Saturday, June 12, 2010

SAT 6/12: Health, Pride, Crawl, Art, Fun, Music

Boston Shipyard Gallery, opening today
Some thoughts on watching World Cup today: More than most cities in the US, Boston has a bunch of pubs where people already go on a regular basis to watch football/soccer. Almost any bar with an Irish name should be a good place to watch the US-England match at 2:30pm. It should be a good time -- let's hope the game goes the same way as 1950.

The House of Blues is having a big thing where players from the New England Revolution will be there, and there will be raffles. (I get a feeling this may be a family crowd.) The Lansdowne Pub down the street is having giveaways too, if the HoB is too crowded. I read a rumor of some potential free Budweisers at the Black Rose.

If you didn't notice, Boston Beer Week started yesterday ahead of the American Craft Beer Fest next weekend ($40, but worth it). There are free tasting around the area and some beery events that cost various amounts. Or you can raise your glass and toast to Boston Beer Week...

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SAT 6/12 (and SUN 6/13)

10am to 5pm
Health & Fitness Expo
at Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Yeah, everyone's supposed to have health insurance in Mass (and eventually the US), but maybe a screening for asthma, diabetes, depression, etc, etc might be easier to do at this event. There are also 3 stages for demonstrations, performance, healthy cooking along with other exhibits and activities.

SAT 6/12

Noon to 6pm
Boston Pride Parade & Festival
from South End to City Hall Plaza
FREE

So may rain a little bit on the parade. If those hundreds of people are going to parade, any of them looking fabulous, then you don't have to let a little drizzle stop you from enjoying the spectacle. It starts in the South End at noon and zigzags its way to Government Center from 1pm to 3pm.

There's going to be food and pride-themed mercy at the festival in City Hall Plaza. The draw is the entertainment at the stage. The entertainment stage has a decent variety, but I didn't find a full schedule. Two really awesome bands are playing: MeandJoanCollins (3pm-ish) and Mrs Danvers (1pm-ish).

Other performers include Cece Peniston (probably the closer), Kristine W (5:30pm-ish), God-Des and SHE (2pm-ish), All The Kings Men, Booty Vortex, Kit Yan, Nemes (4pm-ish), Odaiko New England (Noon-ish), Sariah, TraniWreck (4:30pm-ish)

People of all stripes and persuasions are welcome to join in the celebration. The rainbow signifies all colors. (Plus it's colorful, flamboyant party people.)

SAT 6/12

1pm to 8pm
Crawl In Boston's World Cup Crawl
Start at the Red Hat, 9 Bowdoin Street, Boston
$5 + What you drink

This doesn't seem like a bad idea, especially if you don't mind mixing drinks. They're going to 8 bars and celebrating different World Cup countries by offering $3 drink specials:

1pm -- Red Hat = Mexico: Dos Equis and Margaritas.
2pm -- The Point = Japan: Sake Bombs
3pm -- Red Sky = Italy: Amaretto Sours
4pm -- McFadden's = England: Gin & Tonics
5pm -- Jose McIntyre's = Spain: TBD
6pm -- Coogan’s = USA: Bud and Budlight (only $1)
7pm -- Sanctuary = Poland: Poland Ultimate Punch
8pm -- Market = Brasil: Caipirinha
Proceeds of your $5 donation benefits the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center, which provides educational and developmental support to the youth of Roxbury. And you get a nametag & "Crawl in Boston Beverage Koozie".

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SAT 6/12

2pm to 5pm
HarborArts Outdoor Gallery: Opening Celebration
at Boston Harbor Shipyard, 256 Marginal St, East Boston (Boston HarborWalk)
FREE

Did you know more than 25 large-scale works of art have been installed outdoors in Eastie? That's why I pass this stuff along.

The artists are going to be there today, so you can meet them and ask stuff like "What is this?" or "How high were you when you made this?"

SAT 6/12

3pm to 7pm
"SomerFun: A Romp for Independents"
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

Oh, the summer fun has begun in Union Square. It's organized by Somerville Local First, so there's an organic, locavore angle. You can watch a canning demonstration or watch someone milk an animal (cow? goat?).

It's casual fun in Somerville with over 50 participating organizations including some music, dance, food, activities, art, and a scavenger hunt! Yes, there should be a beer garden.

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SAT 6/12

4pm
Josh Lederman & The CSAR's
FREE / 21+

10:30pm
Three Day Threshold
$5 / 21+

at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)

Live music in the middle of the day feels like a special treat. I don't know why the Plough does it on Saturdays, except it enhances the day-drinking experience. Josh Lederman and the "Cambridge-Somerville All-Stars" do a damn good job to encourage more drinking with a rootsy racket that includes a bit of Irish and a bit of gypsy undertones.

One doesn't have to simulate the "late night, partying in a bar where a good-time band is playing" experience, you could still hang out at the Plough. I'm not saying it couldn't happen (or that I haven't done it), but it could be dangerous to be at the bar from 4pm to closing.

If you do get there earlier, you could get your drink on without paying the cover before Three Day Threshold brings the boozey good times. This band has played for the troops in Central America and for prisoners in Belgium, so get ready for honky-tonking, kickass, rocking' country.

SAT 6/12

9:30pm
Mean Creek, Magic Magic, Doomstar!, Marconi
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 21+

It was no coincidence that Mean Creak played the Phoenix's "Best Music Week" series this past week, since they were named the "Best Local Act". They definitely bring the rock while stretching out in various directions whether it's a bit rootsy or spacey. They're celebrating the release with a new 7" that you can hear on their MySpace (the top 2 songs with low plays).

Magic Magic also played another Phoenix show, and I think they may be Dedham's best band but I generally love trippy indie-rock. It's a well-balanced night with the hyper-garage psych-rock of Doomstar and the languid goodness of Marconi.

(An email from the Weekly Dig said that Mean Creek giveaways are happening at Berk's Shoes (Harvard Sq) from noon to 5pm... Check it out if you're nearby.)

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