Thursday, March 04, 2010

THUR 3/4: Talks, Film, Metal, Dance


I forgot to mention that I discovered how to get into the downstairs performance space at the Garage in Harvard Sq, because I went to the open rehearsal of "Othello" on Saturday.

After walking through the lower level and around the outside then back through the interior, I saw the door with a sign. It's on the JFK St side between the Garage entrance and 7-11. Watching the process did pique my interest to see the production at Villa Victoria. Nice work, Actors' Shakespeare Project!

I did notice that there are some lousy seats in this space, so be careful about sitting in the back corner.

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THUR 3/4

5pm
Jane Kamensky & Jill Lepore, "Blindspot": Conversation w/ Christopher Lydon
at Upstairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Two history professors have collaborated on a novel that takes place in Boston right before the Revolution. Since the authors are history/lit professors (Harvard & Brandeis), they blend the fiction into actual events. It should be interesting to hear them give greater context to the witty tale.

5pm to 6pm -- Wine Hour
6pm to 6:45pm -- Reading & Conversation
It appears that PEN New England has moved their reading series from Hotel Marlowe where they did have a complimentary wine hour. Will there be free wine tonight? Maybe, maybe not...

As someone who simply enjoys new sights and experiences, it's still a chance to hear about the book and hang out at this vibrantly decorated restaurant without paying for dinner or going during Restaurant Week.

THUR 3/4

5:15pm to 7pm
"Q and A With the Buddha"
at Common Room, World Religions Center, 42 Francis Ave, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

I'm pretty sure that Siddhartha Gautama of the 6th-century BC* won't be attending. From my understanding, enlightenment is also known as Buddhahood.

Tonight's speaker looks more like your average, affable American executive rather than a pot-belly statue. Thanissaro Bhikkhu grew up in the US as Geoffrey DeGraff and converted to Buddhism in high school over 40 years ago. After college, he studied in Thailand and became a monk. He is now the abbot of Metta Forest Monastery near San Diego.

Interested in Buddhism? Go ask a question.

* I'm reminded of one of earliest chat-room fights was with a guy who said the Buddha copied Jesus...

THUR 3/4

7pm
"Collecting Interviews of Witnesses, Collaborators, and Perpetrators of the Holocaust"
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

As inconceivable as it may seem, there are people that think the Holocaust didn't happen. This isn't the only genocide that ever occurred, but most are accepted to be factual history. (I'm talking to you, Turkey.)

Scott Miller of the US Holocaust Museum will discuss the program of collecting interviews of non-Jews to further corroborate the records. It also sheds a light on the behavior of bystanders and those who were involved.

THUR 3/4

7pm
"Terribly Happy": Sneak Preview
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
FREE w/ Flyer [PDF]

Okay, I f---ed up yesterday. There was a free screening of "The Art of the Steal" last night, and the info was sitting in my email inbox. Hey, it's another night and another cool new movie to see.

This dark, wry mystery about a big city cop who gets reassigned to a very strange town pretty much swept the Danish Oscars. It's opening in local theatres tomorrow, but you could watch it before other Bostonian foreign film fans.

Print the PDF flyer and arrive early. "Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed."

THUR 3/4

8pm
Born of Fire! w/ Blacktail (11pm), Whitey (10pm)
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$5 / 21+

Since last month, metal fans have a place congregate on every first and third Thursday night. The doors open at 8pm for DJ'ed metal & hardcore with horror flicks and other crazy stuff on the TV's. Two bands are scheduled to play each time, so it's all-killer and no-filler.

I was amused by the yin-yang of this week's band names: Blacktail and Whitey. Blacktail generally has that loud, fast, chugging thing going on that will get the blood and fists pumping. For further balance, Whitey leans towards heavy, sludgy, bluesy noise. This could definitely be the soundtrack for a nightmare, and I mean that in a good way.

THUR 3/4

9pm
Throwed!
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Feat: DJ E-Marce, The Chinese Stars, Small Talk, Gregory James

When you're young or feel young, sometimes you want to go out on a Thursday dance. It could happen any week at the Middle East's "indie/electro dance party". Besides the DJs, three bands are playing as well with the intention of keeping the party going.

I've listened to The Chinese Stars, and I can see people dancing to their cocky disco-punk. Small Talk has the look that I think some girls scream about. Singer-songwriter Gregory James is also on the bill.

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