SAT 12/18: Skating, Crawling, Swaping, Dancing, Rocking

I hope I'll get a more detailed post up tomorrow morning, but I don't want to kid either you or I...

Brookline Booksmith won't be a bad place to shop from 1pm to 3pm, because Taza Chocolate will be handing out samples and it's friggin' delicious!

There are a lot interesting (a bit fancy) gifts at Grand near Union Square. I think tomorrow's in-store event (2pm to 6pm) might include personal labels on Pretty Things beer, which would be a pretty nice thing to find under the tree...

--------------------------------------------------------------

SAT 12/18

11am to 9pm
Free Skating & Holiday Show
at Kendall Square Community Ice Skating, 300 Athenaeum St, Cambridge
FREE

It may not be quiet this Saturday, but I've walked by this rink in the past and thought it looked less crowded than the Frog Pond.

The skating is free between holiday skating programs )when complimentary refreshments will also be available).

11am to 1:30pm: Free-admission skating
2pm: Holiday show
2:45pm to 5:30pm: Free-admission skating
6pm: "Holiday on Ice"
6:45pm to 9pm: Free-admission skating

Skate rentals are $8 or $5 for the 13 & under crowd -- or bring your own...

SAT 12/18

12:30pm
Boston Santacon 2010at The Asgard, 350 Mass Ave, Cambridge
Whatever you drink/eat

Here is some info, if you have a Santa suit and want to go on a pub crawl.

It is a free country so you and your buddies can ensconce yourself at one these spots to see the bar overrun by drunken Santas. There are so many, they have to split up into various bars at each hub. Or bah-humbuggers now know where avoid excessive cheer and tidings...

12:30pm -- The Asgard
2:30pm -- Central Square: Tavern in the Square, Cantab Lounge, People's Republik, Plough & Stars
4:30pm -- Harvard Square: Grafton St, Hong Kong, Whitney's Cafe
6:30pm -- Dinner: John Harvard's, Grendel's Den
9:30pm -- Davis Square: The Burren, Joshua Tree, Johnny D's

There is a crawl Google map and an one-page info sheet [PDF].

SAT 12/18

1:50pm
"Choose Your Own Holiday" Gift Swapat TBA Location (at midnight on FRI 12/17)
FREE

If you haven't made anything yet, get cracking. I told you about this a couple days ago.

Enjoy some pan-holiday fun and maybe start the new year with a new friend or two...

[Facebook]

SAT 12/18

2pm to 3pm
Triiibe, "InstaDance"
at 808 Gallery, 808 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
FREE / 16+

This "on-the-spot dance choreographed and performed by all of us" will supposedly be based on everyday gestures, so everyone can learn it easily yet still have fun.

It's also a chance to visit Triibe's "In Search of Eden: A Work in Progress" before it closes.

"The only requirement is that you must be human with an open mind and an open heart."

Is that clear?

SAT 12/18

4:30pm to 9:15pm
Annual Illuminations Tour
at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
Tickets: $10 / $5 -- for 12 and under & 60 and over

Bus/trolleys depart at:
4:30pm, 5pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm, 8:45pm, 9:15pm

At this point, there may not be anymore tickets, but a call to Blue Cloud Gallery (Ball Sq) could confirm it. There were few tickets left yesterday when I finally posted about it.

You could always show up, have a hot cocoa, and try your luck as a "stand-by" -- which may work best for the early or late tours.

Some crazy people will meet at City Hall around 6:50pm and do the rather hilly route on bicycles (no charge).

Maps ($3) will be available on Saturday night at City Hall or -- starting on MON 12/20 -- at Blue Cloud and Magpie (Davis Sq).

SAT 12/18

7pm
The Vivs: Holiday Benefit & Bash
at The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St, Arlington
$10 / All Ages

Guests: Bill Goffrier (Big Dipper), Carrie Bradley (The Breeders/Ed's Redeeming Qualities), Scatterfield

I originally saw this without noticing the additional "$5 suggested donation" (proceeds benefit The Children's Room).

Still The Vivs have some great, powerpop-ing songs. They'll be joined by a couple old friends from the Boston music scene who will likely do some tunes on their own and with the band.

I couldn't find a good web location for Scatterfield who probably haven't played together since '06 and who knows before then. They played at the 1990 Rumble and lost to Slaughter Shack, but so did the Gigolo Aunts...

Beer and wine will be available. It should be a good full show.

SAT 12/18

7:30pm
Joe Kowan, John Gerard, Leesa Coyne, Ad Frank
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$7

On Sunday, the off-topic video was J-Krafty's rap ode to appliqués and bedazzling and the like. J-Krafty happens to be the alter-ego of Joe Kowan, and Leesa Coyne of Naked on Roller Skates was Scissah or Knitta, one of his sidekicks. Everyone is probably keeping things simple and acoustic, but one hopes Joe will do "Krafty" in some form. Then you also get the amazing cool Ad Frank and singer-songwriter John Gerard.

SAT 12/18

9:30pm
Faux Ox, Patrons of Sweet, I Pistol, The Crushing Low
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your full-on rock option of the night (cheap category). From the shoegazey sounds of the The Crushing Low and the hookalicious crunch of I Pistol through Buffalo's Patrons of Sweet and their big 'n loud indie-rock then finishing up with twisty heaviness of Faux Ox. Good stuff!

FRI 12/17: Sax, Comedy, Rock, Etc

I know the weekend posts should be more detailed than the weekday posts, because that's when we're most likely going out for fun.

It's been backwards for too long, but I think I'm going to do it again this weekend.

More to come...

--------------------------------------------------------------

FRI 12/17

7pm to 9pm
Ken Field's Alto Army
at 808 Gallery, 808 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
FREE

Feat: Jim Hobbs, Dave Sholl, Andy Baer, others

If a whole bunch of alto saxophonists are playing for two hours, this should be something where you can feel fine about walking in at any point of the performance. It's happening in the gallery where Triiibe has been creating a month-long installation called, "In Search of Eden", so you should also be able to walk around and dig the art and tunes simultaneously.

FRI 12/17

7:30pm to 9:30pm
Anderson Comedy: "The Gas"
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$5 / 18+

Feat: Joey O'Neill, Mark "The Shark" Stevens, Alan Park, Jono Zalay, Will Smalley, James Nixon, Andrew Mayer, Dan Burgess, Lillian DeVane

This is a lot of comedy for $5. It's heckuva lot of comedy for $2.50 if you rip out the corner of page 44 in The Phoenix and show them the 2-for-1 ad. If you don't have a friend, grab any stranger walking in!

Basically, you'll have to hear something funny, especially if you start pounding tall boys right away. Even with beer, this is cheaper than going to see "Tron: Legacy" -- and this is supposed to make you laugh...

Hosted by the funny Rob Crean. Could Alan Park actually be a Canadian comedian? (I doubt it.)

FRI 12/17

8:30pm
Tony the Bookie, Travels, Hands & Knees, JD Cooper & Friends
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / $5 with gift / 21+

Even without knowing what's going on with "JD Cooper & Friends", there is so much excellent twangy, hooky indie-rock to make it worth your while.

Get there early for some food that's included in the cover charge. Get in for $5 if you bring an unwrapped toy (in new condition) that will be given to a needy kid through the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

FRI 12/17

The Raging Teens (Midnight), Frank Morey (11pm), The Egos (10pm), The Throttles (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

The annual Raging Teens Holiday Hoedown is always a rockabilly gift for the crowd. These folks kick ass and bring the cheer any time of year. Their guests will bring a bluesy, garagey, surfy yuletide greetings for all.

Rockabilly DJ extraordinaire Easy Ed will spin between sets to keep toes tapping, etc.

FRI 12/17

That Handsome Devil (Midnight), The Force (11pm), Planetoid (10:05pm), Casey Desmond (9:20pm), Frostbite (8:40pm)
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
18+ $10

How can you not like The Force's "3rd Annual Christmas Spectacular" when the flyer (above) looks so darn cool?

After a twisted set of holiday songs from Frostbite (who are giving away copies of their CD while supplies last), it's a good mix of pop-rock from Casey Desmond, the alien/stoner rock of Planetoid, The Force's funk-rock, and the funky party-potpourri of That Handsome Devil.

FRI 12/17

9:30pm
Destroy Babylon, DJ Generoso
at House of Blues - Front Room, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

When "reggae-rockers" is uttered, people in an unknown ratio slowly back away or grab their hacky-sack and are ready to blaze. One doesn't have to fall into one of those categories, but Destroy Babylon is a strong band that has a solid groove and aren't shy about the volume. It's good stuff, and maybe they'll play some Clash if you scream enough.

It's also good to support FREE original live music in the HoB front room. It's one of the few cheap music clubs within Boston city limits.

SAT 12/18: Xmas Lights of Somerville

Hey, it's not too late to make something for Saturday's pan-holiday gift swap...

--------------------------------------------------------------

4:30pm to 9:15pm
Annual Illuminations Tour
at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
Tickets: $10 / $5 -- for 12 and under & 60 and over

Tickets are sold at Blue Cloud Gallery (713 Broadway, Ball Sq).

Bus/trolleys depart at:
4:30pm, 5pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm, 8:45pm, 9:15pm

Let speak in praise of the my neighbor's excessive Xmas lights.

Last year, the City of Boston decorated their big tree from Nova Scotia with energy-efficient bulbs. Even the Citgo Sign was switched to LED's. They're both still beautiful sights, but neither is as brilliant as before.

It may be a waste of energy, but I think it's okay to conserve throughout the year to splurge on kitcshy holiday fun.

My 2009 ride was 45 minutes of old-timey holiday fun. Tom Champion regaled us with Somerville history and factoids while Jimmy DelPonte led the group in seasonal tunes like "Rudolph...", "Jingle Bells", etc.

So kudos to the citizens who let their power meters spin like a 45 record.

I asked around, and most of the tours were sold out as of Wednesday with a few more tix available for 9:15pm. If you can't get 'em on Friday, you could always show up and hope for stand-by while you have a hot cocoa.

A few hearty souls will meet at City Hall around 6:50pm and do the rather hilly route on bicycles (no charge).

* * * * *

People who want to go around at their own pace can buy a $3 tour map on Saturday night at City Hall or -- starting on MON 12/20 -- at Blue Cloud and Magpie (Davis Sq).

All the proceeds go to the Somerville Arts Council, which does a lot of cool stuff all year round like ArtBeat and wacky summer activities in Union Square.

It was difficult to get clear photos due to the plastic covering that's protecting you from the wind, but...

THUR 12/16: A Little Talk. More Rock

So a confluence of crap has delivered today's post later than its usual tardiness -- and in an abridged format.

Note: Friday cheapness is already on the CTB calendar.

--------------------------------------------------------------

THUR 12/16

6:30pm to 7:30pm
Ilan Stavans & Henry Louis Gates Jr, "The Culture Wars and the Canon": Conversation
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5

Ilan Stavans is a Latin-American scholar at Amherst. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is an African-American scholar at Harvard. Tonight they talk about Latino- and African- American relationships in America.

Tickets available through Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

THUR 12/16

9pm
"Mondo Thursdays": Mele Kalikimaka Party
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

Feat: Tired Old Bones (Midnight), Peter Moore (11:15pm), Jessica Sun Lee (10:30pm), Danielle Lessard (9:45pm)

Thursdays have become "Mondo Thursdays" at the Plough, and they're starting a bit earlier this week for a Polynesian-themed holiday party with an eclectic mix of loud and quiet musical acts.

The food is good, and there will be some island-inspired special dishes tonight.

THUR 12/16

Jason Bennett & The Resistance (Midnight), The Dirty Truckers (11pm), Full Body Anchor (10pm), Brittany Gray (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9

Can you believe "The Noise" magazine has been around for 30 years? Kudos to anyone that does anything for 30 years. (I think I've been doing something like this for about five...)

This anniversary celebration is rocking from beginning to end!

THUR 12/16

9pm
Filligar, The Honors
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / All Ages

These are two excellent specimens of poppy indie-rock. I prefer The Honors, so that probably means Filligar will be hugely famous...

A portion of the proceeds of this show will go to Partners in Health.

Doors open at 8pm

THUR 12/16

9:30pm
Viva Viva, Pray For Polanski, Cat Whisker
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$8 / 18+

Sleepover Shows is a site that features their quirky videos of exclusive performances by bands, and they've started to organize shows outside of their living room. Holy cow, this is a strong line-up.

THUR 12/16

9:30pm
Naked On Roller Skates (11pm), Angeline (10pm), Lady Lamb The Beekeeper (9pm)
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 / 21+

This is going to be a full house for having three excellent folky/rocky outfits with mucha girl power. And maybe Lady Lamb The Beekeeper has local momentum as a talented singer-songwriter who was a favorite of Billy Ruane before he exited the mortal coil.

Advance Notice 12/18: "Holiday Mash-Up" DIY Gift Swap

1:50pm
"Choose Your Own Holiday" Gift Swap
at TBA Location (at midnight on FRI 12/17)
FREE

All of the details are on their site. This is my quick summary of the details on the Banditos Misteriosos site.

I didn't find their list of 52 national holidays, but there is a rather comprehensive list available.

Rather than stick to the various gift-giving celebrations of December, people are encouraged to make a gift that's related to any holiday (or fictional "day")...

"Make" may be too strong of a word:

- You shouldn't buy it.
- Creating is strongly encouraged.
- An interesting found item would be acceptable.

Also:

* Definitely wrap it -- preferably in old/previously-used paper products.
* These events are fun when people are dressed up, so consider the holiday you're representing.

You can check before you go to sleep on Friday night or wake up Saturday morning to find out where to meet.

The locations of these events -- whether a pillow fight or water battle or silent rave, or scavenger hunt, etc -- are usually somewhere downtown and/or somewhere T-accessible.

The Banditos did a gift-swap about a year ago, so they know how to make it happen.

In case you don't want to think about the other to-do items on your list, you still have a few days to get this gift together!

[Facebook]