TUES 8/16: National Rum Day -- in Cambridge

6pm to 8pm
National Rum Day: Tasting Pop-Up
at Zinc Apartments Outdoor Terrace, 22 Water St, Cambridge (near Lechmere)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

You can celebrate National Rum Day anywhere, nowhere, or in your kitchen; however there is a nearby spot where it won't cost you anything.

The beautiful thing about this sampling is that the all of these rums were distilled within Route 128 with the furthest site being about 80 miles away.

When celebrating Rum Day, it's worth noting that Boston had a rich rum history before the Civil War (i.e. part of the slave economy), but don't let history ruin every rum & cola or mojito.

Much like everything else made, bought, or sold in America before 1860; many people suffered while others partied. Perhaps we should appreciate that we have made progress in the last 150 years -- AND that local jobs are being created (with wages) by getting sloshed on locavore liquor.

It sounds like 5 local rums will be available at the top of the apartment building. Who knows how many people live in this building, but most will probably try to muscle in.

Reserve your spot and taste spirits from Privateer (Ipswich, MA), GrandTen Distilling (Boston, MA), Deacon Giles Distillery (Salem, MA), Short Path Distillery (Everett, MA), and New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery (Winchester, NH).

Extra points for anyone who says "Happy Rumadan" to a stranger on the terrace...

PS: The CTB Calendar is currently updated through Friday...

"Two See or Not Two See": Free Outdoor Shakespeare in Boston & Chelsea

Othello, Boston Common, 2010

Cyrano, O'Malley Park, 2010

Now Thru SUN 7/31

8pm to 10:30pm
"Hamlet": Apollinaire in the Park
at Port Park, 99 Marginal St, Chelsea
FREE

Wednesdays to Sundays -- 8pm

"Bring Lawn Chairs or Blankets and come ready to move with the action!"

Now Thru SUN 8/7

Various Times
Shakespeare on the Common: "Love's Labour's Lost"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

Tuesdays to Saturdays -- 8pm
Sundays -- 7pm
Saturday 8/6: Extra Matinee -- 3pm

We usually get only one free Shakespeare production per hot, humid Boston summer. The Bard asked whether one can desire too much of a good thing, but we can handle a double-shot of classic theatre al fresco.

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has been performing in Boston Common for two decades. There is high production value with big, stylized sets and actors who have appeared on Broadway and TV. Although "Love's Labour's Lost" is not one of the most accessible comedies in the body of work, this is always a delightful way to sit in the park for a couple hours.

On the other hand, I watched Apollinaire's thoroughly entertaining version of "Cyrano" a few years back in a different Chelsea park. The actors were wearing period costumes, but it was a bare-bones affair. I am seriously considering hopping on the #111 bus to catch their inventive approach to the travails of our favorite moody Danish prince. Instead of set changes, the audience will watch the drama move to 10 different locations in the park.

FRI 6/24: Dance Party on Mass Ave

Photos from TAS & Phoebe Sinclair

In case you are reading, consider this as the beginning of a "soft return" that will probably happen at the beginning of July...

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7pm to Midnight
Annual City of Cambridge Dance Party (FB Link)
in front of Cambridge City Hall, 795 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Cambridge stops the traffic to get down and boogie, and all are welcome. Cantabrigians welcome everyone for dancing in the street until the clock strikes 12, and there should be a few happy pumpkins by the end... I have to believe Prince will be a prime booty-shaker, and David Bowie might be represented...

I have joined the fun in the past; there's an uninhibited atmosphere that might come from the big crowd of all ages. It may also be a good time to express that people shouldn't have to be afraid to dance together.

There are bars in either direction, if you would like to "hydrate" before you gyrate.

SAT 8/17: 6 Cheap Thrills for Saturday

I still don't feel like I have found everything I would like to share. Still any of these should be a good time.

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SAT 8/17

11am to 2pm
"Sandmandito!"
at Revere Beach, Revere (close to the Revere Beach T)
FREE

What is stopping you from going to Revere Beach?

Dirty? Not really. I'm afraid of swimming in the water, because I don't know what's in there. I have seen that the beach itself is as clean as any beach.

Don't want to go by yourself? What better way to ave with strangers than playing with sand among the Banditos Misteriosos? Grab a towel and swing by CVS for a cheap set of sand sculpture tools.

(I'd finish up with a walk to Kelly's, but that's me.)

SAT 8/17

Noon to 4pm
Roxbury Community Block Party Collaborative
at Bartlett Yard, 2565 Washington St, Roxbury (near Dudley Sq)
FREE

When Bartlett Yard became an intentional graffiti park earlier this year, I wanted to go -- especially since it likely won't last more than a couple years.

I decided to go today and saw there is a party. Bonus: music and fun surrounds the art 'al fresco'.

SAT 8/17

7pm
Blue Oyster Cult, Ghosts of Jupiter
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

There are people out there who want to picnic with Blue Oyster Cult and hear "Don't Fear the Reaper" by the Charles and scream "More cowbell!"

You don't need to show up at 4pm like WZLX suggests. The music won't start before 6:30pm with local jam-rock band Ghosts of Jupiter.

SAT 8/17

9pm
Eldridge Rodriguez, Guillermo Sexo, MG Lederman, Controller
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8

I love these dark/melodramatic/noisy bands, so I'm pretty sure you will too. There will supposedly be karaoke downstairs...

SAT 8/17

9pm
Roy Sludge, The Barley Hoppers, Leah & Her J-Walkers, DJ Easy Ed
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$10

Hey, who doesn't love a rockabilly/country dance party with our pal DJ Easy Ed who will keep the hopping and bopping non-stop between bands?

SAT 8/17

9:30pm
Sinnet, The Luxury, Ex-Magicians
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$8 / 21+

Or maybe you'd prefer heaping sets of melodic rock? Sinnet is especially good to my ears.

SAT 8/10 & SUN 8/11: 7 Cheap Thrills for the Weekend

It's been a while since, I've been in my usual spot to share the cheap fun of Boston. I'm taking it slow, but here we go...

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SAT 8/10

2pm to 5pm
Boston Fuzzstival 2013: Part 1
at Middle East - Corner, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Feat: Ghost Modern (4:25pm), Boogie Boy Metal Mouth (3:45pm), Winter (3:10pm), Underwater Bear Ballet (2:35pm), The TeleVibes (2pm)

6:30pm to 1am
Boston Fuzzstival 2013: Part 2
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Feat: Ghost Box Orchestra (Midnight), The New Highway Hymnal (11pm), Creaturos (10:15pm), Guillermo Sexo (9:30pm), Moniker (8:45pm), The Fagettes (8pm), Nice Guys (7:15pm), Doze (6:30pm)

Much like the Deep Heaven Now shows of recent years, Fuzzstival is another super-long day of good bands in our community that love to make fuzzy/scuzzy/gazey/trippy rock in all sorts of flavors.

Of course the bands I like are playing in the second half (most of the act after 8pm), but who doesn't love some free rock with the sunny day on the other side of the Corner window?

SAT 8/10

5pm to 8pm
Boston Urban Music Festival: Roller Party
at Marine Industrial Park, about 650 Summer St, Boston (Seaport/Southie)
FREE

Feat: Gilbere Forte, Bridget Kelly, Shea Rose, Dutch Rebelle, DJ Knife, The ICA Teen DJ Collective

Really? Free roller skating in a park with live hip-hop and R&B? Music, art, and food meet falling on your ass in the best possible way. Thanks, City of Boston.

SAT 8/10

6pm to 10pm
"Ignite! A Fire and Street Food Festival After Dark"
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

Union Square is a fine spot on any Saturday. If performers are going to play with fire while some of the restaurants put fire on food in the fresh air, it should be a good time.

SAT 8/10

11:15pm to 6am
Annual Boston by Bike at Night
Start at Trinity Church, Copley Sq, Bolyston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Night owls with wheels can have a zero-emission sightseeing adventure around town. Ride through Boston 'til dawn with more than 100 bicyclists. The rules of the road are generally followed, but do you think any cars are going to screw around with a massive bicycle gang?

The ride starts to leave around 11:45pm, but it’s a good idea to get there early.

The route changes every year, and it usually encompasses about 30 miles around Cambridge, Charlestown, as far down as JP, or even towards Brookline while occasionally stopping for a bit of local info.

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SUN 8/11

10am to 5pm
Annual Chinatown August Moon Festival
around Beach St, Harrison Ave, Tyler St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

If you want to get a taste of Chinatown, why not go on one of those weekends when there's more action than usual? Sunday is one of those days when music and dance and martial arts demonstrations and vendors are a plenty.

I bet someone will be selling mooncakes. Try one -- it's a Moon Festival thing.

SUN 8/11

9pm
Goodnight Moonshine
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

I liked the name of the band, so I gave them a shot. This is the kind of lovely. folky music that help you float into the working week.

SUN 11/25: JFK, Skating, Music

Okay, getting back into the swing of things. Monday and Tuesday cheapness on the calendar.

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SUN 11/25

9:30am to 4pm
49th Anniversary of 1963 National Day of Mourning
at JFK National Historic Site, 83 Beals St, Brookline (near Coolidge Corner)
FREE

Every year around Thanksgiving, we remember that President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963.

Even though the Kennedys didn't live their anymore, many Brookline residents gathered at JFK's home at his birth after his death.

Since the house is a national historic site, it is open to the public most of the time. It's free today, and there will be a 'brief memorial ceremony' outside at 2:30pm.


SUN 11/25

1pm to 3pm
Winter Kick-Off Celebration
at Frog Pond, Boston Common, Boston
$5 (+ $9 skate rental) / FREE under 14 (+ $5 skate rental)

The kick-off celebration today does not include a professional skating demonstration (like on 11/29). The rink isn't exactly free, but they will be offering free 15-minute lessons (limited space) for those who are rusty. You might win a raffle prize like season passes.

SUN 11/25

4pm
Roy Sludge
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

On most Sunday afternoons, Roy Sludge and his buddies dish out foot-stomping country music with loads of wit (their CD's title track is "Too Drunk To Truck").

Now there's open mic comedy from 7:30pm to 9:30pm downstairs.

SUN 11/25

8pm to 11pm
Kevin So, Rebecca Correia, Eric Schwartz, Tom Bianchi
at The Burren, 247 Elm St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
Donations appreciated

Former Boston singer-songwriter Kevin So has moved to Nashville, so it's been described as a homecoming show. Along with a general air of bonhomie, there will be a figurative barrel full of good tunes as well.

This is basically the scene in the Burren's back room every Sunday.

SUN 11/25

9pm
Lowman
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Lowman stands front and center with his big stand-up bass and whips out some clever, low-key indie pop. He might be playing a standard bass guitar tonight, because who wants haul an instrument that is wider than the tiny trail between the bar and tables.

SUN 11/25

9:30pm
"The Bubbler" Viewing Party w/ Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

Did you see the premiere of "The Bubbler" last week? It's pretty damn good! It's hard to believe there is a totally pro TV show (on TV38) about the Boston music scene.

Host Ryan Spaulding of Ryan's Smashing Life has a great voice for the narrations and a natural interviewing style. It's a great reason to change the channel after football and before sleepytime.

Or you can hang out with other music-lovers and musicians at Radio while waiting for the program. Since they're one of tonight's featured artists, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling is going to play a few acoustic songs.

SAT 11/24: Holidays, Rally, Tubas, Rock, Opera

Okay, so we may be off and running again...

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SAT 11/24

Noon to 7pm
City of Lights Parade & Holiday Celebration
around Downtown Lowell (PDF map)
Mostly Free/Cheap

It's not quite the winter wonderland of Lowell's Winterfest, and it's not quite a beautiful winter's day to stroll around the historic downtown district shopping and watching street performances and sampling hot chocolate at various shops (25 cents a pop).

It's still happening, so you can still go. There's a parade from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

SAT 11/24

Noon
End The Fed/End the Wars Rally
meet at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common / Tremont St Side)
FREE

Wow! A whole rally could be devoted to ending the war in Afghanistan or ending the Federal Reserve, but it's double-shot of activism where people will hear speakers and music in the Common then march to the Federal Reserve building near South Station.

Remember, you don't have to already agree with whatever is being said. Won't it be interesting to hear about the alternatives to the current financial system?

SAT 11/24

2pm
Annual Tuba Christmas Concert
between Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market, 1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston
FREE

My assumption that a hundred tubas/euphoniums/sousaphones playing holiday music would be amusing and absurd. It's actually just as musical and pleasing as any holiday concert.

There is still a holly-jolly vibe, but the lower timbre rounded the edges on some of the songs.

It's not as silly as I had hoped, but that is a lot of tubas in one place.

This might actually be a reason to purposefully walk through Faneuil Hall. On your way back from wherever you're going, you can see the trees light up at night.

SAT 11/24

8pm to Midnight
Cask Mouse, Coyote Kolb, Tallahassee
at New Alliance Audio/EMF Building, 110 Brookline St, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE

It looks like anyone can go tonight. It's a pretty cool scene in the EMF building where you find the New Alliance recording studio and a bunch of band rehearsal spaces (that probably won't be open).

With three really good Americana/jam-blues/folk-rock bands, it's should be a good time. And it's "sponsored by Drambuie and Narragansett"...

SAT 11/24

8pm to 10pm
Opera on Tap: "Opera's Most Dysfunctional Relationships"
at Jacob Wirth, 37 Stuart St, Boston (Theater District)
FREE

Some may prefer the Friday Night Sing-alongs where everyone can sing in drunken harmony. I'd rather hear people who sing well, and one rarely gets a live opera soundtrack while hanging at a bar. Every now and then, Opera on Tap visits Jacob Wirth.

Who knows what the program could be when it seems like most operatic stories include dysfunctional relationships. Expect anything -- that sounds like the women should be wearing Viking helmets.

SAT 11/24

9pm
Midriff Records Residency Night X: Home for Little Wanders Benefit
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8

Feat: Soccer Mom, Eldridge Rodriguez, Ex-Planets, Relations

This is the sound of fuzzy, garagey indie-rockers doing a good deed for orphans. Or you can just go and hear a bunch of good tunes.

SAT 11/24

9pm
Dead Cats Dead Rats, In the Meantime, The Down and Outs, Transit Gloria
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

It's not a Saturday night in Boston without a good punk rock show, right? Well, at least it's true tonight.

SAT 11/24

9:30pm
The Birds of Play, Josh Lederman
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

There is good, free singer-songwriter folk-rock in Union Square.

SAT 11/24

10pm
Glenn Yoder & the Western States
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

There is good, free singer-songwriter folk-rock in Porter Square.

WED 9/19: International Talk Like A Pirate Day

I expect ye be lookin' fer cheap thrills. They be comin', lads an' lasses. Eyeball the calendar.

In th' mean time, 'tis nay too late t' start celebratin' "Talk Like A Pirate Day".

Thar be nothin' specific that be closer than Weymouth tonight.

Darrrn...

TUES 9/18: Games, Talk, Film, Music

Okay, now this is a diverse set of options for those who want to do something tonight!

FYI: Wednesday cheapness is on the calendar (with more to come later).

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TUES 9/18

6pm
"Game Over": A Night by Gamers for Gamers
at Good Life, 28 Kingston St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE / 18+

Although I haven't gone yet, the photos must be a good indicator that plenty of people are showing up. "Game Over" begins its run as a weekly night.

It should be quite a crowd tonight due to their write-up in the Metro yesterday. Whatever your game may be (board, cards, electronic), you'll probably find it and some people to play with you. You'd probably find some takers for something you bring from home

TUES 9/18

6pm to 7pm
Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Competition
at Boston Beer Garden, 734 East Broadway, Boston (Southie)
FREE

You may think you can hold a stein up for 10 minutes with no problem, but that was near the top times when I last looked at the leaderboard.

Someone will win a trip to next year's Oktoberfest in Munich, and I'd like to think you have a chance at some tix to the local event this weekend.

(There are a few more contests in the upcoming days.)

TUES 9/18

6:30pm to 8pm
"Life After Prison: A Different Kind of Sentence?": Dialogue
at Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Panel: Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral, Daniel Cordon, Janet Rodriguez, Lyn Levy

In tandem with the current production of "The Motherfucker with the Hat" whose main character is an ex-convict, The Suffolk County Sheriff and panel that assist similar, real-life characters will examine what it's like when prisoners are released in today's America.

Registration is recommended.

TUES 9/18

7pm to 9pm
"American Autumn: an Occudoc": Screening
at Bright Screening Room, Paramount Theatre, 559 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

The Occupy Wall Streeters moved into Zuccotti Park one year ago yesterday. That encampment lasted about 2 months, but it sparked a wave of similar movements including Occupy Boston that's still active today.

After the screening of the documentary that might satisfy the curious more than the diehard, director Dennis Trainor Jr will be joined by Emerson professor Yasser Munif and Boston Phoenix's Chris Faraone (who wrote "99 Nights with the 99 Percent") for a discussion.

TUES 9/18

7pm
Sam Baltrusis, "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub": Book Launch Celebration
at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
$6

Special guests: Jim Luletta, Dan Blakeslee, Adam Berry, Mike Baker & Scott Trainito, Wendy Reardon

No offense to all of the 'ghost hunters' out there, but I'm so skeptical about ghosts that I don't care to waste hours waiting to hear a noise or record a change in temperature.

Some of these guys as well as comedian Jim Luletta and musician Dan Blakeslee join author Sam Baltrusis as they celebrate what is most likely the definitive book on local spirits of the non-liquid kind.

Mike Baker & Scott Trainito of Para-Boston will even give a report on the Old South Meeting House's haunting horse...

TUES 9/18

8pm
The Bass, Placci, Rider Trio: "Live from Japan!"
at Seully Hall, 4th Fl, Boston Conservatory, 8 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Program:

Haydn, "Gypsy Trio"
Brahms, "Piano Trio in B Major"
Shostakovich, "Piano Trio No. 2"

In case you couldn't make it to the Chichibu International Music Festival, the trio of Conservatory faculty on piano, cello, and violin will perform the same program from last month.

TUES 9/18

Scale The Summit (10:45pm), Trioscapes (9:45pm), Protean Collective (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

This is one of those cases when I read an email before the concert date and find something I wouldn't normally post -- progessive metal and metallic jazz-fusion. While I don't regularly listen to bands like Dream Theater, I respect the musicianship.

When I saw that Scale The Summit didn't have a singer, I wanted to say they make up for it with 7- & 8-string guitars and 6-string bass. Then you have Trioscapes with a sax/flute over a crazy rhythm section. Local prog-metal dudes Protean Collective hold up their end of the deal and goes one better with a singer!

TUES 9/18

9pm
Tall Heights, Aunt Martha
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$9 advance / $10 door

Now for something completely different: Tall Heights consist of two guys who share delicate harmonies over guitar and cello. It's really lovely stuff, and they've been at Lizard Lounge every Tuesday this month with different guests.

I'm pretty sure that Aunt Martha lived in New Hampshire at some point. The rootsy racket should be a nice complement. And they played Bonnaroo last year, which is pretty cool.

TUES 9/18

9:30pm
The Young Leaves, The Fake Boys, Mercy Case, The BF's, Billy Raygun
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$7 / 18+

Now for something completely different again: With 5 bands there might even be a chance that the punky good time will start at 9pm, but I doubt it. I really dig The Fake Boys and power-poppish The BF's. The Young Leaves hark back to loud, noisy '90s indie-rock for a little variety.

MON 9/17: Talk, TV, Music

It's one of those nights when we should be called 'Cheap Thrills - Camberville/JP', but what is a guy supposed to do? I wish there was more cheap/free stuff happening in Boston proper.

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MON 9/17

6pm
Paul Auster, "Winter Journal": Reading
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Tix are available at Harvard Book Store or by phone 617-661-1515.

Whenever I hear Paul Auster mentioned, I have to pay attention. He's so connected with New York City and Brooklyn that his writing captures the the ability to tough and tender and compassionate and joyful. His new memoir is about getting old.

Poet Bill Corbett will introduce his friend.

MON 9/17

7pm to 9pm
"Star Trek Night"
at Arts at the Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Central Hill)
FREE / All Ages

Vintage "Star Trek" will be shown... They definitely serve more beer & wine than your average cafe...

Special effects may be more realistic these days -- maybe even realistic acting without William Shatner -- but the original series had cool stories and sci-fi campiness.

I wish I could say which episodes will be shown, but doesn't it sound fun to get on the #88 or #90 in full costume and pretend it's the bridge of the Enterprise?

MON 9/17

7pm
MassMouth Story Slam: "Rock & Roll"
at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10 / $5 students

Host: Scott Schultz

If you feel like telling a story, ten people will do more than listen at the story slam. Tonight's tales must give their spin on the theme of "rock 'n roll".

Other than your desire to get on stage, the reason why you're paying to listen to stories is that the winner moves on the next level in a competition culminating in April with a killer grand prize (weeklong trip to Italy).

A lot of people have rock stories, so you might want to brush up on the guidelines.

MON 9/17

The White Owls (8pm), Andrea Gillis Band (10pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Two great bar bands that go great together. Dennis Brennan captains a kick-ass team of players through blues classics and hidden gems. Andrea Gillis is the big, soulful voice in front of her punky bar-band.

MON 9/17

9pm
The Decent Lovers, Stereo Telescope, Personal Finance
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

Let's enjoy the sound of The Decent Lovers who used to be super-folky, and now the autoharp is surrounded by more intsruments and electronics for a pretty sweet indie-pop vibe. When I first heard Stereo Telescope, it sounded full-on electropop but they're rock roots show through. My first impression of Personal Finance: guitar rock that leads you in peculiar and awesome directions.

MON 9/17

10pm
Akashic Record
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
FREE

Akashic Record have been laying down funky soul-jazz grooves on Mondays for almost 2 months, and who knows how long the good times will last.

If you get there early, Mondays also feature Stump Trivia (8pm to 10pm) and 50-cent wings (7pm to 9pm).

SUN 9/16: Art, Music, Film

In case you’re not watching football...

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SUN 9/16

11am to 6pm
South End Open Studios
at Various Locations, many around 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

There are different open studio events in the South End during the year, but one of this weekend's appeal is that every major studio building is open this weekend including the BCA's studio building.

Over 200 artists are displaying their work, and it may not be too early for holiday shopping or the random upcoming birthday -- perhaps not cheap but original.

SUN 9/16

12:30pm to 3pm
Boston Musica Viva
at Carroll & Sons Gallery, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

Program:

Michael Gandolfi, "Grooved Surfaces"
David Froom, "Circling"
Roberto Sierra, "Bongo-O"
Franco Donatoni, "Elly"
Patrick Greene, "AbstractEXTRACTION"
Bernard Hoffer, Country Dance from "A Boston Cinderella"

If you’re going to South Boston’s Open Studios, you might as well stop for a while at the Carroll and Sons Gallery to enjoy a bit of contemporary classical mainly by local composers.
And the Henry Horenstein "Honky Tonk" photo exhibit is pretty cool.

SUN 9/16

2pm
"Hootenanny in Harvard Square"
at CCAE Courtyard, 42 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Isn’t the beauty of a hootenanny is that it’s a casual get-together where the good music is based on good will. If you’re in Harvard Square, it wouldn’t be bad to swing by and listen – or sing and clap.

Those aching to play old-timey songs with other folks can bring their instrument along.

SUN 9/16

4pm
Roy Sludge
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

On most Sunday afternoons, Roy Sludge and his buddies dish out foot-stomping country music with loads of wit (their CD's title track is "Too Drunk To Truck").

SUN 9/16

7:30pm
Not So Silent Sundays: Buster Keaton's "The General"
at Arts at the Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Central Hill)
Donations Accepted

It seems like Brendan Cooney is involved with 4 out of 5 silent movie presentations I see. The cool thing about his film soundtracks are not idle doodling along with the action unlike hacks from a century ago.

He has created an original score to one of the great Buster Keaton classics, and new film will be screened every month.

SUN 9/16

8pm
The Pomps, The Forthrights, Nick & the Adversaries, DJ Generoso
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 / 21+

[Facebook]

Oh, there’s a lot of kick-ass ska/rocksteady/punk on deck. This is the kind of lineup that can make you forget that tomorrow is Monday. I assume DJ Generoso will keep things generally skanking-fun in between bands.

SAT 9/15: Night Cheapness

It's mainly mainly movies and music (and dancing) for the evening, but what are you really looking for?

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4pm -- "We Are All Cylons": Free Screening
6:30pm -- "The Avengers": Screening
7pm -- Etheria Film Festival
8pm -- Strange Changes, Bear Language
9pm -- Punk Rock Movie Night #1: "We Jam Econo: The Story of The Minutemen"
9pm -- A Wish For Fire, The Fatal Flaw, The Year Million, The Lights Out
9pm -- Project MUM: Outdoor Dance Party

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SAT 9/15

4pm
"We Are All Cylons": Screening
at Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
FREE

I know people loved the latest "Battlestar Galactica" TV series, because people were still talking about it in a bar the other night -- without knowing about "We Are All Cylons", 42 minutes about how BSG says something about Humankind's past and future.

While this is part of the Etheria Film Festival that has 2 screenings tonight, this documentary should get its own listing.

SAT 9/15

6:30pm
"The Avengers": Screening
at Room 100, Bldg 26, 60 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
$4

When a movie makes a billion (or so) dollars, most people who wanted to see it have probably seen it. Here's another chance to see it on a screen larger than your TV or laptop, and you don't have to feel guilty about sneaking in your own candy.

Since I've sandwiched this between Etheria Film Fest items, I read somewhere recently that advocated Black Widow as the most important member to get the Avengers to assemble.

SAT 9/15

7pm, 9pm
Etheria Film Festival
at Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$10 / $15 Both (Festival Pass)

7pm -- Fantasy Block
9pm -- Sci-Fi Block

After the "We Are All Cylons" screening, the Boston area will be the first to see the Etheria Film Fest program before it travels around. The organizers have collected the best sci-fi and fantasy shorts by female filmmakers from the States, Mexico, Canada, Italy, and Australia.

SAT 9/15

8pm
Strange Changes, Bear Language
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
$10

Sometimes highly technical music can also be fun, and both of these bands get it with different results. Strange Changes caught my attention when comparisons were made to Zappa and Mingus, and there is a Mr. Bungle element of weirdness that includes pop passages morphing into something very metallic. Then you have the tightly-wound yet funky rock of Bear Language.

SAT 9/15

9pm
Punk Rock Movie Night #1: "We Jam Econo: The Story of The Minutemen"
at Washington Street Arts Center, 321 Washington St, Somerville (Union Sq)
Donations Accepted

It's sorta like an all-ages show, but I imagine people sitting on the floor watching relatively quietly. Or I could be completely wrong, because The Minutemen shot out a liberating sound.

Feel free to bring snacks and BYOB. It would be nice to see Movie Night #2 and so on.

SAT 9/15

9pm
A Wish For Fire (11:50pm), The Fatal Flaw (10:50pm), The Year Million (9:55pm), The Lights Out (9pm)
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

It's a CD release party for A Wish For Fire. As it sometimes happens, the party boys are not my favorite of the night. Don't get me wrong; I think they do rock out well in their heavy, modern-proggy way -- as does The Year Million. A Wish for Fire are even offering a free song download whether or not you want to whole album.

It just doesn't get much better than The Fatal Flaw who combine sweet melodies and wry lyrics with a bit of grit for a winning combination. The Lights Out are a good bunch of guys who know their tight guitar-heavy pop-rock and how not to cross into something cheesy.

SAT 9/15

9pm to 1am
Project MUM: Outdoor Dance Party
Under the McGrath Highway, about 150 Medford St, Somerville (outside Union Sq)
$10 donation

This is the best night of the year to dance under the McGrath Highway, because you won't feel quite alone -- and there will actually be music playing.

The renovation process currently makes it look worse than usual, but they do transform a segment into a dance area with decor and video projections. Unfortunately I was stone sober when I showed up, so it was difficult to get into the dance mood. Otherwise it's a cool open-air dance party with musical turns to space you out by DJs/VJs Simex, cosinezero, FiG, Keith Mattar and Jon Bonk.

The theme is "Space", feel free to get dressed up with an astronomical angle or a simply comfortable leisure suit.

Somerville bicycle gang SCUL and the Boston Hoop Troop are also involved in some way.

Keep in mind your donation supports Somerville's fun & funky arts/cultural events throughout the year.

SAT 9/15: Day Cheapness

I think we may be on track. Stay tuned, folks...

And there's cheapness through Sunday on the calendar.

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8am -- Boston Open Powerlifting Championship
11am -- South Boston Street Festival
11am -- South End Open Studios
Noon -- Annual Boston Freedom Rally
Noon -- Somerville Riverfest
12:30pm -- "Rumble on the River"
1pm -- "Boston is Burning: A Day at the Boston Fire Museum"
2pm -- New England Americana Festival: Outdoor Concert
3pm -- "Halfway to St Paddy's Day!"
4pm -- Boston College Sesquicentennial Celebration Mass
4pm -- "We Are All Cylons": Free Screening

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SAT 9/15

8am to 3pm
Boston Open Powerlifting Championship
at Morss Hall, Walker Memorial Bldg, 142 Memorial Dr, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

At first, I thought this would be strong nerds hanging out all day in the gym. On the contrary, MIT is hosting male and female USA Powerlifting members of different ages who will lift much more than you.

It may not be your thing, but spectators are welcome.

SAT 9/15

11am to 6pm
South Boston Street Festival
on East Broadway, between I and L Streets, Boston (Southie)
FREE

It may be of more interest to the folks in the neighborhood or those who just love Southie. If you recently moved here -- or in the last 10 years -- it might be a way to break the ice with the indigenous peoples if you see them strolling around the food/arts/crafts merchants.

There's is live music like folky Irish (Hogan’s Goat, 11:30am) and bluesy rock (Greg Luttrell, huge in China, 2:30pm) and some cover bands and step dancers.

SAT 9/15 (and SUN 9/16)

11am to 6pm
South End Open Studios
at Various Locations, many around 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

There are different open studio events in the South End during the year, but one of this weekend's appeal is that every major studio building is open this weekend including the BCA's studio building.

Over 200 artists are displaying their work, and it may not be too early for holiday shopping or the random upcoming birthday -- perhaps not cheap but original.

SAT 9/15

Noon to 6PM
Annual Boston Freedom Rally
at Boston Common, Boston
FREE

Main Stage:

Noon -- Battle for the Rally Winner
12:35pm -- Matalon
1:10pm -- Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket
1:55pm -- Nicole D’Amico & Friends
2:35pm -- Moe Pope
3:10pm -- Myster DL
3:45pm -- DJ Slim
4:20pm -- The Indobox
5:15pm -- Spiritual Rez

Parkman Stage:

Noon -- Green Line Inbound
12:35pm -- Claudia Varona & The Phobia
1:10pm -- Solo Sexx
1:45pm -- Dude Fuckin’ Yeah
2:20pm -- Pipeline Riot
2:55pm -- Leaders Led
3:30pm -- Dead Cats Dead Rats
4:05pm -- BRUNT OF IT
4:40pm -- Grey Sky Appeal
5:20pm -- The Shills

What used to be known as HempFest is now the Boston Freedom Rally. I'm not sure if the actual festival has been instrumental in relaxing marijuana-related laws in MA, but the speakers have probably had a hand in the baby steps towards decriminalization.

I doubt the schedule won't be exact. It's not because it's a festival for stoners; there will be speakers between bands.

I went a few years ago, and it's a really chill crowd as expected. Good vibes and times, and a fine opportunity to get a jokey marijuana t-shirt (and a contact high).

Yes, students (and anyone else), you can find a weed connection.

SAT 9/15

Noon to 8pm
Somerville Riverfest
at Assembly Row, 1 Assembly Square Dr, Somerville
FREE

Live music:

Noon -- The Beat Horizon w/ Pete Doom
1pm -- Sunlea
2pm -- Run Gazelle Run
3pm -- Fantastic Liars
4pm -- Lauren Bateman
5pm -- Hayley Jane & The Primates
6pm -- Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band
7pm -- Afrobrazil

It's a short, not-very-scenic walk from Sullivan Square (and it will probably piss commuters off when they add a Orange Line stop in the future) to find Somerville's major development project. Although Ikea is not coming, I think the commercial and residential area is starting to shape up.

I'd suggest going towards the end of the day to hear Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band and the other later bands. Of course, there's entertainment for young people; and food trucks are there for the hungry.

There will also be fireworks at 8pm.

SAT 9/15

12:30pm to 6:30pm
"Rumble on the River"
at Harry Parker Boathouse, 20 Nonatum Rd, Brighton
FREE

12:30pm -- Kingsley Flood
1:35pm -- Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons
2:45pm -- Jesse Dee
4:05pm -- Otis Grove w/ Akrobatik
5:30pm -- Gentlemen Hall

My experience last year was mixed, and it was mostly my fault. The music is awesome again; in fact, I think the lineup is better this year with a nice mix of rootsy, soulful, funk, and pop. Congrats to MySecretBoston for putting it together.

Get there early and hear one of my favorite rock and roll bands Kingsley Flood, and the party takes a twangier twist until the party vibes keep on rising.

Do yourself a favor and RSVP to get into the beer garden if you'd like to really whet you whistle!

And don't casually stroll from Harvard Square; that's a long walk.

SAT 9/15

1pm
"Boston is Burning: A Day at the Boston Fire Museum"
at Boston Fire Museum, 344 Congress St, Boston
$7

I'm not really sure what you get for $7. The museum doesn't charge anything (donations accepted), so it's intriguing what an organization dedicated to finding 'amazing places' will do to inaugurate their local chapter. Proceed at your own risk...

SAT 9/15

2pm
New England Americana Festival: Outdoor Concert
at Winthrop Park, about 50 JFK St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

2pm -- Fiddlin' Quinn & his Big Folks Band
3pm -- Sarah Blacker
4pm -- Greg Klyma
5pm -- Brian Carroll
6pm -- Cask Mouse

The evening shows at this weekend's New England Americana Festival around Harvard Square are $15, so I can cheer for the free daytime show. It's a savvy move to share a variety of folky, twangy, poppy, rocky sounds that fit under the Americana umbrella.

I didn't listen to Fiddlin' Quinn, but I like that he's a little kid who plays with tall musicians.

SAT 9/15

3pm
"Halfway to St Paddy's Day!"
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

3pm -- Johnnie Come Latelies
6pm -- Josh Lederman & the CSARs
9pm -- One Thin Dime

Maybe if I was Irish-American or a binge drinker, I'd be watching the calendar for St Paddy's Day. Regardless of the reason, the lineup is classic Union Square with a couple mainstays when it's time to celebrate March's drinking holiday and a reunion of a band that includes Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley.

Sally O's is even serving Irish boiled dinner.

SAT 9/15

4pmBoston College Sesquicentennial Celebration Mass
at Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE w/ Registration

You may not be able to register, but isn't interesting that they're holding a Catholic mass at Fenway Park?

Can you imagine what people will be praying for?

SAT 9/15

4pm
"We Are All Cylons": Screening
at Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
FREE

I know people loved the latest "Battlestar Galactica" TV series, because people were still talking about it in a bar the other night -- without knowing about "We Are All Cylons", 42 minutes about how BSG says something about Humankind's past and future.

While this is part of the Etheria Film Festival that has 2 screenings tonight, this documentary should get its own listing.

MON 9/10: Talk, Rock, Funk

It's one of those day where I eliminated the events that are sold out or the date has changed.

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MON 9/10

7:00pm
Nassir Ghaemi, "A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness": Discussion
at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

With our presidential election looming, Dr. Nassir Ghaemi has written a book examines how crazy leaders throughout history have been.

As a psychiatry professor and director of the Mood Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center, he certainly has the credentials to hypothesize. Perhaps he'll share a few thoughts about Barack and Mitt.

MON 9/10

9:30pm
Bent Shapes, No Comply, Dig Safe
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 / 18+

When I saw Bent Shapes at ArtBeat, they were back to their Girlfriends-y size, and it was pretty friggin' awesome bouncy yet edgy fuzz. Dig Safe charges through their tunes with a ferocious vigor. If new band No Comply sounds as cool as their early recordings, then one is in store for a messy/quirky set of indie-goodness.

MON 9/10

10pm
Wilder Maker, Katie Von Schleicher
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

If you've listened to Boy Without God, you're familiar with the deep vocal stylings of chief Wilder Maker Gabe Birnbaum. The lyrics are still seem intelligent and poignant, although I often get lost listening to that voice that I lose track about the song's meaning.

The performers are cross-pollinated where Katie Von Schleicher sings with Wilder Maker and Birnbaum plays with Von Schleicher as well as what appears to be most of her bandmates in Sleepy Very Sleepy.

MON 9/10

10pm
Akashic Record
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
FREE

Akashic Record have been laying down funky soul-jazz grooves on Mondays for almost 2 months, and who knows how long the good times will last.

If you get there early, Mondays also feature Stump Trivia (8pm to 10pm) and 50-cent wings (7pm to 9pm).

SAT 9/8: Day Cheapness

For some reason, this weekend has several event with huge amounts of music. I can't explain it -- just enjoy what works for you.

I'm still interested in the "Before I Die..." board on the Greenway that I mentioned the other day.

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10am -- Porschefest
10am -- 6th Annual One Heart Festival
11am -- 1st Annual Daoism & Health Festival
Noon -- "Ahts": Boston Arts Festival
Noon -- 2nd Annual JP Music Festival
Noon -- 33rd Annual Banjo & Fiddle Contests
2pm -- Ice Cream Showdown #4
4pm -- MixFest
5pm -- "Spokes 2012": Somerville Bike Fest
5pm -- 5th Annual Virgo-A-Go-Go
6:30pm - Laura Stevenson & The Cans, Destry, Poison Ivy League

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SAT 9/8

10am to 2pm
Porschefest
at Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St, Brookline
$10 / $5 military, seniors, students, children under 12

It doesn't matter whether you love the old-time 356's or the modern marvels of German engineering that fall along the 900's. There will be plenty to gawk and maybe caress.

SAT 9/8

10am to 6pm
6th Annual One Heart Festival
at Codman Square, 661 Washington St, Dorchester
FREE

Feat: Garrisun Family, Jah-N-I Roots Band, Jah Jah Drummers, King-i, Mamadou, Princess Menen, Pete Doom, Peter Fyine, Tony Funches, more

I don't recall seeing the One Heart Festival before, but there have been 5 previous iterations as the One Heart Festival or Codman Square Peace Concert. I think an article was more informative than the actual website.

The schedule is a mystery, so one could take a ride in the Ashmont direction and sample a variety of reggae, hip-hop, gospel, and R&B.

SAT 9/8

11am to 2pm
1st Annual Daoism & Health Festival
at Josiah Quincy School Playground, 885 Washington St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

The Daoists would be the closest that we earthlings have to Jedi system, except Jedi-ism has gained some ground in the UK...

Neither have functional light sabers, the Daoists are offering to share some performances, workshops, and philosophy with Bostonians.

SAT 9/8 (and SUN 9/9)

Noon to 6pm
"Ahts": Boston Arts Festival
at Christopher Columbus Park, about 120 Atlantic Ave, Boston (Waterfront/North End)
FREE

Saturday schedule:

12:30pm -- Sam Cornish
1:45pm -- Bird Courage
2:30pm -- Love Experiment
3pm -- Miss Fairchild
3:45pm -- Yesberger Band
4:15pm -- Stereo Telescope
5pm -- Me vs. Gravity
5:30pm - Rag Time

When I went a few years ago, I saw some cool things and almost bought a print. I say go for walk by the water, catch a performance or two, and browse around the art.

About 60 booths are set up in a row, then Boston's poet laureate kicks it off on one of the stages. The rest of the lineup will be sending grooves and good vibrations in the atmosphere.

SAT 9/8

Noon to 7pm
2nd Annual JP Music Festival
at Pinebank Baseball Field, about 200 Perkins St, Jamaica Plain (Jamaica Pond)
FREE

Stage 1

Noon -- Opening Ceremony
12:20pm -- Members of JP Symphony Orchestra
12:45pm -- Mariachi Mexamericana
1:15pm -- Riding Shotgun
1:50pm -- Morris & the East Coast
2:25pm -- Eamonn Bonner
2:40pm -- Rick Berlin w/ The Nickel & Dime Band
3pm -- Dennis Brennan w/ The Nickel & Dime Band
3:40pm -- Whiskey Boys
4:10pm -- Tallahassee
4:45pm -- Bob Bradshaw
5:20pm -- Rocky Nook
5:55pm -- Almost Righteous
6:45pm -- Love Whip

Stage 2

12:05pm -- Late Greats
12:30pm -- Lauren DeRose
1pm -- Gracious Calamity
1:30pm -- Thick Wild
2:05pm -- Sweatshop
2:30pm -- Members of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
3:20pm -- Coyote Kolb
3:55pm -- Lenny Lashley's Gang of One
4:30pm -- Lono
5pm -- The Needy Visions
5:40pm -- Fully Celebrated
6:15pm -- Streight Angular
7pm -- Closing Ceremony

Jamaica Plain is a place where things still stay organic and DIY, and this is going to be the real thing. It's funky not in the Parliament kind of way, and it's great.

Two dozen of the many bands that live and share a kinship with neighborhood are kicking ass on 2 stages. It's bigger than last year, and it'll be bigger in the future.

* My pick of the day! *

SAT 9/8

Noon to 6pm
33rd Annual Banjo & Fiddle Contests
at Boarding House Park, 40 French St, Lowell
FREE

Yeah, it's in Lowell. Someone out there can't get enough of down-home, bluegrass, and Dixieland music.

SAT 9/8

2pm to 4pm
Ice Cream Showdown #4
at Dewey Square Park, Kennedy Greenway, about 170 Summer St, Boston (near South Station)
$8

From the first Ice Cream Showdown in a parking lot in Somerville -- which was awesome -- the showdown puts on its big-boy pants and heads to Boston's Greenway where people were protesting economic inequality.

Today we protest shitty ice cream as you'll taste cool, delicious, creamy excellence from JP Licks, Toscanini's, Emack & Bolio's, Giovanna Gelato e Sorbet, Picco, and FoMu.

I haven't heard of a couple of these places, which was so amazing about that first time. I had flavor combinations that I've never had before from brands that will never be known across the country.

SAT 9/8

4pm to 8pm
MixFest
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

6:30pm -- Train
5:20pm -- Gavin DeGraw
4:15pm -- Andy Grammer

Umm... There will be slightly more room, because I won't be here. On the other hand, I know people love Train's breezy pop-rock despite the the rhyme scheme is so often obvious and repetitive.

SAT 9/8

5pm to 9pm
"Spokes 2012": Somerville Bike Fest
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

While JP rocks out tonight, my 'hood plays with bicycles...

Celebrating the fastest zero-emission, calorie-burning mode of transportation is just as important and worthwhile as sitting on a lawn and spacing out to good tunes!

From 5pm to 7pm, there will be 30-minute workshops on bike maintenance.

One of the my favorite movies is "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" that will screen a la "bike-in" style (will that be comfortable?) at 7:30pm where a good-hearted man-boy embarks on an odyssey to find his stolen bike.

Post-film, the amazing pedal-powered sculptures of S.C.U.L. leads all interested parties on a ride through Somerville.

SAT 9/8

5pm
5th Annual Virgo-A-Go-Go
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10

Main Stage:

6pm -- Didn't Planet
7pm -- Ghost Truckers
8pm -- Glenn Yoder & the Western States
9pm -- Van Buren Boys
10pm -- Three Day Threshold
11:20pm -- Tallahassee
Midnight -- 80s Dance party

Stage two:

5:30pm -- Mike "Tank" Ryan
6:35pm -- BIlly Letendre
7:35pm -- John Stump
8:35pm -- Hansen Sisters with John Ransom
9:40pm -- Cactus Prick
10:45pm -- Summer Villains

It's the Annual Virgo-A-Go-Go Festival, and from the little I know, Virgos like to celebrate that their parents conceived them around the winter holidays. Maybe it was just a cold night or maybe the winter boots were a-knocking after many glasses of champagne or egg nog. Or maybe Papa put his dick in a box...

There's more than a barrel of kickass music, and folks are encouraged to dress like it's 80's that will make sense for the end-of-night dance party. In general you may look like as ridiculous as when your parents conceived you.

The doors open 4pm, and you may get free pizza and wings if you get there early enough.

SAT 9/8

Laura Stevenson & The Cans (8pm), Destry (7:15pm), Poison Ivy League (6:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / All Ages

Let's remember that no one has to stay for a whole 7-hour music festival or show for the first band of a long musical party. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with simply offering a finite amount of folky/punky indie-rock then going about your business for the rest of the night -- or retiring early.

In that case, alums of other projects like Bomb The Music Industry and Straylight Run might just fit your bill.

FRI 9/7: B-Day, Art, Talk, Music

It's not a bad day to be dontown for cheapness. Although I thought September 16 was Boston's birthday, I'd keep my ears open around 4:30pm for the bells around town -- including a 1801 Paul Revere model at the Old South Meeting House.

Don't forget to stop by the Greenway to contribute to the "Before I Die..." board that I mentioned the other day.

Since there's usually a bunch of Friday options, I'm toying with a 'table of contents'.

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4:30pm – “Boston Charter Day”
5pm -- First Friday Open Studios
6pm -- Martin Amis, "Lionel Asbo: State of England": Reading
6pm -- Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
7pm -- First Annual A Cappella Jamboree
7pm -- Derrick Adams, "Feed Them With A Long Spoon": Performance
8pm -- Breton, The Big Sleep
8pm -- "Seven on the Seventh"
9pm -- The Horny Bitches, Bad Lieutenants, Death Waltz '76, Give Up!
9pm -- Dave Crespo's After Party, Streight Angular, Dylan Sevey & the Gentlemen, Last of the Independents, The Magnus Effect
11:30pm -- The Nightcap

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FRI 9/7

4:30pm
Boston Charter Day
at Old South Meeting House (Downtown Crossing) and bell towers around town
FREE

Bells in Boston, Dorchester, and Watertown will ring out at 4:30pm to celebrate Boston's 382nd birthday.

Massachusetts residents can look around the Old South Meeting House for free, and there's a free 2-hour walking tour that leaves a few minutes afterwards (with RSVP).

FRI 9/7

5pm to 9pm
First Friday Open Studios
at SoWa Arts Bldg, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

When I've gone, there were decent crowds passing through. Several dozen studios with interesting works are always open in the rather large building, and there's bound to be refreshments in a few...

It's not free to get into the ICA tonight, but they are having a "Back To School" edition of their First Fridays, so free trolleys will shuttle the willing between the Seaport and South End every 30 minutes between 6pm and 8:30pm. Your $15 includes museum admission and an appletini (really).

FRI 9/7

6pm
Martin Amis, "Lionel Asbo: State of England": Reading
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Amis is probably known as well for being son of Kingsley and friend of Hitchens as he is for his writing, but his writing is damn good. Maybe there won't be any rambling stories, but maybe there will be...

Tickets are available at Harvard Book Store or by phone 617-661-1515.

FRI 9/7

6pm to 9pm
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
at Christopher Columbus Park, about 120 Atlantic Ave, Boston (Waterfront/North End)
FREE

Holy crap! The modern Queen of Soul is playing a free concert in the park. I don't know who will open the show, but she and the Dap-Kings are not starting at 6pm.

It's an auspicious beginning for the Boston Arts Festival where artists and artisans will be displaying and selling their wares this weekend (Noon to 6pm) in the same park -- along with performances on 2 stages.

FRI 9/7

7pm
Derrick Adams, ": "Feed Them With A Long Spoon": Performance Art
at Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Has anyone seen the Derrick Adams exhibit or go to the reception? I'm guessing it was kinda cool, because Adams does have a good rep.

For instance, tonight's performance is where he and guest will feed each other a 4-course dinner (from The Beehive) on really, really long utensils while old TV shows are projected.

Yeah...

FRI 9/7

7pm
First Annual A Cappella Jamboree
at Arts at the Armory Performance Hall, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Central Hill)
$7 / All Ages

Feat: No Parachute, MassWhole Notes, Boston Accent, Rift, Redline

Oh, great. The students are back in town AND these other jamokes want to keep singing like they still in glee club...

Hey, maybe there are some people that like listening to a couple hours of a cappella singing, which can definitely enjoyable in smaller doses. There's talk of a 'mystery guest group'. I wonder if it'll be the Tufts group that was on TV a couple years ago.

FRI 9/7

8pm
Breton, The Big Sleep
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

With no preconceived notions about either band, both the Brits and Brooklynites whip up what I'd call quite enjoyable dance-rock. My tastes favor Breton, but English kids have always impressed me by incorporating art and style without making me nauseous. On the other hand, I was also strutting-while-sitting to The Big Sleep's "Valentine".

FRI 9/7

8pm
"Seven on the Seventh"
at Massasoit Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Dr, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$7

Feat: Vautour w/ Zimbu, Victory Garden, Lydia Fischer, Trap Arnold, Huk, Murals, Vince Cannady

A couple blocks away, the Elks Lodge is swaying away in what the organizers describe as a "mix of electro-folky-funky stuff." I'm not even sure that I found the right links for a couple of the bands. These folks seem like nice people, and who doesn't like hanging out at the VFW halls on a Friday night?

FRI 9/7

9pm
The Horny Bitches, Bad Lieutenants, Death Waltz '76, Give Up!
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St, Jamaica Plain
$8 / 21+

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Who doesn't love sassy, outlandish Quebecois chicks who lay it out there by calling themselves Horny Bitches and punking out with attitude unbecoming of the friendly-Canadian stereotype? I'm digging the catchy punk of Death Waltz '76. Bad Lieutenants and Give Up also make Boston punks proud.

FRI 9/7

9pm
Dave Crespo's After Party, Streight Angular, Dylan Sevey & the Gentlemen, Last of the Independents, The Magnus Effect
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$8 / 21+

Whenever I see Streight Angular playing a gig, I know it's going to be a fun, colorful indie-rock party. Then you have Dave Crespo bringing the after-party to this side of 2am with good-time tunes & energy. Through and through, the bands should serve up folky, soulful, and garagey rock at my favorite secret bar in Davis Square.

FRI 9/7 (and SAT 9/8)

11:30pm
"The Nightcap"
at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

One Friday or Saturday night in Central Square, you may impress those in your company by suggesting the free half-hour comedy show. It could be stand-ups or improv or a combination of the two.

Maybe this will be the weekend I remember to go...