TUES 3/1: Music, Talk, Beer

There are a few talks today, and I couldn't guess which one would interest you...

Has anyone been to Dante on Grilled Cheese Tuesdays? They serve a twist on the classic for $2 in the bar/lounge from 5:30pm to close. (I think pints are $5 or $6, so not much different than elsewhere.)

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TUES 3/1

6pm
Kurt Vile: Performance & Signing
at Newbury Comics, 332 Newbury Street, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Folky indie-rocker Kurt Vile has a new album coming out next Tuesday, and he's hitting a bunch of record stores in anticipation. I listened to some of it on NPR where the whole thing is being streamed, and it sounds like a contender for many top-ten lists.

Besides catching a brief performance, the CD (I assume? Vinyl? Cassette?) will be for sale tonight.

TUES 3/1

7pm
Andre Dubus III & Richard Russo, "Townie": Reading & Discussion
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Tickets available at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave -- or by phone: 617-661-1515.

In "Townie", Dubus has decided to not to fictionalize the rough tales of his youth on the North Shore. Richard Russo is coming down from Maine to talk with his literary buddy.

It may not be worth $5 to listen to a discussion that should be rather stimulating, but your ticket also serves as a $5 coupon that can be used at the event or the store.

TUES 3/1

7pm to 9pm
Notch Bottle Release Party
at The Lower Depths, 476 Comm Ave, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE

I drank some Notch, and I suggest that Harpoon drinkers and other lovers of locally produced beer give it a try. It's a solid tasty brew, and there should be an ale and a pils available tonight.

I really suggest getting there early, because the first 50 through the door get a Notch t-shirts and who knows how long the snacks will last. Your first pint should be complimentary though.

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TUES 3/1

7pm to 8pm
Daniel Drezner, "Theories of International Politics and Zombies": Discussion & Signing
at Harvard Coop, Level 3, 1400 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

My first instinct is that this is an attempt to ride the current horror-literary mashup trend. That might be the case, but them you start thinking...

Doesn't everyone laugh and say that a zombie attack couldn't possibly happen -- right before a zombie attack! Many will laugh at this book until the undead starts eating brains.

Besides examining geopolitical zombie scenatios, it might be veiled exercise for the Tufts Fletcher School to inform the general public about comcepts they may not otherwise explore.

Believe it or not, C-SPAN's BookTV is supposed to be taping the event.

TUES 3/1

7pm
Steve Early, "The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor: Birth of a New Workers’ Movement or Death Throes of the Old?": Reading
at Porter Square Books, 25 White St, Cambridge (near Star Market)
FREE

As context for the union protests in Wisconsin that may be spreading to other states, it might be interesting to hear how recent conflicts in the labor movement might have diminished their influence.

TUES 3/1

8pm to 9pm
Annual Latke-Hamantaschen Debate
at Room 100, Bldg 26, 60 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

In one of their good-natured diversions, teams of MIT professors annually debate the qualities of potato pancakes versus triangular pouch-filled cookies.

The audience votes, but there has suspiciously been a tie for 7 consecutive years... Maybe you could be the tipping vote!

Let's call it a chance to hear these folks creatively geek out about Jewish delicacies and sample them afterwards.

TUES 3/1

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

Program:

Borodin, "String Quartet in D major, Op. 2"
Chick Corea, excerpts from "The Adventures of Hippocrates"
Beethoven, "String Quartet in D major, Op. 18, No. 3"
Wynton Marsalis, excerpts from "At the Octoroon Balls"
Ellington/Strayhorn, "Take the A Train"

As you might expect from a string quartet the vibe is more classical than jazz, although a fresh energy is injected into the affair that could make it more interesting for those who might not be into the classical scene.

As recent residents at NEC, I'm guessing this is the first of many (or at least several) performances for the Harlem Quartet who have played Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Apollo Theatre, and around the world.

TUES 3/1

9pm
The Brothers O'Reely
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Feat: Ryan Fitzsimmons & Greg Klyma

Two top-notch singer-songwriters are celebrating St Paddy's Day every Tuesday of the month. The first 3 will be something of a warm-up of their 3/17 gig at Dick's Last Resort, but the Toad gigs will include more of their own material than wall-to-wall Irish classics. Erin go bragh! (or something like that...)