Saturday, June 23, 2012

SAT 6/23: Explore, Sail, Laugh, Listen



Book-lovers, skip this next sentence: Harvard Book Store is opening their warehouse in Somerville for the semi-annual sale today and tomorrow (11am to 6pm). It's like the downstairs section but a hundred times bigger.

While technically within $10, I'm not sure if I want to pay to buy my food at the Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party (today and tomorrow too). For those who yearn for out-of-town smokey delights, it's cheaper than a plane or bus ticket...

If you didn't see it yesterday: "Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman Story" is at the Brattle through SUN 7/1 ($9.75 to $6.75) and "xxx All Ages xxx" is screening at the West End Museum today (3pm & 8pm) and tomorrow (3pm).

Note: If you saw it on the calendar, I apparently had the wrong date for the Boston 'Dodgeball Championship', because it may have been on MON 6/18. Too bad, dodgeball might be the next great spectator sport.

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SAT 6/23 (and SUN 6/24)

Various Times
Common Boston Festival: "Off the Grid"
at Various Locations
Most FREE

Saturday:

12:15pm -- Boston Public Library - Mattapan Branch
1:30pm -- Lunch at Almont Park/Hunt Playground
2:15pm -- Mattapan: Past, present and future
2:45pm -- Mattapan Health Center
4:15pm -- Mattapan Healthy Food and Fitness Tour
Sunday:
10am -- Under and over and through Charlesgate
10am -- Ponds, pastures and parkways: A walk along the Emerald Necklace (Full)
11:15am -- Fenway Victory Gardens Tour
1pm -- The history, landscape and hidden treasures of the Back Bay Fens
1pm -- Common Build 2012 Tour with Judges at Fenway Victory Gardens
1pm -- Circle The City
2pm -- Ride the Necklace (Full)
5:30pm -- A tour of light and shadow, nature and art in the Forest Hills Cemetery at dusk (walking and biking)
How well do you know Mattapan or the Emerald Necklace? This annual architecture/design fest is going "off the grid" but really trying to show you something off your grid.

A different section of town is featured each day. Downtown and South End were featured last week, and this might be a little more off the grid. The links above register your attendance.

SAT 6/23

1pm to 4pm
Sailing Open House
at Boston Sailing Center, Lewis Wharf, Boston (North End)
FREE

It may not be the most beautiful day for a free sail in the harbor, but it's up to you. If you want to sign you up for lessons, you can -- or you could just check it out and enjoy the ride and free refreshments. Again, this on Lewis Wharf by the Marriot; look for the riverboat.

As they say, "No sailing experience necessary. All ages welcome. Sailors of all abilities are welcome."

Keep in mind it will be a bit cooler on the water...

SAT 6/23

8pm
Black Box Comedy: "Food Fight!"
at Davis Square Theatre, 255 Elm St, Somerville (beneath Foundry restaurant)
$8

Feat: Laura Crawford, Shawn Donovan, Steve McConnon, Al Park, Cam MacNeil

8pm
"Rebels Night Live!"
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Feat: Rebels Without Applauze, Jenny Z, Matt Aromando, Nathan Burke

Thank goodness for comedy clubs that provide an environment for local performers to hone their craft and make people laugh. And when people looking for funny people, comedy clubs are easy places to find!

Going to comedy clubs in LA left me with an irrational fear of drink-minimums and various comedy club nightmares. It doesn't have to be your experience, but I like to laugh when it's not usually in a typical venue.

At Black Box Comedy, you'll get comedians who will to some degree riff on food, fights, food fights, and so on. At "Rebels Night Live", improv group Rebels Without Applauze will do their thing with standup comedians breaking up the improvisation. I'm not sure if adult beverages will be served at the Democracy Center, but you should be served at the Davis Square Theatre.

SAT 6/23

9pm
Pretty Dirty, Charlie Christos & Jon Aanestad, King Ilabash
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10

Funky quartet Pretty Dirty have been friends for a long time and coalesced into a joint side-project over a year ago. They get loud, they groove easy, and it's a shame that there is practically no room to dance in the Lizard Lounge.

As I understand it, singer-songwriters Charlie Christos and Jon Aanestad seem to be buddies who usually do their own thing and will play a mix of originals and covers. Fingers are crossed that the evening ends with reggae man from Grenada, King Ilabash. Although one source says that folk-rocker Hugh McGowan & the Misfit Toys will cap off the evening.

SAT 6/23

9:30pm
"Burn Baby Burn: A Disco Inferno"
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$10 / 21+

Feat: Lovewhip, The Cultured, Miss Madison West, Vice V'ersatile

It may be funky in Cambridge, yet there's a tribute to disco in JP with plenty of room to get down. The uber-funky electro/dance booty-shakers Lovewhip are the main attraction that get you moving as long as you have a pulse.

I was thoroughly impressed by The Cultured who happen to be high-school buddies that turn a hodgepodge of influences into a pretty sweet sound.

Expect some comedy and burlesque in between bands for wall-to-wall entertainment.

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