SUN 6/3: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

While England's constitutional monarchy looks ridiculous from this view, the Queen's 60th anniversary feels a bit different than her 25th in 1977.

At this point, she's more a nice old lady than symbol of class inequality and a remnant of feudalism (although she is still a symbol of those things).

If you went down to the Old State House for cake today, you may not enjoy The Sex Pistols' salute.

SUN 6/3: Festivals, Chili, Music

I hope you have a great day whether the sun is shining or not!

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SUN 6/3

11am to 4pm
World Oceans Day Celebration
outside New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston (Waterfront)
FREE

Although we should think about the condition of the big blue part of the planet, it's a good time to celebrate "World Oceans Day" a few days early with a boat-load of activities and demonstrations on the Aquarium's wharf as well as education for children of all ages.

You don't need to be a kid to enjoy seafood samples & demonstrations (including trying to shuck oysters); I suspect most kids don't like seafood.

Play around with kelp, worms, and remote-controlled submersibles while listening to sea shanties. If sea shanties aren't your bag, some people will get away with free harbor cruises (first come, first serve).

"Please Note: Admission to the Aquarium is not included."

SUN 6/3

11am to 5pm
"The Hot, The Mild, and The Spicy": Chili Showdown & Square Dance
at Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St, Jamaica Plain
$7 suggested donation

If other chili showdowns are any indication, get there earlier than later for fresh tastings of all the batches. Since it's JP, I wouldn't be surprised if half of the 12 or so of the competitors are vegetarian -- and thoroughly delicious.

Of course there will be square-dancing to live music, because that's a how a Jamaica Plain chili party to benefit the 2nd Annual Music Fest should be.

If not a square dance, perhaps a stop around the corner at the Green Roots Festival (below)...

SUN 6/3

Noon to 4pm
Carnaval & FossFest
at Broadway, from Pennsylvania Ave to Temple St, East Somerville
FREE

It would be disappointing if it rained on East Somerville's Carnaval since the stretch of Broadway isn't the most glamorous section of town. It's said that several thousand people partied with entertainment on stage and street, international foods found in the 'Ville, and general multi-culti funkiness that makes this town special.

And Foss Fest is like a part of Carnaval at the park with a bunch of great rock for the picking -- whatever the schedule may be: The Grownup Noise, Mike Hastings Band, Tumbleweed Company, or The Lights Out.

Other Somerville streets will be closed off on a monthly basis between now and October for pedestrians of all stripes to frolic, but the first and last ones are the most interesting.

SUN 6/3

Noon to 5:30pm
Green Roots Festival
at Southwest Corridor Park, about 100 Boylston St, Jamaica Plain (outside Stony Brook T)
FREE

Schedule:

Noon -- Melodeego
12:45pm -- Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band
1:45pm -- Ritmo en Accion
2:45pm -- Paa Seck Diery Band
3:45pm -- Bloco AfroBrazil
4:45pm -- La Piñata

The Bikes Not Bombs folks actually host a post-bikeathon party that is fun for all. Besides operating a bike shop, their mission is to provide bicycles as a tool for social & economic change globally and locally. The bands are even using a pedal-powered sound system, which won't stand alone in innovation to try through the pedal-power gallery.

It would not be a festival without food vendors, information tables, and kids' activities.

Think about buying a few raffle tickets to support the cause.

SUN 6/3

2:30pm to 5pm
Queen's Jubilee Street Fair
outside Old State House, 206 Washington St, Boston (Government Center)
FREE

In celebration of QE2's 60th anniversary on the throne, Anglophiles can enjoy a little cake and entertainment at the monarchy's headquarters in MA before the Revolution. The afternoon includes Shakespeare excerpts, a British brass band, and Red Coat reenactors.

SUN 6/3

9pm
Marc Pinansky & The Bored Of Health, Keith Pierce
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

On most Sundays, Marc Pinansky of Township freely serves up acoustic songs at Precinct versus the big rock of his current band. I suspect The Bored of Health might be the stand-up bass and steel-guitarist in this clip.

One of the Keith Pierce's finest moments might be at the Rumble when the Mellow Bravo frontman walks out of the club and finishes the last song on top of a car -- very cool move. I suspect the acoustic Keith will give good tuneage without perching himself on a heap of metal.

SAT 6/2: Daytime Cheapness

As an amateur meteorologist, the map in motion suggests the rain will pass in little bit. It might not be a beach day, but we can go outside without using an umbrella.

Sunday & Monday options on the calendar.

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SAT 6/2

10am to 6pm
Annual Coolidge Corner Arts Festival
at Devotion School Grounds, 347 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

This is one of those cheap events that enhance a trip to a particular neighborhood. Grab a meal or a movie, and you can stroll over to the arts/crafts festival. You might not be able to buy any art for $10, but it's not bad to walk around and look at what people are creating in a variety of media.

If you're hungry, local restaurants will be selling samples (aka Annual Brookline Food Festival) via $2 tasting tickets from noon to 3pm. Net proceeds will be donated to the Brookline Food Pantry.

SAT 6/2

11am to 4pm
Historic New England Open House
at Various Locations in MA, ME, NH, RI, and CT
FREE

It would be great to pop into any of the historic buildings anytime we like. Some are simply not open on a regular basis, and some charge an admission fee which makes sense to care for these humble abodes dating back to the 17th century. (Thank you, Historic New England, for all your work.)

If you're not $5 (or whatever) interested, lookie-loos are invited to take a tour around a bunch of these places. Most begin on the hour, and space is first-come, first-serve.

If you haven't been to Beauport (Gloucester), it is worth the price of admission on any other day of the year. And there is some amazing architecture to appreciate among the 32 properties around the region (half of them in MA).

SAT 6/2

Noon to 6pm
Annual Cambridge River Festival
along Charles River, Memorial Dr, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE

* Rain or Shine *

Even when its not a magnificent summer day, I enjoy walking along the Charles. Pedestrians, vendors, and take over Memorial Drive while performances and activities line the riverside and and the city side.

Check out the Folk & Roots Stage and the Jazz & Gospel Stage at any time (but one would be happy just showing up at 5pm for Kingsley Flood). Comedy and drama can be found on the Theater Stage, and a wide array of styles will grace the Interactive Dance Stage. Arts, crafts, stories, poetry, and so on abound.

I'm not sure how it counts, but the Central Square Theater is also hosting excerpts from "Car Talk: The Musical!" and stagecraft workshops.

Saturday & Sunday Calendar

Hey, folks.

There's a small chance that a full weekend preview will be posted tonight, however there is a Friday post below -- and I still stand by my highlights below that (if the weather plays nice)...

Today also marks the beginning of Boston Pride Week, but this weekend is a little slim on the 'cheap and thrilling'. Check the Pride calendar to see what interests you.

FRI 6/1: Art, Tom Brady, Comedy, Music

If you go to the annual Greek Festival in Arlington this weekend, you'll probably want to spend more than $10, but it reminds me that there are plenty of Greek festivals during the summertime that might be closer to you.

Yes, there is cheapness through Monday on the calendar.

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FRI 6/1

5pm to 9pm
First Friday Open Studios
at SoWa Arts Bldg, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

Are you going to be in the South End? Why not wander around inside for a bit to enjoy some art and maybe you'll find wine and cheese in some rooms (or not)... You will find artists who'd love to discuss their work.

FRI 6/1

6pm
Tom Brady Football Challenge
at Harvard Stadium, 65 North Harvard St, Allston
FREE w/ Registration

The intensity level will be somewhere between a Patriots pre-season game and a bunch of guys playing touch football. It's really going to be much closer to the latter except Tom Brady brings along teammates and other famous folks such as Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Dan Koppen, Tedy Bruschi, etc.

As part of the Best Buddies Challenge bike ride, some of the people assisted by the program also play. If you register to attend, you enter for a chance to play and win a $9,000 watch.

What's the catch for seeing Patriots up close -- maybe getting an autograph or photo? Be ready for solicitations from Best Buddies (which is a good cause).

FRI 6/1

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

Feat: Matt Kona, others

Anderson Comedy has The Gas every Friday, and I'm an advocate of the idea of early Friday fun so you can spend the rest of the night drinking yourself to oblivion -- or whatever you'd like to do.

There is nothing wrong with staying at Great Scott and dancing (or standing around) with "The Pill" at 10pm.

FRI 6/1

Emily Elbert & Eric Robertson (9:45pm), Cameron Galpin (9pm), Nadia Washington (8pm)
at Yes.Oui.Si Space, 19 Vancouver St, Boston (between MFA & MassArt)
$5

This little art space is moving out after this weekend, but it remains diversely active as usual with night of soulful/bluegrass-y singer-songwriters and a fantastic jazz singer -- and an art blowout on Sunday.

Eric Robertson (of the Boston Boys) will likely play with Cameron Galpin as well as Emily Elbert since they know each other from school. Besides their own songs, Emily and the Boston Boys contributed radically laid-back covers of Husker Du and Green Day to Berklee-based tribute album "Under the Influence".

FRI 6/1

9pm
Arto Vaun, The Field Effect, Soft Skull, Scout
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5

On a lucky night, many moons ago, I lucked into catching a set by Mishima USA and fell in love with the guitar-drum power-pop. Alas they didn't last much longer, and it seemed like they fell down the memory hole.

Singer-guitarist Arto Vaun is back in town with a new band. It doesn't strike an arrow through my heart in the same way, but it's worth checking out. There are 3 other kick-ass bands in line-up too including ethereal female-vocal-powered of Scout.

FRI 6/1 (and SAT 6/2)

9pm
Tijuana Sweetheart's Last Blast
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+

Friday:

Midnight -- Tijuana Sweetheart
11pm -- Cocked N Loaded
10:15pm -- Cult 45
9:35pm -- Giant Target
9pm -- The Furiousity

Saturday:

11:30pm -- Tijuana Sweetheart
10:30pm -- Razors in the Night
9:45pm -- Tenafly Vipers
9pm -- Give Up!

Bad-ass punk-rock gals Tijuana Sweetheart are hanging up their collective hat with two hard-rocking nights. From the days known as Vagiant to the current incarnation, they have come up with ballsy anthems like "F--- The Kells" that should be considered as one of the reasons that bar closed.

Each night is stacked with punk/metal pals for the last slam dance.

FRI 6/1

The Luxury (11:45pm), The Lights Out (10:45pm), The Fatal Flaw (10pm), Dirty Virgins (9:15pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

One of our most reliable purveyors of catchy guitar-rock, The Lights Out, are celebrating the release of their latest album "On Fire". They should celebrate, because it's full of tunes that should be cranked up while driving a bitchin' car with the windows down.

Fans of The Luxury will celebrate the first live gig in almost a year. Rock fans in general will celebrate the clever, melodic rock of The Fatal Flaw and the ramshackle fuzz of Dirty Virgins.

Yes, this is an all-around celebration so raise your plastic cup of PBR.

FRI 6/1 (and SUN 6/2)

The Figgs -- "The Day Gravity Stopped" Record Release Party
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

Friday -- The Figgs (10:30pm), My Own Worst Enemy (9:30pm)
Saturday -- The Figgs (10:30pm), Gymnasium (9:30pm)

As far as I'm concerned The Figgs are one of the great American rock 'n roll bands, period.

I'll forever bounce along to my first Figgs CD, "Sucking in Stereo", but they've got hooked from the punky-pop to soul, roots, etc that weaves through subsequent albums and still sounds like The Figgs.

While not technically an anniversary show, they've been making high-octane roc for 25 years. Let's hope for many more to come, but live in the present and hear an amazing band blow the roof off of the place.

FRI 6/1

10pm
Black Box Comedy
at Davis Square Theatre, 255 Elm St, Somerville (beneath Foundry restaurant)
$8

Feat: Matt Aromando, Dan Crohn, Jono Zalay, Nick Chambers, The Bearcats, Laura Crawford

If you didn't feel like comedy in Allston, you have a chance for comedy and improv in Somerville.