Dr. Horrible, Veterans Day Parades, Kite Fly, Historic Costumes, Open Studios, Nordic Fest, & Museum Ideas

11/04/09 by Johnny Monsarrat

I have a bunch of free tickets for Davis MegaMaze, the giant corn field maze out near Worcester. It’s the best in New England, and a bunch of us are going Sunday, leaving Boston at 11am, or meet us there at 12pm. RSVP to reserve your free ticket to johnny@weirdbostonevents.org and include your phone number so’s we can find you.

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-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog	11/7	Southern Mass
Last week I mentioned that there’s more to Rocky Horror than Rocky Horror. Here’s another: a sing-a-long put on by a local Rocky cast that combines a film with interactive singing and theatre. 10pm. Orpheum Theater, Foxboro, MA. more
Historic Costume Social @ Asa Waters Mansion	11/6	Worcester
And to hold onto the Halloween seasons, dress as a person from history, and visit the Asa Waters Mansion, which I’ve been to. It’s genuinely interesting and worth the trip. They’ll have live music. Call ahead for tickets. 123 Elm Street, Post Office Box 421, Millbury, MA.508-865-0855. more
Breakfast with George Washington	11/7	New Hampshire
History comes also with this visit by George Washington, at 10am and 11am. Also they serve breakfast. Folsom Tavern, One Governors Lane, Exeter, NH.603-772-2622. more
Hampton Beach Holiday Kite Fly	11/7	New Hampshire
While you’re in New Hampshire, stop by this small-sized kite flying event. It’s harder to fly a kite than you might think, and you can meet and learn from some experts. They’ll probably sell kites on-site. In front of the Ashworth hotel. Hampton Beach, Hampton, NH. more
A Quilters’ Gathering	11/5 – 11/8	New Hampshire
Also in New Hampshire, the quilting show in New England. I know what you’re thinking, that it’s probably boring. I’ve actually been to a quilting show and it was fun with the right attitude. The quilts are genuinely works of art, not grids of plaid. Sheraton Hotel, Nashua, NH. more
Murder at the Science Museum Scavenger Hunt	11/7	Boston Metro
I can’t help but occasionally list the “scavenger hunts” from Watson Adventures, which ask you to collect clues, not stop signs. This one is based at the Museum of Science and is sure to be educational. Museum of Science, Boston, Boston, MA. more
Boston Veterans Day Parade	11/11	Boston Metro
Of course, it’s Veterans Day, and there are a number of parades. Boston’s begins at 1pm on November 11 Starts on Boston Common at bottom of hill, Boylston Street, turn left onto Tremont street, ending at City Hall Plaza. Others in Massachusetts include Abington, Amesbury, Braintree, Canton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hingham, Lexington, Marshfield, Milton, Pembroke, Plymouth, Quincy, Rockland, Scituate, Uxbridge, Weymouth, Whitman, Worcester, and probably more. Boston Common, Boston, MA.617-635-4455. more more
Quincy Veterans Day Parade	11/11	South Shore
Quincy’s is the only other really big one I found. Quincy, MA.617-376-1194. more
Roslindale Open Studios	11/7 – 11/8	Boston Metro
As you know, open studios are when local artists open their homes and work spaces to the public. It’s like a museum, or a crafts store, but it’s spread all across Roslindale so you get a nice Fall walk. 11am-5pm. See website for map, Roslindale, MA. more
Also Fun
Waltham Mills Artists’ Open Studios	11/7 – 11/8	Metro West
This open studios is in a single location, so not as big, but perhaps worth a visit. 144 Moody Street, Waltham, MA. more
MFA Community Day (November)	11/11	Boston Metro
The MFA is free again. (Thanks!). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. more
Comics Come Home Fundraiser	11/7	Boston Metro
Denis Leary, Jimmy Fallon, and other stand up stars are doing a benefit for cancer research at BU’s enviable arena. Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA.617-931-2000. more
Nordic Fest	11/7	North Shore
The Norse have a cultural festival? The Norse have a cultural festival!! Unfortunately, their vague description mentions mostly crafts and foods. Will there be dance or live music? Well, they’ve had it in past years! 9am-3pm. Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA. more
Armenian Fest	11/7	Rhode Island
Armenian festivals are also rare, but not unheard of. Here is one. Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Cranston, RI. more
Franklin County CiderDay	11/7 – 11/8	Western Mass
I’m usually skeptical of single food events. This one is occurring simultaneously at several farms in Western Massachusetts. You can get orchard tours and see apple butter being made, but the secret seems to be “tastings”, i.e. free booze samples. Greenfield, MA. more
Lizard Lounge benefit	11/7	Boston Metro
Local musician Stephen Fredette (from Scruffy the Cat, a roots-rocking ’80s Boston band) is now battling lymphoma. Please attend this fundraiser and you get to hear a ton of great music, as well. I don’t normally list concerts, but this will have a festival atmosphere, I am told, and free food, too. See the websites for the list of bands. Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more more
New England Jazz Banjofest	11/6	Boston Metro
Again, I don’t normally list concerts, but who doesn’t love old time jazz and dixieland banjo music! If you play, come along and jam with them. Doubletree Hotel, Bedford, MA. more
Family Sleepover @ New England Aquarium	11/7	Boston Metro
Why do I get the feeling that only kids get to sleep over amongst the jellyfish tanks at the Boston Aquarium? New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA.617-973-5206. more
INDIECON: The Free All-Ages Big Heavy World Music Conference	11/6 – 11/7	Vermont
This free festival in Vermont is part of their Champlain Quadricentennial, with live music but also films, speakers, and workshops. Burlington, VT. more
Recurring
There, I’ve Broken My Neck! (An Evening of Theatrical Disasters)	11/6 – 11/7	Boston Metro
This one-man show looks like worth checking out. It’s a comedy about what goes wrong behind the stage curtain. Despite the website, it is not actually opera. And they’ll have a reception after the 11/7 show. Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more
Fall Foliage Hiking Around New England	10/10 – 11/10	Worcester
Fall foliage is going strong in the Berkshires. Where’s a good place to go to see Fall Foliage closer to Boston? The closest is the Blue Hills in Canton, MA, Wachusett Mountain Reservation (which is the same mountain but a separate entrance from Mt. Wachusett Ski Resort), and the Berkshires. Or go north to Mount Monadnock in southern NH. Don’t have a car? Try the Middlesex Fells which you can get to on the subway. Or see this website for other parks. Various, Various. more more
Recurring Events
Concord Festival of Authors	10/21 – 11/8	Metro West
This “festival” is really a series of author events and book readings, but many of them look quite interesting, especially dry southern humorist Roy Blount, Jr. on Oct 15 (the kind of guy who likes the cartoon Marmaduke), and a spooky night of thrillers and Dracula Oct 31. Various Places, Concord, MA. more
Out on the Edge Festival	10/25 – 11/15	Boston Metro
This ‘festival’ is mainly a series of performances, but they’ll have several post-show audience discussions and events to socialize at. Theatre, a satire of TV news, a comedy about beauty pageants, a costume contest, and lots of gay frivolity, wink wink. Various Places, Boston, MA. more
Boston Jewish Film Festival	11/4 – 11/15	Boston Metro
Yet another film festival continues. Plenty of the films involve a director talk. Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA. more
Holiday Murder Mystery at the Astors’ Beechwood Mansion	11/6 – 11/27	Rhode Island
The Astor’s Beechwood Mansion is the only Newport destination that re-enacts the Victorian era with live actors. I’ve always wanted to check this out! Reserve in advance. Astors’ Beechwood Mansion, 580 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. more
1627 Harvest Dinner @ Plimoth Plantation	11/7 – 11/28	South Shore
Plimoth Plantation invites you to join a re-enactment of the original Thanksgiving dinner, with authentic foods, table manners, and hymn singing. Nov 8, 15, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29 at 5:30pm. Reserve in advance. 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA.508-746-1622. more
Ho Ho Holidays
Christmas Festival & Gingerbread House Competition	11/6 – 11/8	Boston Metro
We live nearly 10% of our lives in a “Christmas Land” that merchants stretch from Thanksgiving to the holiday. However, a few mavericks want us to start shopping right after Halloween! Who will be first? It’s this actual Xmas Festival at a major tradeshow venue in Boston. It’s hideously commerical, sort of the opposite of an “open studios” event, but they will have a gingerbread contest with giant displays. See website for coupon. I will segregate Xmas stuff into a separate category for the next couple of months, for those who want to ignore ’em! Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA. more
Museums
National Center of Afro-American Artists	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Because this week doesn’t have much going on, here are a bunch of museums that may interest you. Note, you can get the complete list of year-round activities and museums at WeirdBostonEvents.org and click “Master List”. 300 Walnut Avenue, Boston, MA.617-442-8614. more
Museum of Afro-American History & Black Heritage Trail	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Near Boston Common. Black Heritage Trail tours start here, http://www.afroammuseum.org/trail.htm. 46 Joy Street, Boston, MA.617-725-0022. more
Semitic Museum	Apr 1 – Nov 30	Boston Metro
Model Israelite house & ancient artifacts and society from Cyprus, Mesopotamia. 6 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA.617-495-4631. more
Boston Children’s Museum	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
South Station subway stop. MITAC discount. They have family slumber parties in March, June, October. Only $1 on Fridays 5-9pm. 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA.617-426-8855. more
Harvard Museum of Natural History	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Free Sundays 9-12 and Wed 3-5pm with MA state ID. AAA discount. Glass Flowers Gallery. 26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA.617-495-3045. more
Harvard University Art Museum (Fogg, Sackler)	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Sackler is at 485 Broadway. “Drop in and draw” programs Sundays 1-3pm, see website. Free Saturdays 10-12 and everyday after 4:30pm. 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA.617-495-9400. more
Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
People named Isabella get free admission. 280 The Fenway, Boston, MA.617)566-1401. more
MIT Museum	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
MIT Bldg N52. Every Sunday is free, 10am-12pm. 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.617-253-4444. more
Museum of Science, Boston	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Brunch @ Skyline Room. 11am or 1pm. Omnimax theater, Planetarium, butterfly garden, 3D theater, laser shows, science shows & gift store. Science Park, Boston, MA.617-723-2500. more
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Part of Harvard University. 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA.617-496-1027. more
Boston Sculptors Gallery	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
This place is really a gallery, not a museum. But still worth a peek. 486 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA.617-482-7781. more
MIT List Visual Arts Center	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
MIT building E15, Atrium level. 20 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA.617-253-4680. more
Nichols House Museum	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Here’s an old-timey historic home that nobody knows about, right in Boston! Now you know. 55 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, MA.617-227-6993. more
Hooper-Lee-Nichols house	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
And here’s one in Cambridge. 159 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA.617 547-4252. more
New England Genealogical Society	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Find your ancestors and shop the bookstore. Tuesday – Sunday. 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA.617-536-5740. more
Otis House Museum	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Walking tours of this restored 1796 mansion. Headquarters for preservation society. 141 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA.617-227-3956. more
The Loring-Greenough House	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Boston Metro
Sat & Sun only. 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA.617-524-3158. more
Discovery Museums	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Metro West
Kid stuff but worth a visit if you’re in the area. Actually two separate museums, Children’s Museum & Science Museum. 177 Main St, Acton, MA.978-264-4200. more
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Metro West
My favorite museum in New England! Surrounded by a park w/ sculptures, great for picnicking. Sculpture park is open year-round dawn to dusk, and free when the museum is closed. 51 Sandy Pond Rd, Lincoln, MA.781-259-8355. more
Canterbury Shaker Village	Jan 1 – Dec 31	New Hampshire
In central New Hampshire, the shakers frolic. Or used to. They are NOT THE SAME AS THE AMISH. So they say. 288 Shaker Rd, Canterbury, NH.603-783-9511. more
Hammond Castle museum	Apr 15 – Nov 30	North Shore
A wonderful museum that is an actual castle. 80 Hesperus Ave, Gloucester, MA.978-283-2080. more