Johnny’s List of Weird Boston Events: 01/18/09
01/18/09 by
Johnny Monsarrat
It’s Inauguration Week! Enjoy it. 🙂
-Johnny
The Week in Weird |
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| Inauguration Day at Kennedy School of Government | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| The quirky event of the week is undoubtedly Inauguration Day. Like most smart people, you’ve figured out that you can get a much better view on a television than craning your neck in the bitter cold in Washington DC. But it’s still fun to see the event with fans rather than at a bar. Well, the Kennedy School of Government is the place to be, and who knows, one of the political science majors there at Harvard may be a president too someday. 11:30am Inauguration Day in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. Arrive super early. I’ll be there, say hi. Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Inauguration Day at Kennedy Library & Museum | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| Or come watch the big TV at the Kennedy Library, 9am-5pm. Kennedy Library & Museum, Boston, MA. more |
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| Inauguration Day at Harvard Bookstore | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| Or, watch the Inauguration Live at Harvard Book Store, 11:30am, capacity 60 people. Harvard Bookstore, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Inauguration Day at Outside In the Cold at Harvard | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| Or, if you can’t get in, stand on the sidewalk in front of Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe and the Info Booth at Harvard Square, 10am-2pm for TV coverage.iewing stands will be created in front of Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe (a Hot Spot for Red Sox viewing) and in front of the iconic Info Booth (home of the eye catching Lumen Eclipse Outdoor Video Gallery). Info Booth near the Harvard subway, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Inauguration Day Ball @ Upstairs on the Square | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| There will be an Inaugural Ballroom Dance at Upstairs on the Square. 91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Inauguration Day Ball @ OM | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| This one’s hosted by Young Democrats of Harvard University and it’s right next door. 9pm-1am. 92 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Inauguration Day Gala On Ice | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| I really don’t know what this is, but I’m guessing that the Charles Hotel Ice Skating Rink is open as usual but they’ll have a DJ. 5-9pm: featuring DJ Kamal from the Boston French Parties and raffle prizes. 1 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA. more more |
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| Inauguration Day Promotion “Obama Worth A Dollar | Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| J.P. Licks has a special Inauguration Day Sundae! But it’s only $1 off. Woopie? 1312 Massachusetts Ave,, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Martin Luther King Day @ Boston Childrens Museum | Jan 19 | Boston Metro | |
| But wait! There are other black leaders we need to be celebrating. Although of course, every bar is pretending that MLK Day is a great excuse to drink alcohol. But that’s not something you’ll get fooled by, right? Here’s a Martin Luther King celebration at the Boston Children’s Museum. Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA. more |
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| Martin Luther King Day Concerts | Jan 19 | Boston Metro | |
| And two concerts: one at the New England Conservatory Jan 19 @ 1pm and 7pm, and one at Faneuil Hall Jan 19, speakers @ 12pm and then @ 3pm a concert with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. This is presented by the Museum of African-American History, and the event was unlisted on their website nor the City of Boston’s. But I spent over an hour on the phone and got it because Johnny’s List is just that awesome. Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. more |
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| Martin Luther King weekend @ Harvard Square | Jan 19 | Boston Metro | |
| This one’s my pick for the MLK day. 2009: There will be a speech at 1pm, in front of Out of Town News at Harvard Square by the subway. Also the Harvard Square Business Association swears they will be doing something else, they just don’t know what yet. I called. Check their calendar. But it will include the “Joyful Noise” concert at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre. Harvard Square, Boston, MA. more more |
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| Martin Luther King Day Open House @ MFA | Jan 19 | Boston Metro | |
| Also, the MFA is free on Martin Luther King Day. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. more |
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| Arisia Fan Convention | Jan 16 – Jan 19 | Boston Metro | |
| Ignoring all of this historical-ness is Arisia. But they’re focused on the medeival ages and the future. Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| VERICON | Jan 23 – Jan 25 | Boston Metro | |
| Also a science fiction convention, but smaller, is VERICON, run by Harvard students. Sever Hall, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Annual Science Fiction Marathon @ MIT LSC | Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| And next weekend, MIT hosts a sci-fi marathon. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more |
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Performance |
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| Rossum’s Universal Robots | Jan 22 – Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| Also involving science fiction, but retro — from the 1920s — is “Rossum’s Universal Robots”, a theatre show about revolting robots. Jan 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 @ 8 PM, Jan 25 @ 2pm. Or check out the beggars’ “Pay-What-You-Can” preview Jan 22 @ 8 PM. Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA.(617) 926-1245. more |
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The Week in Weird |
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| Darwin Bicentennial | Jan 22 – Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| Also old-timey is the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birthday. There will be events all over the city and this is the first and the most academic. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Battle of the Brownies @ MIT | Jan 19 | Boston Metro | |
| Also at MIT, a brownies bake-off, as well. 2009: 7-8:30pm. Yum! Student Center, W20-491, 88 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Milk Chocolate Tasting @ MIT | Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| And a milk chocolate tasting. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Hot Chocolate Tasting and Ice Sculpture Contest. | Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| But I would hold out for the one at Harvard, which will also feature ice sculptures. I have no further info on this as of yet. Call ’em. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Chocolate Tour of Boston | Jan 25 | Boston Metro | |
| Or take a tour of all the Boston locales for chocolate. 2009: Meet at MIT Lobby 7, 2-5pm. Meet at 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Annual Humus Taste-Off @ MIT | Jan 21 | Boston Metro | |
| Personally I would go for the chocolate, but MIT Hillel is having a hummus competition. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| [SENSE]ation Day at Fuller Museum | Jan 19 | South Shore | |
| They’re also having a festival at the Fuller Museum, which is an amazing museum all about crafts. I’ve been many times and highly recommend it. They’ll have interactive performances, participatory arts making, candy making demonstrations, Japanese paper dyeing, mask-making, etc. 455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA.508-588-6000. more |
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| Lunar New Year @ MoS | Jan 23 | Boston Metro | |
| The lunar New Year is here and a few Chinese events are coming up (but not this week). Here are the first. This one’s a social at the Museum of Science. Museum of Science, Boston, MA. more |
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| Chinese New Year Lantern | Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| You can also make a paper lantern to celebrate. Artbeat, 212A Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA. more |
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| Vietnamese TET Celebration | Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| The Vietnamese are celebrating as well. There’s no website, but I called to confirm this. Harvard/Cleveland School, 11 Charles St, Dorchester, MA. |
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| Chautauqua Evenings at Gore Place | Jan 23 | Boston Metro | |
| This week is just full of off-beat events. This is a re-enactment lecture and Q&A at Gore Place, the historic mansion. And they have snowshoeing too! Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA. more |
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| Superbowl of Birding @ Joppa Flats | Jan 24 | Northern Mass | |
| Teams of adults and kids “compete” to find the most birds. Everyone welcome. 5am to 5pm. Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport, MA.978-462-9998. more |
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| Ippi’s Annual Flax Ice Derby | Jan 25 – Feb 15 | North Shore | |
| And ice fishing! On two different dates! One is a festival or some sort and the other… Is for Valentine’s Day. Because nothing says Valentine’s Day like ice fishing. I called and confirmed that their Jan 18 event is repeating on Jan 25. Lynn, MA. more |
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| Amherst Railway Society – Big Railroad Hobby Show | Jan 24 – Jan 25 | Western Mass | |
| Finally, way out west is a model train show. They hook together dozens of privately built tracks to create one huge railroad track system. They don’t actually say where it is to be held. But here’s the address from last year. Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA.617-822-4046. more |
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Also Fun |
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| Boston Wine Expo | Jan 23 – Jan 25 | Boston Metro | |
| Or maybe you’d rather drink wine. Ho hum. Warning: don’t drink your friend’s hot chocolate. It may be spiked. Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA. more |
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| Innovators Event: Beating the Casinos at Their Own Game | Jan 23 | Boston Metro | |
| Or maybe you’re silly enough to think you can beat Vegas. Museum of Science, Boston, MA. more |
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Recurring Events |
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| Introduction to Commedia dell’Arte | Jan 13 – Jan 20 | Boston Metro | |
| This event is also part of MIT’s January break. You can learn a kind of improv comedy dating back to the Renaissance. There are a number of dance classes and more, too. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Free Admission to the Old State House Museum | Jan 1 – Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| The entire month of January is free for Massachusetts residents (bring an ID) at the Old State House Museum. 206 Washington St , Boston, MA, Boston, MA. more |
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| Sleigh rides & smores at Point of View Farm | Jan 2 – Feb 28 | New Hampshire | |
| Weekends through February, you can get a real sleigh ride in New Hampshire. 160 South Road, Deerfield, NH.603-463-7974. more |
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| Kimball Farm Horse-Draw Sleigh Rides | Jan 2 – Feb 28 | Northern Mass | |
| Or closer to Boston in Haverhill, MA, if there’s snow. Kimball Farm Corn Maze, 780 East Broadway, Haverhill, MA.978 521-3990. more |
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| MIT IAP (Independent Activities Period) | Jan 5 – Feb 1 | Boston Metro | |
| Over winter break, MIT holds a variety of classes, lectures, and special events many of which are open to the public. Snowball fight, learn Tai Chi, participate in making the world’s largest matzah ball, or naming the largest number ever named. Or attend “charm school”, and learn your manners. MIT, Cambridge, MA.617-253-1000. more |
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Performance |
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| Cabaret | Jan 11 – Feb 1 | Boston Metro | |
| I’ve seen this show and it’s genuinely fantastic. It’s a glimpse into the culture that prepared Germany for World War II and the persecution of Jews, set to a musical. Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA. more |
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| Cirque Le Masque Carnival | Jan 21 – Jan 25 | Boston Metro | |
| Heads up, here’s a new age circus that’s not Cirque du Soleil. Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, MA.800-233-3123. more |
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| Dar Williams & Joshua Radin | Jan 22 | Boston Metro | |
| And Dar Williams is famous, but I forget for what. Folk music. Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA. more |
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| Dance Complex Winter Shared Choreographers’ Concert (perf.) | Jan 23 – Jan 24 | Boston Metro | |
| Every year there’s a concert that I once mistook for participatory, and for some reason I keep listing it. Historic Odd Fellows Hall, 536 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA.617-547-9363. more |
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Travel |
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| Edgar Allan Poe Theatre Show | Jan 25 – Apr 26 | NYC | |
| To honor Poe, his short stories have been adapted for the stage. New York, NY. more |
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| 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s bday | Jan 17 – Feb 1 | Maryland | |
| As I metioned, an even bigger Poe event is being held in Maryland, if you’d like to travel. Baltimore, MD. more |
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