:30pm to 9pm
Skating Rink Opening
at Frog Pond, near Beacon St, Boston Common
FREE

There'll be demonstrations by skating teams and nationally ranked skaters. When they're not on the ice, you can skate for free. Normal skate rental rates still apply ($8 / $5 for 13 and under), but you can bring your own. It's pretty cold for November, but there's always a chance that you'll see Mayor Mumbles fall while skating...

Local mascots like "Wally" and "Blades" (Bruins) should be there with some other kid-friendly characters.


WED 11/19

6pm to 8pm
Juan Angel Chavez, "The Speaker Project"
Feat: Duncan Wilder Johnson, Clay N. Ferno, Iann Robinson, Dave Tree
at Paine Gallery, South Bldg, 2nd Fl, about 611 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt)
FREE / All Ages

Some might think of "slam poetry" when "spoken word" is mentioned, but that's not the case at all tonight. Most of these guys have spent time singing in metal and punk bands, and Iann Robinson is the former MTV VJ most often associated with their heavy metal programming from '99 to '03. The first hour is open mic, so feel free to bring some words and step inside the giant speaker box. The foursome above will take turns in the second hour. I've listened to Duncan Wilder Johnson and Clay N. Ferno, and this should be pretty interesting. You might feel like you drank some coffee afterwards.

The exhibit itself is pretty cool, and it ends on SAT 11/22. The large installations function as non-electric speakers where the performers get inside to do their thing to alter the way one listens and watches.

Note: Every building at MassArt is listed as "621 Huntington", but doesn't help people who don't know their way a round. If you look at the campus map [PDF], it looks like the South Building is around 611 Huntington Ave. If you see the Bakalar Gallery on the 2nd floor, you're going to the right way.

WED 11/19

6pm to 8pm
"Hypnosis in Practice": Lecture
at Room 270, Bldg 4, 182 Memorial Drive (Rear)
FREE

The speakers include a psychiatrist, a hypnotherapist, and a hypnotherapy client who will discuss the science of hypnosis and how it's used to treat addiction & phobias as well as its role in surgery. There's a chance for the crowd to be hypnotized at the end of the lecture -- but it won't be mandatory...

If you're getting hungry, you don't need to eat ahead of time. There should be Indian food to be had.

WED 11/19

7pm
Opera Boston Underground: "Virtue & Vice, Part I"
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

The beauty of the Opera Boston Underground is the chance to hear some opera without actually having to go to the opera. So few opera houses have as many beers on tap as the Lizard Lounge. As the first show of a themed pair, music director Gil Rose along with singers Glorivy Arroyo, Christian Figueroa, and others offer songs and arias that reflect the "7 Virtues". (The 7 deadly sins will be covered early next year.)

I usually don't believe it when people say this, but there is a chance for a full house tonight. Don't be surprised there will be a line outside when the doors open at 7pm.

WED 11/19

7pm
"Russian Ark"
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

In the ultimate example of mise-en-scene, the entire 99-minute movie is a single shot as the narrator and his companion walk through the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. In each room, they experience a different era of Russian history played out in various ways. After watching this amazing creation, you can turn to your companion and impress them with this little factoid: This was the fourth take... (FYI, the ending is digitally enhanced.)

WED 11/19

9pm
The Lights Out, Township, Midatlantic, MeandJoanCollins, Static Of The Gods, The Crushing Low
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
FREE / 21+

For their 3rd Wednesday of the month, it's as if The Lights Out are putting on a free pre-show of the International Pop Overthrow Festival. Every band tonight is reason enough to go see a show, and you can see them all at one shot. The schedule for tonight's series of 20-minute shots of rock goodness.

11:40pm: The Lights Out
11pm: Township
10:30pm: Midatlantic
10pm: MeandJoanCollins
9:30pm: Static Of The Gods
9pm: The Crushing Low

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