SAT 8/8: $10 Tix for Fenway Doubleheader

More to come... Including a midnight bike ride through Boston tomorrow...

SAT 8/8

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

* Portland Sea Dogs vs. Bowie Baysox
* Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Norfolk Tides

Yes, Virginia. You can see a game at Fenway Park on the cheap... Minor league baseball is fun. You go and just enjoy the game. When I go, there's no anxiety about who wins... It's not as crowded... The tickets and concessions are cheaper...

Over the last four seasons, this is one day when average people can afford to watch a game at Fenway. At least the tickets are still cheaper, but I don't know about the -- supposedly discounted – concessions. I wouldn't even be upset if the Paw Sox or Sea Dogs (who are both playing affilliate teams for the Orioles).

They're bringing some 'minor league' entertainment between innings, so expect stuff like t-shirt slingshots, kids racing mascots, frisbee-catching dogs, etc.

One of great parts about rooting for the Sox is that they really do bring up players through their farm system. Some recent players to wear these uniforms in the last few years include Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson. (Missing you, Justin.) You can even get a future Ebay item at the autograph sessions...

As of Thursday, there were still tickets in the bleachers ($10) and upper bleachers ($5); it's still cheap after the online service fee.

It might be a long day, but you've got extra money for beer and peanuts -- and who needs food anyway...

Note: You can't leave the park between games.

FRI 8/7: Opera, Film, Art, Shakespeare, Rock

Wow, today is a beautiful day. We should've already had about 20 or 25 days like this already! It looks like a good weekend to be outside...

Update: Whoops! Something funny happened with the post order...

I also added a few more to the Free Movies page.

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FRI 8/7 to SUN 8/9

6pm
The Opera Factory: Cosi Fan Tutte
at Cloud Place, 647 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

A group of 18 teens from around Boston have been working for five weeks to create a music-and-art performace of Mozart's opera. There's another production of Cosi Fan Tutte, but this one is free...

The exhibition opens at 6pm, and the hour-long performance begins at 7pm.

On SUN 8/9: Exhibition opens at 2pm; performance begins at 3pm

FRI 8/7

7:40pm
"The Cove"
at Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline
$9.75

I get the feeling this documentary may get a lot of attention in the weeks and months to come as it exposes massive cruelty to dolphins in Japanese waters. More than most non-fiction film, it's supposed to be a nail-biter as many of the team of activists put their lives at risk to gather the evidence.

Iain Kerr of The Ocean Alliance will participate in a post-screening discussion, but it's showing at a couple theaters in the area.

FRI 8/7

8pm to Midnight
"Paint Pens & Pet Monsters": Reception
at Fourth Wall Project / Gas Station Gallery, 1305 Boylston St, Boston (near Fenway Park)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+ (donations encouraged)

Feat: Jessica Hess, Veronica Hebard, Allison Bamcat, Mykim Dang, Illy, Tofusquirrel, Rich Millionaire, Morgan Thomas, Shayna Shenanigans, more

I mentioned this the other day. Maybe you can still RSVP... It should be a fun time.

FRI 8/7

8pm
"The Comedy Of Errors"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

This feels like a perfect night for Shakespeare and a box of wine with that "special someone" or potential "special someone"!

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company have taken one of the Bard's early farces about two pairs of identical twins separated at birth and set it in Miami South Beach of the '30s. It's still the original text, but they inject Latin flavor all over the place.

Have a few laughs with a culture and sabor caliente...

Shows run through SUN 8/16 from Tuesdays to Sundays -- 8pm on most nights, 7pm on Sundays. Additional performances on SUN 8/9 (1pm) and WED 8/12 (12:30pm).

FRI 8/7

8pm
The Saucy Jacks, Thick Shakes, Babydriver
at Washington Street Art Center, 321 Washington St, Somerville (near Union Sq)
$3

For some reason, it seems like few awesome San Francisco rock bands tour through Boston. Maybe it's the 3,000+ miles of driving, but I know they have a damn good scene out there. Whenever you see a clever Spinal Tap reference like the band name, you give The Saucy Jacks extra points though they don't really need it. This pretty sweet garage-pop that harkens back to 60's mod vibe of early Kinks/Who.

Thick Shakes reside in a similar time period of garage-rock, but they've got a dirtier, primal attack. I was shocked to see that David Thorpe, currently one of the biggest a-holes in music criticism, actually gave them a mostly positive review. So put that in your pipe and smoke it... I still haven't heard Babydriver, but it looks like the main guy used to be in Hats and Glasses -- to get an idea.

From what I've heard, there's a chance it might actually start around 8pm... "Plus, there will be refreshments." Am not sure if any beverages will be of the 'fermented grain or wine' variety, but I'd like think so.

Before during or after the rocking, take a look at Meghan Bernal's exhibit, "You'll never return yet you will go back."

FRI 8/7

Faster & Louder (11pm), Clock Strikes Ten (10pm), All Mod Cons (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

This is going to be an amazing night of music, since some of the best players in town will throw down the rock hammer over three classic albums by three great bands: The Dictators, Cheap Trick, and The Jam.

When listening to The Dictators, it was difficult for me to get into them. It's obvious they had a major influence on thousands of bands like the The Stooges and The Ramones; the music was there, but the recordings didn't blow me away. As I lurk on several discussion boards, Johnny Black (guitarist/ringleader of Faster & Louder) addressed this:

...I agree about the production on the first two but that's why I chose Bloodbrothers - to my ears the production is pretty spare and captures one of the greatest American hard rock bands of all time at their peak. It's sounds like you're in the room with them or seeing them at a small club...

Besides Johnny, the band includes the singer from Unnatural Axe, a guitarist from Gang Green, and the rhythm section of The Neighborhoods. This is a killer band with great material! The Dictators themselves have given their "thumbs up", but I hope they don't wear Yankees hats.

It's a bit harder to pin down Clock Strikes Ten who're doing "In Color" by Cheap Trick; the drummer from Faster & Louder/The Nieghborhoods is joined by some of The Rudds (including singer John Powhida) and maybe others.

Why not kick it off with our local yet internationally-appreciated Jam tribute band, All Mod Cons, performing their namesake album. It's almost like Paul Weller singing "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" for you...

FRI 8/7

9:30pm
Quixote, Rococo La Boy, The Crushing Low, Coalmine Canary
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -21+ / $11 -18+

Under usual circumstances, I'd probably be more enthusiastic about this set of somewhat eclectic indie-rock. I like Quixote... Take a few listens and make up your own mind.

THUR 8/6: This, That, This, That

What good does it do to complain about a "disabled train ahead"? Still, riding the T is a drag when it takes nearly an hour longer than usual...

Here's a list of pretty good cheapness.

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THUR 8/6

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

It's a nice treat to visit the Gardner Museum. This is the last of three nights where there is also music, dance, poetry, and activities.

Feat: Joe the Roving Magician, tarot card reader Kasey Robinsong, "Looking for Analog Love in a Digital World" by Bass-Line Motion and the Impulse Dance Company.

THUR 8/6

5pm to 7:30pm
"Woodstock 40th Anniversary Celebration"
at International Poster Gallery, 205 Newbury St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE w/ RSVP

As mentioned below, send an email and you may get in.

THUR 8/6

6:45pm
"The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)"
at Christian Herter Park, 1175A Soldiers Field Road, Brighton (near Charles River, across from WBZ)
FREE

If you're not interested in watching just one play, this is short attention span Shakespeare.

Free Thursdays continue through 8/20 or you can pay Friday thru Monday.

THUR 8/6

7pm
Richard Russo, "That Old Cape Magic": Reading
at Porter Square Books, 25 White St, Cambridge (near Star Market)
FREE

Is Russo the second most famous novelist living in Maine...?

THUR 8/6

8pm
"The Comedy Of Errors"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

Shakespeare with salsa poured all over. It's a comedy... It's clever... It's free, but a donation wouldn't hurt...

Shows run through SUN 8/16 from Tuesdays to Sundays -- 8pm on most nights, 7pm on Sundays. Additional performances on SUN 8/9 (1pm) and WED 8/12 (12:30pm).

THUR 8/6

Sprained Ankles (11pm), Black Mosettes (10pm), Hot Rod Fury (9pm), Corolla DeVille (8pm)
at Cantab Underground / Club Bohemia, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Good fun punk/garage rock also happens to be the soundtrack for comic artist Frank Strom's "Birthday Bash".

THUR 8/6

The Divorced (Midnight), The Lights Out (11pm), This Blue Heaven (10pm), Aloud (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

The Lights Out and Aloud are two of the best kickass-catchy rock bands in town. Am not so excited about the other two.

THUR 8/6

9:30pm
Woods, Tony the Bookie Orchestra, The Skygreen Leopards
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

Mmm, trippy psych-folk-rock.

Advance Notice, 8/6 & 8/7: RSVP for Art

I love art receptions. It's possible to talk to the artists, while usually enjoying a glass or two of wine...

THUR 8/6

5pm to 7:30pm
"Woodstock 40th Anniversary Celebration"
at International Poster Gallery, 205 Newbury St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE w/ RSVP

Everything "Woodstock" is getting the 40th anniversary treatment. (Woodstock... Landing on the Moon... 1969 was a pretty big year.) One of the iconic images of the festival is the poster.

The designer Arnold Skolnick will be here, and he'll talk around 6pm. You can hear his story and see some of the original posters and the Skolnick-designed anniversary poster. (Both are available for purchase and signing.)

I don't know if they're still accepting RSVP, but it wouldn't hurt to send them an email with your name.



FRI 8/7

8pm to Midnight
"Paint Pens & Pet Monsters": Reception
at Fourth Wall Project / Gas Station Gallery, 1305 Boylston St, Boston (near Fenway Park)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+ (donations encouraged)

Feat: Jessica Hess, Veronica Hebard, Allison Bamcat, Mykim Dang, Illy, Tofusquirrel, Rich Millionaire, Morgan Thomas, Shayna Shenanigans, more

In the past year Shayna Shenanigans has organized several art shows at various locations under Paint Pens in Purses. Each show generally features a difierent group of female artists. It's an "all-female urban art collective" but seems more about empowerment than exclusivity.

There will be some very cool drawings/paintings/photos to see. It's not so much of the Renaissance-style historical/mythological symbolism-that-requires-footnotes, and more cool/funky/colorful "that's awesome!" artwork.

Since they've already exhibited at a restaurant, a storefront, a liquor store, and a dance club; they might as well go for a gas station. It happens to be the secondary location of the Fourth Wall Project at the corner of Boylston and Yawkey Way.

It sounds like there will be hipster beer and vodka & red bull to get the party lubricated along with DJ Doc Klaw. So throw a few bucks into the basket (or whatever) to support the arts...

FYI: It sounds like you will need to be on the list of people who RSVP'ed to get in.

There is a clip from the LAB Boston party to give you an idea of the event, but I like the time-lapse video of the window being painted:



(Thanks, Frank & Chevon!)

WED 8/5: Classical, Plays, Rock

If you don't want to risk a Shakespeare rain-out in the Common, there's another option below.

Hey -- if you go out tonight, some of thes places have TV's, and the Sox might go into extra innings anyway...

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WED 8/5

7pm
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, "Damsels in Distress"
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra continues their Wednesday series at the Hatch Shell, and they'll be joined by the MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra for two symphonic adaptations of classic lit.

Tchaikovsky's "Francesca da Rimini" is inspired by a tale from Dante's "Divine Comedy", and "Scheherazade" by Rimsky-Korsakov is the musical retelling of a "Thousand and One Arabian Nights". Let's agree that a potential beheading or being in Hell can be considerd "distress".

Rain Location: Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)

WED 8/5

7pm
"Jeanie Don't Sing No Mo'": Staged Reading
at Deane Rehearsal Hall, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for Arts, 527 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE ($10 suggested donation)

Wow, it's hard to believe the Breaking Ground Festival of New Play Readings is almost over, especially since I missed the first 3 readings.

As I understand it, this is pretty much close to the last step before a new play is ready for a full production. I'm not sure if any previous plays have won Tony's or Obie's, but some go on as part of the Huntington Theatre's regular season.

A brief description of tonight's offering:

Jeanie, a once-famous blues singer, stopped speaking the day her father died, and she and her Southern family carry the burden of secrets long concealed.

WED 8/5

9:30pm
The Mieka Canon, Dwight and Nicole
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 / 21+

Mieka Pauley and her band are kicking off a weekly August residency that coincides with a new EP release. Sometimes I neglect to list these things at the beginning, because I have this idea that I'll go the first week and report back. Well, we know that I usually wait 'til the end...

Don't make the mistake of missing her, because it's shocking that we can see her in such a small venue. I really get the feeling that Mieka has everything to make a huge international splash -- including that special something beyond songs, talent, ambition, etc.

Various guests will open each week. Dwight & Nicole is a great way to start as this soul/blues/jazz/folk duo are amazing.

WED 8/5

9:30pm
The Rural Alberta Advantage, Joshua English w/ Lisa Molinaro, Baby Teeth, Jennifer Greer
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

This is a rather impressive night of semi-acoustic and/or keyboard-based indie pop from around the continent as well as some local representation.

I guess a band from Toronto called "The Rural Alberta Advantage" is an example of Canadian irony, but many of the songs on their CD refer to places in that Western province.

Joshua English used to front Boston rockers Six Going on Seven, and now lives in Oregon writing some more really excellent songs. Josh is joined by ex-Decemberist Lisa Molinaro on viola, accordion, vocals, kitchen sink, etc.

Baby Teeth from Chicago sound really interesting power-poppish group that also has an anthemic vibe to their songs with an undercurrent of white-boy soulfulness that reminds me of early Springsteen.

If you're a keyboard-playing singer-songwriter without a Y chromosome, theirs is bound to be a certain set of inescapable influences and comparisons. That's fine, because Jennifer Greer does a great job of bringing her plucky, breezy Jennifer-Greer-ness to the game.

WED 8/5

10:30pm
M.G. Lederman, Aaron Perrino, Mr Sister
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass. Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5

This would be a much more exciting show if there wasn't so much else going on, but everyone tonight is really damn good. It's also one of those rare evenings to hear Aaron Perrino of Dear Leader (ex-Sheila Divine) play a solo set (but I get the feeling we may be seeing him around a bit more).