Nov 8-16, 2010: Astronomy, Veterans Day, Tattoo Fest, Free Armor Day, One Man Star Wars, JFK & Dickinson re-enactments, & 7 Free Movie Previews
11/07/10 by
Johnny Monsarrat
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| The Week in Weird | ||||
| Sat 11/13 – Sun 11/14WorcesterFree tickets to Davis Megamaze and 7 Movie Previews |
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| This is the last week for Davis MegaMaze! I still have tickets for the biggest and best corn field maze in New England. And movie previews: Morning Glory (Nov 8, 7pm, Burlington & Fenway), Fantasia 2000 party with director (Nov 8, 7pm, MFA), Tangled (Nov 10, 7pm, Boston Common), 127 Hours (Nov 10, 7:30pm, Boston Common), Unstoppable (Nov 11, 7pm, Boston Common), The Music Never Stopped (Nov 16, 7pm, Kendall Sq). Email me at johnny@eventsinsider.com. 145 Redstone Hill, Sterling, MA.978-422-8888. more |
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| Sat 11/13Boston MetroFree tickets to the JFK Experience |
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| And I have 4 tickets to give away for this re-enactment of a speech by former president John Kennedy. Looks awesome! Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St, Watertown, MA. more more |
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| Mon 11/15Boston MetroFree tickets to One-Man Star Wars |
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| And I have 4 tickets to give away to this one-man stage show where he performs Star Wars. Crazy people with stormtrooper uniforms will come show off too, like a dozen of them! Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA. more |
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| Fri 11/12Boston MetroFree tickets to Pink Voyd – the Pink Floyd Theatrical Rock Show |
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| You know that I don’t write about music much but Pink Voyd is the REAL DEAL. They have broken down and analyzed the music of Pink Floyd to create a phenomenon that uses no CDs or backing tracks. Mention EVENTS Insider and get 50% off your tickets when you buy in advance (by end of day Thursday). Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St, Arlington, MA.781-646-4849. more |
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| Thu 11/11Boston MetroBoston Veterans Day Parade |
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| Of course, it’s Veterans Day, and there are a number of parades. Boston’s begins at 12pm on from the corner of Charles St & Beacon St, up Boylston Street, turn left onto Tremont street, ending at City Hall Plaza. Others in Massachusetts include Amesbury, Andover, Ashland, Attleboro, Bedford, Beverly, Brockton, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Dudley, Holyoke, Medford, Melrose, Middleboro, Newburyport, Norwood, Rehoboth, Shrewsbury, Spencer, Springfield, Webster, Westfield, Westford, West Springfield, Woburn. Boston Common, Boston, MA.617-635-4455. more |
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| Sat 11/13WorcesterArms and Armor Show and FREE DAY |
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| The Higgins Armory is always worth a trip. It’s one of these perfect places that both kids and adults enjoy, and see and learn about the armor and weaponry from ancient times. They are continually having fun events. This weekend, re-enactors play knights. And it’s Founder’s Day, celebrating 79 years, so it’s free! 100 Barber Ave, Worcester, MA.508-853-6015. more |
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| Sat 11/13WorcesterAn Evening of Illumination at OSV |
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| Also re-enactment-tastic, Sturbridge Village is bigger than and just as good as Plimoth Plantation. They are continually having events and this one is at night using 19th century lights. I’m sure it’s beautiful. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.508 347-3362. more |
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| Fri 11/12Boston MetroCarnival of Ink |
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| I’m not big on tattoos, but it’s a slow week for events, and if you are, they’re having a competition and live music at the Middle East! The Middle East, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13 – Sun 11/14Boston MetroAllston/Brighton Open Studios (Boston Open Studios) |
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| An open studios is an excuse to walk around town, visiting artists in their studios or private homes. It’s interesting to chat directly with the artists rather than merchants, and of course they hope you’ll buy something. This one seems pretty small, being focused on just four buildings. 1 Braintree Street, Allston, MA.617-254-3333-. more |
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| Wed 11/10Boston MetroExploring the Night (Astronomy) |
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| Most park events require you to have a car to get out there. Here’s one in metro Boston! Astronomy experts study the stars and you can come do it too. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St, Mattapan, MA. more |
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| Wed 11/10 – Sat 11/13Boston MetroMIT Henge |
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| Speaking of stars, the sun is a star, and a couple of times a year it aligns just right to be seen down the length of MIT’s 1/4-mile corridor. They call that MIT Henge. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13Boston MetroEmily Dickinson Re-enactment |
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| This is really a one-woman play, but isn’t that the same as a re-enactment? I suppose, if she’ll interact with the crowd and take questions…. Central Library, 79 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA.617-623-5000. more |
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| Sat 11/13Boston MetroMurder at the Science Museum: Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunt |
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| I can’t help but occasionally list the awesome “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 |
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| Also Fun | ||||
| Sat 11/13Rhode IslandA Magical Night with the Owls |
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| This one involves live owl presentations but doesn’t seem to involve going out into the woods — too bad! Register in advance. 6:30-8:30pm. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St, Bristol, RI.401-949-5454, ext. 3041. more |
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| Wed 11/10Boston MetroStories from the Ramayana |
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| This is an Indian storytelling experience for adults that I don’t understand, but it relates to one of the exhibits in the Harvard Art Museums. 6pm. Free. Harvard Art Museums, 485 Broadway, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13Southeast MassPrincess Party at the Fall River Carousel |
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| If only I had kids this would be so awesome! I mean, girl kids. Not boy kids. Girl kids who’d like to go next door and see the largest naval museum in the world, with a real World War II Battleship. Reserve in advance. 5 Water St, Fall River, MA.508-678-1100 x 101. more |
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| Sat 11/13Metro WestNorumbega Lodge Scandinavian Fair |
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| The Norse have a cultural festival? The Norse have a cultural festival!! Unfortunately, their vague description indicates it is mostly a crafts sale, with music. No events? No hamster throwing? You guys could learn a LOT about festivals from the Scots! High School, 500 Walden St, Concord, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13 – Sun 11/14Boston MetroArmenian Fest |
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| This festival goes undescribed but what could go wrong? Surely it will be better than a Norse crafts fair. Watertown, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13New HampshireA Shaker Thanksgiving |
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| Dine as the Shakers did. (I’m pretty sure the Shakers didn’t pay $135 a piece.) The same day they’ll have fiddling and folk dancing you can join in on. 288 Shaker Rd, Canterbury, NH.603-783-9511. more |
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| Fri 11/12 – Sun 11/14Boston MetroBoston International Antiquarian Book Fair |
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| Are you curious what books they read? Here’s your last chance to see some original texts while children still know what a ‘book’ is. They’ll have talks by book collectors and serious workshops for hobbyists and professionals. Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA.617-954-2000. more |
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| Sat 11/13Boston MetroSomerville Writers Conference |
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| Are you a writer? A wannabe? This festival may interest you, and surprisingly, several famous writers will attend. (Now if only famous publishers would attend!). Somerville Armory, Somerville, MA. more |
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| Sun 11/14Southeast MassHuman Chess |
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| Human chess sounds like so much fun, but I’ve seen it and basically 32 people stand doing nothing waiting for their turn to move a space. It takes forever. Nantucket, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13ConnecticutMark Twain at 175: An American Icon Reconsidered |
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| This is a day long symposium of serious lectures to celebrate Twain’s 175th birthday. Um, is there a cake? A social mixer? Free but reserve. Mercy Hall, St. Joseph College, 1678 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT.860-231-5521. more |
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| Thu 11/11 – Sun 11/14Boston MetroBoston Asian American Film Festival: Ideas in Motion |
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| Several actors and directors will show up for this film fest! Various venues, Boston, MA. more |
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| Idiots and the Scam Artists who Love Them | ||||
| Sat 11/13North ShoreSpiritual Fall Festival of Psychics |
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| I found this on the Boston Globe, so I just had to reply. This is what you get when you run a newspaper that just wants the money and doesn’t care what they print. (I hand-pick every item on my blog.) Let’s face it, “psychics” are scam artists and the practice should be illegal because it harms people when they make life choices based on bullshit and give money for “magic”. If you actually want to go to this event, you are not being open-minded. You are being an idiot. Swampscott, MA. more |
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| Performance | ||||
| Fri 11/5 – Sat 11/13Boston MetroBoston Comedy Festival |
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| The Boston Comedy Festival isn’t exactly weird but it was SO much fun the year I went. Highly recommended! The really big deal is finals night, the last night of the week. Various downtown venues, Boston, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13Boston MetroComics Come Home Fundraiser |
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| 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 |
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| Fri 11/12Boston MetroComic Relief: Fundraiser for Pakistan’s Flood Victims |
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| I’d love to see this Arab comedy night! It seems crazy fun and proceeds benefit the victim’s of Pakistan’s floods. Kresge Hall, MIT, 48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Sat 11/13Boston MetroPuppetSLAM |
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| If you don’t know what a puppet slam is, we’re not going to tell you!” That seems to be the attitude of this website. I have to believe it’s a kind of improvisational performance, not necessarily comedy, meant for adults, not kids, that happens to include puppets. Like a poetry slam. 32 Station Street, Brookline, MA. more |
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| Thu 11/11 – Sun 11/21Boston MetroBasil Twist – Puppeteer – Petrushka |
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| These are very serious puppeteers. They charge real money. Paramount Theatre, 560 Washington St, Boston, MA. more |
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| Tue 11/9Boston MetroGuest Orchestra Concert: Leipzig Philharmonic |
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| But this concert from Europe is free. Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA. more |
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It’s begun! You can’t put off Xmas for long. I saw my first retail holiday display in mid-October, and my first holiday TV commercial last weekend and I don’t even own a television. As I did with Halloween, I will do you the favor of splitting out Holiday stuff from other Arts & Fun. Near the top I will list one-shot events, and at the bottom of the blog, also as usual, I track the ongoing stuff. It’s the largest list of Holiday light displays in New England!
| Holiday Lights | grade | Mon 11/8 | Tue 11/9 | Wed 11/10 | Thu 11/11 | Fri 11/12 | Sat 11/13 | Sun 11/14 | Mon 11/15 |
| South ShoreCarver, MAEdaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of Lights | A+ | F | S | S | |||||
| The biggest and best “holiday lights” display in New England. It’s quite non-religious, with Santa letting kids sit on his lap but also plenty of generic fare like Frosty the Snowman and a tip of the hat to Hannukah. They have a train ride, ferris wheel, carousel, and other rides. 2010: They have 7 million lights, and fireworks December 3, 10, and 17. See website for coupons. Daily. I’ve been and it’s a ton of fun even for adults who are kids at heart and like people-watching. Rt 3S to exit 6, Rt 44W for 8 miles to Rt 58 for 8 miles. 2010: 4-9pm M-F, 2-9pm Sat, Sun. Pine Street, 877-EDAVILLE. more |
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| South ShoreAvon, MAEnchanted Village at Jordan’s Furniture | ? | S | S | M | |||||
| Free! It’s a 1958 Jordan Marsh display that’s been restored to health by Jordan’s Furniture. Website is unclear for how long the display goes. Jordan’s Furniture, 100 Stockwell Dr more |
I’m going on a diet! I’ve heard that peer pressure (um, public support!) is a good way to motivate yourself. So here we go: right now I’m 6’4″ and weight 275.8 lbs. Please email something motivational to johnny@eventsinsider.com! 🙂
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