TUES 6/8: Ice Cream, Music, Talk

These are one of those days where I wish I still worked downtown. I could have too much ice cream for lunch, then catch some free rock before I headed home.

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TUES 6/8 (to THUR 6/10)

Noon to 8pm
Scooper Bowl
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$8 / $4 for children ages 3 to 9

Do I need to more than "all-you-can-eat ice cream"?

More than 30 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and/or sorbet from 9 different companies including Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs, and Breyer's.

Proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, so you're overindulging is for a good cause.

FYI: This is a rain or shine event.

TUES 6/8 (to THUR 6/10)

5pm to 8pm
"Best Music Week" Concert Series
on Summer Street, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

Feat: The Needy Visions, Hands & Knees, Thick Shakes
(aka "Garage Night")

One doesn't really need a good explanation 3 nights of free, al fresco music. It's somehow related to the Phoenix's Best Music Poll. My guess is that's supposed to raise awareness that this year's winners are going to announced on FRI 6/11. (The day after their publish date? C'est la vie.)

There's a theme to each night, which seem to generally apply. For instance, I don't really think of Hands & Knees as "garage-rock"; they sound more like punky, twangy indie-pop. Let's not quibble, because there three good bands.

Thick Shakes scream garage-rock to me, and it wouldn't be hard to believe that The Needy Visions still practiced in garage. Good times! The Needy Visions say they're going to start at 5:15pm, so no need to rush.

WED 6/9

John Shade, Kingsley Flood, Magic Magic
aka "Blog Night"

(TeaParty Boston, Boston Band Crush, and bradley's almanac each picked a band.)

Update: You can RSVP for a Wednesday afterparty at the Woodward (near Old State House).

THUR 6/10

Mystery Roar, Bearstronaut, Mean Creek
aka "New Night"

Much like the House of Blues hosting free local music in their frontroom, this is one of those positive signs when people walking around Downtown Crossing are exposed to some really good local bands. It would be good if we supported this stuff when it's basically laid in front of us.

This is basically the same place where the Thursday Block Parties are held, so I assume the 'beer garden' will be available.

TUES 6/8

7pm
Christopher Klein, "Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands": Lecture & Book Signing
at Harborside Learning Lab, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston (Waterfront)
FREE w/ RSVP

I've perused Christopher Klein's book on the Boston Harbor Islands, and it would be a worthy addition to anyone's collection for local information. It's very informative for exploring the Harbor and balanced with plenty of historical background.

You can pick up a copy tonight (cover price: $17.95) after Klein gives a talk and takes questions from the crowd.

The "learning lab" is located in the parking garage, and this is where free lectures are taking place on many Mondays and Tuesdays over the next couple months.

The program should last about an hour with a reception afterwards. Registration is required.

TUES 6/8

8pm
Americana Night
at The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

Feat: Comanchero, Kingsley Flood, Autumn Hollow, Three Day Threshold, Big East, That Old Feelin

It's not that I completely ignore what's happening at the Lansdowne Pub, but I don't really notice much that's noteworthy. (If you want to watch the World Cup at a faux-Irish place near Kenmore Square, this could be you place.)

Tonight's gig is like a recap of the New England Americana Festival from a couple months ago-- almost all of the bands on one of the nights.

The term "Americana" is a big tent. There are a few that seem to fit close to middle of the tent with a rockin' alt-country sound (Kingsley Flood, Three Day Threshold, Autumn Hollow, Coyote Kolb), although they're not exactly rubbing elbows either.

Comanchero's sound is a bit more varied as if a Southern-rock band decided to get jammy and funky; I doubt most Americana bands have a conga player. Big East and That Old Feelin' veer towards the bluesy end of the tent. The former being louder and rockier than the latter.

TUES 6/8

Pocahaunted (11pm), Quilt (10pm), WALLcreeper (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Pocahaunted is a group from LA who I think is famous for a certain set of people in the world. I guess the dual frontwomen have been called "The Olsen Twins of Drone". Their fuzzed-out stuff is complemented by the psych-folk of Quilt and the shoegazey rock of WALLcreeper.

6/8 to 6/10: Scooper Bowl

Over the same three days, there's free rock at Downtown Crossing in the evenings. I think the 'beer garden' will be set up like Summer Thursdays.

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Noon to 8pm
Scooper Bowl
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$8 / $4 for children ages 3 to 9

All-you-can-eat ice cream, 'nuff said!

For about the price of lunch, you can gorge yourself on scoops and scoops from 9 companies who usually offer 4 or so flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and/or sorbet at any given time.

The participating companies are basically the same, but the flavors changes year to year:

* Baskin-Robbins
* Ben & Jerry's
* Breyer's
* Ciao Bella Gelato
* Brigham's
* Edy's
* Garelick Farms/Gifford's
* Häagen-Dazs
* HP Hood

Even if you go full glutton, you won't be alone. I'm an 'enthusiastic' eater, but I'm often surprised by people of all ages stacking towers of empty cups in their sticky hands.

Of course when it's all-you-can-eat ice cream, moderation reall shouldn't be part of your plan. Eat as much as you like. If you don't want to eat again for the rest of the day, then you've obviously had more than $8 of the sweet stuff.

It's okay to eat a reasonable amount as well, because the proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

FYI: This is a rain or shine event.

While looking for ticket info, I found this little discount:

Text SCOOP to 22122 to receive $1 off admission price

...which may or may not be a savings if they keep on texting you.

MON 6/7: Bike Party, Reading, Film, Rock

Oof! What a weekend... Here's to blue skies ahead!

(And 3 more Boston victories...)

Oh, and the Scooper Bowl is back this week (6/8 to 6/10) for $8!

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MON 6/7

5pm to 9pm
Annual Bike Party & Benefit
at Redbones, 55 Chester St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$15

Feat: Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band

Redbones has always been a bike-friendly establishment. For 14 years, they've hosted a benefit-party for MassBike and NEMBA.

Although over $10, you get your money's worth with the food, drink and raffle ticket. In years past the meal has been a Redbones sandwich (meat or vegetarian) with fixin's along with a soft drink or Harpoon beer, which would probably cost more than tonight's donation.

The party factor is easily handled by the crowd and live music from Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band.

Bicycle valet parking is even included, but you don't have to ride a bike to go.

Maybe you'll win one -- the prize list is pretty damn long. Additional raffle tickets will be $2 each or 3 for $5. Drawing at 7:30 pm.

MON 6/7

6pm
Sebastian Junger, "War": Reading
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

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

The author of "The Perfect Storm" and "A Death in Belmont" periodically spent time with the same platoon in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan to bring a different insight to the soldiers that are fighting in a land that has never succumbed to foreign forces.

But a writer doesn't spend 5 embedded danger-sessions to find the "big picture". The book recounts first-person experiences of combat scenes as well as what may be some of the most candid interviews from this conflict.

MON 6/7

7pm
"Solitary Man"
at Kendall Square Cinema, One Kendall Square, Cambridge
FREE w/ PDF Flyer

Over a 40-year career, Michael Douglas has appeared in a few clunkers. He's also had some great roles and played them as well as they could be done. Everything I've read indicates this is one of the good ones. It may not be a classic, but Douglas has a lot to work with: a sleazy, successful car salesman who loses his business and his family by his own faults.

The PDF flyer would admit two people, but you should arrive early. "Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed."

MON 6/7

10pm
The Tenafly Vipers, The Furiousity, Tijuana Sweetheart
at Charlie's Kitchen, 10 Eliot St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 / 21+

When some loud punk-rock and beer (maybe a cheeseburger) is the remedy for shaking off the crap that got thrown as soon as the week began, this could be the show.

The Tenafly Vipers rip it up in a relentless style that leans towards hard-rock; it's the kind of rock that's made rock out for the helluva it. The Furiousity take a leaner punk approach than the Vipers, but there's still a brash, ragged abandon that spells out a fun time. There is a list of reasons for The Kells closing, but I'd like to think Tijuana Sweetheart's song "Fuck the Kells" was one of the nails in the coffin. They should still play it along with the rest of their punky tunes that prove all-female band can be as ballsy as any of the boys.

SUN 6/6: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

Wow, I didn't expect to whoop it up over the last 36 hours. One of the good Sunday gigs is (was) Lemuria, Varsity Drag, Young Leaves, The Cold Beat at Great Scott.

This is really too much kick-ass rock for a Sunday night, especially when the Celtics are in the Finals...

If you go, you might see this kind of enthusiasm for Lemuria.

At 0:19 seconds, a stage diver knocks down the bassist's microphone stand. Almost immediately, someone is setting it back up -- then they stage dive.

Awesome moment and a really good band.

SAT 6/5

Am heading to the airport, so I don't know when I can finish the Saturday post.

Saturday cheapness is on the calendar.