Thursday, April 30, 2009

THUR 4/30: Film, Talk, Rock

The Kickbacks, at Church
Wow, it's the end of April. Basically a third of the year has already past, but I believe the next third is going to pretty good -- as long as a flu pandemic doesn't ruin my summer...

It's not really an "event", Sam Adams is having tastings at 60 bars in the area tonight; check out the list, if you're thinking of hanging out tonight. There could be some free beer and shwag in your future...

The Cambridge Science Festival is making a smart city even smarter through Sunday! There are a few things happening today that piqued my interest: "The Brain Experience: Looking into the Brain" (6pm), "Meltdown: What Everyone Needs to Know and Do About Energy" (7pm), Engineering Google (7pm/21+)...

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THUR 4/30

7pm
"Colossus: The Forbin Project": Intro by David Aguilar
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.50 / $7.50 students / $6.50 seniors

Based on a '66 novel, this well-regarded but little-seen film predates "The Terminator", "The Matrix", and "War Games"; where we fight for our survival against intelligent machines. "Colossus" is the name of America's supercomputer that's put in charge of the entire nuclear weapons system. Colossus discovers that the Russians have built a similar artificial intelligence weapons controller. When the two start communicating, wacky adventures ensue.

David Aguilar of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics will introduce the film, which is meant to kick off a two-day symposium called "Crossroads: The Future of Human Life in the Universe Conference". Sessions are free on Friday and Saturday at Zero Arrow Theatre.

THUR 4/30

8pm
Robert Kuttner, "Obama's Challenge: Prospects for Economic Success"
at Room 105, Emerson Hall, 12 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard Yard)
FREE

Liberal columnist and author Robert Kuttner examines the political and economic challenges in detail. There's a likelihood for a full room; seating is "available on a first-come, first-served basis."

THUR 4/30

St. Helena (11pm), The Kickbacks (10pm), The 'Mericans (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 21+

I'm sad to hear this is could be the last show for The Kickbacks. This might be the end of a chapter, but I'd like to believe that Tad (chief Kickback) is going rock on. They've whipped up a mighty fine batch of songs that fall somewhere between Paul Westerberg and Steve Earle. It seems like we don't see Providence's The Mericans that often, but they're coming to give a rootsy toast to their buddies. St Helena seemed rougher than expected at The Cantab last month, but there's some superb melancholy pop in this band.

THUR 4/30

9:30pm
The Murder, Capital Scam, Dirty Southern Revolutionaries
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

It's loud and fast rock party hosted The Murder, one of our fine purveyors of Boston punk. Capital Scam is a hardcore band from wonderfully weird Austin, TX. They're joined by Dirty Southern Revolutionaries, which is an awesome name, from North Carolina. The Revolutionaries are more metal than punk, but "it's all good!"

THUR 4/30

10pm
Movers & Shakers, Jeff Darosa, War of Words (acoustic)
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Movers & Shakers have been rocking the Plough every Thursday this month (for free!), and you've got one more chance to catch them before you'll have to pay their Ameri-punk-ana (that actually reminds me of The Clash at times, so this may not have been the best word to make up) goodness. After a show full-on gig at the Middle East last night, an acoustic version of War of Words plays tonight. Singer-songwriter dude Jeff Darosa also joins the festivities.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

5/6: Win Tix to Galactic



WED 5/6

8pm
Galactic, Opener TBD
at Paradise Rock Club, 967 Comm Ave, Boston (near BU)
FREE, if you're lucky / 21+

I pass this on, because I care... If you like to get funky and don't know Galactic, you need to listen to some music!

You could try to win by listening to WFNX, but calling in is too damn hard. If you have such a small chance, you might as well just fill in an online entry (ASAP) and hope. I entered...

Apparently there will be some kind of chance to win at these bars:

WED 4/29:
Whiskey's -- 6pm to 8pm

THUR 4/30:
Jose McIntyre's -- 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Goodbar -- 9pm to 11pm

FRI 5/1
The Place -- 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Keep an eye out for anyone handing out promo stuff or listen to the bar DJ...

WED 4/29: Ice Cream, Star Trek, Jazz, Dance/Rock, Science

Free Budweiser, tonight and tomorrow
Thanks to Universal Hub for noticing my mini-rant about Dunks signage below. Boston is lucky to have Adam Gaffin around; I can't wait to see him be an even bigger media mogul when the Boston Globe folds...

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WED 4/29

5pm to 10pm
31 Cent Scoop Night
at Participating Baskin-Robbins/Dunkin Donuts Locations
$0.31 per scoop

Too bad this didn't happen yesterday -- they would've run out of ice cream...

Every now and then a Dunkin Donuts has a Baskin-Robbins too, and you can get a small scoops for 31 cents (limit 3 scoops). Looks like small soft serve cones are 31 cents too.

The idea is to get you in to donate to the National Junior Firefighter Program or a local firefighting charity. So think about leaving some of your change...

WED 4/29

6pm, 8pm, 10pm
Star Trek Celebration
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 suggested donation / $10 pass for all three

Sure, the new "Star Trek" has realistic special effects -- maybe even realistic acting without William Shatner -- but the original series had cool stories and sci-fi campiness.

Each program will feature 2 episodes (which apparently run about 47 minutes each without commercials) that have yet to be determined.

Yes, it would be fun if you dress up... Even funnier if you dress up like a Star Wars character...

WED 4/29

6pm
"On the Road with Duke Ellington"
at Boston Room, First Floor, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Duke Ellington would've been 110 today. This screening of an hourlong '67 TV special is accompanied with Mark Harvey of Aardvark Jazz Orchestra talking about how awesome the Duke was (and still is)!

Part of Jazz Week.

WED 4/29 & THUR 4/30

7pm, 9pm
"Lager Lessons Live"
at The Bell in Hand, 45 Union St, Boston (near Faneuil Hall)
FREE w/ RSVP

I wouldn't go out of my way for a free Budweiser, but this might not be out of your way. If you and your buddies are going to be drinking downtown, you could RSVP for one of the 4 sessions over 2 days. They'll talk to you about the brewing process, offer a few prizes, and hand out some beer.

WED 4/29

9pm
Rakalam Bob Moses & Heart Breath, Little Mystery
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10 / 21+

Rakalam Bob Moses has drummed with too many jazz greats to mention, but he's probably going to get way out there with the Heart Breath Ensemble that includes saxophonist Stan Strickland. Little Mystery opens with a set of intriguing free jazz.

Some places mentioned Robert Pinsky (former US Poet Laureate) collaborating with Bob Moses tonight, but the "official" Jazz Week info says that's happening on Sunday at Berklee. (A dress rehearsal tonight?)

Here's a video of Bob with Pat Metheny and Steve Swallow.

WED 4/29

9:30pm
Bodega Girls w/ The Needy Visions, DJ Just Joan
at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

DJ'ing from Bodega Girls and DJ Just Joan; live performance by The Needy Visions

I think this is one of those nights when it's time to celebrate the kinship between dance and rock. Bodega Girls are a bunch of rockers who decided they wanted to shake their booties -- and shake other booties. BG aren't doing a live set, but The Needy Visions are; they may look like stiff white boys, but they're focusing on making a bouncy good time.

WED 4/29 (thru SUN 5/3)

Various Times
Cambridge Science Festival
at Various Locations
Many FREE

If you want to get your science on, these seem to be Wednesday's highlights:

6pm to 9pm
Annual Science Trivia Challenge
at Kirsch Auditorium, Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Team registration is closed, but you can watch every action-packed answer formulation! Five-person teams will compete in a high school divison and an adult division.

6:30pm to 8:30pm
"The Science of Evolution & the Myth of Creationism": Book Discussion
at Revolution Books, 1158 Mass Ave, 2nd Fl, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Cambridge's radical bookstore hosts a discussion that will no doubt why the theory of evolution validates Marxism...

6:30pm to 9:30pm
"Science of Food"; "From Your Plate to Your Palate"
at MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

The Science of Food explores science in the kitchen with Kenji Aalt of America's Test Kitchen, and science on your fork with Dr. Don Katz of Brandeis University's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.

These two short talks will be followed by a networking reception with light refreshments and drinks. Pre-registration required via email to reserve your spot.
This is probably full, but it wouldn't hurt to email them...

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Dunkin Donuts = Superfluous Signage

3 signs, 1 donut shop

When I was in Union Square on Saturday, I had to snap a photo. I know I'm not the first person to say this, but WTF?

Do you really need that sign with the arrow pointing to Dunks?

TUES 4/28: Film, Rock, Science

The Goodnight Loving, at O'Briens
Yep. Here's some stuff...

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TUES 4/28

6pm
"Music Inn": Boston Premiere & Panel Discussion
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Music Inn was a jazz oasis in the Berkshires from the '50s to the '60s where many of greats passed through. After collecting more than 100 hours of footage, they've whittled it down to the film to be followed by a panel of major jazz guys led by filmaker/musician George Schuller: Gunther Schuller, Ran Blake, Ted Casher, and Joe Hunt.

Part of "Jazz Week Boston" (that has some special events that are cheap/free)

TUES 4/28

8pm
"World's Greatest Dad"
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$10

Closing Night of IFFBoston.

From what I can tell, this is a damn good movie with a rather twisted plot where Bobcat Goldthwait has extracted a quality performance from Robin Williams. And that may not even be the most surprising thing about the film!

Director Bobcat Goldthwait scheduled to attend. (Maybe he'll talk about walking around Watertown Square while tripping on acid.) Tickets were still available when I checked yesterday.

TUES 4/28

9:30pm
The Tampoffs, The Goodnight Loving, Thick Shakes
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+

Our local bands will rock socks off, but go to see The Goodnight Loving from Milwaukee. These guys probably offer something different to different ears. The songs are a rowdy rock party where pop, garage, folk, country, and other friends have all been invited. You might love different parts than I do, but we'll both shake our heads and love it. The Tampoffs get punky whereas Thick Shakes capture the retro-garage sound.

TUES 4/28 (thru SUN 5/3)

Various Times
Cambridge Science Festival
at Various Locations
Many FREE

If you want to get your science on, these seem to be Tuesday's highlights:

5:30pm to 7pm
"Palm-Reading or Gene-Reading?: The Era of Personal Genomics"
at Holyoke Center Arcade, 1350 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

This lecture will address the kinds of variation that exists between people, how these genetic variations lead to observable traits, and where the future of personalized genomics and medicine lies. The lecture will be followed by a Science Cafe at a local bar [rv: I'm guessing Redline] to discuss personal genomics with leading researchers in the field.
6pm to 8pm
Hands-on Biotechnology Community Lab
at Biogen Idec, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
FREE

Come and not only see inside a biotech company, but get the chance to use equipment while learning more about DNA and the information it can provide.

You must pre-register for this event by sending an email. Please put "hands-on biotech registration" on the subject line. Please include the full names of everyone attending in your email and their age if they are students. You will be sent an email confirmation as well as directions and parking information.

Children under 11 are not permitted in the lab, and an adult must accompany children under 16.
6pm to 8pm
"The Brain Experience: Speaking of the Brain".
at Singleton Auditorium, 43 Vassar St (MIT Campus)
FREE

Four Brain and Cognitive Sciences professors share their research:
"The Magic of Vision" by Aude Oliva, "Curiouser and Curiouser: Exploratory Play and Children's Causal Reasoning" by Laura Schulz, "The Importance of Being Inhibited" by Yingxi Lin, "The Science of Fear" by Ki Goosens.

Monday, April 27, 2009

WED 4/29: Old-School Star Trek before JJ Abrams


6pm, 8pm, 10pm
Star Trek Celebration
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 suggested donation / $10 pass for all three

Attention: trekkers/trekkies!

Warm up for "Star Trek", the prequel/refashioning [rambling review w/ spoliers] of the original series. Get out your "Spock" ears (or whatever you wear to conventions) and whet your appetite with a couple digital screenings from the classic TV series.

Each program will feature 2 episodes (which apparently run about 47 minutes each without commercials) that have yet to be determined.

If it's like the Doctor Who screenings, hoots and guffaws are welcome...

MON 4/27: Art, Film, Music


Just a warning. The posts might be minimal this week, so I can catch up with things in general.

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MON 4/27

5pm to 9pm
"Art in Bloom": Evening Open House
at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Art in Bloom is an annual celebration when about 50 floral arrangements are placed next to artwork throughout the museum for a weekend. You can walk around independently, but there will be free guided tours -- as well as various performances.

This is a chance to see the "Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese" exhibit for free, which is usually an extra $23 to $25. Entrance granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Remember, you can still visit any Wednesday evening for free.

MON 4/27

7pm, 9pm
Independent Film Festival of Boston
at Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Waterfront)
$9

Both IFFBoston screenings are at the ICA. "For The Love of Movies" (7pm) is a documentary by Boston film critic Gerald Peary about -- wait for it -- film criticism. It might feel weird to watch "Art & Copy" (9pm), because a documentary about advertising might feel a bit like watching a advertising. It seems this is not a investigative expose, but a look a classic ads and the people that created them.

MON 4/27

10pm
Coyote Kolb, You and Your Pointy Ears
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

On a hot night, it might be good to drink a cold beer and listen to some laid-back alt-country. That's basically Coyote Kolb for ya. You and Your Pointy Ears seems like a one-man project playing somewhat-chill songs with guitar and electronics.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

4/26: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

I stumbled across this video called "57 Things to Do for Free in Harvard Square", a silent film by the Institute of Infinitely Small Things. (That's two times more than the Globe.)



It seemed like you can still do most of these things even though it was made about 3 years ago. Maybe you can attempt these at the Mayfair coming up in a couple weeks...

Saturday, April 25, 2009

SAT 4/25: IFF Boston Picks


There's other Saturday stuff below (including an IFFBoston discussion panel), and I'm putting Sunday cheapness on the event calendar. I'll try to have a Sunday post up after I visit Somerville's Willy Wonka...

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Through TUES 4/28

Various Times
Independent Film Festival of Boston
Most $9

Unlike the recent Boston Underground Film Festival, the films at IFFBoston are likely to have screened at many of the major film festivals and have a good chance at getting a local theatrical release. The documentaries are a wee bit more mainstream, and I always think are some of the best overall indie filmmaking just based on the lower budgets required. You might eventually see these films venue down the road, but why not see it now?

These are the ones that jumped out at me based on reading reviews and watching trailers (I do the footwork, so you don't have to!), but check out the schedule to see what else is playing.

Today's (and tomrrow's) screenings are at the Somerville and the Brattle. They move to ICA on Monday and Coolidge Corner for the closing night film, "World's Greatest Dad" (directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, starring Robin Williams).

SAT 4/25

Noon
"Crude"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)

Don't you enjoy those feel-good commercials from oil companies talking about how much they love and respect the environment? This doc covers a lawsuit against Chevron/Texaco for the damage they've done to the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. Maybe the oil companies love and respect profits a wee bit more than the planet...

12:30pm
"Invisible Girlfriend"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville

"Invisible Girlfriend" looks so wild that you might think it's staged, but I don't think it's the case (directors in attendance). Here's the setup: a foul-mouthed weirdo is followed on a 400-mile bike ride to New Orleans to visit his "girlfriend", Joan of Arc.

4pm
"Nollywood Babylon"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville

You might be interested to learn that Nigeria has the third-largest film industry after US and India...

4:45pm
"William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)

Besides being a lawyer who used his knowledge for Good over Evil by defending so many civil rights icons, I find it interesting that his daughters have put this documentary together. It probably wasn't easy, because he also defended many that were very widely hated.

Directors Sarah and Emily Kunstler will be in attendance.

7pm
"I Need That Record!"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville

As more independent record stores close, one could say this is another angle to tell the story of a crumbling American dream of the Little Guy being able to make it -- but they're not going without a fight. Thank goodness, because the diversity of music available on iTunes is based on the support of interesting music by these guys. Maybe bloggers serve that purpose more and more, but it's not the same! Also lots of cool people are interviewed in this doc.

8pm
"The Lost Son Of Havana"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
Note: $10

"El Tiante!"

You're probably not going to get in to this film about Luis Tiant going back to Cuba for the first time in over 40 years, because the advanced tickets are sold out.. The good news is that they added a 5pm screening on SUN 4/26 at the Somerville Theatre. (Or it might be on NESN next year...)

8:30pm
"The Sweet Lady With The Nasty Voice"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville

Wanda Jackson is the queen of rockabilly. She indeed is a sweet, pretty lady; but she sang with a raw, wild style that one associates with Jerry Lee Lewis or Little Richard. She's still out there rocking with her guitar and was inducted in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame this year.

9:45pm
"Bronson"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville

It fascinates me that violent, psychopathic individuals can be the center of such compelling (even humorous) stories. If you enjoy blood and guts with dry wit, this is based on the life of British criminal who changed his name to Charles Bronson. Looks pretty good... Watch the trailer:

Friday, April 24, 2009

Sneak Peek -- SAT 4/25


It's a mix some really interesting things and some that are just so-so, but it could be something tacked on to something else you want to do.

I just noticed that I didn't pick any music shows, but there's so much good stuff happening during the day. And so perfectly timed!

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SAT 4/25

11am to 8pm
Breakonomics 2009
at La Sala de Puerto Rico, 2nd Fl, Stratton Student Center, 84 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
$10

Nine hours of dance competitions (B-Boy, Popping, House)!?!

Includes a Boston/NYC battle between Jet Liem (Boston) and Fifo.

SAT 4/25

Noon to 4pm
Science Carnival
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

The Cambridge Science Festival (thru SUN 5/3) begins with the Science Carnival and many other activities. It's fun for curious minds in whatever body you inhabit.

At the Kresge Auditorium, there will be live stage performances, experiments & demonstrations with titles like: Nanoparticles and Stained Glass, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Demo, You Can Do the Rubik's Cube, Science of Baseball, DIYbio: Build Your Own Biology Lab, Silicon in Motion (not about boobies), How to Update Your House into Energy Saving Homes and Save Money, etc.

Admission to the MIT Museum is also free on 4/25, and several cool things are happening over there. (You must see the permanent Arthur Ganson sculpture exhibit!)

SAT 4/25 & SUN 4/26

Noon to 6pm
North Cambridge Open Studios
around North/West Cambridge
FREE

It looks like the Cambridge Arts Council is coordinating all of the "open studios" this year [PDF brochure]. It'll be a great weekend for a walk and art stops.

SAT 4/25 & SUN 4/26

1pm to 5pm
Sailing Open House
at Boston Sailing Center, Lewis Wharf, Boston (North End)
FREE

Enjoy a tour of the facilities and a free boat ride for about 30 minutes. No sailing experience necessary. It's probably going to be crowded thanks to the beautiful weather, but you could try to go this first Open House of the season.

It's first-come, first-serve. Wear something comfortable that is okay to get slightly wet. Remember it's slightly colder on the water.

They'll offer discounts on lessons, but you don't have to sign up for anything.

SAT 4/25

1pm to 3pm
"Discussing the Documentary": Panel Discussion
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
FREE

A conversation and Q&A three IFFBoston documentary filmmakers: Ben Steinbauer (Winnebago Man), Jody Lambert (Of All The Things), and Ondi Timoner (We Live In Public).

"Limited to capacity, first come, first serve."

SAT 4/25

1pm to 4:30pm
"Boston Is Watching"
at Boston Room, First Floor, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Part of the the Boston Cyberarts Festival.

If one doesn't really get "virtual reality", this is one aspect that seems to make sense to me. I wouldn't pay real money for my avatar's virtual hotel room, but viewing and buying art seems plausible.

The art scene on Second Life has been brewing for a few years, and Brooklyn Is Watching is a group that's very active. They're going to give a presentation along with Berklee professor Lori Landay and several flesh-and-blood versions of virtual artists...

(At least, this is wha I think is happening.)

Note: "Some mature content may be reviewed. Parental guidance is suggested."

SAT 4/25

1:30pm
"The Maker Revolution"
at Microsoft Startup Labs, 11th Fl, 1 Memorial Drive, Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
FREE

Willoughby & Baltic Gallery, a place for local (and benign) mad scientists, are presenting discussions, workshops, performances, etc. My virtual buddy Bill T. Miller is participating in a panel discussion and will give a performance on a cornucopia of modified electronic instruments. You might also experience: hostile artificial grass ("Sod Off"), "video" plate-breaking, a body-throbbing machine, and more.

1:30pm to 2:30pm -- "Building Electronic Circuits & Sounds for Performance & Installation": Panel Discussion
2:45pm -- Bill T Miller's Orgy of Noise.
3pm -- Adam Ribaudo, Monome Performance
More workshops follow and occur on Sunday from 1pm to 6pm.

SAT 4/25

2pm
Beer Tasting
at Formaggio Kitchen, 244 Huron Ave, Cambridge (Huron Village)
FREE

Sample some beer from Pretty Things Brewery. Author Lucy Saunders will be there as well to discuss "grilling with beer". The bummer is their Saturday sidewalk grill might be out of food (most under $10) by the time of the free beer samples...

It's not that far of a walk from Harvard Sq; I just rarely walk in that direction...

SAT 4/25

3pm to 6pm
"Beer Pairing Goes Green": Local Beer & Food Tasting
at Wine Gallery, 375 Boylston Street, Brookline
FREE

Devon & Jeff from DrinkCraftBeer are cool guys, and all the beer and cheese has been made with 100 miles including: Pretty Things, Peak Organic, Mayflower Brewing, Mercury Brewing, Shy Brothers Farm, and Westfield Farm.

FRI 4/24: Green Stuff, Art, Comedy, Rock, Funk, Film, Plays

Take some of this free art tonight
Oh, I really want to get more info about the weekend. It could be a busy day slaving over a hot keyboard, but we'll see more CTB today... (Why won't my coworkers let me goof off in peace???)

Did anyone else wear a short-sleeve shirt today? Yeah, baby!

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FRI 4/24

11am to 4pm
Go Green Walk/Ride Day & Care for the Square Party
at Winthrop Park, corner of JFK St & Mount Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

If I was going to be near Harvard Sq, I might wear green and trawl for free stuff, food samples, and giveaways... (You probably could have a "lunch" from the free samples.)

Zipcar is going to offer membership discounts. You can drop off unwanted computers & monitors for free. Boloco is giving away composted soil, WTF...?

FRI 4/24

6pm to 8pm
MCA / Evil Design & Magmo The Destroyer, "Destroy You, Boston!": Opening Reception
John Tyson, "Luziden": Video Installation
at Space 242, 242 E Berkeley St, 2nd Fl, Boston (South End)
FREE w/ RSVP

Evil Design and Magmo are different entities who both make some cool stuff, and it seems as they've worked together on projects. You can take a peek at what you'll see. Check out the interactive video installation of dreams...

Final Fridays at Space 242 is probably the best regular art happening in Boston. You're not overwhelmed by the amount of art, there's a bar with free beer (it's okay to tip, cheapo), it isn't too crowded, and you have a little buzz before you head into the rest of Friday night.

You can probably RSVP still (or just casually walk in)...

FRI 4/24

7pm
The Gas
Feat: Mike Pincus, Ex-Girlfriends, James Lawrence, Ken Reid, Alana Eisner, more
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

It's comedy for cheap with funny people like Ken Reid and funny songs from The Ex-Girlfriends. As I like to say, "No drink minimum -- or drink maximum!"

You can even stay and dance at The Pill for one low price...

FRI 4/24

8pm
"It's Yours, Take It, Boston": Free Art Throwdown
at Godine Gallery, North Bldg, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt)
FREE

Take a look at the photos of the gallery. You can go home with something off the wall... Seriously, go get a free piece of art. Everything should go! All the pieces are intended to be given away to an appreciative home.

Stay for music, dancing, good times, etc. I walked by the Godine Gallery a few weeks ago; it's deep in there somewhere near the courtyard [PDF campus map]. Follow someone else who looks like they know where they're going.

FRI 4/24

The Vital Might (Midnight), John Powhida International Airport (11pm), Topheavy (10pm), The Crushing Low (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 21+

I've always been a fan of John Powhida since I saw The Rudds some years ago. He's got an great vocal range and stage presence with plenty of killer songs. All of the band are pretty darn good!

FRI 4/24

10:30pm
Shea Rose & Ramzy Suleiman
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE / 21+

Shea Rose hits funk and rock and folk equally well with sexy, soulful power; and she's aware of dynamics and balance. Singer-keyboardist Ramzy Suleiman is studying at Berklee (Shea's alma mater) and is joining the funk party tonight.

FRI 4/24 (thru TUES 4/28)

Various Times
Independent Film Festival of Boston
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$9

There are screenings at The Brattle, the best bets (imho) are at Somerville: "500 Days Of Summer" (7pm), "Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison" (9:15pm), "Big Fan" (9:30pm), and "In The Loop" (11:30pm).

Patton Oswalt fans will love "Big Fan" (from the writer of "The Wrestler"). "In The Loop" is a satire about the machinations behind the Iraq War.

FRI 4/24

5:30pm, 7pm
Inaugural Harvard Playwrights Festival
at New College Theater Studio, 10 Holyoke St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

11 plays from 11 undergrads that took an advanced playwriting course with Gideon Lester and playwright Christine Evans (whose "Trojan Barbie" is currently at the A.R.T.) are having staged readings over the next couple days. I didn't find info about the plays, so it's a crapshoot.

Tonight's plays by Pallas Snider ('10) and Laura Hirschberg ('09). They seem like interesting individuals, Hey, it's free drama...

Performances through SUN 4/26.

* * * Almost Cheap Thrill * * *

FRI 4/24

The Rock n' Roll Rumble Finals

The Outlets (Midnight), The Dirty Truckers (11:10pm), Gene Dante & the Future Starlets (10:20pm), The Luxury (9:30pm)
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$12 / 18+

It's the finals, and they are all good bands. The favorite might be Gene Dante & the Future Starlets, but I've hung out with Tom of The Dirty Truckers and I think they could blow the judges away with some balls-out, locomotive-straightahead rock and roll. The Luxury have a good thing going on, so anyone could win. The crowd is going to hear a great show.

The "guest band" is The Outlets to cap the night and rip it up even better than they did the last time they played the Rumble (in 1981).

Thursday, April 23, 2009

THUR 4/23: Plays, Beer, Rock, Country, Film

Cash Bash, at Johnny D's tonight
Wow. I've got a lot of CTB to do... It's going to be a beautiful weekend, and there is a lot of good cheap/free stuff going in. Stay tuned...

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THUR 4/23

5:30pm, 7pm
Inaugural Harvard Playwrights Festival
at New College Theater Studio, 10 Holyoke St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

11 plays from 11 undergrads that took an advanced playwriting course with Gideon Lester and playwright Christine Evans (whose "Trojan Barbie" is currently at the A.R.T.) are having staged readings over the next couple days. I didn't find info about the plays, so it's a crapshoot.

Tonight's plays by Alison Rich ('09) and Sara Wright ('09). Take your chances...

Performances through SUN 4/26.

THUR 4/23 to SAT 4/25

5pm to 7pm
Craft Beer Tasting
at Wine Gallery, 375 Boylston Street, Brookline
FREE

If you're in the neighborhood, you should try some extraordinary beers. There's a Craft Brewer's Conference in Boston this week, so Wine gallery is offering various tastings. Tonight's featured
breweries are: Nogne O, Jolly Pumpkin, and High & Mighty.

THUR 4/23

9pm
I Pistol, Soap Stars, No Casino, quarterlifeCRISiS
at Olivers/Cask 'n Flagon, 62 Brookline Ave, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
$9

I sorta forgot that a buddy of mine has a new band, I Pistol, that's playing tonight. If every band performs as well as their recordings, it's brain-meltingly splendid night of powerpop. It all sounds good, but I've got to share my feeling that quarterlifeCRISiS might be a bunch of douchebags -- from the stupid name to the stupid lower-case/upper-case BS to the promo pictures, they left a bad taste in my mouth. (I hope they play last.)

THUR 4/23

9:30pm
"Cash Bash 2": Johnny Cash Tribute
Feat: Sarah Levecque Band, Rev. Bob & The Darkness, Georgia Overdrive
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

The last "Cash Bash" included clips from Johnny's historic concert at Folsom Prison, and a long version is playing Friday night at the Somerville Theatre as part of IFFBoston. There's going to be Cash videos interspersed between the music. Without a "Man in Black" theme, this would be a high-quality night of country/roots music. It's difficult to pigeonhole Rev. Bob & the Darkness, but the bands are going to blend well. I expect some awesome Cash cover versions tonight from all.

THUR 4/23

10:30pm
Movers & Shakers, Soul-le-lu-jah DJ's, James Lindsay, Will Fisher
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

Hey, folks. You don't have much more time to catch Movers & Shakers at the Plough for free. Rock with DJ's and poetry and stuff. It's guitarist Marc's birthday, so who knows what hi-jinks will occur. There's going to be dancing, 'cause Soul-le-lu-jah is DJ'ing. There's going to be spoken-word as well...

THUR 4/23 thru MON 4/27

Various Times
Independent Film Festival of Boston
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$9

IFF Boston gets in full swing tonight with screening s on all screens at the Somerville Theatre. I like the looks of the documentaries like "Invisible Girlfriend" (7:54pm) and "Trimpin" (10:15pm) as well as the feature film "Bronson" (10pm), which is based on the life of British criminal who changed his name to Charles Bronson.
"Invisible Girlfriend" looks so wild that you might think it's staged, but I don't think it's the case (directors in attendance). Here's the setup: a foul-mouthed weirdo is followed on a 400-mile bike ride to New Orleans to visit his "girlfriend", Joan of Arc. "Trimpin" is a profile of this sculptor/sound artist who creates amazing pieces that are musical instruments (or sometimes consist of musical instruments).

I should give props to "Speaking In Code" (7pm) which is a Boston-made documentary, but I'm not that interested in techno music.

All of today's screenings are in Somerville. Other venues will include Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theatre, and Institute of Contemporary Art. [Schedule]

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

4/23 to 4/25: Cheap, Hip Sneakers


11am to 6pm
Sneaker Sample Sale
at Bodega, 6 Clearway St, Boston (Back Bay)
50% to 70% off

I posted about this shoe sale last year so why not again? Most of their shirts cost way more than I'd ever pay, but the sneaker prices seemed reasonable (Yelp opinions). It's time for their annual sale to clear out the old/sample models.

If you happen to go today, there's a 50% discount. Whatever is left will be 70% off on THUR 4/23 and FRI 4/24. Finally during Friday's last 2 hours (4pm to 6pm), all remaining pairs are $10.

Who knows... They might have a kickass set of kicks in your size!

Their website is better than it used to be, but it doesn't show what sneakers they've had in stock.

Wouldn't hurt to check it out, if you're near Berklee or the Christian Science Center...

If you haven't been there yet, it looks like a convenience store and you walk to the vending maching that's really a secret sliding door.

(Do you see it?)

WED 4/22: (Green?) Wine, Indie Film, Greek Play

Cool globe Happy Earth Day!

Let's not argue who caused what -- the climate is changing, and we need to agree whether we should take action to do something about it.

I recall watching an interview with environmental big-shot Bill McKibben and he said somthing like, 'We're not trying to save the Earth, but we need to save humankind. The planet will be here long after people are gone.'

Have a nice day! (and pick up that litter.)

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WED 4/22

7pm
April "Earthday" Winedown w/ Peter Davis
at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

If you're passing through Harvard Sq tonight, this is a casual mixer where all are welcome. Have a glass or two of wine to celebrate Earth Day. Henrietta's Table generally has a focus fresh, local food; and executive chef Peter Davis is going to talk about his cookbook "Fresh & Honest: Food from the Farms of New England" that obviously emphasizes the same approach.

Besides the usual bread and cheese, maybe Chef Davis might bring some tasty treats...

Btw, Harvard Book Store is offering free, zero-emission local delivery via MetroPed through SAT 4/25.

WED 4/22

7:30pm
"The Brothers Bloom"
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq, Somerville
$10

"The Brothers Bloom" opens the Independent Film Festival of Boston. Unlike the recent Boston Underground Film Festival, the films at IFFBoston are likely to have screened at many of the major film festivals and have a good chance at getting a local theatrical release.

I have a feeling that this is going to be released since it stars Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, and Rachel Weisz. It looks like an old-school, mad-cap comedy about a pair of orphaned brothers turned con-men on their last score. Of course, one of the falls in love with the mark -- a quirky heiress played by Weiss.

(Dig the unofficial movie poster!)

Director Rian Johnson will be in attendance. Tickets were still available last night.

Even if you see something that never makes a splash, it might be the best movie you'll see this year. The festival runs through TUES 4/28.

Update: There's a chance to win a pair of round-trip tickets on JetBlue tonight...

WED 4/22

8pm
"Lysistrata"
at Merrick Theater, Spingold Theater Center, 415 South St, Waltham (Brandeis Campus)
FREE

It's a highlight of the opening day of the Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts that will culminate on SUN 4/26. Most events are free and open to the public.

This is one of those millenia-old Greek plays, but it's a timeless theme. The protagonist Lysistrata organizes the women of the various city-states to "withhold intimacies" from their husbands until they end the Peloponnesian War. I wonder if this sort of thing could work again?

There's more than a dozen parts, and this has been described as a "post-modern minimalism production by three actors."

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Calendar Stumble


So when I brain-farted over the weekend, I forgot to update the event calendar. I resumed with Wednesday's stuff and will go from there.

Maybe I'll see something else for tomorrow. Awesome blues/jazz guitarist Duke Robillard was going to play at The Beehive with a 'side project', but there was probably a brouhaha because Duke has a full-on gig at Regattabar ($15) next week. (But this band is apparently playing at the Charlestown Public Library on May 7.)

TUES 4/21: Ice Cream, Film, Rock


Did you see me running the marathon yesterday -- oh, it was just a hallucination? Never mind.

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TUES 4/21

Noon to 8pm
Free Cone Day
at participating Ben & Jerry's stores

Hey with a little planning, one could enjoy 3 or 4 free scoops of ice cream today (maybe more)... It seems like this is a promotion to introduce new flavors; I swear one of the new ones is called "Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road". If you're like me, I think they'll give you a cup instead of a cone.

Dunkin Donuts is giving an iced coffee discount instead of a free drink this year, but 5 cents of that 50-cent small iced coffee goes to Homes for Our Troops, which helps injured veterans build and own a home.

TUES 4/21

8pm
"Were the World Mine"
at Room 225, Sloan Laboratory, 127 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

Maybe because we at CTB are LGBT-friendly, but the trailer really like a lighthearted, musical romp that challenges biases rather than overly gay film. Sure, it's a musical and a tweaking of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" where a high-school kid turns most of his small town gay... Oh yeah -- and the main character is proudly out-of-the-closet gay high school student.

TUES 4/21

9:30pm
The Lights Out, Logan 5 & The Runners, FishHawk, Hundred Years War
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$8 / 18+

Killer music blog Ryan's Smashing Life has put another good show together.

In an alternate universe, this could've been a preview of the Rumble finals on Friday. Logan 5 & The Runners and The Lights Outs were both invited and were in different brackets. TLO made it to the semi-finals, while Logan 5 lost to finals wild-card entry The Luxury. There won't be any competition, but both bands are sure to deliver. The Lights Out have figured out how to write catchy songs over tight, guitar-based power-pop/rock -- without being annoyingly poppy. Logan 5 & the Runners offer more synthiness to the rock, and it's got more of a Brit-rock vibe and swaggering vocals.

Before they go on, you might feel like dancing. Atlanta's Fishhawk makes their Boston debut, and they must be influenced by the club scene. I think some of these guys knew each other in a funky rock band, and now it's way into the electro/synth/pop vein. Hundred Years War claim to be a rock band, but they sound like they want to rock while making you move your ass on the dancefloor.

Monday, April 20, 2009

4/21: Free Ice Cream & Cheap Iced Coffee


Noon to 8pm
Free Cone Day
at participating Ben & Jerry's stores

Although Dunkin Donuts is giving an iced coffee discount instead of a free drink this year, you can still get a free scoop from Ben & Jerry's (also from Vermont -- and better than Pariah Beat -- whoops). I recall that they let me have my free ice cream in a cup last year.

Hey, 50 cents for a small iced coffee isn't bad. (5 cents of each purchase goes to Homes for Our Troops, which helps injured veterans build and own a home. I'm pretty sure there's a Dunks location near every Ben & Jerry's store.

MON 4/20: Marathon, Rock


Happy Patriots Day, folks! There's the Lexington celebrations, but I also enjoy that Somerville lauds Paul Revere and Cambridge gives props to William Dawes.

It also hapens to be 4/20, so if you are wondering what to do at 4:20pm, take a look here...

Not much Monday cheapness that caught my eye, but here you go...

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MON 4/20

9am until the last straggler
113th Boston Marathon
from Hopkinton to Copley Sq, Boston
FREE to watch

Thousands of people will run farther than anyone has really needed to run since the Peloponnesian wars... The weather isn't going to be great, but I've enjoyed watching from Comm Ave just a bit after Heartbreak Hill.

Again, I hope someone reading this will bust out of the crowd at Copley Square and run past the winner at the finish line. That would be awesome! Maybe illegal, but still awesome. If someone can find an abandoned racing number on the ground, you have a 99.9% chance of scoring tonight...

I don't know exactly what their deal is, but two friends are doing a 24-hour trip from Portland to the end of the marathon, and they're calling it The Epic Man. If you're hanging out near the finish line, there's a party at the Rattlesnake starting at 1pm.

MON 4/20

10pm
Pariah Beat, The Beasts of England
at Charlies Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

I like maple syrup as much as the next guy, but I like Vermont's Pariah Beat better than their famous sweet, brown tree-goo. Whatever you put on your pancakes -- or you don't like flapjacks -- you will love this raucous cacophony acoustic-gypsy-jazz-blues-gospel-punk. The Beasts of England are loud and jagged, and I like their name suggests they've read a few books (cf. "Animal Farm"). It's scuzzy, reverb-drenched rock with plenty of songs about zombies, etc.

A damn good Monday night show!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

4/18 & 4/19: Mental Vacation


So I did write after I got home on Friday night, but I didn't do much of it... I guess I've been on a mental vacation. I forgot to click the "Publish Post" before I left home on Saturday...

I'm a dim bulb.

Hey, I got home late on Friday, because I sneaked backstage to hang out with The Presidents of the United States of America. It was awesome, and they gave a great show!

I'm writing now, so hopefully I might even get ahead tonight. Stay tuned...

4/19: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

I tell people I grew up in the Depression, because my grandma took care of me everyday. She imbued me with old-fashioned belt-tightening and penny-pinching.

Here's a "Schoolhouse Rock" lesson:

Friday, April 17, 2009

Sneak Peek -- SAT 4/18


It may sound unbelievable, but I will write more. (I believe myself...)

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SAT 4/18

All Day
Record Store Day
Across the country
(Nearby at Newbury Comics and Weirdo Records, Cambridge)
FREE

See below.

SAT 4/18

9:30pm
Harris, The Men, Scamper, Jericho Trumpet
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 advance / $12 day of show / 18+

It's Harris's final show. Scamper is reuniting just commemorate the occasion.

SAT 4/18

1:30pm
Confront, Morgan Knockers, The Murder, The Few And The Far, Squallie Greenthumb
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / All Ages

Unlike those wimps in Harris, Confront is celebrating 10 years as a band. Punk Rock!

SAT 4/18

7pm
Bob Dylan Listening Party / Open Mic
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Listen to Bob's new album from 7pm to 8pm, which is also the sign-up time for the open-mic: you must play one Dylan cover and one Dylan inspired original. Acoustic performances only. A piano and DI's will be provided.

SAT 4/18

9pm
"A Night of Word + Snap Music" w/ Rick Berlin and Friends
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Folks doing some of Rick's written and musical oeuvre

[advance tix]

SAT 4/18 & SUN 4/19

10am to 7pm
Boston Skillshare
at Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
$3 to $10 sliding scale donation (whatever you can afford)

People showing other people how to do stuff in 90-minute workshops that start at 10:45am, 2:05pm, 3:45pm, and 5:25 pm. There's free vegan breakfast at 10am and free vegan lunch at 12:25pm and 2:05pm too...

FRI 4/17: Folk, Rave, Rock, Jazz


Lotsa stuff happening today. Just don't forget to go outside and feel the warmth of the Sun!

I guess one could easily go to the Indigo Girls in-store and the Silent Rave tonight, but I doubt many will do both...

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FRI 4/17

6pm
The Indigo Girls: Performance & Autograph Signing
at Newbury Comics, North Market Bldg, 4 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston (Faneuil Hall)
FREE

What can I say? If you're a fan, you'll want to go for a few songs. I doubt they're going to do "Closer to Fine" at a free show...

FRI 4/17

7:30pm to 8:30pm
Spring Silent Rave
at Faneuil Hall Market Place, Boston
FREE

Put an hour (or so) of your favorite dance music on the iPod, and do your thang. It's the quitest fun this side of BPL. I did something similar for 15 minutes, and it was pretty fun...

It should be in front of Faneuil Hall. Look for the loitering hipsters...

FRI 4/17

Gravehaven (12:30am), The Dirty Truckers (11:30pm), The Luxury (10:30pm), Destruct-a-thon (9:30pm)
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Rock n' Roll Rumble Semifinals Night #2. Congrats to... Gene Dante & the Future Starlets who won last night.

If the Rumble were the MLB, this show like the AL East. Lots of strong competition that could go all the way if they can prevail over the immediate obstacles. My personal favorite is straight-ahead rock with killer songs and a twang, and The Dirty Truckers fit the bill although I hope their hygiene doesn't suffer much. [Update: I just reread this -- oof! What a lousy sentence.]

Destruct-a-thon is like a wrecking ball of potent metal. Gravehaven is loud and rocking, but add a little musical sophistication into the blend. I still can't get into The Luxury, but most people can. Heck, they won a opening spot for Coldplay's Boston gig. I'm going to guess... Destruct-a-thon goes on to the Finals.

FRI 4/17

The Woggles (Midnight), Muck & The Mires (11pm), The Konks (10pm), Watts (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

This is a mighty punch of garage-rock. Muck & The Mires are awesome; just super-tight, high-octane rock 'n roll. Atlanta's Woggles are famous for utting on an amazing live show. I've seen video clips, and they might explode in such a small room. It seems like The Konks don't play out as much since Abbey Lounge closed (Hmm...) That primal stomp knocked me out from the first time I saw the drums held up by milk crates -- and I still love it.

FRI 4/17

9:30pm
Yoni Gordon & The Goods, Diamond Mines, Pow Wow, Nightdriving
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+

If you don't want to rock out in Central Sq, PA's is the place. The Diamond Mines are one of my favorite bands. It's that soul/punk rock that's balanced perfectly to get you bouncing off the walls, and I really dig the tunes. Yoni Gordon is also pretty damn good. He's so intense, punky singer-songwriter who believes in what he's singing about 120%. The special prize in this crackerjack box is Pow Wow. Holy crap, these guys are friggin' indie-pop geniuses! Yeah, they're from Brooklyn and maybe there's dozens of similar bands, but I think these guys are the real thing.

FRI 4/17

10pm
Bob Mover Quartet
at The Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10

Bob Mover is one of the great underrated jazz saxophonists. Dude! He played in bands with Charles Mingus and Chet Baker and countless others. These are nights that make The Lily Pad a treasure in Inman Sq. This is top-shelf jazz for $10, and the incredible Esperanza Spalding will be on bass. (I didn't see how to turn the audio off Bob's home page, but you won't want to.)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

4/18: Cheap -- for Wine-Lovers


1pm to 5pm / 6pm to 10pm
Wine Riot
at Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
$45

I asked the Wine Riot folks for my personal information; they were cool about it; so I'm trying to be cool back. You've probably read other items (Bostonist, The Second Glass, etc), so I'll give you my take:

There's going to be more wines than you can drink in 4 hours, but you can try a good variety to find new favorites and still have a nice buzz. Think about how much money you'd spend at a bar in that same amount of time -- especially if you were drinking wine...

There's a variety of 30-minute sessions if you want to get a little wine knowledge or take a little break.

Wine doesn't feel you up like beer. The Beer Summit is at the Castle, only $5 cheaper, and it's actually sold out.

I'm confident it's going to be less packed than the Wine Expo, and I'm guessing that it'll be as crowded as a Beer Summit (maybe a little more crowded).

The maximum capacity for each session is about 85% of maximum room capacity, and who knows if it'll be full. This is the first year, so who knows... (If you're claustrophobic, half as many people are going to be allowed on Friday night for $65.)

Tickets are available online or at these stores -- it wouldn't hurt to call before you go to buy tix: Bin Ends (Braintree), Cru (South End), Downtown Wine & Spirits (Somerville), The Wine Bottega (North End), The Wine Emporium (South End), Wine Gallery (Brookline). If available, tix will be for sale at the door.

Am I going? Maybe.

4/18: Record Store Day

Record Store Day
All Day
Record Store Day
Across the country
(Nearby at Newbury Comics and Weirdo Records, Cambridge)
FREE

Sure, iTunes has its benefits... But you can talk to cool people who love music and get turned onto something new. It's a special experience, and we shouldn't let it disappear. Most places will thank you with some free stuff, prize drawings, live performances, or some combination of that kind of stuff.

When I went to the Newbury Comics (at Govt Center & Harvard Sq) last year, they had a table of free stuff to take whatever you wanted. I think I took a pint glass and 7" single with a cool cover. Most stores have performances like The Low Anthem (2pm) & Sarah Borges (4pm) at Newbury St and State Radio (2pm) at Faneuil Hall.

Note: "You will need a wristband to attend State Radio. We will start issuing wristbands at 10am on 4/18 at the Fanueil Hall store only."

If you haven't been to Weirdo Records yet, this would be a perfect day to go. The proprietress was selling records out of her apartment until a few months ago! Somebody will make music at some point in the evening. They'll be open extra long on Saturday (10am to 11pm).

I'm not Cheap Thrills - MA, but there are other stores include: Listen Up Music (Natick), and Music DNA (Methuen).

Support your local independent record stores on Saturday -- and all year round!

Support all independent businesses!

THUR 4/16: Talks & Rock


I'm kind of in a funk thinking about the "Tea Parties" from yesterday. I got incomplete info and missed the speakers at Christopher Columbus Park. I probably wasn't going to agree with them, but I wanted to hear what exactly is this purpose of these events.

I was also hoping I'd get material for a stinging criticism, but it basically seems to be a co-opting of a historical event by libertarians who've been co-opted by republicans to express their unhappiness.

From my observation, the bottom line is that few people actually want big government, but they'll stay quiet if their guy is in the White House...

On the bright side, I saw that ArtsBoston has become a rather good site to see what's going on around town.

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THUR 4/16

6:30pm to 8pm
Juan Enriquez, "Financial Crises, Technology, and Why Boston Might Just be the Center of the Universe (at least for now)": Lecture
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Venture capitalist Juan Enriquez thinks Boston is ready to thrive. I've met a bunch of VC guys, and they're very bright people. (It's irritating...) His specialty is life sciences, so that will probably be the focus of his presentation.

THUR 4/16

7:30pm
Patrick Slane, "Because the World is Round": Lecture & Observatory Night
at Phillips Auditorium, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge (between Porter Sq and Fresh Pond)
FREE

Is it geeky to be intrigued by a lecture titled after the first line of awesome psychedelic choral piece from The Beatles? "Because" from "Abbey Road" has always been one of my faves, but I didn't realize it was based on "Moonlight Sonata" played backwards. (I did know that John, Paul, and George tripling their vocal parts for a total of nine. Listen to the song and remember they had no software to correct the pitch!)

So the lecture is blending music into science and using the lyrics as inspiration to explain why the Earth is round, the wind is high, and why the sky is blue. I wonder if Prof. Slane will blow my mind? I think he could...

"Observing through telescopes follows the presentation, weather permitting."

THUR 4/16

Gene Dante & the Future Starlets (12:30pm), The Lights Out (11:30pm), Sarah RabDAU & the Self-Employed Assassins (10:30pm), Have Nots (9:30pm)
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Rock 'n Roll Rumble Semi-finals Night #1

Okay, folks this is where everything gets kicked up a notch. Take 3 preliminary-round winners and a "wild card" band (high score from the judges, but didn't win), and one will climb a bit further up the rock ladder to meet tomorrow night's winner in the finals. (Umm, and one band from from this round will be a "wild card in the finals...)

The word on the street (discussion boards) is that Gene Dante & the Future Starlets have been really impressive and could be Rumble champs. I wouldn't count out any of the four bands; I like all of them, and they all have a different sound. The only way this show would be better is if I didn't have to work tomorrow.

THUR 4/16

10:30pm
Movers & Shakers, Tommy Allen, Coyote Kolb
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

You could go to the Rumble, or you could walk a few blocks down Mass Ave, and check the free Movers & Shakers residency. When I throw the "roots-rock" term around, I think there's more "roots" than "rock". That's not the case with this band; M&S make a tasty rock stew, and they throw in a lot rootsy ingredients. Tommy Allen from Drug Rug is also performing. They're a kick-ass band that should be huge. (I'm enjoy it more when Sarah sings, but Tommy isn't bad...)

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