MON 9/19: Film, Talk, Trivia, Rock

Ahoy! It be Talk Like A Pirate Day, bucko. Alas, I noticed no local festivity to make your Roger jolly. It shouldn't stop you from sprinkling conversations with piratey vocab.

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MON 9/19 (thru THUR 9/22)

6:30pm
Boston Film Festival:
"Give Me a Shot of Anything: House Calls to the Homeless" w/ "The Hub"
at Stuart Street Playhouse, 200 Stuart Street, Boston (Theatre District)
Most $9

As usual, the lineup is a mix of films that might hit the independent theaters in the next year and films that have Boston ties.

You might recognize some of the faces in "Give Me a Shot of Anything..." that presents the efforts of Dr. Jim O'Connell and his associates who provide medical assistance to the homeless of Boston. (Dr. O'Connell will be present for a Q&A.)

You may even recognize some faces in the preceding short film since it was also filmed around the "Hub".

You could watch "Cold Mountain" at the BPL, but wouldn't you like to take a chance?

MON 9/19

7pm to 9pm
Ramon Morato, "The Many Faces of Chocolate": Lecture
at Science Center, Hall C, 1 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

Cutting-edge culinary is exploding in Spain. Ferran Adria has brought chemistry to haute cuisine as well as other Spanish chefs, and I see a lot of big-time chefs getting inspiration from the Iberian peninsula.

Ramon Morató runs a chocolate school and has published a 600-page book on the dark, sweet ingredient.

MON 9/19

7pm
Tom Perrotta, "The Leftovers": Reading
at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

When you live in Belmont, it must be easy to hit almost every bookstore in the area. I keep listing Tom Perrotta's because, I've enjoyed a couple of his books, and a couple have been adapted into films ("Election", "Little Children").

Remember the warnings of the Rapture that didn't happen a couple months ago? The novel takes place in a world where something like that occurred.

MON 9/19

8pm
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia": Pub Trivia
at City Side, 1960 Beacon St, Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
$5 per player

You may think you know this show inside and out, but you're not alone. Perhaps the most ridiculous comedy on TV will be the subject of every pub trivia question.

Every player chips in $5 (maximum 6 per team), and the winners get the cash. There is usually prizes for second and third places.

MON 9/19

9pm
Vivian Girls, Widowspeak, Girlfriends
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$10 / 18+

It's easy to hit music sites, and find many raves for Vivian Girls -- like I rave about Girlfriends. I'm not alone in adoring their nearly-perfect fuzzy garage-pop out in the blogosphere. Both are cool bands that know how to keep it loose yet catchy. It sounds like Widowspeak keeps it laid-back without putting you to sleep.

SUN 9/18: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

I went to the a concert at Fenway Park a couple weeks ago, and I enjoyed The Mighty Mighty Bosstones more than the Dropkick Murphys.

Sunday Briefly

It's an arty Sunday: Open Studios in South End and the MFA is free from 7am to 7pm for the opening of their new wing.

There is outdoor music on both sides of the Charles. The Urban Ag Fair is not so special, but it's not bad to walk around.

Or you can rock out at Great Scott.

SAT 9/17: Night Cheapness

Alright. I don't know if I can keep typing when it's such a nice day...

Sunday cheapness is on the calendar.

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SAT 9/17

7pm
The New England Pop Music Festival
at Rosebud Bar & Grill (behind Diner), 381 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10 / 21+

Schedule:

Midnight -- Shepherdess
11pm -- Scarce
10pm -- The One Smith
9pm -- The Pomps
8pm -- Popfilter
7pm -- Miskatonic

The final night is going out with a powerpop bang -- as it should. It's not too late to hear 6 excellent bands in about 6 hours. Even if you soak in half of the bands, it's worth the price of admission.

Note: All the proceeds from the festival benefit Doctors Without Borders, Animal Rescue League of Boston, and Community Music Center of Boston.

SAT 9/17

8pm
"For the Sake of the Song": A Tribute to Steve Earle
at Arts at The Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (Spring Hill)
$8

Feat: Sam Otis Hill, Thea Hopkins, Patrick Coman, Mark Stepakoff

If a guy can be continuously praised and still be called 'under-rated', it would be Steve Earle.

Besides wasting prime years of his career on drugs, Earle takes an uncompromising path on his musical vision.

He's a little bit country, and a little bit rock 'n roll. He goes in whatever direction he feels and has written quite a few great songs along the way.

SAT 9/17

9pm
The Vivs, Count Zero, Bill Goffrier & others from Big Dipper
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10

Let's say this: I anticipate there will be quite a bit of demand for the few tickets available when the 'doors' open at 8:30pm.

SAT 9/17

The Macrotones (11:30pm), Otis Grove (10:15pm), Sixth Degree (9pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 18+

Can't wait for tomorrow's "Rumble On The River"? The kick-off party is going down in the Fens with 3 more funky, jazzy, groovy bands that won't be playing by the Charles.

SAT 9/17

9:30pm
Age Rings, Full Body Anchor, Cooling Towers, Moons
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

The cool thing about these bands as a group is that they all get heavy yet they're not bloated or dopey or proggy. Some kickass rock with some sweet musicality.

SAT 9/17: Daytime Cheapness

Yes, I believe nighttime and Sunday posts are coming.

If you're in the Faneuil Hall area and you see people dressed as if they're about to run with bulls, they definitely are drinking and they might run with a bull of some sort...

Hey, Mims, I hope you're having a good weekend.

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SAT 9/17 (and SUN 9/18)

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

More than 250 artists are displaying their work, and ain't it a great weekend to walk around this neighborhood? The Fall weather is making an early visit, and the buildings are pretty cool.

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

Although I didn't realize there were artist studios above the Mills Gallery, I like the idea of walking around the BCA's Artist Studios Building and collecting stamps to enter raffles.

I like checking stuff out and having a conversation with the creator. If there's wine and cheese, even better. Of course, feel free to buy something -- as a gift or for yourself. Some artists are giving demonstrations too.

SAT 9/17

11am to 5pm
South Boston Street Festival
at East Broadway, between I and L Streets
FREE

Feat: Ayla Brown, Gentlemen Hall, Greg Luttrell, Thomas Park, Peggy Woods School of Irish Step Dance

Unless you want to see Ayla Brown or Gentlemen Hall -- or love Irish step dancing -- I probably wouldn't go out of my way for the street festival. It's not a bad stop if you're nearby or you want to do something else in Southie like walk around Castle Island and the beach.

It's also a chance to get some South Boston flavor that's not as beer-soaked as St. Paddy's day.

SAT 9/17

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

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.

There are 2 stages on opposite sides of the Common. If I was you, I might do something like this:

Parade Ground Stage

12:05pm -- Brunt of It
12:35pm -- Casey Desmond
1:05pm -- The Force
1:40pm -- Mighty Mystic
2:20pm -- Farren Butcher Inc
2:55pm -- The 360's w/ David Peel

Parkman Bandstand

3:55pm -- Rob Potylo & the Lonely Planets
4:25pm -- That Handsome Devil

Either Stage

5:15pm -- TREE or Planetoid

I went a couple 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).

SAT 9/17

2pm
Augustana, Brett Dennen, Kingsley Flood
at Stoneham Town Common, 35 Central St, Stoneham
FREE

There is so much free daytime music today that 3 really good bands playing as part of Stoneham Town Day.

While a bit out of my normal range, I was already going to suggest it for Brett Dennen and Augustana (that "move to Boston" song). Then I saw that my buddies Kingsley Flood are opening.

Could be worth a little trip to Stoneham, and I never thought I'd say that.

SAT 9/17

3pm to 6pm
SqueezeBox Slam
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

Feat: Michael McLaughlin, Joao Cerilo, Plamen Karadonev, Mariachi Estampa de America, Cirkestra, Roberto Cassan

Roll out the barrel for an afternoon of accordion music. Yeah… that seems like a lot, but think about how much guitar music you listen to in a day. It's a bit of a world tour from Europe to Mexico to Cape Verde back to America for a variety of styles.

Watch out for accordion flash mobs around town from noon to 3pm.

SAT 9/17

3:40pm
MixFest 2011
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

Tentative schedule:

3:40pm -- Javier Colon
4pm -- Michelle Branch
4:40pm -- Sara Bareilles
5:45pm -- Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
6:50pm -- Lifehouse

Usually, this is a concert at a paying venue. For a free show, it's a pretty good lineup -- at least between Michelle Branch and Grace Potter.

They recommend leaving bags and crap at home.

SAT 9/17

4pm to 8pm
Somerville Riverfest
at Assembly Square, about 180 Foley St, Somerville
FREE

If you're in Somerville around 7:50pm, look towards Assembly Square for the fireworks. There's other stuff going on, if you're in the mood for family fun where a large commercial/residential development.