1776 Re-enactments, Easter Egg Hunts, Zombies, Ricky Jay, Demetri Martin, & Star Wars Stormtroopers

04/08/09 by

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-Johnny


The Week in Weird
Bedford Minuteman Company’s Pole Capping Apr 11 Metro West
It’s not Patriot’s Day yet! But taking a cue from St. Patrick’s Day, we’re going to start celebrating anyway. First up are three re-enactments, all on the same day but conveniently in different towns. The days starts with “Pole capping”, which is apparently what the minutemen would do when they weren’t farming. There’ll be a parade, and then volunteers risk damage to their old-timey costume by climbing a tall pole. With a cap. 10:30am.
Wilson Park, Bedford, MA.(978) 369-6993. more
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Meriam’s Corner Exercise Apr 11 Metro West
It’s followed by an assembly of re-enactors. 1pm.
Meriam’s Corner, Lexington Road, Concord, MA.(978) 369-6993. more
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Paul Revere Capture Ceremony Apr 11 Metro West
And they’ll recreate the point when Paul Revere, after signalling trouble, got caught. I love how the website gives locations that no tourist could possibly find on a map. This event is literally listed as happening at the “Paul Revere Capture Site”. So basically you drive up and down Rt 2A hoping to spot it. 3pm.
Rt 2A, Lincoln, MA.(978) 369-6993. more
By the Light of the Silvery Moon Apr 11 Southern Mass
Minutemen used to love nighttime walks, also. Especially those without horses. This one’s free.
Cormier Woods, 217 Chapin St., Uxbridge, MA.781-784-0567. more
The Great Burlesque Expo Apr 10 – Apr 12 Boston Metro
Another favorite minutemen pasttime involves a pool party, workshops, and a major burlesque show.
Hyatt Regency, 575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA. more
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Lazer Tag Tournament Apr 10 Southern Mass
You would often find minutemen dressing up as stormtroopers from “Star Wars” and having a lazer tag battle to benefit the Jimmy Fund! A big favorite of George Washington.
Fall River, MA. more
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ProCon Apr 10 – Apr 12 Rhode Island
Brown University’s annual live roleplaying festival, ProCon, is coming up. I’ve been a few times and recommend checking it out! It’s one intense weekend. You will feel right at home in your minuteman costume.
Brown University, Providence, RI. more
Science on Screen: Night of the Living Dead Apr 13 Boston Metro
Perhaps the most popular minuteman hobby is attending a zombie film festival preceded by a “scientific” lecture on the neuroscience of zombies by a Harvard professor.
Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA. more

Also Fun
Intergalactic Cardboard Sled Race @ Mt. Sunapee Apr 11 New Hampshire
The ski areas are still open and they’re trying to remind us with fun events like sled racing. It’s getting warmer here but there’s still snow in New Hampshire mountains!
Mt. Sunapee, Newbury, NH. more
Athol-Orange River Rat Race Apr 11 Western Mass
And in what is perhaps the first real outdoor festival of the Spring, this “river race” of canoes and parade goes without description or schedule at the following website.
Athol, MA.978-249-9038. more
Revere Spring Carnival Mar 25 – Apr 19 Metro Boston
The Revere carnival continues. It’s a traveling carnival, so the rides are smaller and somewhat rickety, but surely safe.
Showcase Cinemas, Revere, MA. more

Easter
Easter Egg Hunt — Winslow Farm Apr 4 – Apr 11 Southern Mass
Easter is here! It is a festival of chocolate, sugar, bad nutrition, and worse dental hygiene. Here are some places to go that aren’t religious. (You really don’t need Johnny’s List to find a church if you prefer that.) Winslow Farm has perhaps the most interesting celebrating because they are a working farm with forest trails.
Winslow Farm, Norton, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunt at Belkin Family Lookout Farm Apr 11 Metro West
Belkin Lookout Farm is a working farm and amusement park as well. Even if you don’t have kids (and only kids are permitted in most easter egg hunts, alas!) its’ fun to go and watch. 10am-12pm.
89 Pleasant Street, South Natick, MA.508 653-0653. more
Easter Egg Hunt @ Casey Farm Apr 11 Rhode Island
This farm I haven’t been to, but the have piglets and chicks! 10:30am egg hunt.
Casey Farm, Saunderstown, RI. more
Easter Sunday Brunch and Concert on the Old Manse’s 1864 Steinway Piano Apr 12 Metro West
Plenty of restaurants will entice you in for brunch, but the classiest place has got to be the Old Manse, a historic home. Start at the Colonial Inn (Where there will be an easter egg hunt) and it’s a short walk to the Old Manse for a piano concert.
Old Manse, 269 Monument Street, Concord, MA.978-369-3909. more
Easter Brunch @ Museum of Science Apr 12 Boston Metro
Or visit the Museum of Science for brunch in their penthouse overlooking the Charles River. (But they have these brunches weekly if you miss it.).
Museum of Science, Boston, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunt – Charlestown Mothers Association Apr 11 Boston Metro
You may want to crash the Charlestown event. Note!! They hide the eggs at 8am!! A perfect opportunity to prep your kid. Take photos and plug it all into a GPS tracking device. That’s what I’d do if I had kids. 10am sharp.
Shipyard Park, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA.617-824-4215. more
Easter Egg Hunt – Falmouth Apr 11 Cape Cod
The Easter Bunny will visit this one, and kids are limited to 9 years old.
Falmouth, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunt – Wellfleet, MA Apr 11 Cape Cod
Also on the Cape, this one includes a pancake breakfast, egg painting, and games.
Welfleet, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunts – Grafton Apr 11 Northern Mass
The Friends of the Grafton Libraries hosts this one, with kids stories after. Personally, after exploiting a loophole in the rules to enter as an adult, and collecting all the eggs because of my superior height and speed, I would not hang around after for the kids stories. I would be busy hustling the chocolate on the street to addicts.
Nelson Memorial Library field, Grafton, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunt – Wilmington Town Common Apr 11 Northern Mass
Yet another egg hunt. 2pm.
Town Common, Wilmington, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunt – Marblehead Apr 11 North Shore
This one says you have to bring your own basket. It is very important to read the egg rules if you are to be a world-class competitor. 10:45am.
Chandler Hovey Park (the Marblehead Lighthouse), Marblehead, MA. more
Easter Egg Hunt – West Springfield, MA Apr 11 Western Mass
10:30am. Kids are limited to 7 years old. At 6’4″, I am a remarkable 6-year-old, especially when I forget to shave.
West Springfield, MA. more

Performance
Ricky Jay @ Somerville Theater Apr 10 Boston Metro
Ricky Jay is one of the most talented magicians out there. In terms of sheer skill, you really need to go out and see Ricky Jay.
Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA. more
Demetri Martin Apr 10 Boston Metro
But only if you can’t get tickets to Demetri Martin, who is the sweetest comedian ever. I wonder really how his non-edgy, pun-filled humor is going to survive the Chris Rock / Sarah Silverman phenomenon.
Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA. more
Speech & Debate Mar 27 – Apr 25 Boston Metro
This smart comedy caught my attention, about a debate club.
Lyric Stage, Boston, MA. more
Big Apple Circus Apr 4 – May 10 Boston Metro
And the annual circus tour of Big Apple returns. Buy tickets in advance.
City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA.(800) 922-3772. more

Travel
Eastern Haunters Convention Apr 10 – Apr 11 Pennsylvania
Road trip!!!! Not much would entice me to Pennsylvania. I’ve been there only twice, to visit CMU. But how about the largest Halloween exhibitors convention in the USA? Now there’s a place you could easily blow $10,000 and build the perfect traveling haunt to go scare the Amish.
King of Prussia, PA. more

 

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