Sneak Peek -- SAT 10/4 & SUN 10/5

It should be a great weekend (even though my mother is visiting)...

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

SAT 10/4

8am
Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Grand Opening
above the Big Dig / along the old Artery [PDF map], Boston (North End to Chinatown)
FREE

Someone else said the website's event calendar sucks, and I agree. I'm guessing event guides will be available at the information kiosks. Suffice to say, there will be lots of fun-interesting-informative exhibits or activities or performances happening along the Greenway. There is also a text-message game to play for a prize of some kind...

SAT 10/4

1pm
2008 Ig Informal Lectures
at Room 250, Bldg 10, 222 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

Don't pay to see the actual award show!

A half-afternoon of improbably funny, informative, brief (5 minutes each, plus a few questions & answers with the audience), high-spirited public lectures, in which the new Ig Nobel Prize winners will attempt to explain what they did, and why they did it.

Presented in association with the MIT Press Bookstore

SAT 10/4

5:30pm to 10pm
1st Annual 1-Minute Film Fest
on Palmer Street, Cambridge (alley between Cardullo's and Border Cafe, Harvard Sq)
FREE

Lumen Eclipse requested minute-long submissions for their film festival, and over 100 will be screened. It looks there will be an hour of hanging out with DJ until the unveiling of the shorts begin at 6:30pm. Pants Yell! are going to play 3 15-minute sets that will probably happen at hourly intervals... Funny folks from Union Square Round Table will be MC'ing.

SAT 10/4

4pm to 8pm
"Fireworks on the Mystic"
along the Mystic River waterfront, about 180 Foley St, Somerville (across from the Assembly Sq Marketplace)
FREE

The fireworks should start around 7:30pm, but there'll be plenty of "family- and kid-friendly games and entertainment" beforehand to celebrate the big changes coming to Assembly Square. (I found this image of the plan.)

Redbones will be there; maybe other food vendors too.

SAT 10/4

6pm to 9 pm
Peter Pizzi, "Tea and Sympathy": Opening Reception
at Atlantic Works Gallery, 80 Border St, East Boston
FREE

"Provocative new works in Video, Photos and Dioramas"

SAT 10/4

9pm
TraniWreck: The Benefit Extravaganza
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 21+

Have you been meaning to check out TraniWreck but it's always on a Sunday? Have you been curious about what Big Moves is all about? Or What The Femme Show is? Perhaps you just want to ask Johnny Blazes out on a date? Or ask Heywood Wakefield to cook you dinner? Well, now is your chance to have any and all of these queries answered... WE WILL SATISFY YOU. We've planned an extravagant irreverent and sexually exciting show for you and it's a benefit also!

Performances by: Heywood Wakefield, Becca D'Bus, Frieda Fries, Johnny Blazes, Red Rider, Maggie Crowley, Big Moves, Mel O'Drama, Can Can Revolution, Miss Honey Suckle, Kielbasia (Best Drag Queen with an Accordion).

SAT 10/4

The Swinedells (Midnight), The Dixons (11pm), Arty Hill (10:15pm), Monica Passin (9:45pm), Nate Gibson (9:15pm), Preacher Jack (8pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

A Cow Island Records anniversary showcase.

SAT 10/4

The Noise 27th Anniversary Celebration
Sgt Maxwell's Peace Chorus (11pm), Angeline (10pm), 27 (9pm)
at Cantab Underground / Club Bohemia, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Special guests may include: John Pohida (The Rudds), Frank Rowe (Classic Ruins), Randy Black (Limbo Race), Kelly Knapp & Simon Ritt (The Darlings), David Mirabella (The Rationals)

SAT 10/4

3pm to ?
12th Annual City of Presidents Fall Pub Crawl
meet at Firefly's BBQ, 516 Adams St, Quincy
Cost of your drinks

The best pub crawl I've ever been on. A great crowd of mainly friends, but newcomers are welcome.

The gang will be at Firefly's until about 3:45pm. "Festivities then proceed to Villa Rosa, a longtime Quincy institution that makes its fall crawl debut. We'll be there until about 4:30pm before heading through West Quincy toward the Square." Ten more pubs on deck ending at Tully's.

Be nice! Play by the rules! Put your money in the kitty.

You can e-m-a-i-l quincypubcrawl]> <[yahoo.com for more info.

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

SUN 10/5

10am to 5pm
Baked Fresh: An Indie Music, Arts and Design Festival Feat: Emily Elbert, Tripl3 Crown, Adam Payne, The Sterns, DJ Redd Foxx
at SoWa Open Market, 540 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

I really don't know what the deal is, but I think this is going to be a good time, and there's all the usual weekly arts/crafts/etc vendors (ending 10/26).

Get there early for FREE MAP Boston tote bag filled with "cool shwag". I'm guessing the bands start around 1pm...

SUN 10/5

10:15am
Bow Tie Bike Ride
meet at Cambridge Common, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE

After a two-year hiatus, the bow-tie ride is back. Join us for 14.5 scenic miles by bike, as we circle our bow-tie shaped city's eastern perimeter, tie the knot in the center of Cambridge, then loop around the western border.

This will be a gorgeous Autumn ride, at an easy pace on mostly level terrain. For those looking for a shorter ride, join up at the half-way stop at 11:30 AM at Longfellow Park.

SUN 10/5

Noon to 4PM
Minuteman Bikeway Celebration
begins on Bikeway near Alewife T station to Bedford [PDF map]
FREE

A good day for a bike ride. Refreshments, activities, speakers at 4 locations.

SUN 10/5

6pm
Folktober Festival
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / All Ages

Frank Morey Band w/ Kevin Stevenson (10:30pm), Scarce (9:30pm), Mary Lou Lord (9pm), Kelsey Bennett (8:20pm), Jinx Brothers (7:50pm), Elizabeth Butters (7:20pm), Bob Cenci (6:50pm), Jay Allen (6:30pm)

The Sunday Night Fried Chicken & Catfish menu is friggin' delicious...

SUN 10/5

8pm
Locksley, Hymns
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10 / All Ages

MTV Choose or Lose Presents

Sneak Peek: FRI 10/3

Yes, I watched the Veep Debate last night, and I raised my fists in the air a few times when Biden made a good point. Other times I just raised a beer to my mouth... Here's Friday stuff before more of the day passes... Saturday & Sunday stuff -- if not more -- should be posted later.

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

FRI 10/3

5pm to 7pm
"Friday Flight School: The Chardonnays of Sonoma County"
at 606 Congress, Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, 606 Congress St, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
$5 donation

If you're near the waterfront tonight, there's a weekly wine tasting starting at this hotel restaurant. It's supposed to be a casual event, so you can show up any time between 5pm and 7pm. Wine tastings can be free, but your $5 will benefit Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Each might have a 'theme' and will be "accompanied by seasonal
light bites prepared by chef Toby Hill."

Be gluttonous! You gave to charity...

FRI 10/3

7pm to 11pm
Pantsless Pep Rally for the Boston Massacre
at An Tua Nua, 835 Beacon St, Boston (near Kenmore Sq)
$10 / 21+

I love the Boston Derby Dames! There's not much profit in roller derby (yet), so why not have a pantsless good time at their dance fundraiser. This is a fun-loving crowd.

Wear your dancing shoes, but leave the pants at home. Show your support by showing your ruffly undies (you know how we do it!), wearing Massacre blue, and bringing signs to support your local pantsless militia on their quest for national roller derby domination.

Derby Dames' DJ Sir Trix-a-Lot spins will make the ruffled panties shake until 11 pm

FRI 10/3

7pm to 9:30pm
"From Here to Awesome" Film Festival
at Tower Auditorium, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt)
FREE

All filmmakers submitted material they thought was awesome, and people voted for these... To be shown tonight: "Smile Boston Project" (20 min.), "Ring of Blood" (4 min.), "Book of Caleb" (108 min.).

MassArt campus map [PDF]

FRI 10/3

8pm
Celebrating 50 Years of Bossa Nova w/ Cesar Camargo Mariano
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

Pianist, arranger, composer, and producer Cesar Camargo Mariano is one of Brazil's most celebrated and sought-after musicians. In 2007, his album Ao Vivo with Leny Andrade received a Latin Grammy.

This is a $10 discount from last night's performance. (Remember to do your drinking ahead of time as this really is a cafe.)

FRI 10/3

8pm
Baltimore Round Robin Tour
at Pozen Center, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt, enter on Evans Way)
$8 / $15 both nights

On the Baltimore Round Robin Tour, the crowd spins around to see the bands play one song followed by the next adjacent band that's set up around the room. It's a perfect scene for the live music fan who wants to hear multiple performers but wishes they could switch as fast as a DJ.

Charm City/Wham City's mad genius Dan Deacon has pulled together at least 10 bands each night:

Last night was "Eyes Night" for those who'd like a watch-and-listen (described as " a mixture of folk, noise, theatrics, improvisation"). Tonight is "Feet Night" for the uptempo sounds to move those feet and asses ("music that you dance, thrash or otherwise move around to and is a mixture of electronic, punk, hardcore, dance, and rock and roll"). Deacon fires up his keyboards and mic on Friday.

Max is a guy in the know about these things, and this is what he says:

Last time Dan was in Boston, he RULED. He got the crowd to play a gigantic round of London Bridge, which then dissolved into a whiteboy-hip-shaking moshpit, and at one point actually had to stop the show and say, "OK. EVERYONE. Take THREE steps backwards, and every time you feel like pushing the person next to you, just put your arms in the air and yell, 'WAHHHH'."

I read that the good times should be done by 11pm, if not before...

FRI 10/3 to SUN 10/5

Various Times
Boston Latino International Film Festival
at Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
$8

It looks like there are quite a few good bets this year. Almost everything looks interesting, and my picks aren't everything:

Friday:

7pm
"Maldeamores/Lovesickness" (starring Luis Guzman!)

Saturday:

12:30pm
"Self Distribution, Technology and Film" Panel
in Room B-04
* FREE -- including you -- event *

2:15pm
"Who Am I? The Found Children of Argentina / Quien Soy Yo? Los Ninos Encontrados de Argentina"

4pm
"The Women of Brukman / La Lucha de Brukman"

6pm
"La Sangre Iluminada / Enlightened Blood"

Sunday:

2pm
"VIP... Very Important Prisoner"

4pm
"Solo Dios Sabe / God Knows" w/ "Farms Without Farmers"

5:30pm
"The Best Spanish Shorts of 2008"

7:45pm
"Erendira Ikikunari / Erendira the Indomitable"

9:45pm
"Cubanos: Life and Death of a Revolution" w/ "Siberia"

All films presented with English subtitles. There are more screenings scheduled next weekend.

SAT 10/4: Smoot Volunteerism

11:30am to 4pm
Smoot 50th Anniversary Celebration
meet at Kresge BBQ Pits, Amherst Alley, about 77 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE / Your Time & Effort

Do you know what a smoot is besides the peculiar markings on the Mass Ave bridge? If you and your friends want to help with Charles River shore cleanup, MIT will feed you lunch while the real-live Ollie Smoot (it's the 50th anniversary of the Smoot measurement) and others speak. No, they won't let you repaint the smoots.

You have to register, and they're looking for teams of 4 to 6 (choose the "Non-IC Account Registration" button). The fun is from 11:30am to 1pm, and the work is 1pm to 4pm.


A sneak peek is forth coming!

THUR 10/2: Talking & Singing & Playing

I saw a very skinny woman running on the Somerville Bike Path, and I actually said it out loud, "I hope you're running to get a burger." I think she heard me... (But someone needed to tell her!)
--------------------------------------------------------------

THUR 10/2

6:30pm to 8pm
Dale Chihuly, Glass Art: Lecture
at Room 250, Bldg 10, 222 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

By looking at his work, one has to assume Dale Chihuly is one of the greatest glass artists ever. Add such career highlights like the 1st American to work at one of the most prestigious glassmakers on Venice's island of Murano and being a Fulbright Fellow since '68, and you know you're not out on a limb.

If the auditorium is full, a room in the Stata Center (#123) will have a video feed of the lecture.

THUR 10/2

6:30 pm
Anne Nivat & Lida Abdul, "Creativity During Wartime": Conversation
at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
$7 / $5 seniors / FREE students

Two participants in the Gardner's "Artists-in-Residence" program lead a discussion that will likely cover both the challenges and opportunities regarding the creative process in war zones, e.g. Iraq and Afghanistan. If artists live in crappy neighborhoods here in the States, imagine what it's like in Baghdad or Kabul... Lida Abdul is a video artist originally from Afghanistan and fled during the time of Soviet invasion. Anne Nivat is a journalist who has done much reporting from war zones around the world including real (outside of the Green Zone) reporting in Iraq.

The evening will include a screening of one of Abdul’s short films that was shot around Kabul, "In Transit".

THUR 10/2

9:30pm
The Soft Drugs, The Diamond Mines, Emergency Music, Gunfight!
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

The Soft Drugs might have been my "wow" discovery of the week. With no preconception, I immediately loved the catchy songs that aren't too aggressive or too mellow. This is Goldilocks rock -- just right! Then I read up about singer-songwriter Tim Walsh living in Seattle eventually playing in Pedro the Lion then moving back to Boston. I've been a fan of The Diamond Mines for a couple years; I wish I was in this band! You already know it's a party when you've got the saxophone... More cool songs with a old-school punky vibe when you could include elements of soul, etc. It keeps on getting better with the power-poppy goodness of Emergency Music. Whoops! I didn't listen to Gunfight!, but they're probably a enjoyable indie-rock band from Brooklyn.

THUR 10/2

10pm
Baby Dee, M.G. Lederman
at Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
$10 / All Ages

More than anything, Baby Dee is Baby Dee -- fascinating and talented transgender pianist/harpist/singer/circus performer who likes riding a giant tricycle and has been performing haunting high-register vocals before Antony and the Johnsons. You might have heard Mel Lederman playing keyboard with Victory at Sea or Thalia Zedek Band; tonight he brings his low, gravelly vocals and songs to the ivories before Dee. One might not expect it, but the acoustics at the venue are superb too!

I checked with the wonderful Aliza of Truth Serum, and the cover is $10 no matter what the Lily Pad's site says...

THUR 10/2 & FRI 10/3

8pm
Baltimore Round Robin Tour
at Pozen Center, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt, enter on Evans Way)
$8 / $15 both nights

On the Baltimore Round Robin Tour, the crowd spins around to see the bands play one song followed by the next adjacent band that's set up around the room. It's a perfect scene for the live music fan who wants to hear multiple performers but wishes they could switch as fast as a DJ.

Charm City/Wham City's mad genius Dan Deacon has pulled together at least 10 bands each night:

Thursday is "Eyes Night" for those who'd like a watch-and-listen (described as " a mixture of folk, noise, theatrics, improvisation"). Friday is "Feet Night" for the uptempo sounds to move those feet and asses ("music that you dance, thrash or otherwise move around to and is a mixture of electronic, punk, hardcore, dance, and rock and roll"). Deacon fires up his keyboards and mic on Friday.

Max is a guy in the know about these things, and this is what he says:

Last time Dan was in Boston, he RULED. He got the crowd to play a gigantic round of London Bridge, which then dissolved into a whiteboy-hip-shaking moshpit, and at one point actually had to stop the show and say, "OK. EVERYONE. Take THREE steps backwards, and every time you feel like pushing the person next to you, just put your arms in the air and yell, 'WAHHHH'."

WED 10/1: Music, Movie, Free Burrito

So I didn't go to the Milky Way last night, but the word is a Dewars rep was walking around and handing out 'samples', so the quantity of free booze was spotty. Hey, it was free! If you're near Tufts today, get in line for a free burrito...

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

WED 10/1

11am to 8pm
One Regular Burrito
at Boloco, 340 Boston Ave, Medford (near Tufts campus)
FREE

I guess Boloco makes a tidy profit from the college kids (it's the location's 2nd anniversary). I rarely think of going unless I hear about free food. Trust you wouldn't be the only person who takes multiple freebies today. ($5 dollar value)

WED 10/1

8pm
Dave Doobinin
FREE / 21+

9pm
Dennis Brennan Band
$8 / 21+

at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)

After a couple months away from the Lizard Lounge, Dennis Brennan and band are back every Wednesday night for at least October. Even though some might not know Brennan, I believe they sense something special about that curly, redheaded guy who emanates cool as he walks around Dickson's. I wanted to say something, but I didn't have anything substantial to say. Should I have said that I love his songs? He represents the epitome of rock 'n roll? His band is awesome? He probably hears stuff like that all the time -- for good reason. The cover charge is up from $5, but I love hanging out at Lizard Lounge.

Dave Doobinin is a NY-based singer-songwriter that sounds pretty good. I hear a seriousness in his songs that might be a little heavy for grabbing a drink and listening to a free set, but a good time can be had.

WED 10/1

9pm to Midnight
"Quinceanera" w/ Reception and Q&A
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

If you're not familiar with a quinceanera, it's a 15th birthday for Latina (mainly Mexican) girls that's very popular in Los Angeles. I read a synopsis of the film, and it might be a bit melodramatic for my taste with potential virgin pregnancy and a family's marginalization of a young gay man. On the other hand, it won a couple awards at the Sundance Film Festival... There will be Q&A afterwards with "Special Guest"; I assume one of the co-director/writers -- but what do I know?

Hey, it's a free movie with a pre-screening cocktail reception as DJ Jayceeoh spins.

You can RSVP until 6pm today, and it's one of those shows where it's first-come, first-seated until they reach capacity.


One more for today:

WED 10/1

6pm
"Talking All That Jazz"
at Revolution Rock Bar, 200 High St, Boston
FREE w/ RSVP

While I'm not excited about this, I'm passing it along. My apathy for Revolution Rock Bar equals my love of the Lizard Lounge, but others might enjoy hanging out there. For those hanging out with this crowd, there should be some free apps and conversation starting about 6pm. I wouldn't mind hearing Alonzo Harris do a live tribute to Maxwell around 8pm. Maxwell's "Urban Hang Suite" was a favorite of mine for many years, and he's playing the Opera House next Wednesday. Some lucky soul could win a pair of tix at this event.

You RSVP on Going or send an email with your name and some message about wanting to go tonight...