Happy Pi Day!

Since one of the most fascinating numbers begins 3.14 (and so on and so on...), people mainly celebrate today by eating pie and making bad puns. Enjoy!



(Of course, I have ambitious goals for my day. I hope to accomplish some of them, including a good weekly list to be posted later.)

Sneak Peek: FRI 3/14 to SUN 3/16

Here is some of the stuff that'll be on the list tomorrow. To be honest, I haven't found more cheap stuff for Friday that looks compelling but I might find it tonight...

Hey, if you're going to a St. Paddy's party this weekend, I encourage you to be green and bring your own mug/cup instead of using those red plastic cups. Do something to reduce waste!

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FRI 3/14

Me and Joan Collins (11:45pm), Super 400 (10:45pm), Sonny Oaks (9:45pm), I Have Ears (9pm)
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
$8

Super 400 blew me away; killer power-trio rock with a hint of jamband. A couple of the other bands rock out on the art/glam tip.

Big-haired PA singer-songwirter, Nathaniel HoHo, plays for free around 8pm.

FRI 3/14

9:30pm
Lenny & The Piss Poor Boys, The Stumbleweeds, The Swinedells, The Alrighters
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Country, rockabilly, punkabilly.

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SAT 3/15

9pm
Siobhan O'Brien, Jimmy Ryan, The Brooklyns, Natalie Flanagan
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain
$10

Siobhan O'Brien is guesting with The Chieftains at Symphony Hall on Friday, and topping off a folk-roots/rock lineup tonight.

SAT 3/15

8pm to 10pm
"Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part II"
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
$5

A classical-oriented program.

SAT 3/15

9:30pm
Yoni Gordon & the Goods, Tony Bear, Diamond Mines, Bridget & the Squares
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$8 -- 21+ / $11 -- 18+

Yoni Gordon & the Goods and Diamond Mines are damn-good song-oriented rockers.

SAT 3/15

11am
Scientology Protest
in front of Church of Scientology International, 448 Beacon St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Did you hear about the people that protested Scientology in the South End recently? You can see it in person this time, or get a "V for Vendetta" mask and join in. (That's what "Anonymous" protesters wear.)

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SUN 3/16

1pm
St. Patrick's Day Parade
starts at: Broadway T Station to Andrews T Station, South Boston
FREE

The website has the parade route. I've seen cops tell people to empty their red plastic cups, so this would be a perfect opportunity to use a coffee mug or an empty water bottle...

SUN 3/16

7pm to 9pm
Dirty WaterReading Series, "Get Lucky": Reading & Party
at Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston St, 4th floor, Boston (near Boston Common)
FREE / 21+

How do you get people to show up at a reading? Free food & booze and prizes.

Luck/Irish-themed readings by Sommer Browning, Steve Himmer, Nina MacLaughlin, Felicia C. Sullivan; and Irish mad-libs.

SUN 3/16

7pm
"On Broadway": Screening & Discussion
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq, Somerville
$8

A made-in-Boston-by-Bostonians indie that's getting decent reviews. There will be a Q&A with writer/director Dave McLaughlin afterwards.

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Link of the Day:

See the MySpace pages of Ashley Alexandra Dupre (Eliot Spitzer's "friend") and her music.

THUR 3/13 & FRI 3/14: BUFF Pre-Party and Missy Higgins

Hey, wasn't the daylight after work awesome yesterday?! On the temperature couldn't have much better. I didn't take advantage of the time as much as I savored it.

It was a wonderful time to walk around Boston. Thank you, Ben Franklin (and Ed Markey) for your good work.

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THUR 3/13

8pm
Boston Underground Film Fest: Pre-Party
at Good Vibrations, 308 A Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

The B.U.F.F. starts next Thursday in Harvard Sq, but you can get an early taste at adult merchandiser Good Vibrations. See some shorts & trailers while enjoying free food and adult beverages. You might even win passes to the film festival or something from the store... If not, everyone still gets a 10% discount on purchases during the party.

While not stated, I assume this shindig is rated NC-17.

FRI 3/14

1pm
Missy Higgins
at Borders Books, 10 School St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

Missy Higgins is already a huge star in her homeland Australia where she had the biggest-selling CD of '05. (She was 21 at the time.) Even though she has a sold-out show at The Paradise on the same night, Missy still appears to be on track for a free set. I haven't been bombarded by her music, but it has a very soothing timbre that doesn't bug me like some other confessional singer-songwriter types. If you'd like to hear some tunes that fall somewhere between Norah Jones and KT Tunstall, take a late lunch on Friday.

TUES 3/11: Something Youngish, Something Oldish

There are already some good options below but, hey -- this is a blog, not an email -- I can add events to offer some extra choices here and there. Maybe some people are looking for updates...

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TUES 3/11

9pm to 1am
Bootie Boston Kickoff Party
at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Central Sq & MIT)
FREE / 21+

I admit it. I have a soft spot for mash-ups. I enjoy hearing the result of melding songs together to create something new and cool, yet familiar. I don't how this is going to be different from dj BC & Lenlow's Mash Ave nights except Middlesex has more dance room than The Independent -- and they're now affiliated with the larger Bootie organization that has outposts in other major cities. Since it's the Boston kickoff party, there are guest DJs ATOM and DJ Noelle and live mashup singer Katie Enlow (performing sometime before midnight).

The first 50 people also get a free Bootie CD. If it's the Best of '07 mix, you'll find stuff like "Tender Umbrella (Rihanna vs. General Public)", "Sympathy For Teen Spirit (Rolling Stones vs. Queen vs. Nirvana)", "Detox (Amy Winehouse vs. Britney Spears)", and "Illiterate City (Jackson 5 vs. Guns N' Roses)".

TUES 3/11

6pm to 7:30pm
"Born Before Plastic": Reading & Book Signing
at Borders Books, 511 Boylston St, Boston Back Bay
FREE

Grub Street is a non-profit writing center that offers many worthwhile workshops & events. They assisted the City of Boston with the Memoir Project by assisting some of our more seasoned citizens to write their recollections of their neighborhoods from North End to Roxbury and points in between. Mayor Menino will be on hand to make some introductory remarks, and some of the authors will share stories with the group. Discussion and refreshments will follow.

Cheap Thrills: 3/7 to 3/14

Yes, Jonathan Richman was excellent. I feel like I had to cut my losses on the ol' list this week and try to come back funny and informative next week...

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FRI 3/7
* The Fleshtones, The Lyres, The Prime Movers
* Jerkus Circus w/ The Steamy Bohemians & Friends
* "Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part I"
* The Somerville Maple Syrup Project: "The Big Boil" -- and SAT 3/8

SAT 3/8
* Elements of Cinema: "Harlan County, USA"
* The Nightingales, The Konks, Hotpants Romance, Apple Betty
* Boston Massacre Reenactments
* Fundraiser for Mama Zebbler

SUN 3/9
* Grigory Goryachev
* Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Cabaret
* Jesse Gallagher and Friends

MON 3/10
* Violette de Bartillat
* Triple Thick, The Curses, The Alrighters

TUES 3/11
* Barefoot Truth
* "Magic: The Party"
* "Diplomacy: Talking with Allies and Enemies"

WED 3/12
* Free Burrito Day
* Steve Goldman and Team: Baseball Prospectus 2008
* Chandler Travis Philharmonic
* "Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Dissent"

THUR 3/13
* Bitches Brew
* "Naming The World"
* Lady Snark, "The Perfect Insult"
* "Brink's Robbery Night"

FRI 3/14
* Me and Joan Collins, Super 400, Sonny Oaks, I Have Ears
* Lenny & The Piss Poor Boys, The Stumbleweeds, The Swinedells, The Allrighters

SAT 3/15
* Siobhan O'Brien, Jimmy Ryan, The Brooklyns, Natalie Flanagan
* Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part II

SUN 3/16
* St. Patrick's Day Parade

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FRI 3/7

9pm
The Fleshtones, Lyres, The Prime Movers
at Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Avenue, Allston
$10 / 18+

Garage-rock cult-heroes The Fleshtones are joined by two of Boston's greatest.

FRI 3/7

9:30pm
"Jerkus Circus" w/ The Steamy Bohemians & Friends
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Besides the ribald humor and music of The Steamy Bohemians, there's more and more and more from comedians Tim Kaelin, Ira Proctor, Renata Tutko, The Untrainables; burlesque by Babes in Boinkland; clever kinetic comedy from Daniel Forlano, an acoustic set from Fluttr Effect, AND sexy hula hooping...... It seems that peculiar "non-comedian", SiNuS BRaDy, will also appear.

Print out the flyer for $2 off admission.

FRI 3/7

8pm to 10pm
"Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part I"
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
$5

I've known Don Byron as a clarinetist but he's an equally talented saxophonist. This guy is the real deal. He should be playing at one of the good jazz clubs in town, but he's also into music education. For a fraction of a full cover -- and no drink minimum -- you should get a good concert. Also playing on SAT 3/15.

FRI 3/7 & SAT 3/8

10am to 4pm
The Somerville Maple Syrup Project: "The Big Boil"
at Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Cambridge (Union Sq)
FREE

Someone thought I made a snide comment about this event last year, but it would be interesting to see if you're in the neighborhood...

Oh, and Somerville syrup sux!

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SAT 3/8

11am
Elements of Cinema: "Harlan County, USA"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Intense documentary about coal miners followed by a discussion led by a documentary filmmaker, Tracy Strain.

SAT 3/8

11am, 2pm, 7pm
Boston Massacre Reenactment
at Old State House, 206 Washington St, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

Young people are doing it at 11am and 2pm; adults at 7pm. The reenactment might be different than what you remember from history class. (If you remember anything like that...)

SAT 3/8

The Nightingales (Midnight), The Konks (11pm), Hotpants Romance (10pm), Apple Betty (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 21+

The Nightingales (UK) made their first trip to Boston last year after 20+ years, and now they return with British up-'n-comers Hotpants Romance. Both The Konks and Apple Betty rock stupendously well. If you want to know something quick about The Nightingales, they're like The Fall if Mark E Smith was still good. In my notes about The Konks, I wrote of their primal sound: "Like flossing with barbed wire." (That's a compliment, by the way.)

SAT 3/8

9pm to 2am
"Come Home": Fundraiser for Zebbler's Mom
at The Good Life, 28 Kingston St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
$10 donation

No, that's not an "American Pie" reference. Do you remember the dreadlocked guy who put up the Mooninite lite-brites last year? His mother still lives in Belarus and is being harassed by the government. He's trying to raise funds to help her move to Poland where she'll be safe.

I've corresponded with Zebbler and read the blog; this is far from a joke. It's more mellow, art reception at the beginning, and it'll crank up as the night goes on. There is a serious amount of art, music, cool visuals, and more fun to be had -- and you'll do something very important for a women that needs assistance. More details at Mama Zebbler's fundraisng site.

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SUN 3/9

2:30pm
Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Cabaret Life Drawing Class
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$7 / 18+

Another edition of the best drawing session in Boston. Wilder and looser than any other art class you've been to. You won't feel so bad about your drawing skills. Crazy models, contests, and prizes -- oh my!

Miss Darcey (formerly Black Cat Burlesque, now of La-La Land?) will be this month's model.

SUN 3/9

4pm
Grigory Goryachev
at St. Botolph Bldg, Room G01, 241 St. Botolph St, Boston (New England Conservatory/Fenway)
FREE

This guy is an awesome flamenco guitarist. I swear.

SUN 3/9

9:30pm
Jesse Gallagher (of Apollo Sunshine) and Friends
at Milky Way Lounge, 403 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
FREE / 21+

Mainly acoustic music.

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MON 3/10

9pm
Violette de Bartillat
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
FREE

Parisian singer who loves jazz moves to Boston and ends up at a divey rock bar on a Monday night. The listeners win.

MON 3/10

Triple Thick (11:45pm), The Curses (11pm), The Alrighters (10pm)
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

The 2nd floor at Charlie's Kitchen is already a supercool spot, but we should support the return of live music on Mondays. The excellent bands join up tonight.

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TUES 3/11

8pm
Barefoot Truth w/ guests
at Paradise Lounge, 969 Comm Ave, Boston (near BU)
$8 in advance / $10 day of show / 18+

This is good soulful, jammy, acoustic rock. Am listening to their MySpace and am moving my head around in a goofy whiteboy way. Good lyrics too. They'll be here every Tuesday in March, so I might write more later.

TUES 3/11

9pm
Anderson Presents: Magic: The Party!
at O'Brien’s, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8

Don't know why it's called 'Magic', but it'll be comedy, some in a talk-show format. Movers and Shakers are supposed to do 2 sets -- an acoustic and an electric -- which is cool. Kevin Obama is slated as a special guest tonight, and I'll let you figure out who his half-brother is (for real!) -- and it's not Bill Clinton... An iPod DJ will want you to dance afterwards...

TUES 3/11

6pm
"Diplomacy: Talking with Allies and Enemies"
at Boston Public Library, Mezzanine Conference Room, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

Most presidential candidates thinks it makes them look tough when they say they don't want to talk to "enemies". Fmr. Ambassador Charles F. Dunbar (now International Relations, BU) will shed some light on this in a way you won't hear on CNN, etc.

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WED 3/12

11am to 8pm
Free Burrito Day
at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

It'll probably be loooooong line, but the burrito is free... Double-check before you go; I caught the last week's postponement before I sent out the list.

WED 3/12

6pm to 8:30pm
Steve Goldman and Team: Baseball Prospectus 2008
at 5th Floor Reading Room, Barnes & Noble at BU, 660 Beacon St, Boston
FREE

I'm guessing there are a few baseball fans out there... (This talk might even help you in your fantasy baseball league -- but probably not.)

WED 3/12

8:30pm
Chandler Travis Philharmonic
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$8

He played some free shows at Toast, but the CTP is worth paying for in my opinion. I don't know when the next set of freebies will be. It's fun rock/pop/jazz/country/soul/whatever you want to call it for a humpday.

WED 3/12

6:30pm to 8pm
"Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Dissent"
at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

From a website:

Boston's battles in the 1920s over free speech were similarly waged nationally, and ushered in new interpretations of freedom of expression. What are our modern battles? What does dissent mean in the 21st century?

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THUR 3/13

10pm
Bitches Brew
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

This jazz-fusion quintet funks it up in the style of electric Miles Davis, circa late-60s/early-70s, and they know what they're doing. Either you want to go or you don't.

THUR 3/13

7pm to 9pm
Bret Anthony Johnston: "Naming The World: And Other Exercises for the Fiction Writer"
at Porter Square Books, 25 White St, Cambridge (near Star Market)
FREE

For you writers out there, you'll hear some of the creative exercises in the book and try some out right there. The item I read said, "Followed by drinks and appetizers at a local bar and restaurant." I think you might get some complimentary chow at Christopher's across the street -- but that's a guess.

THUR 3/13

7pm to 8:30pm
A. C. Kemp, "The Perfect Insult for Every Occasion: Lady Snark's Guide to Common Discourtesy"
at 5th Floor Reading Room, Barnes & Noble at BU, 660 Beacon St, Boston
FREE

If you're going to insult someone, do it well with panache. I might have to pick up this book (or visit the website) for inpsiration...

THUR 3/13

7:00 pm
"Brink's Robbery Night"
at Charlestown Branch Library, 179 Main St, Charlestown
FREE

Stephanie Schorow will read and discuss her book, "The Crime of the Century: How the Brink’s Robbers Stole Millions and the Hearts of Boston" to be followed by a screening of the comedy about the robbery, "The Brink’s Job". Don't know the story? It was a $2 million robbery in North End more than 50 years ago. A 'reception' to follow.

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FRI 3/14

Me and Joan Collins (11:45pm), Super 400 (10:45pm), Sonny Oaks (9:45pm), I Have Ears (9pm)
at Abbey Lounge, 3 Beacon St, Somerville (Inman Sq)
$8

Me and Joan Collins -and- Super 400 are good...

FRI 3/14

9:30pm
Lenny & The Piss Poor Boys, The Stumbleweeds, The Swinedells, The Alrighters
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

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SAT 3/15

9pm
Siobhan O'Brien, Jimmy Ryan, The Brooklyns, Natalie Flanagan
at The Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain
$10

SAT 3/15

8pm to 10pm
"Don Byron's Musical Worlds Part II"
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT campus)
$5

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SUN 3/16

1pm
St. Patrick's Day Parade
starts at: Broadway T Station to Andrews T Station, South Boston
FREE

It drunkenly winds its way through Southie.

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Graphic of the Week:

In case you didn't see it, this was in an ad for a new, local sportschannel...

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Links of the Week:

One of the world's best news sources has a dedicated US frontpage now. It's like the British homepage, but you understand the sports articles...

It's a scam to get you on their mailing list, but wouldn't it be funny if Guinness really got a million people to sign a petition to make St Patrick's Day a national holiday (or something like that)...

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Quote of the Week:

"I believe I found the missing link between animal and civilized man. It is us."

-- Konrad Lorenz

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th-th-that's all, folks.

~r