Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 1/12/09

01/12/09 by

Martin Luther King Day is coming up. Enjoy the long weekend! I’ll blog about Inauguration Day activities (Jan 20) next week.

-Johnny


The Week in Weird
200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s bday Jan 15 – Jan 16 Boston Metro
The event of the week is Edgar Allan Poe’s 200th birthday! Poe was born in Boston although moved to Maryland, where there’s also a celebration. Boston College will have speakers by authors who’ve written on Poe, readings, a birthday cake and a movie, over two days.
Boston College, Devlin Hall 101, Boston, MA. more
more
Arisia Fan Convention for Sci-Fi, Roleplaying Jan 16 – Jan 19 Boston Metro
Also geeky, take your enthusiasm to Arisia, the largest convention in Boston for sci-fi, anime, fantasy, roleplaying, and more. Make sure to check out Rickland’s bookstore and say that Johnny sent you for a special discount. He will reply with the secret codephrase, “What discount??
Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Cambridge, MA. more
Annual MIT Mystery Hunt Jan 16 – Jan 19 Boston Metro
Even more geeky, which is saying something, is the MIT Mystery Hunt, which people from the Boston community can probably sneak into. Join a team that unpuzzles a clue path and spends all weekend chasing down the location of a hidden coin. My suggestion: shadow the hunt’s organizers as they hide the coin.
MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
Primal Scream at Harvard Jan 12 Boston Metro
Harvard takes a different approach. At midnight Monday evening (that’s tonight!) hundreds of students will gather naked on Harvard Yard to release their tension in a huge scream. It’s always at midnight on the last night of reading period and the night before the first final exams in January.
Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA.
Best Lesbian Erotica Reading and Reception Jan 18 Boston Metro
Readings and a wine & cheese reception. They don’t specifically say this is a woman-only event but I would guess that it is intended that way.
308-A Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. more
Chocolate Tour of Boston Jan 11 – Jan 25 Boston Metro
Also not stated as exclusively for women, here’s a tour of Boston’s chocolate makers for those of us who are not on a diet. 2009: Meet at MIT Lobby 7, 2-5pm.
Meet at 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more
Battle of the Brownies @ MIT Jan 19 Boston Metro
The same group is having a brownies bake-off, as well. 2009: 7-8:30pm.
Student Center, W20-491, 88 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more
Fetes De Rois (Feast of the Kings) Jan 17 Boston Metro
Centuries old French tradition, basically a party for kids, and they’ll have a cake and lots of French culture. There’s limited space, so RSVP.
The French Library and Cultural Center, Boston, MA.617.912.0400. more
PuppetSLAM Jan 17 Boston Metro
This one is not for kids. It’s a puppet show for adults, like Avenue Q. It seems arty & creative. If you miss it, they have them every two months or so.
32 Station Street, Brookline, MA. more
Japanese New Year Jan 18 Boston Metro
Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA. more
[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
Rock-paper-scissors Championship Jan 14 Boston Metro
Closer in to Boston, the ultimate psych-out game is Rock Paper Scissors and this time, you’re doing it for prizes. 2009: 7pm.
PA’s Lounge, 345 Someville Ave, Somerville, MA.617-776-1557. more

Also Fun
Martin Luther King Day @ Boston Childrens Museum Jan 19 Boston Metro
Here’s a Martin Luther King celebration at the Boston Children’s Museum. 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?
Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA. more
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.Scott 617-725-0022 x20. more
Martin Luther King weekend @ Harvard Square Jan 19 Boston Metro
Also the Harvard Square Business Association swears they will be doing something, 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
Martin Luther King Day Open House @ MFA Jan 19 Boston Metro
The MFA is free on Martin Luther King Day.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. more
Concord Museum is Free Jan 18 Metro West
The Concord museum is also free, but on Sunday.
Concord Museum, Concord, MA. more
MIT Chantey & Maritime Sing Jan 18 Boston Metro
Also Sunday, sing songs and learn what you do with a drunken sailor, early in the mornin’.
MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA. more
Benjamin Franklin in Boston: A Walking Tour Jan 17 Boston Metro
What about Benjamin Franklin? Why doesn’t he get a day? Here’s a thinly disguised generic Boston walking tour that makes the great man it’s excuse.
Boston, MA. more
World of Wheels Jan 9 – Jan 11 Boston Metro
They’re also having a big car festival (woo-hoo…).
Boston Expo Center, Boston, MA. more
Greater Boston Antiques Festival Jan 17 – Jan 18 Boston Metro
And if you have any cash left after buying holiday gifts, you can spend it on old stuff. Um, antiques.
Shriner’s Auditorium, Wilmington, MA.(781) 862-4039. more

Recurring Events
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
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
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
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
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

Performance
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
Dar Williams & Joshua Radin Jan 22 Boston Metro
And Dar Williams is famous, but I forget for what, in folk music.
Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA. more

Like this blog? Subscribe by email, and get inspired at Wheel Questions, my other blog, and see the 4-minute podcast.
Send encouragement and ideas to johnny@johnnyslist.org