THUR 11/25: Thanksgiving Art, Meal, Radio

While most of us may not feel the significance of the harvest, at least we have a day to reflect on what we're grateful about. May everyone have a splendid Thanksgiving!

I had this post pretty much ready yesterday, then I destroyed it somehow… (Hey, at least I customized the image above -- and you can tell...)

I wish there was more to get you off the couch today/tonight. On the other hand, it's a good day to be o the couch. Unless you're like my family, and like to go to the movies after dinner.

Thank you for reading!

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THUR 11/25 thru SUN 11/27

9am until 10pm (on Saturday)
Paul Waddell, "I Like Massachusetts and Massachusetts Massachusetts Massachusetts Me"
at Meme Gallery, 55 Norfolk St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

Yes, it's true. Someone is spending the next 3 days in a room with a live turkey.

A performance artist will spend 3 days with a live turkey while he gives thanks for... all sorts of things. It seems like Paul Waddell is based in Boston and Quebec, so he must truly appreciate stuff like "Football, SMFA, Red Sox, Food, Boston" as well as "Joseph Beuys, Snow, God, and everything that makes America great."

People are encouraged to visit and participate with whatever he comes up with. So visit Paul, and you can make art in a way!

There is a closing reception on SAT 11/27 from 7pm to 10pm.

THUR 11/25

Noon
Thanksgiving Meal
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
Free / All Ages

I think this is the 20th year (The Phoenix probably has revised their write-up in years) that Great Scott has been opening its doors and its heart to those who needs some company and/or food. Hundreds of people regularly show up. So as they say, "Everyone is welcome to lend a hand or grab a plate."

I still have not gone down, but I assume you can buy a beer to wash down the turkey and fixin's...

THUR 11/25

Noon, 4pm
"Alice's Restaurant Massacree": Thanksgiving Broadcast
at WZLX (100.7 FM)
FREE

Also on WUMB-FM (91.9 FM) at noon. Other stations may play it, but these two have it easily found on their websites.

If you can't wait, there are YouTube clips in the post below.

Off-Topic: Gratitude

Turkey is in the oven, green bean casserole is ready to go, and the 7-layer dip is made. So I'm going to do a little blogging.

I don't have to spend the day with my family, but we love each other. These are a few things I'm thankful for.

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"Thanks"
by W. S. Merwin

Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
smiling by the windows looking out
in our directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is

11/25: "Alice's Restaurant" on Boston Radio

I'm not sure if I'm going to find more Thanksgiving cheapness than the performance art and the Great Scott celebration on the calendar, but we'll see.

Also, I repeat my apology for screwing up the MFA hours below!

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9am, Noon, 4pm
"Alice's Restaurant Massacree": Thanksgiving Broadcast
at WZLX (100.7 FM)
FREE

Also on WUMB-FM (91.9 FM) at noon. Other stations may play it, but these two have it easily found on their websites.

Way back in 1965, Arlo Guthrie celebrated Thanksgiving out in Great Barrington. Since hippies typically oppressed by "The Man", he and a friend were 'arrested for littering' when they couldn't find a good place to put the preprandial rubbish.

This is his amusing musical statement that runs more than 18 minutes, so it may be the longest Thanksgiving song ever -- except when Guthrie performs a longer version...

UPDATE:

Okay, I listened to it again upon seeing Eileen's comment. I smiled a lot and giggled quite a bit. Everyone should listen to it at least twice...

If you don't want to wait for the radio -- or pay for it -- I've included two clips of the whole thing. Pretend you're flipping the record over.

WED 11/24: Art, Music, Film, Comedy

Everyone ready to overeat and overdrink tomorrow?

For most people, this is the "Friday" of the week, so here are some options in case you don't feel like drinking at the local bar with people that come home for Thanksgiving.

There's not much going on tomorrow, but I'll probably have a Thursday post anyway.

I saw a list of restaurants open tomorrow and Charlies Kitchen had the cheapest Turkey dinner deal ($16). Of course, you could hit Great Scott who host an annual free Thanksgiving meal that's open to all.

UPDATE: Jeez! I apologize for really screwing up about the MFA hours today!

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WED 11/24

10am to 4:45pm (correct hours)
Community Open House
at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

UPDATE: Closing at 4:45pm!!! I made a reading comprehension error.

They say about 10,000 people showed up for Saturday's free opening of the Art of the Americas wing. If you're not busy running errands, you'll likely find a much smaller crowd today.

Unfortunately, it looks like the Free Wednesday night plan may be on the way out. It's still around for December, but it looks like it will be a 'voluntary donation' deal in the future.

I did get an email from someone at the MFA that tonight is still a free night.

Think of it as a chance to see a major development in the art world for free...

WED 11/24

5pm to 7:30pm
Billy Novick Trio
at Grand Lobby Lounge, Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Park Plaza, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

I'm not sure if Billy and his trio are showing up the night before Thanksgiving. Despite his website only mentioning his residency through October, this site seems like a reputable source that says he's playing most weeknights in November.

I mention this, because this is better jazz than is usually heard for free in a hotel lounge -- and I was looking for a good variety for tonight...

WED 11/24

7pm
"Grizzly Man": Free Screening
at Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

If you haven't seen this documentary, it is mind-blowing to see a clearly crazy guy who decides to go into the Alaskan wilderness and spend time living among the bears.

Legendary director Werner Herzog culled the film from Timothy Treadwell's own video footage of himself. (He, of course, was eventually killed by a bear.)

WED 11/24

8pm
Dan Crohn, Chris D., Chris Fleming, Nate Johnson, Jim Whitman, Joe Wong
at The Comedy Studio, top of Hong Kong, 1238 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$8

A few laughs before seeing some annoying relatives could do the trick. And drinking too...

Print this coupon, and get a $1 discount on admission.

WED 11/24

8:30pm
Amy Correia, Jennifer Kimball, Alyssa Bonagura
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$9 advance / $10 door / 21+

Amy Correia and Jennifer Kimball are both highly acclaimed singer-songwriters with very different vocal styles. To see both on the same bill in an intimate club -- at "Cheap Thrills" approved price -- is a very pleasant surprise. A big folkin' surpise indeed.

Both are performing with bands (drummer Billy Beard doing double-duty). Alyssa Bonagura will kick things off with a solo set.

If you can't make it, Kimball and Correia will be here next Wednesday also.

WED 11/24

10pm
Destroy Babylon, The Macrotones
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10 / 21+

Now this is a "Let's party like it's Friday" gig. If you're not putting the turkey in the oven at the crack of dawn (which I don't suggest), then you could be shaking a tail-feather to the big funky Afro-beat vibe of The Macrotones and reggae-rockers Destroy Babylon.

These bands have teamed up on other occasions to play The Clash's "London Calling" in its entirety, so I wouldn't be surprised if you heard a few Clash numbers at some point...

TUES 11/23: Pizza, Piano, Bluegrass, Rock

Maybe I'm still numb with all the fun from last night's karaoke, but I'm having a difficult time getting excited for today's cheapness.

Seriously, Gong Show Karaoke is a really good time. I'll write about it further and remind you next week.

MC Tommy Somerville is a great guy. The judges were Burning Streets, who are really cool guys and did a good job of judging and gonging. (I won 2nd place with a Joe Jackson song!)

Shout outs to Ashley from Boston Band Crush (am sorry we were gonged for our duo) and Meghan from The Deli & Desert Race -- and DJs Paul & Megan and Kevin and all the characters that were there.

(It's about twice as much as $10, but the Free Energy/Foxy Shazam at the Paradise should be a good gig...)

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TUES 11/23

7pm to 9pm
"Pizza En Fuego": Spicy Pizza Tasing
at The Upper Crust Pizzeria, 94 Main St, Watertown (near Watertown Square)
FREE

Feat: Jamie Bissonette (Coppa), Marco Suarez (Canary Square), Barry Proctor (Upper Crust)

Hmm... I like pizza, and I like spicy foods...

I don't know how much sampling there will be, but I'm guessing it will taste pretty damn good. Upper Crust's Barry may need the home-field advantage, because the two other guys are well-regarded.

It is a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, so don't be bashful to give a little donation if you're asked.

TUES 11/23

8pm to 10pm
Ya-Fei Chuang, "Piano Concerto Feast"
at Seully Hall, 4th Fl, Boston Conservatory, 8 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Hey, it's a "piano feast" during Thanksgiving weekend...

Ya-Fei Chuang was winning international competitions when she was in her teens, and she currently teaches at the Boston Conservatory.

I didn't find tonight's program, but I don't think you'll care after watching a clip of her playing some Rachmaninov.

TUES 11/23

8:30pm
Bluegrass Pickin' Party
at Cantab Lounge - Downstairs, 738 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$7 suggested donation

Feat: The Lowbrow Boyz (8:30pm), The Jerks of Grass (10pm)

This weekly pickin' party has been going on for more than a decade, so this is the place on any Tuesday that you feel like listening to live bluegrass.

All are invited to play at the beginning and after the featured bands -- but it's assumed that you know how to play...

They say the donation is voluntary; still it would be good karma to drop something in the hat when it comes around.

TUES 11/23

9:30pm
The Resurrectionists, Rick Berlin and His Nickel & Dime Band
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$6

The Resurrectionists are near the end of a November residency, and tonight would be a good night to go.

Besides their twangy, rootsy rock that will have you bobbing your head and tapping along, the mighty indie-rock song phenomenon known as Rick Berlin will perform with the band that most famously is the live karaoke band at the Milky Way.