1/14/10: SF films & fest, Ice Fishing, Japanese New Year, MLK Day re-enactors, and Adult Puppet Show

01/14/10 by Johnny Monsarrat

This week: finally, I find something truly weird for Martin Luther King Day beyond standing in the cold listening to overly serious speeches. But what’s with websites not offering photos of their events?

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-Johnny

The Week in Weird
SPS Marathon of Fiction Science	1/14	Boston Metro
TONIGHT! Students at MIT are showing a ton of science fiction films, including a free sneak preview of “District 13”, the awesome action flick. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
Arisia Fan Convention	1/15 – 1/18	Boston Metro
Not geeky enough? Try going to Arisia, the largest science fiction (and anime, and roleplaying, you get the idea) convention in New England. I guess they’re against posting up photos to entice you to come. Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Cambridge, MA. more
MIT Mystery Hunt	1/15	Boston Metro
Even more geeky, which is saying something, is the MIT Mystery Hunt, which people from the Boston community can probably find a team to 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
Annual Flax Ice Derby	1/17	North Shore
Have you ever wanted to try ice fishing? Me neither! But it would be cool to at least see it. Someplace with ice and fish, Lynn, MA. more
Japanese New Year	1/17	Boston Metro
Also, Asia is several times zones behind us, so they’re still celebrating New Years in Japan. Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA. more
Civil Disobedience @ Walden Pond	1/17	Metro West
It’s also Africa’s New Year, and Walden Pond is doing a fun outdoor/indoor program with a re-enactor talking about Henry David Thoreau, the american author who like Martin Luther King believed in civil disobedience. Walden Pond, Concord, MA.978-369-3254. more
Martin Luther King Day Concerts	1/18	Boston Metro
Nobody seems to really “nail” Martin Luther King Day with a parade or fireworks or festival containing more than just speeches. But they’ll have some lectures at Faneuil Hall. Their website doesn’t mention music but they’ve had music in past years, too. Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. more
Martin Luther King Day Celebration @ Harvard Square	1/18	Boston Metro
Harvard Square will do something pretty small, too. Students will read the I Have a Dream Speech, and there’ll be poetry & unspecified “entertainment”. Out of Town News, near the subway, Cambridge, MA. more
Anti-Slavery Programs at Concord’s Old Manse	1/17	Metro West
Wait! I found it! This is the one everyone should go to. They’ll have a re-enactor talking about slavery, 19th century refreshments and song. Plus a tour of this historic home. Awesome! 2pm. Reserve in advance. Old Manse, 269 Monument Street, Concord, MA.978-369-3909.
Martin Luther King Day @ Old Sturbridge Village	1/18	Southern Mass
Old Sturbridge Village will have an historical re-enactor, too — a whole town full of them! There’s an entire day of unusual lectures, plus of course OSV by itself is always worth a visit. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.508-347-3362. more
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service	1/18	Boston Metro
Gee, this one’s pretty interesting, too. This is not “grab a garbage bag, let’s go clean up the road”. It’s a genuine festival, held indoors, where you can mingle and volunteer at booths they call “project stations”. Reggie Lewis Center gymnasium, 1350 Tremont St., Roxbury, MA. more
Also Fun
Martin Luther King Day Open House @ MFA	1/18	Boston Metro
Also, the MFA is free on Martin Luther King Day. Thanks! Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. more
Joyful Noise w/ the Harlem Gospel Choir	1/16	Boston Metro
I don’t normally list concerts, but this one’s more of a community event than most concerts. It’s traditional to stand, clap, and even join in. Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA. more
Benjamin Franklin in Boston: A Walking Tour	1/17	Boston Metro
What about Benjamin Franklin? Why doesn’t he get a day? It’s his birthday this week and the local Boston walking tour company does a special tour for him. 2pm. Meet at School St & Washington St, Boston, MA. more
Greater Boston Antiques Festival	1/16 – 1/17	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
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival @ Salem	1/16 – 1/17	North Shore
This film festival will either be depressing or inspirational. Morse Auditorium Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, 150 Essex St., Salem, MA.866-745-1876 / 978-745-9500. more
Winterfest Weekends @ Fruitlands Museum	1/16 – 2/28	Worcester
I’m always skeptical of ‘festivals’ that last over a month and seem to be “business as usual”. However, the Fruitlands Museum has sled trails, ice skating (but not rentals?), and a bonfire! 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, MA.978-456-3924. more
Recurring Events
Sleep No More	10/8 – 2/7	Boston Metro
I hear this show is amazing. They’ve taken over an entire unused school in Brookline, and every room has a display and actors. You get to stroll from room to room interacting with everyone as the plot proceeds. Some School, Brookline, MA. more
Sleigh rides & smores at Point of View Farm	1/1 – 2/15	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	1/1 – 2/15	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
Breakdance Classes	1/4 – 1/27	Boston Metro
Learn to breakdance! I’ve been to this one and it’s really fun! MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
MIT IAP (Independent Activities Period)	1/4 – 1/29	Boston Metro
Over winter break, MIT holds a variety of classes, lectures, and special events, many of which are wonderfully weird and open to the public. Check their calendar. MIT, Cambridge, MA.617-253-1000. more
Concord Museum is Free	1/17 – 1/24	Metro West
The Concord museum is also free on Sunday. Concord Museum, Concord, MA. more
Performance
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)	1/7 – 1/16	Boston Metro
I’ve seen this play and it’s a hilarious comedy and parody of Shakespeare. They have a basically-free “pay what you can” preview on Jan 7. The Factory Theatre located, 791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. more
PuppetSLAM	1/16	Boston Metro
Here’s a puppet show meant for adults! 8pm. It’s PG-13 or R-rated. 32 Station Street, Brookline MA.617-731-6400. more
Freestyle Motorcycle Stunts (Nuclear Cowboyz)	1/16 – 1/17	Boston Metro
It’s like stunts with bicycles, except bigger. But will they jump a shark? TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA.617-624-1106. more