Friday, August 28, 2009

FRI 8/28: Art, Film, Music, Comedy

Annual Viva La Vinal Festival, today and tomorrowIt seems like most Fridays have a good array of cheap art, film, music, and comedy options. If one had the time, motivation, and a T pass; you could hit several events for 10 measly dollars -- or less!

(Due to a combo of technical difficulties and time-management issues, there's a 50-50 chance of getting more today...)

Update: Hey BU students, did you hear about the textbook company that's offering free late night sausage? You probably haven't even gone to a frat party this semester...

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FRI 8/28

10am to 9:45pm
Free Community Day
at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

It's a long free day at the MFA!

There some really good exhibits currently: "Viva Mexico: Edward Weston & His Contemporaries", "Contemporary Outlook: Seeing Songs", "A New and Native Beauty: The Art and Craft of Greene and Greene"

If you're 21+, there's a cash bar and DJ to mix 'n mingle in the courtyard after 5:30pm.

FRI 8/28 (& SAT 8/29)

4pm to 10pm
Viva la Vinal Festival
at The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE, donations appreciated / All Ages

If you haven't been to The Growing Center, it's a lovely space of landscaped trees, bushes, flowers, vines, grass, and stone -- a good place to chill to music only a short stroll from the center of Union Sq. This annual festival offers generally acoustic music in a variety of genres.

"People are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs and spend the evening in this unique garden setting.

There will be a concession stand with affordable and healthy snacks and beverages, with all proceeds going to the artists and the Growing Center."

Schedule:

FRI 8/28

4pm -- Charlie Hope (children's music)
5pm -- David Wax Museum
5:45pm -- Abbie Barret
6:30pm -- Akshara Percussion Ensemble
7:15pm -- Dan Blakeslee
8pm -- The Accident That led Me to the World
8:45pm -- Jennifer Greer
SAT 8/29
4pm -- Julie Dougherty
4:45pm -- Chuck Muldoon
5:45pm -- Rakiya
6:30pm -- Audrey Ryan
7:15pm -- Danielle Miraglia
8pm -- Seymour
8:45pm -- The Points North
FRI 8/28

6pm to 8pm
Opening Reception
Scott Murry, "Dirty Duality"
Ellen Crenshaw, "Gramps & Scamps"
Amanda Atkins: "The Foxtrot Code"
at Space 242, 242 E Berkeley St, 2nd Fl, Boston (South End)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

You can probably still RSVP, but it's a casual start to the weekend with some art and a drink or two. The exhibits are interesting, so I've had a good time whenever I go.

FRI 8/28 (thru SUN 8/30)

6:30pm
"Fist Of Legend": Films at the Gate 2009
at Vacant Lot near Chinatown Gate, about 10 Hudson St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

In "Fist of Legend", Jet Li steps into the shoes of Bruce Lee by playing the same character from "Fist of Fury". Everybody knows that Jet Li is a badass, right?

The film begins at 8pm. There will be a martial arts demonstration by the Wah Lum Kung Fu Athletic Association at 6:30pm and a local short film "Five Minutes Flat" will be shown at 7:30pm.

The rest of the schedule is:
SAT 8/29 -- "Drunken Master"
SUN 8/30 -- "Shaolin Soccer", "American Chop Suey" (at 7:30pm)
You should check the site for details like pre-movie entertainment and the different location on Saturday.

All films are presented with the original Chinese audio and English subtitles. Seats are first-come, first-serve; but feel free to bring your own. And there are all sorts of Asian takeout food options in the neighborhood.

It's free, but the hat may be passed for a charity.

FRI 8/28

7pm
The Gas
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

"NSFW Video Showcase"
Feat: videos from Jenny Zigrino, Jeff Ledellaytner, TLG Media, Anderson Comedy as well as live comedy from Shane Webb

FRI 8/28

Sunset (about 8pm)
Friday Flicks: "Iron Man"
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

"Iron Man" the movie was faithful to the spirit of the comic book, and Robert Downey Jr. nailed it as usual. It would've been the best comic-book of recent memory, if "The Dark Knight" hadn't come out.

FRI 8/28

9pm
Keep Me Conscious, Roman Traffic, The Vital Might, The States
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

A couple local bands are traded in their old names: Keep Me Conscious was formerly known as Cherry S/T. Roman Traffic was fka Gravehaven. I recall Cherry S/T headlining nights at Harpers Ferry; I guess it was time for a "rebranding", but the band is still a bit too "emo" for my taste. Who knows about Roman Traffic/Gravehaven who lean toward progressive-rock.

The Vital Might and The States get my rocking thumb up. Give a listen, and you might dig them.

FRI 8/28

The Gentlemen (Midnight), Watts (11pm), Phil Aiken Army (10pm)
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

This could be the best show of the night. The Gentlemen are celebrating 10 years of sheer musical awesomeness when Mike Gent of the brilliant Figgs corralled most of Boston's rockalicious Gravel Pit into this new project. They haven't played a gig in about a year, so it would be a special gig. On top of that, they may play their first CD "Ladies and Gentlemen..." in its entirety -- which wouldn't be a bad blueprint for any band that want to make vital, visceral power-pop/rock.

Watts and Phil Aiken Army are both excellent bands. This has a "Cheap Thrills seal of good times"!

FRI 8/28

10:30pm
Barrence Whitfield & The Monkey Hips
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5

It's amazing that Barrence Whitfield deigns to play these tiny gigs when he returns to Boston. He is something like a missing musical link that skipped from Little Richard directly to the Boston rock scene of the '80s. With his mighty soulful singing, he should be in the pantheon of rock/r&b singers. The Monkey Hips are a squad of rockin' dudes including a sax player.

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