Cheap Thrills: 10/20 to 10/25

Well, I got a weekly list out this week... My apologies to e-list subscribers who received an empty "table of contents". :-)

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MON 10/20
* Boston Skeptics in the Pub: "How Tigger Lost His Boing: Molecular Quackery"
* the morning benders
* Chris Robley, Audrey Ryan

TUES 10/21
* Winedown: "Passing the Baton"
* Sam Adams Beer Bowl
* Oscar Castro-Neves

WED 10/22
* John K. Hodgman w/ Jonathan Coulton, "More Information Than You
Require": Reading
* Jay Reatard, Cola Freaks, The Tampoffs, Vancougar
* "Body of War": Free Screening

THUR 10/23
* DMZ, The New Frustrations, Red Invasion
* Willard Grant Conspiracy, Chris Brokaw, Drew O'Doherty
* "The Battle of Algiers": Free Screening
* Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Pants Yell!, Cotton Candy

FRI 10/24
* Movers & Shakers, Where the Land Meets the Sea, Cold Beat
* Viva Viva, Ergot Rot, The Needy Visions
* "Iron Pour: Magic, Fire, Music, and Dance"

SAT 10/25
* Monster Mashup Ghost Party

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MON 10/20

7pm
Boston Skeptics in the Pub: "How Tigger Lost His Boing: Molecular Quackery"
at Tommy Doyle's, 96 Winthrop St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Now this is how drunken pseudo-science discourse is done! Sid Rodrigues is the organizer (organiser?) of the original "Skeptics in the Pub" group in London. He work in molecular genetics, but I don't know how he's going debunk the theories in "Winnie the Pooh"...

Go upstairs for the communal skepticism.

MON 10/20

8pm
the morning benders
at Puma Store, 333 Newbury St, Boston
FREE

How many of you have heard of the morning benders? I don't think I have before this week. They have a strong sense of songwriting. I get a feeling that their fanbase mainly consist of young girls, but I could totally be off-base... It's going to be a good acoustic set, if you can get in.

They even recorded about a dozen acoustic songs in their apartment. It may not be the best place for the new fan to start, but it's a free download...

MON 10/20

10pm
Chris Robley, Audrey Ryan
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

The press clips compared Chris Robley to Elliot Smith and Lennon, and I was skeptical enough to want to drink in a pub (see above). There is some Elliot and John in Robley's songs, but it's not impersonations. Although he is from Oregon's Portland, and he's playing with Audrey Ryan from Bar Harbor.

Audrey probably doesn't care about the 'other' Portland, but I can have New England pride and declare her to be the true reason to go out on Monday night. Her high, hyponotic melodies carry the thoughtful lyrics around the room and land to tickle your ears.

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TUES 10/21

7pm
Winedown: "Passing the Baton"
at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Stop by for a little wine and conversation with Frank Kramer (store owner for the last 30 years) and Jeff Mayersohn (new owner). I wouldn't go out of my way, but I find Frank's story very interesting: He took over the book store in his early-20's(?) after both of his parents died and didn't expect to be in the book business for this long.

TUES 10/21

9pm
Sam Adams Beer Bowl
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain
FREE / 21+

From what I've heard the quantity of free booze is not as great as I remember from my Milky Way experiences, but there will be 'tastings' of various Sam brews from 9pm to 10pm. Three lanes will be alloted for a 'bowling tournament' -- with prizes -- starting at 9:30pm (first-come, first-serve).

Beer deal of the night: 22oz. mug of Sam Adams Oktoberfest for $4.

TUES 10/21

8:15pm
Oscar Castro-Neves
at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Ave, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

Berklee is celebrating "50 Years of the Bossa Nova", and who isn't really? Guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves was right in there with Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim when bossa nova exploded. I saw a video of him singing in English, then I read he has lived in the US since '71 -- but he's the real bossa nova deal...

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WED 10/22

6pm
John K. Hodgman w/ Jonathan Coulton, "More Information Than You Require": Reading
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$5 (tix available at Brookline Booksmith)

He have dropped the "K", but as a fan of his first book (and Mac commercials as "PC" and McSweeney's pieces and "Daily Show" appearances) I will call him John K. Hodgman. After the absurdist, Pythonesque humor of his first book, "Areas of My Expertise", I'd read anything he writes. Hodgman returns to his hometown of Brookline for a reading from the 2nd book with Yale buddy & singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton pitching in with a little music here and there.

WED 10/22

9:30pm
Jay Reatard, Cola Freaks, The Tampoffs, Vancougar
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 advance / $12 day of show / 18+

Friggin' awesome punk rock from around the globe (and Boston) with headliner Jay Reatard. Extra points to an all-female band from Vancouver calling themselves "Vancougar". If you don't know how to get advance tix at the Middle East, ask there or email me.

WED 10/22

6:30pm
"Body of War"
at 'The Loft', 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

This is a heartbreaking story of Thomas Young, a soldier who was serving in Iraq for a week before he was paralyzed. Phil Donahue co-directed so you can imgaine there's a lean to the left, but I believe the core of the documentary is a view into Young's life after Iraq.

Members of "Iraq Veterans Against the War" will facilitate a discussion.

(I assume The Loft is above Cafe 939...)

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THUR 10/23

DMZ (10:30pm), The New Frustrations (9:30pm), Red Invasion (11:30pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10

There's no other place to be tonight. I don't care if the Sox are playing in the World Series -- they have TV's. I don't care if it's your mom's birthday -- the food is fine in the restaurant. This is the '76-'78 lineup of DMZ, Boston's first great punk band. Somehow they're doing a show at Maxwell's in Hoboken on the weekend, and this is their first show with this lineup since a reunion about 15 years ago.

The New Frustrations and Red Invasion will rock you, but DMZ is the only thing that matters tonight.

THUR 10/23

10pm
Willard Grant Conspiracy, Chris Brokaw, Drew O'Doherty
at The Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10 / All Ages

Okay, I geek out for old-school punk rock (see above), but this is a spectacularly good night of music at a venue with superlative acoustics. The Willard Grant Conspiracy don't reside in Boston anymore, we can be proud that they started here. Who knows who will play with WGC mastermind Robert Fisher, but I'm amazed one can experience them in such an intimate setting. If you don't already love them, fans of American Music Club and Tindersticks will dig this. Chris Brokaw played with Thalia Zedek darkish-rock band Come, and he's pretty awesome in general. I think you'll like Drew O'Doherty also.

THUR 10/23

7:30pm
"The Battle of Algiers"
at Bartos Theatre, 20 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

It's considered a cinematic masterpiece. This is a story about a military force from a first-world country as an unwelcome occupier of a Muslim country with torture of the citizens and many guerrilla attacks.

Umm, France... in Algiers... during the '50s...

THUR 10/23

8:30pm
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Pants Yell!, Cotton Candy
at Oxfam Cafe, Miller Hall basement, 210 Packard Ave, Medford (Tufts campus)
$8 / All Ages

For the electro folks. There are rather detiled directions on Oxfam Cafe's MySpace. I think they'll work.

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FRI 10/24

9:30pm
Movers & Shakers, Where the Land Meets the Sea, Cold Beat, Lovers, Muggers, and Thieves
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

FRI 10/24

9:30pm
Viva Viva, Ergot Rot, The Needy Visions
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
$8 / 21+

Ergot Rot as Rotten Rex, doing an all T Rex cover set...

FRI 10/24

7:00－11:00 p.m.
"Iron Pour: Magic, Fire, Music, and Dance"
at MassArt Courtyard, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston
FREE / All Ages

w/ The Accordion Death Squad, Many Mansions; Truman Peyote, Peace+Quiet, and much more excitement...

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SAT 10/25

3pm to 4pm
Monster Mashup Ghost Party
Somewhere in Boston
FREE

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Link of the Week:

A site with slang and cultural touchstones from around the country.
Find out how people talk or correct someone else's entry.

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Quote of the Week:

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business."

-- Henry Ford

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th-th-that's all, folks.

~r

Cheap Thrills: 9/15 to 9/20

Yes, it's Monday but we're still alive. As investment banks crumble, cheap entertainment loks good, huh?

(I know the Abbey Lounge website is -- pardon my French -- kerfuffled, but there are shows there this week to keep it from closing. I list these, because I'd like that shithole to live on. The benefit shows seem terribly unorganized, but...)

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MON 9/15
* Boldcrits
* "SolarTaxi: Around the World in a Solar-Electric Vehicle"
* Nichole Clarke, Charlie Chesterman, Michael Brodeur
* MIT Salsa Mondays
* The Murder, The Designer Drugs, Faulty Conscience, Zombie Reagan
* The Lights Out, The Tampoffs, Auto Interiors, Sprained Ankles

TUES 9/16
* Zack Hickman, Mark Erelli, The Proclivities, Laura Cortese
* "The Making of a President 2008"

WED 9/17
* Chris Wilhelm Duo & Samuel Kirk
* Brock Clarke, "The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England": Reading
* Lau Nau and others
* Three Day Threshold, Shadow Box Blues Band, Boston Babydolls

THUR 9/18
* "New Scientist" Tech Square Block Party
* Ron Sexsmith, Meaghan Smith, Vanessa Kafka
* Bill Janovitz & Friends
* Music of Elliott Sharp

FRI 9/19
* Masscann/Norml Awards
* Konks, Black Time, Static Static, Hospital Rats

SAT 9/20
* MP3EXP
* MassCann/NORML Boston Freedom Rally
* Basia Bulat, Eksi Ekso, Mr. Sister, Goli
* Boston Zine Fair -- and SUN 9/21

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MON 9/15

6:30pm
Boldcrits
at Smith Field (behind bike polo court), 250 Western Ave, Brighton
FREE

For at least 3 Mondays in a row, there will be grass/dirt oval-track bicycle races. It's free to watch or compete, but you should be a good rider. (The poster says "category A or B"?) The ultimate winner gets a 6-pack. Sounds like a fun spectator experience...

MON 9/15

5:30pm to 7pm
Louis Palmer, "SolarTaxi: Around the World in a Solar-Electric Vehicle"
at Bldg 4, Room 270, 182 Memorial Drive (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Louis Palmer is traversing the globe in an electric car, and I'm sure he'll talk about how he crosses oceans... MIT's Solar Electric Vehicle Team will begin by talking about their car, Louis will tell the crowd about the babe-alicious hippie chicks he picks up and other exciting tales from his journey. The Swiss Consulate will provide a reception following the event to fete their countryman. (Don't get too hung up on the building number, because I think Room 270 might be in the same hallway of "another number".)

MON 9/15

7pm to 9pm
Salsa Lessons
at Morss Hall, Walker Memorial Bldg, 142 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Someone told me that Monday salsa lessons/dancing have resumed at MIT. (Thanks, Lynn!) All are welcome. The first 30 minutes is to get the beginners up to speed, so others should shoot for 7:30pm.

If you need something a little more challenging, there's free salsa dancing for advanced beginners on Tuesdays.

MON 9/15

Nichole Clarke (10:10pm), Charlie Chesterman (9:20pm), Michael Brodeur (8:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$3

I don't know if each singer gets a dollar per person, but it's a decent price for 3 acoustic sets. Charlie Chesterman has been serenading Boston for about 25 years since the pop-rock of Scruffy the Cat to his current rockabilly stylings; I feel like Carl Perkins is 10 feet away from me. When I read Michael Brodeur previously in The Weekly Dig (now in The Phoenix), I expected him to sing in a snotty, ironic manner, but listen to the track on Certainly Sir's MySpace -- it's clear and inviting. Nichole Clarke describes herself, "If artist Edward Gorey and actress Doris Day had a daughter who had a band," and that's spot on. There's something creepy in that sweet voice.

MON 9/15

9:30pm
"3516 Fire Benefit Recovery Show"
w/ The Murder, The Designer Drugs, Faulty Conscience, Zombie Reagan
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

There was a fire at 3516 Washington St in JP, and it was cool haven for punks as a home, practice space, party place, and perfomance space. No one ever gave me the 411 before they had to call 911, but we could help homeless rockers. It''s a kickass punk show -- esp. The Murder -- with an excellent sampling of different punk stylings.

MON 9/15

9:30pm
The Lights Out, The Tampoffs, Auto Interiors, Sprained Ankles
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
$12

The Abbey needs help. I'd go see most of these bands. The Lights Out are a fave of mine. Can't make my mind up about Sprained Ankles. It's for a good cause... Help keep old punkers off the streets at night.

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TUES 9/16

9pm
"Zack Hickman's House of Ill Repute"
Feat: Mark Erelli, Laura Cortese, The Proclivities
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between
Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$5 / 21+

Shh... This is a really good deal. Tell them you're glad that the cover is low, because we need to perpetuate affordable quality music. Dude, Mark Erelli... Even if he wasSit back and get happily slapped by a folker with fingerpicked guitar. Laura Cortese is super-talented too, and -- damn -- The Proclivities must have another reason to be in Boston, because you don't come from Raleigh for one show. Unless it's Zack Hickman. The more I learn about this dude, the more I like him -- he's played with all the artists and Josh Ritter. There might even be MORE special guests...

TUES 9/16

5:30pm to 7pm
"The Making of a President 2008"
at JFK Presidential Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston
FREE

Jonathan Alter of Newsweek and Mark Halperin of Time chat about the current Presidential race. These guys are respectable reporters, so one hopes they'll talk about issues beyond a hockey mom from Alaska...

Registration is recommended.

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WED 9/17

6pm
Chris Wilhelm & Samuel Kirk
at All Asia Cafe, 334 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5-ish (maybe less)

It's an early gig, so you do't have to be out all night. If you can't make it at at 6pm, I bet they won't start on time anyway... While I''ve been effusive about other folk/roots pperformers this week, I do really like Chris too. He knows how to speak from his gut and stll make it catchy. He and formidable UK songster Sameul Kirk have been playing some shows together, so this is could be a special Wednesday that might not happen again in the ner future.

WED 9/17

7pm
Brock Clarke, "The Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England": Reading
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
free

I want to read this book. I loook at this book and admire Clarke for such a brillliant title. It has to clever and hilarious. Adam Davies also reads from his new novel, "Mine All Mine".

WED 9/17

7pm
Lau Nau and others
at The Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
$8

Maybe I've been swept up in this current wave of "Scandinavian Invasion" music, but I have to tell you about Lau Nau, a freaky folkster from Finland. Be prepared to expand your idea of tonality. You might resist at first, but it''s starts to feel like Asian meditiation music. I found it very relaxing -- I doubt that I could dance to it. I love the art gallery venue. Others are supposed to play, but I don't know who...

WED 9/17

9:30pm
Three Day Threshold, Shadow Box Blues Band, Boston Babydolls
at Bill's Bar, 5.5 Lansdowne Street, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

"Presented by The Weekly Dig & Dewars"

Kickass alt-coutry, blues, and babes for free! At the last event I attended that was sponsored by Dewars, the scotch flowed like wine...

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THUR 9/18

4pm to 7pm
"New Scientist" Tech Square Block Party
at Technology Square Courtyard, 500 Technology Sq, Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
FREE / 21+

You don't need to be a scientist -- or a geek -- to enjoy some free drinks and fun 'n games (but it might help). If you're nearby, I'm guessing you'll hear the nerds congregating somewhere near Main St... This link will lead you to a PDF flyer for the event.

THUR 9/18

Ron Sexsmith (11:30pm), Meaghan Smith (10:30pm), Vanessa Kafka (9:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Wow. There's a lot of value-added gigs this week! Ron Sexsmith for a sawbuck? This guy is the "Canadian Elvis Costello", but he can actually sing -- and sing with reedy perfection. His albums often make the top-ten lists of every credible music critic. Ron (w/ rhythm section) won't disappoint. Ever. Although he ain't much to look at, there are two lovely & talented singer-songwriters from Boston & Nova Scotia opening... (Yes, I listened to their music, but I'm getting to the end of my list.)

THUR 9/18

10pm
Bill Janovitz & Friends
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

I'm not saying anything more than Bill is awesome and he has great friends. You might not even be able to get in.

THUR 9/18

8pm
Music of Elliott Sharp
at Brown Hall, 30 Gainsborough St, Boston (New England Conservatory/Fenway)
FREE

"Elliott Sharp is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer." The CV goes on from there... I know him as an incredible guitarist who has a modern-classical/experimental, rock, and jazz pedigree. After a couple "master classes" with the Conservatory student, he'll perform 2 sets with some of the students for mainly improvisational music. And this won't be Grateful Dead jams...

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FRI 9/19

Masscann/Norml Awards
Feat: Before The Rise, Gutter Heads, The Force, SuperPower, Sullee, Will Dailey, Robby Roadsteamer
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 advance / $12 day of show / 18+

Peter Tosh sang, "Legalize it!" Maybe we can start with "decriminalize it."

FRI 9/19

9:30pm
The Konks, Black Time, Static Static, Hospital Rats
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
$12

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SAT 9/20

Noon to 1:30pm
MP3EXP
Somewhere in Boston
FREE

SAT 9/20

High Noon to 6PM
2008 MassCann/NORML Boston Freedom Rally
at Boston Common, Boston
FREE

Feat: Graveyard BBQ, Prospect Hill, The Andwutz, DJ Slim, Herbal Nation, Fred Shafer, Sullee, Gutter Heads, Northern Pike and more

SAT 9/20

9:30pm
Basia Bulat, Eksi Ekso, Mr. Sister, Goli
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

SAT 9/20 & SUN 9/21

10am to 6pm
Boston Zine Fair
at Art Institute of Boston, 601 Newbury St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE

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Links of the Week:

Looking for free wi-fi?

Ladies, don't say I never do anything for you... There was an article in the Globe about a class-action settlement regarding cosmetics. You could get some free stuff (up to $25) in January, but I might forget to tell you.

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Quote of the Week:

"Though force can protect in emergency, only justice, fairness, consideration and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn of eternal peace."

-- Dwight D. Eisenhower

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th-th-that's all, folks.

~r

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RIP, David Foster Wallace. "Infinite Jest" was an awesome month with your writing. I think the fictionalized Boston enriched my love for the real version.

Cheap Thrills: 8/30 to 9/6

So I hope you have a great long weekend! Am going out for a walk and who knows what else...

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SAT 8/30
* Mighty Mystic, Nomad-I, Black River Sound, Slimpocket
* Basstown presents: DJ Ghostdad & Ryan Durkin, Kingdom, Vision, DJ Die Young, DJ Volvox
* Triple Thick, Boston Babydolls
* "The Kaiju Smackdown"
* Gloucester Schooner Festival -- and SUN 8/31
* 100 Innings -- thru SUN 8/31

SUN 8/31
* Blues Control, Psycho, The Needy Visions
* Georges Rouault, "Mystic Masque: Semblance and Reality": Dessert Reception & Viewing

MON 9/1
* Bread and Roses Labor Day Festival
* Hayride

TUES 9/2
* Zack Hickman's House of Ill Repute
* "Dreamworlds 3": Free Screening
* Laugh Track Comedy Show -- and WED 9/3
* Brimfield Antique Show -- to SUN 9/7
* "Cloud 9" -- to SUN 9/7

WED 9/3
* Esteban Pastorino Diaz, "Shifting Perspectives": Reception & Artist's Talk
* Justice of the Unicorns, Tigers and Monkeys, Spanish Armada, Wild Business
* Films at the Gate 2008 -- to SUN 9/7

THUR 9/4
* "In the Time Before Now: Stories of the Massachuset People"
* Manami Morita @ Free ICA Thursdays
* Big Moves presents: "Queen for a Day II"

FRI 9/5
* Annual "Under The Stars: International Movie Nights"
* "Triple Feature": Night of Photography, Film, and Music
* The Dirty Truckers, The Kickbacks, AM Stereo
* The Tampoffs, Menthols, Black Clouds, The Maintainers
* Annual "Viva la Vinal Festival"
* Boston Charter Day -- to SUN 9/7

SAT 9/6
* Caliente! Latin Festival
* Somerville Rock and Roll Yard Sale
* Magic Christian, Muck and The Mires, Parallel Project, Fox Pass

SUN 9/7
* "Swiss Beach Day at the Charles"

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SAT 8/30

9:30pm
Mighty Mystic, Nomad-I, Black River Sound, Slimpocket
at Bill's Bar, 5.5 Lansdowne Street, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
18+ / $10

Yes, there is really good reggae from Boston. Okay, Mighty Mystic moved to Somerville from Jamaica -- but it still counts!

SAT 8/30

9:30pm
Basstown presents: DJ Ghostdad & Ryan Durkin, Kingdom, Vision, DJ Die Young, DJ Volvox
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 21+

Saturday dance party!

SAT 8/30

10pm
Triple Thick, Boston Babydolls
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
Free-ish

Kick-ass garage-punk and dancing girls entertain at this open bachelor party. I can't imagine the cover would be $5, maybe free -- but you should buy Mitch the Bachelor a shot...

SAT 8/30

10am to 12:30am
"The Kaiju Smackdown"
Papercut Zine Library Movie Marathon Benefit
at The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge
$5-ish

Much like the "Superheroes vs. Monsters and Monster-Heroes" Smackdown about a month ago. Hey, it might rain at some point tomorrow... You've a long weekend to be outside! Maybe you feel like watching some Japanese monster movies and the like.

10am: Return Of The Dinosaurs
11am: Rodan

A Salute to "Mothra the Librarian"

1pm: Mothra
2:30pm: Godzilla Vs. Mothra
4pm: Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster
5:30pm: Ghidrah The 3 Headed Monster

7pm: "Depraved Dave's Cave/Drive-In Dementia 3" -- A Rockin' Collection of Trailers and Musical Montages spotlighting dime-store dinosaurs and cut-rate prehistoric worlds!

All Night Ape Action

8pm: King Kong Escapes
9:30pm: The Mighty Peking Man
11pm: Super Simian

(I might avoid "Super Simian" aka "King Dong"; it's a cheap porn-parody of King Kong from the '80s with stop-motion effects.)

SAT 8/30 and SUN 8/31

Various Times
Gloucester Schooner Festival
around Gloucester Harbor
FREE

Yes, there are races out there, but mainly a bunch of beautiful ships out there. And lots of festival-type stuff on land. There's a fireworks display over the harbor on Saturday around 9:15pm (following the Boat Parade). There's more to Gloucester than fertile teens!

SAT 8/30 thru SUN 8/31

9am until ???
100 Innings
at Adams Field, Merrymount Parkway, Quincy (closest T: Wollaston?)
FREE to watch

As part of Curt Schilling's effort to strike out ALS, a bunch of
different teams will play 100 innings of non-stop baseball (and softball). If you show in the middle of the night, they'll be playing! (Players collect donations like walkathons, etc.)

I wonder if Shonda is freaking out about all that sun exposure...?

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SUN 8/31

7pm to 9pm
Georges Rouault, "Mystic Masque: Semblance and Reality": Dessert
Reception & Viewing
at McMullen Museum of Art, Devlin Hall, 140 Comm Ave, Chestnut Hill
FREE

Yes, it says "dessert reception". This seems to be a massive exhibit of this Fauvist painter. The school's jazz ensemble, BC bOp!, (I didn't make up the name) will also play while you're enjoying art and/or treats. There may even be prize opportunities...

SUN 8/31

9:30pm
Blues Control, Psycho, The Needy Visions
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE / 21+

Wild psychedelic, hardcore, and garage rock -- but you might have Monday off...

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MON 9/1

Noon to 7pm
Bread and Roses Labor Day Festival
at Lawrence Common, about 200 Common St, Lawrence
FREE

Celebrate Labor Day in one of the historic sites of the Labor movement! All sorts of music, dance, activities, presentations, and food will abound all over the Common.

I'd be cusious to see Rosalie Sorrels (2:45pm), who has been called the "hillbilly Edith Piaf"...

MON 9/1

9:30pm
Hayride
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
FREE

Jimmy Ryan is the leader of the Hayride project, and trust me, this is an excellent band. Ryan is like the Jimi Hendrix of mandolin -- while still sounding somewhat bluegrass.

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TUES 9/2

9pm
Zack Hickman's House of Ill Repute
Feat: Miss Tess, Chris O'Brien, Charlie Rose, Ryan Fitzsimmons
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between
Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$5 / 21+

Zack Hickman used to do a music "variety show" at Club Passim a few years ago, and it's being revived at Lizard Lounge.

TUES 9/2

7pm to 8:30pm
"Dreamworlds 3: Desire, Sex & Power in Music Video": Film Screening
at Room 120, Bldg 6, 182 Memorial Drive (Rear), Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

Seems like an academic version of of an expose on "video vixens" -- but with a gender studies angle... (There will be nudity & profanity, so that's a plus!)

TUES 9/2 & WED 9/3

9pm
Laugh Track Comedy Show
Tuesday: at Durty Nelly's, 108 Blackstone St, Boston (Haymarket)
Wednesday: at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
$5

Most of these guys are very funny -- especially Ken Reid! You can tell him I said that.

TUES 9/2: Ken Reid, PJ Westin, Shane Mauss, Josh Gondelman, Dan Crohn,
Bigg Nez, Rob Crean, Tim Vargulish, Tim Wilding

WED 9/3: Shane Mauss, Ken Reid, Renata Tutko, Nate Johnson, Tom E.
Morrello, Maria Ciampa, Matt Wilding, Rob Crean

TUES 9/2 to SUN 9/7

All Day
Brimfield Antique Show
at Brimfield Fairgrounds, take Mass Pike West to Route 20 West (Exit 9), Brimfield
Most FREE, some $5

Every year this little Western MA town becomes engorged with antique sellers and hunters. Quite a spectacle, and you may spend a lot of money -- or find the deal of your life!

TUES 9/2 to SUN 9/7

8pm (SUN: 2pm)
"Cloud 9"
at Zack Box Theatre, Downstairs, 8 The Fenway, Boston (Boston Conservatory)
FREE

The students are coming back, and free theatre abounds:

A hilarious take-no-prisoners assault on hypocrisy, Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine is a whirlwind tour from 1880s Africa to 2008 London, confronting colonial and sexual repression with a gender-bent cast of characters who traverse 128 years while aging only 25.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WED 9/3

6pm
Esteban Pastorino Diaz, "Shifting Perspectives": Reception & Artist's Talk
at Grossman Gallery, School of MFA, 230 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

There's more to Pastorino Diaz than his aerial photographs, but it's really mind-blowing stuff. You initially think you're looking really cool miniatures, but there's an excitement as you look more closely... This engineer-turned-photographer will be here from Argentina to give a talk at 7pm.

WED 9/3

9:30pm
Justice of the Unicorns, Tigers and Monkeys, Spanish Armada, The Wild Business
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 advance /$9 dos / 18+

Ryan's Smashing Life presents four very good bands! I love Justice of the Unicorns & Tigers and Monkeys, who share some band members! The Spanish Armada remind me of Nick Cave and Magnetic Fields.

WED 9/3 to SUN 9/7

7:30pm
Films at the Gate 2008
at Vacant Lot near Chinatown Gate, about 10 Hudson St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

An annual series of 5 nights of kung-fu movies al fresco. Seats are first-come, first-serve; but feel free to bring your own. All movies will have English subtitles with the original Chinese audio.

WED 9/3: My Young Auntie
"A kung fu smackdown and wacky comedy"

THUR 9/4: Police Story
"Jackie Chan's first big contemporary hit set a new standard for modern action films. Directed by & Starring Jackie Chan."

FRI 9/5: "Red Heroine" w/ live music soundtrack by Devil Music Ensemble
"This silent film from 1929 is the oldest complete swordplay (wuxia) film in existence."

SAT 9/6: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
"When people talk about old school kung fu movies—they mean this one."
(A Major Influence on Wu Tang Clan!)

SUN 9/7: My guess -- Iron Monkey: The Young Wong Fei Hong
"We can't announce the title of Sunday night's film just yet. Here's a hint: a kung fu comedy about the childhood of one of China's most famous martial arts heroes, this film features Boston's Donnie Yen."

Sunday's film will be preceded by a performance by Bow Sim Mark Tai Chi Arts Association & Rick Wong's Chinese Martial Arts.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THUR 9/4

7pm to 8pm
"In the Time Before Now: Stories of the Massachuset People"
at Abbey Room, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Feather-on-the-Moon, Gill Solomon, Sachem of the Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, will tell stories of the creation of the earth, the Native people's relationship with nature and their traditional ways of life.

If you get there early, there's a reception in the Boston Room at 5:30pm for the new exhibit, "Native Americans in the Time Before Now: Perceptions from Boston and Beyond".

Part of the multi-day celebration of "Boston Charter Day".

THUR 9/4

6pm
Manami Morita
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

Berklee students/faculty/etc have been playing concerts every free Thursday night when it's free to get in. Free jazz outside + free art inside = cultural experience that's worth way more than you paid. Japanese-born Manami Morita leads her jazz quartet behind the keyboard. If you don't like the music, go in and check out the Anish Kapoor exhibit. This is your last free chance to see it before closing on Sunday, 9/7. If you don't like the wild sculpture, you still walked around the harborfront on a summer night.

THUR 9/4

9pm
Big Moves: "Queen for a Day II"
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 advance / $10 door / 21+

"An all-Queen revue featuring burlesque, bellydance and a band celebrating Freddie Mercury's Birthday" with Gunpowder Gelatine, an all-female Queen tribute band, as well as Babes in Boinkland and Johnny Blazes.

"Birthday cake will be served at midnight."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FRI 9/5

7pm
Annual "Under The Stars: International Movie Nights"
at Parking Lot, Behind the Old Fire Station, 165 Broadway, Somerville
(East Somerville)
FREE

East Somerville Main Streets presents a free international cinematic street party with live Brazilian Bossa Nova music, DJ Vector, and more.

Movie, "Deus E Brasileiro (God is Brazilian)", starts at 8pm

FRI 9/5

7pm to 11pm
"Triple Feature": Night of Photography, Film, and Music
at The Marston, 155 Middlesex Street, Lowell
FREE

FRI 9/5

Door 8pm
The Dirty Truckers (11:30pm), The Kickbacks (10:30pm), AM Stereo (9:30pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

FRI 9/5

The Tampoffs (11:45pm), Menthols (10:45pm), Black Clouds (9:45pm), The Maintainers (9pm)
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
FREE

The Weekly Dig has put everyone on the guest list...

FRI 9/5 and SAT 9/6

4pm to 10pm
Annual "Viva la Vinal Festival"
at Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE, donations accepted

The third year of musicians, comedians, storytellers.

THUR 9/4 to SUN 9/7

Various Times
Boston Charter Day
Various Locations
FREE

There's an emphasis on Native American history this year.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SAT 9/6

4pm to 8pm
Caliente! Latin Festival
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

SAT 9/6

3pm to 7pm
Somerville Rock and Roll Yard Sale
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

Pretty much what it sounds like: Rock stuff for sale like records, CD's, memorabilia, old tongue piercings...

SAT 9/6

9:30pm
Magic Christian, Muck and The Mires, Parallel Project, Fox Pass
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 advance / $10 day of show / 18+

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SUN 9/7

2pm to 5pm
"Swiss Beach Day at the Charles"
at Weeks pedestrian bridge, Memorial Drive side, near Dewolf St, Cambridge
FREE

I don't get what's going on – yet...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Links of the Week:

I don't remember how I stumbled on this site, but it's a not-yet-comprehensive database of the folks that are in the kitchens
of the world. When you go to a restaurant, you can find out who made your tasty meal.

My friend, Ryan, turned me on to the "Not For Tourists" book series on a visit to New York. When a Boston edition came out, I bought one and carry it with me almost everyday. Now I find out that PDF's of the whole book is available online! Every city they publish!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Quote of the Week:

"I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

th-th-that's all, folks.

~r

Cheap Thrills: 8/16 to 8/23

Hey -- there's still time to have some fun... Plenty of outdoor ethnic food and culture, but the the food is the main thing... Italian, Chinese, Indian...

--------------------------------------------------------------

SAT 8/16
* +/-, Broken River Prophet, Animal Hospital, Ba-Na-Nas
* Field Trip #6
* Cambridge Discovery Days
* KC and The Sunshine Band, Ball in the House
* Fisherman's Feast -- and SUN 8/17
* "Romeo and Juliet" -- and SUN 8/17
* "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" -- and SUN 8/17
* Bicycle Film Festival -- and SUN 8/17

SUN 8/17
* August Moon Festival
* India Day
* Ryan Lee Crosby, Tony The Bookie, Mr. Sister, Mike Fiore
* "Visionaries, Radical Thinkers, and Agents of Change": Walking Tour

MON 8/18
* "The Big Lebowski" Bowling Party Extravaganza
* Bitches Brew w/ Terkel Noergaard

TUES 8/19
* Neil Cleary's Doozy w/ James Kochalka Superstar, David Kamm, Jesse Popp, MC Mr. Napkins, The Artificial Hearts
* Peter Mulvey
* The Sneaks

WED 8/20
* Alice Hunter: Puppet Show & "Vertigo"
* Ikea Crayfish Party

THUR 8/21
* Old-time Baseball Game
* Inman Under The Stars: Movie Night & Neighborhood Social

FRI 8/22
* Bike Fridays
* Chris Wilhelm
* Jabe Beyer and The One-Night Stands
* Baker, Marc Pinansky, George Lewis Jr., Drug Rug, American Car, The Needy Visions
* The Figgs w/ John Powhida -- and SAT 8/23

SAT 8/23
* Project MUM: Somerville's Final Frontier
* Boston Caribbean Carnival

SUN 8/24
* Cambridge Carnival

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SAT 8/16 and SUN 8/17

Happy "Tax Holiday" weekend!

SAT 8/16

10am to 5:30pm
Cambridge Discovery Days
at Various Locations around Cambridge
FREE

Learn about Cambridge History in approximately one hour tours/presentations... Check out the schedule [PDF] for something that interests you.

SAT 8/16

4pm to 6:30ish
Field Trip #6
Feat: Nmperign, Baba Yaga, Earth People Orchestra, Dan Blakeslee, The Accident That Led Me To The World
meet at Green Street T Stop, about 150 Green St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

The last Field Trip! Listen to good music, take a little walk, listen to more good music, take a little walk. Repeat.

SAT 8/16

7pm to 9:30pm
KC and The Sunshine Band, Ball in the House
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

Disco party by the river!

SAT 8/16

9pm
+/-, Broken River Prophet, Animal Hospital, Ba-Na-Nas
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 advance / $10 day of show / 18+

+/- and Broken River Prophet are very good. Both put care into their sound to make something that sounds different whether it lives near indie-rock or Americana. Am not so excited by Animal Hospital and Ba-Na-Nas.

BUT there's a Cupcake Happy Hour from 9pm to 10pm (while supplies last) from Somerville's Kickass Cupcakes!!

SAT 8/16 and SUN 8/17

Noon to 11pm
Fisherman's Feast
about 300 North St, Boston (North End)
FREE

Italian food and entertainment.

SAT 8/16 to SUN 8/17

7pm (Sun: 4pm)
"Romeo and Juliet"
at Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE

A newish group called "The Lonesome Coyote Theater" presents a minimalist outdoor production of the classic play with no set or costumes. Does true love really need that stuff?

Update: I went Thursday night, and this was exceptionally good! The way it's presented brings the play to life in a way that speaks to a contemporary audience. Tip: Bring a blanket or lawn chairs.

(Unfortunately when they said "no costumes", the women were still wearing clothes...)

"To check on weather cancellations, call: 978-314-6403"

SAT 8/16 and SUN 8/17

8pm (SUN: 3pm)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
at Boston Playwrights Theatre, 949 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
FREE

Yes, I know. More free Shakespeare, but this is a funny retooling of all his plays in about 97 minutes. This play is supposed to be hilarious, and the people putting it on have done some very cool projects in the past (and are doing this and will do more cool plays)...

No reservations are needed, but seating is limited. At least it can't be rained out.

SAT 8/16 to SUN 8/17

1pm (SUN: 11:30am)
Bicycle Film Festival
at Various Locations
$10 per program

The national Bicycle Film Festival is in town for the first time. All sorts of of bikes and biking are represented in various programs of shorts usually followed by a long-form. There's a dance/rock party at Great Scott tonight. While no films are screening on Sunday, there's a free ride and brunch.

SAT 8/16

1pm
"Road to Roubaix"
4pm
"Pedal"
6:30pm
"Fun Bike Shorts"
9pm
"Urban Bike Shorts"
at Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (Seaport/South Boston) $10 each

10pm
"Bikes Rock!" After Party
Team Robespierre, Truman Peyote, DJ Etan, DJ Mark Pearson
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$8 (FREE w/ BFF Ticket) / 21+

SUN 8/17

11:30am
Urban Bike Ride & Bike-in Brunch
start at Christian Science Center Plaza, 175 Huntington Ave, Boston
to Grand, 374 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

If you want to go on a ride around Boston, it appears a free meal is waiting at the end...

Valet bicycle parking provided by MassBike at screenings.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SUN 8/17

10am to 5pm
August Moon Festival
near Chinatown Gateway, about 50 Harrison Ave, Boston
FREE to walk around and watch

Chinese food and entertainment. Try a mooncake!

SUN 8/17

4pm to 9pm
India Day
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE to walk around and watch

Indian food and entertainment. A little light on the arts & crafts in years past, but who knows -- if that's your sort of thing...

SUN 8/17

4pm to 6pm
"Visionaries, Radical Thinkers, and Agents of Change": Walking Tour
meet at Main Gate, Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave, Jamaica Plain
$9

People have beng dying around here for centuries. First it was the Pequots and the Wampanoags and so on. In the last four centuries, there have been the immigrants from around the world, and many are remembered historically. Others quietly live on through the influence of their above-ground endeavors and ideas. Forest Hills is a 'resting place' for many influential Americans since the 1800's. It's a beautiful place to walk around without a guide (free, btw), but I think it might be interesting to hear the stories of "abolitionists, suffragists, educators and spiritualists – as well as pioneering inventors, philosophers and artists..."

Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; this is a 2-hour walk (with frequent stops) over varied terrain.

SUN 8/17

10pm
Ryan Lee Crosby & Friends
Feat: Tony The Bookie, Mr. Sister, Mike Fiore
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Plenty of excellent acoustic music.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

MON 8/18

7pm
"The Big Lebowski" Bowling Party Extravaganza
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline
$9.75

Having a Lebowski party behind a movie theatre isn't the same as a bowling alley (like Kings last month), but this is the best damn Monday night fun to be had. After pre-gaming with some White Russians, this will get even better... Prizes will be awarded for best costume (a crowd of Dudes, Walters, and Jesuses... "Jesi...?") and Big Lebowski trivia knowledge. Other contests in previos years have included (and why not have them again?): "most convincing nihilist quip" (whip out the Nietzsche books and Cure CD's), "most impassioned Walter rant", and "toy bowling".

This movie is hilarious the first time you watch it, and there are a million things to make you laugh everytime you see it -- just ask anyone here at the 'Big Lebowski' Party. Most of them could quote all the dialogue to you before the movie starts, but there’s other fun stuff to do. The movie will start around 8pm -- depending on when they can corral the audience into the theatre.

Can a cult classic be a masterpiece? It doesn't matter. The Dude abides...

MON 8/18

9:30pm to Midnight
Bitches Brew w/ Terkel Noergaard
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$5

There's something cool about a drummer from Denmark jamming with our local electric Miles Davis -- and reaching back to the classic 50's/60's period.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TUES 8/19

9pm
Neil Cleary's Doozy, James Kochalka Superstar, David Kamm, Jesse Popp, MC Mr. Napkins, The Artificial Hearts
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Of Neil Cleary, I liked this snippet from All Music Guide; I'd want to say something similar:

Look at it this way: y’know that guy that all of Aimee Mann and Liz Phair’s breakup songs are about? Okay, imagine if he wrote those songs about himself, but he didn’t quite get what they were so ticked off about: that’s a fair approximation of the lyrical thrust of this album. John Hiatt, Nick Lowe and Randy Newman have all toyed with this persona as well, and echoes of all three waft through these dozen rootsy power pop tunes.

James Kochalka is a cartoonist from Burlington, VT; but he wrote one of my favorite songs called "Hockey Monkey". It's truly a gem! It should be a fun show with some comedy, some more music, and a funny musician (MC Mr. Napkins)

TUES 8/19

9:30pm to Midnight
Peter Mulvey
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
$10

WTF? There's almost never a cover at Atwoods! Well, Peter Mulvey is passing through town and he's worth it. Apparently this songwriter spent a couple years in Boston and often played in the T. (He recorded a whole CD of cover songs at the Davis Sq station in '01.) You might not have tipped him, so pay up for a night of songs from his rich rasp over sweet guitar work.

TUES 8/19

10pm
The Sneaks
at Middle East - Corner, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

There's some free pop-rock too.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

WED 8/20

6:30 pm
Alice Hunter: Puppet Show & "Vertigo"
at Raymond Park, about 200 Upland Rd, Cambridge (near Porter Sq)
FREE

Anything that is preceded by a puppet show makes me laugh, even if it's a Hitchcock movie. The brief description I read said it's "an interactive, aquatic puppet show" followed by cartoons and the film.

Rain Date: WED 8/27

WED 8/20

6pm to 9pm
All-you-can-eat Crayfish Party
at Ikea Restaurant & Cafe, upper level, 1 Ikea Way, Stoughton
$9.99 / $4.99 Ages 12 and under

Not much cheap fun going on tonight, so this is for those hungry on the South Shore and/or need some furniture. Besides crayfish, there will be "cheeses, crispbread, and soup or salad." (And you have to think Swedish meatballs too, right?)

Beverages and dessert not included. (Adult beverages also available.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THUR 8/21

7pm
Old-Time Baseball
at St. Peter's Field, 57 Sherman St, Cambridge (near Fresh Pond)
FREE

A vintage baseball game was put together during the '94 baseball strike, and it's become an annual event. It's a casual evening of baseball with college players and occasionally a retired pro playing in vintage-style uniforms from various teams and eras.

I went last year and had a great time. I did talk to Johnny Pesky (one of the team managers) after the game, and he was awesome. People flocked to him, but he easily obliged my autograph request. "It won't buy you a cup of coffee," he said. Pesky is scheduled to be one of the managers again, and Lou Merloni is going to play.

A corporate sponsorship presents the game and will make a charitable donation to the Todd J. Schwartz Memorial Fund, which supports the Jimmy Fund Clinic. The concession proceeds might benefit the cause too; the sausage was darn good last year... It's not a bad idea to bring a blanket or a chair.

Raindate: FRI 8/22

THUR 8/21

6pm to 11pm
Inman Under The Stars: Movie Night & Neighborhood Social
at the East Cambridge Savings Bank's parking lot, 1310 Cambridge St., , between Hampshire and Cambridge Streets (Inman Sq)
FREE

They can't say it, but the hint is so obvious that it's Star Wars. It better be, because none of the 3 prequels could be described as "an inter-galactic adventure loved by all!" Performers from ImprovBoston's "Henchmen" show will be goofing around Inman Sq before the movie, and they do have some sci-fi material. The screening begins around 8pm, and there should be free popcorn and bottled water...

In case of rain, the event will be canceled.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FRI 8/22

6:45am
Bike Friday
from Various Points in the Area to City Hall Plaza, Boston
FREE

If you are hesitant about riding your bicycle to work, this might be a good time to try it out. It won't get much safer than guided convoys escorted by Boston Police. They did this last month, and no one died...

Take a look at the map to see the closest starting point to you:
- Newton, Brookline, Watertown
- Lexington, Arlington, Somerville, Cambridge
- Dorchester
- West Roxbury, Roslindale
- Brighton, Allston
- Jamaica Plain

There's a free breakfast at City Hall Plaza and some kind of bike expo.

Advance registration appreciated.

FRI 8/22

10pm
Chris Wilhelm
at Middle East - Corner, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

FRI 8/22

10pm
Jabe Beyer and The One-Night Stands
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

FRI 8/22

9:30pm
Band In Boston Residency
Feat: Baker, Marc Pinansky, George Lewis Jr, Drug Rug, American Car, The Needy Visions
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$7 -- 21+ / $10 -- 18+

FRI 8/22 and SAT 8/23

9:30pm
The Figgs w/ John Powhida
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SAT 8/23

9pm - 1am
Project MUM: Somerville's Final Frontier
under the McGrath Highway (Union Sq)
$10 suggested donation

"Open-air dance party under McGrath Highway becomes an intergalactic space odyssey featuring 4 hours of music led by DJ Flack and DJ Yamin."

SAT 8/23

1pm to 7pm
Boston Caribbean Carnival Parade
from MLK Blvd to Franklin Park, Dorchester (Seaver St / Blue Hill Ave side)
FREE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SUN 8/24

Noon to 6pm
Cambridge Carnival Parade
from Central Sq to Kendall Sq, Mass Ave to about 450 Main St, Cambridge
FREE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Links of the Week:

I didn't do it right, but friends of mine have made faces on the latest internet time-waster.

What is going on in Georgia.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Quote of the Week:

"It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace."

-- Andre Gide

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

th-th-that's all, folks.

~r

Cheap Thrills: SAT 8/2 to SAT 8/9

So I coerced a co-worker to drive to the Newmarket industrial park (near the South Bay shopping center) to eat a giant hot dog from Speed's Hot Dog Wagon yesterday. I can happily report there is a hot dog that's
actually worth $7 -- it was about 10 hours before I was hungry again...

Oh... there's was an English playwright named Bill. If you go outside, you might see someone doing something at sometime that's by or about him.

--------------------------------------------------------------

SAT 8/2
* Annual Celebrate Shakespeare Day
* Peace Hip Hop Festival
* Field Trip #5
* "Mixology: A 16 Count Dance Infusion"
* Casey Desmond, Jason Miles Goss, Danny Gallagher
* The Wonderful Spells
* Shakespeare in the Square Festival -- to SUN 8/3
* "As You Like It": Shakespeare in the Park -- to SUN 8/3

SUN 8/3
* "Tutto Italiano"
* Davis Square Community Yard Sale
* Magic People, Animal Hospital, Filia Motsa

MON 8/4
* Vivian Girls, Yoni Gordon & His Goods, Crystal Stilts, Paparazzi
* Steven Greenman & Walter Mahovlich
* "No More Bush Tour"

TUES 8/5
* The Duke Spirit, The December Sound, Jeddo Stars
* Free Franklin Park Zoo Night
* Pinchbottom Burlesque Show

WED 8/6
* "Back to the Beaches" at Spectacle Island
* The Interiors, MEandJOANCOLLINS, The Motion Sick, The Lights Out
* The Rowan Brothers
* "Opera Highlights"

THUR 8/7
* Free Neighborhood Nights at the Gardner Museum
* Mary Lou Lord, Elizabeth Butters, Organs
* First Thursdays in JP
* Brattle Theatre Trivia Night
* Big Lebowski Party

FRI 8/8
* Superhoney
* "Men In Black": Free Outdoor Screening
* The Everyday Visuals, Hooray for Earth, Passion Pit, Harris, Thick as Thieves
* Eilen Jewell
* "Moby Dick: Then and Now"
* VidFest: High Performance Music Festival
* "Hooked On Who!" -- thru SUN 8/10

SAT 8/9
* Tango by Moonlight
* "La Strada": Free Screening & Discussion
* Futures At Fenway
* Cambridge Discovery Days -- and SAT 8/16

--------------------------------------------------------------

SAT 8/2

2pm to 6pm
Annual Celebrate Shakespeare Day
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boson (Boston Common)
FREE

There's little info readily available, but:

...open to participants of all ages. ...a free multi-faceted event featuring workshops, performances, backstage tours, games, and lectures for the public to enjoy and learn more about the works of William Shakespeare.

Past workshops have included: voice projection, stage-fighting, stage death techniques (naturally follows stage-fighting)...

If you happen to be early to the actual play, there's other stuff going on.

SAT 8/2

4pm to 8pm
Peace Hip Hop Festival
Feat: EPMD, Chubb Rock, Das EFX
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

This is a pretty darn good line-up of early hip-hop. You should check it out to hear what every subsequent rapper has copied. ("Chickitty-check yourself before you wreck yourself" anyone?) Also performing are local rappers and dance troupes: Akrobatik, Esoteric, Static Noyze, Status Quo.

SAT 8/2

4pm to 6:15pm
Field Trip #5
Feat: Drug Rug, The Earth People Orchestra, Good Night & Good Morning, A.P. Swearengin
meet at Green Street T Stop, about 150 Green St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

There are 4 groups, but only 3 sets since the two bands from Illinois (Good Night & Good Morning and A.P. Swearengin) are sharing a set. Listen to some music. Drug Rug is top-notch. Take a walk with the hipsters around JP. Big thumbs up!

I went to the first Field Trip. Good times...

SAT 8/2

5pm to 8pm
"Mixology: A 16 Count Dance Infusion"
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St , Bow St)
FREE

A gaggle of local dance companies will probably make Union Sq look like a giant scene from "Fame" for a few hours. Pretty heady stuff. All types of dance will be performed and differents are going to collaborate. It's a good thing there are a couple bars near by -- to catch your breath from dance-mania...

Musical Guests: Jake Hill, Jim Hanft

SAT 8/2

9pm
Casey Desmond, Jason Miles Goss, Danny Gallagher
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Casey Desmond may not even be 21 yet, but she's getting a lot of seasoning for her impending at on the "big-time". Watch and see -- she's got the whole package and musician-parents. It's doubtful she'll be playing tiny clubs like Lizard Lounge in the future. Jason Myles Goss and Danny Gallagher are no slouches in the singer-songwriter realm either. (It looks like Danny Gallagher is buddy-buddy with the Dropkick Murphys too. I like that he played Tony in "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" at the Park Plaza.)

SAT 8/2

10:30pm
The Wonderful Spells
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

Wonderful Spells have basically been together since kindergarten -- they're related and childhood friends -- so they've had a lot of time to work on honing their power-pop. It's all the right influences distilled splendidly.

SAT 8/2 and SUN 8/3

Various Times
Shakespeare in the Square Festival
at Winthrop Park, corner of JFK St & Mount Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

American Repertory Theater, Actors' Shakespeare Project, and Revels team up to fill the area with a boat load of Shakespearian entertainment and fun including a production of "Love's Labour's Lost". I assume they're closing down the street, because Winthrop Park is tiny...(?)

Who are the Orion Sword Dancers? I guess they're friends of the Revels folks who dance... with swords...

Schedule:

SAT 8/2
* 2:45pm to 4:15pm: Music: Renaissonics
* 4:30pm to 5:15pm: "Shakespeare Slams"
* 7:30pm to 10pm: "Love's Labour's Lost"

SUN 8/3
* 1:30pm to 3:30pm: Commonwealth Morris Men (around Harvard Sq)
* 3pm to 5:30pm: "Love's Labour's Lost"
* 5pm to 7pm: Orion Sword Dancers (around Harvard Sq)
* 6pm to 7:30pm: Music: Tapestry, Tom Zajack Trio
* 7:45pm to 8:30pm: "Shakespeare Slams"

SAT 8/2 and SUN 8/3

8pm (SUN: 7pm)
"As You Like It": Shakespeare in the Park
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boson (Boston Common)
FREE

The annual Free Shakespeare performances are really one of the best gifts to the city, so we should appreciate it and take in a performance.

It's one of the Bard's sylvan love stories, which the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will twist it in their way as they usually do each year. From what I can tell, it looks like the sets will be reinterpreted in a 40's style.

The last weekend of free Shakespeare! (at least, this production of free Shakespeare...)

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SUN 8/3

10am to 4pm
"Tutto Italiano"
at Larz Anderson Museum, 15 Newton St, Brookline
$10 (includes Museum admission) / $5 seniors, students, ages 6 - 12

There should be "...over 200+ exotic Italian cars". That should be enough for you to make up your mind.

If you want a Ducati motorcycle, the raffle winner will be picked today, so you probably can still buy a ticket if you go ($25).

SUN 8/3

11am to 3pm
Davis Square Community Yard Sale
at Hodgkins Park, about 100 Holland St, Somerville (near Teele Sq)
FREE-ish

If you buy stuff, it will benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

All are encouraged to bring stuff for fun in the park. Info is available on LiveJournal and Facebook.

SUN 8/3

9pm
Magic People, Animal Hospital, FiliaMotSa
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

Who knows what sort of configuration might appear as Magic People, but it's compelling semi-industrial, anti noise evocative tales of ppeculiarity. Animal Hospital is a guy who surrounds himself with a bunch of instruments and makes very quiet, minimalist sounds. FiliaMotSa is a driving violin and drum duo from France. (That's right, violin and drums.)

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MON 8/4

9:30pm
Vivian Girls, Yoni Gordon & His Goods, Crystal Stilts, Paparazzi
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$7 / 18+

MON 8/4

7pm
Steven Greenman & Walter Mahovlich
at LilyPad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10

It's a klezmer party with a clarinetist and violinist who really know how to bring Eastern European style. I'm not kidding -- put on your gypsy dancing shoes even if it is an early show.

MON 8/4

8pm
"No More Bush Tour"
Feat: Sunburned Hand of the Man, Jack Rose, Valerie Webber, 50 Foot Women w/ Axolotl, Byron Coley, Bill Nace w/ Kate Village, Zaika, Damon Krukowski, Bobb Trimble
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+

Think of it as an early celebration. Organized by Byron Coley of Ecstatic Peace Records. The highlights of the show will probably be Jack Rose, Bobb Trimble, and Sunburned Hand of the Man.

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TUES 8/5

The Duke Spirit (11pm), The December Sound (10pm), Jeddo Stars (9:05pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

This is what I wrote about The Duke Spirit in April: "I don't know if The Duke Spirit will make major waves in the music world, but they whip out a bluesy, alternative rock with a charismatic frontwoman. They've already opened for REM and Queens of the Stone Age, and they're going on tour with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club."

They rocked on "The Tonight Show" a couple weeks ago, so who knows where they'll be next time in Boston. (It was also TT's in April...) The December Sound and Jeddo Stars (new band of Ellie Vee, ex-Charms) provide ample support.

TUES 8/5

5pm to 8pm
National Night Out Celebration
at Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd, Dorchester
FREE

Go to the zoo for free on the city's dime (the police? a national grant? whatever). Free hot dogs and soft drinks. Plenty o' entertainment and kids' activities.

TUES 8/5

9pm to 1am
Pinchbottom Burlesque Show
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

I don't know why we have to import our burlesque from NYC, but Pinchbottom cofounder Nasty Canasta is from Boston. (I hear she does an impressive tribute to the Red Sox.) It'll probably be a fun show at the Beehive where the ambiance is bohemian -- and the drink prices are South-End-normal but overpriced for the average drinker.

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WED 8/6

10am to 1pm
"Back to the Beaches"
Meet at Gate C (Mass Bay Lines), Rowes Wharf, Boston (Waterfront)
FREE w/ RSVP

Take a day trip to Boston Harbor's Spectacle Island. A great activity for someone on vacation and staying in town.

RSVP at: mail@tbha.org

WED 8/6

The Interiors (Midnight), MEandJOANCOLLINS (11pm), The Motion Sick (10pm), The Lights Out (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston
FREE / 21+

The Motion Sick's Residency Night #1 is pretty darn impressive. If not this week, I'd go on 8/27 when The Motion Sick are joined by Mieka Pauley and Brendan Boogie Band. But this is a really good lineup.

WED 8/6

7pm - Doors Open
The Rowan Brothers
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$9 advance / $10door / 21+

Our version of the Everly Brothers, the Rowans moved to San Francisco in the 70's. Opened for the Grateful Dead... Released a few albums... They still make beautiful music together.

WED 8/6

7pm
"Opera Highlights"
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

Boston Landmarks Orchestra gets together with Boston Lyric Opera; performing famous excerpts from Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffmann", Dvorak's "Rusalka", Mozart's "Don Giovanni".

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THUR 8/7

5pm to 8pm
Neighborhood Nights
at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

It's the last of the 3 free summer nights with music and activities. Even if you don't like the art and are nonplussed by the garden and architecture (hard to imagine), it's cultural veggies -- good for you whether you like it or not. And you didn't pay to get in...

This week's theme is "Dance the Lion" (as in China, future Olympic gold medal-winners):

- Make rice dough animals.
- Furrow your brow on ancient Chinese tangram puzzles.
- Try not to attack vocal jazz group Syncopation. (Not my bag.)
- Check out the dancing lion style of Gund Kwok dance troupe.

And don't forget to check out the current exhibit, "Luisa Rabbia: Travels with Isabella", that's inspired by Isabella's time in China.

THUR 8/7

10pm
Mary Lou Lord, Elizabeth Butters, Organs
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5

THUR 8/7

6pm to 8pm
"First Thursdays"
around Centre St and South St, Jamaica Plain
FREE

This seems like a good chance to walk around and peek into a about 30 storefronts to view art exhibits in all sorts of media. There's an "Artisan Fair" on the lawn of the Curtis Hall Community Center (20 South St) features members of the Boston Handmade artist group.

See some art. Hear some music. Maybe support an artisan. Maybe have an ice cream.

Unfortunately this might be the last First Thursday of the season.

THUR 8/7

9pm
Trivia Night
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$6

Movie trivia night at the movie theater. Brilliant!

Teams of 2 to 6 players or individuals who wish to compete can email now to register. Individuals will be grouped together to form ad-hoc teams. A special prize will be given to the team with the best name.

See here for RSVP instructions.

THUR 8/7

9pm
Big Lebowski Party
at Kings, 50 Dalton St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE w/ RSVP

I don't know what to say about this event besides, "The Big Lebowski!" Such an awesome flick. It's hard to believe people have been maniacally quoting this movie for only 10 years... I always thought Kings was a strangely shaped at lit place, but hey -- it's a night of free bowling and pool. Try your hand (and ball) at a "bowling strike contest", and there will be a prize for best Lebowski character costume.

I saw this advertised in the Metro, so I imagine it'll be crowded. (A line may develop...)

RSVP to Meghan at: mharrell)(@)(lyonsgroup.com

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FRI 8/8

10pm
Superhoney
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

FRI 8/8

8pm-ish
"Men In Black"
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

FRI 8/8

8pm
The Everyday Visuals, Hooray for Earth, Passion Pit, Harris, Thick as Thieves
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 advance / $12 day of show / 18+

It's a birthday party for Dave of WFNX's New England Product.

FRI 8/8

10pm
Eilen Jewell
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

FRI 8/8

6pm to 8pm
"Moby Dick: Then and Now"
at Senior House Courtyard, 4 Ames Street , Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Performance followed by panel discussion on the production and how it relates to New Media Literacies and the Teacher Strategy Guide material.

(You could pretend to go to the bathroom after the performance...)

FRI 8/8

7:30pm
VidFest: High Performance Music Festival
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St , Bow St)
FREE

"A blitz of art, music, and unusual imagery"

FRI 8/8 to SUN 8/10

10pm
"Hooked On Who"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE w/ RSVP

"Doctor Who" episodes on a bigger screen than you have at home.

FRI 8/8

"Genesis Of The Daleks"
starring Tom Baker, script by Terry Nation [142 min]

SAT 8/9

"The Long Game"
starring Christopher Eccleston and Simon Pegg [45 min]

"Blink and School Reunion"
starring David Tennant [45 min]

SUN 8/10

"Pirate Planet"
starring Tom Baker, script by Douglas Adams [100 min]

See here for RSVP instructions.

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SAT 8/9

7:30pm to 11pm
Tango by Moonlight
over the Charles River, on the Weeks pedestrian bridge, Memorial Drive side, near Dewolf St, Cambridge
FREE

Penultimate session of the season.

SAT 8/9

11am
Elements Of Cinema: "La Strada"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

SAT 8/9

12:05pm
"Futures At Fenway"
at Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston
$5, $10, and up

* Lowell Spinners vs. Hudson Valley Renegades
* Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Charlotte Knights.

In addition to autograph sessions, kids attending the event will be selected randomly throughout the day to participate in a number of exciting activities, such as participating in mascot races and taking part in other on-field activities.

SAT 8/9 (and SAT 8/16)

10am to 5:30pm
Cambridge Discovery Days
at Various Locations around Cambridge
FREE

Various free tours and programs on Cambridge history and culture.

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Links of the Week:

Are you a budding filmmaker, but don't have much to say? You've got 2 more weeks to submit to the 1-Minute Film Festival.

This is like Yelp for your environmental karma.

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Quote of the Week:

"You can write it down just like that: David Ortiz says Manny is a crazy motherf*cker. That guy, he's in his own world, on his own planet. Totally different human being than everyone else."

-- David Ortiz

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th-th-that's all, folks.

~r