Feb 28-Mar 8, 2011: Free theatre & movie tickets, Maple Syrup, Insect, LARP, and Latke Festivals, Boston Massacre Re-enactment, and more!

02/27/11 by Johnny Monsarrat

It’s the low point of the year for creative events, but I managed to find you 40!
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The Week in Weird
Fri 3/4 – Sat 4/2Boston MetroReasons to be Pretty – ticket giveaway
I have two pairs of tickets to give away for the Saturday 3/5 at 4pm show of this drama about the American obsession with beauty. “How much is ‘pretty’ worth? Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. more
Tue 3/1Boston MetroFree movie preview tix – Win Win
I have free movie preview tickets for Win Win, the indie comedy about an attorney who becomes a wrestling coach, with Paul Giamatti. Email me at johnny@EVENTSinsider.com and let me know what you want to win! AMC Boston Common Theatre, Boston, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroBoston Massacre Re-enactment
The event of the week is the re-enactment of the Boston Massacre. And it’s free! It’s the historical event that got the British fighting with the American colonists before the War of Indepdendence. Sat 11am & 2pm little kids re-enact the massacre in a strange combination of cute and horrid. 11:30 & 2:30 Trial of the Century w/ John Adams. Then 7pm Boston Massacre re-enactment, to which you should arrive at least an hour early to get a good view, and at which the real show starts about 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Old State House, Boston, Boston, MA.617-720-1713 x27. more
Fri 3/4 – Sun 3/6Northern MassInterCon (LARP)
Live roleplaying is a kind of theatre where there is no audience. The audience joins the cast for a massive improv drama that spans an entire hotel and can be comedy, drama, horror, mystery, fantasy, or any genre. It’s completely unique and this is the biggest and best convention in our region for LARPing. See the website and sign up for games in advance. Waltham, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroTropical Fiesta, Jamaica Plain
I don’t really understand this event, which goes undescribed on both websites, but I have confirmed that it is really happening, and it features music by the Latin American group that does the amazing Day of the Dead Festival at Forest Hills Cemetery. From 12-4pm, learn dances from the Caribbean, rainforest arts & crafts for kids, and then 7pm-2am, a nighttime 18+ party, with three afro world beat bands. 45 Danforth Street, Jamaica Plain, MA.617-524-6373 or 857-498-2438. more more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroInsect Planet Festival
Every year the Harvard Museum of Natural History holds a “family festival”, a day of lectures and activities, and this year’s theme is insects! It’s kid-oriented but if you’re a kid at heart you’ll enjoy it too! 9am-5pm. Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroAlloy Orchestra performing live to Metropolis (the landmark 1928 silent sci-fi film)
This classic silent film comes with live music! What a treat — I’ve seen this performance and it’s amazing! Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroMaple Syrup Boil Down Festival
It’s maple syrup season! They will boil down sap into maple syrup and you can try some and learn how it works. 10am-2pm. The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., Somerville, MA.617-628-9988. more
Maple Sugaring
Tue 3/1Boston MetroIHOP National Pancake Day
Also free are pancakes! Yummy yummy, pancakes. 7am to 10pm, any IHOP. IHOPs, such as 16 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroWinter Trees and Maple Syrup for Adults
You can also learn about sugar maples and sample syrup at a park in Mattapan. For adults at 10am and for kids at 1pm. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St, Mattapan, MA. more
Tue 3/1 – Fri 3/4Metro WestMaple Science
Drumlin Farm has a bunch of maple sugaring events, too. Here are some of them! 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA.781-259-2200. more
Sat 3/5New HampshireDr. Seuss Breakfast
This one’s strictly for kids. Oy. 37 Mechanic St, Keene, NH. more
Sat 3/5Rhode IslandMaple Sugaring
And this one’s the cleverest — because you’ll learn how maple sugaring was started by Native Americans! 9am-12pm. Try syrup with pancakes, muffins and doughnuts. Pre-register. Audubon Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, Maple Valley Road, Coventry, RI.401-949-5454, ext. 3041. more
Tue 3/8North ShoreMeet the Sugar Maples
Ipswich is truly beautiful, if you visit Castle Hill and Crane Beach as well, and they punch in well above their weight small-town-wise with arts & culture. Too bad they scheduled it right when most of us are working. 3-4:30pm. Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA. more
Also Fun
Thu 3/3Boston Metro50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps
The JFK Museum brings in nation-level speakers all year long. These free events tend to fill up quickly, so register now! Full? Sign up for the next one on their calendar! 5:30-7pm. JFK Library & Museum, Boston, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroFAST Thinking
To celebrate their 150th anniversary, MIT is hosting a day of lectures on music and science. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
Tue 3/1Boston MetroMIT Annual Latke-Hamentashen Debate
Putting their cultural emphasis on learning and debate on the line will be the “finest scholars” at MIT debating over the merits of two Jewish foods that the rest of us have never heard of. But they’ll serve samples! It seems to be free! Free food, people! I don’t care if they serve gefilte fish, if it’s free, I love it. 8pm. MIT Room 26-100, Cambridge, MA. more
Wed 3/2Boston MetroThe Hidden Reality
Free. 7pm. It’s become popular recently for scientists to appear on the news and talk about “multiverses” and “bubbles universes”. But let me be frank: isn’t this pure speculation, basically hype to sell books and get on TV? Is there any evidence to support these theories, or mathematical indications? Maybe you should go and ask. Anyway, register in advance, but “a limited number of passes will be available in the lobby on the day of the event. Museum of Science, Boston, Boston, MA. more
Sat 3/5Metro WestFrederick Douglass NOW
This monologue, not a re-enactment, is inspired by the historic African American who promoted the abolition of slavery. Free. 7:30pm. Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA. more
Sun 3/6Boston MetroAbraham Lincoln At 200 with R.I. Supreme Court Justice Frank Williams
This one’s also not a re-enactment. Even though they don’t list it on their website, I confirmed that this is really happening. 4pm. Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams Street, Milton, MA. more
Fri 3/4 – Sun 3/6Southeast MassAAA Travel Marketplace
I list this commercial “festival” because I’m curious what kind of deals are on offer. Free parking. Discounts for AAA members. How about AA members? I wonder if I can get to Egypt for a week on $500. Anyone want to go to Egypt? Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA. more
Sat 3/5New HampshireAnnual Keene Ice & Snow Festival
On your way to go skiing? This free festival includes ice carving and snow sculpting. 10am-4pm. Keene, NH. more
Tue 3/8WorcesterMardi Gras at Nick’s in Natick
A lot of local bars will hold a lame “Mardi Gras” event that’s basically — let’s get drunk! I try so hard to find one that’s creative, and this year I’ve found two. Although this is really a performance, this one’s a jazz band that encourages you to wear a 1920s costume and a mask! Nick’s, 124 Millbury Street, Worcester, MA. more
Sat 3/5Rhode IslandCajun and Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball
This one looks like fun, too! It’s a ball — costume optional — with live music by cajun and zydeco performers, with authentic New Orleans cuisine. 6pm-12am. Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI. more
Fri 2/18 – Sat 3/26New HampshireMurder Mystery at The Governor’s Inn
It can only be topped by this, a murder mystery dinner. This is one of a few locations where you play the role of detective and try to find clues and solve the case and they serve food, too. It’s only $59 including the food and gratuity. 78 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH.603-332-0107. more
Fri 3/4 – Sun 3/6WorcesterThe Flower & Patio Outdoor Living Show
This flower show might be worth checking out. I went to one once and it was surprisingly fun. It’s essentially a trade show for gardeners but they’ll have forced bloom flower displays, too! Park at Worcester Municipal Garage at 30 Worcester Center Blvd. DCU Center, Worcester, MA.508-792-0314. more
Sun 3/6 – Sun 3/20Boston MetroBoston Jewish Music Festival
Okay, you’ve got Turn, Turn, Turn, and Fiddler on the Roof, and, um… Gee, maybe I’d better go to this and learn about Jewish music! Various, Boston, MA. more
Fri 3/4 – Thu 3/10North ShoreSalem Film Festival
This in an all-documentary film festival, and a ton of filmmakers will be attending, making this a real festival, not just a movie marathon. 1 Church Street, Salem, MA.978-744-1400. more
Sat 3/5Metro WestCabin Fever Festival
I pick out, from hundreds of park events, the ones that seem the most fun, just for you. This one involves guided trails, storytelling, and an open campfire. 10am-2pm. Rocky Woods, Hartford St, Medfield, MA.508.785.0339. more
Wed 2/9 – Sat 6/4Boston MetroEdward Gorey Exhibit at the Boston Athenaeum
Edward Gorey is the New England artist who didn’t become Tim Burton. But he did write The Gashlycrumb Tinies and other cult goth works. There’s no event here, but come see the local exhibit — it’s closer than going to his Cape Cod home and museum! 10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA.617-227-0270. more
Sat 3/5ConnecticutLeprechaun Leap
Or raise money for charity by diving in icy cold water. Another wonderful thing about New England they just don’t have in Texas. 11:30am. Walnut Beach, Milford, CT. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroDancing with the Stars – Needham 300th
Needham is having their 300th anniversary and will be celebrating all year, starting with this gala. Moseley’s on the Charles, 50 Bridge St, Dedham, MA. more
Sun 3/6 – Fri 3/18Boston MetroBoston Restaurant Week – Winter
This is a commercial promotion, not an event, but the winter is sparse, so we’ll take what we can get. Be warned, even at a discount, most of these restaurants are pricey, and you’re supposed to tip as though you’d paid for a full meal. Various, Boston, MA. more
Tue 3/8Boston MetroTaste of the South End
Here’s your chance to spend way, way too much money on food, all to benefit a charity. What’s interesting is they have seemingly refused to give the TIME of the event on their website. Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA.617-450-1526. more
Tue 3/1Boston MetroRestaurant Reviews
Did you know that Events INSIDER reviews restaurants? Check out our reviews this week of Picante Mexican Grill (Cambridge), Life Alive (Cambridge), Rosebud Diner (Somerville), and Blue Ribbon BBQ (Arlington). Across Boston Metro, Cambridge, MA. more
Performance
Fri 3/4Boston MetroKitschInSync
This improv comedy show appeared on my radar and I thought I would spread the word. Improv comedy is a great alternative to movies and regular theatre because it’s more interactive — you don’t just sit in the dark and ignore the friends you came with. 8pm. Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St, Brookline, MA. more
Fri 3/4Metro WestAtwater-Donnelly
Atwater-Donnelly is my favorite folk group. They’re really amazing! I have literally been on their mailing list waiting for them to return to Metro Boston for a DECADE… but to the best of my knowledge they haven’t come, even though they are based in Rhode Island. WTF? Anyway, I gave up on them coming here, and have abandoned their mailing list. The closest they’ll approach this year is this event in Framingham. So, if you have a car, check them out. Amazing Things Arts Center, 160 Hollis St, Framingham, MA.(508) 405-2787. more
Fri 3/4Boston MetroJazz Club Performances
It’s hard to wade through press releases with phrases like “luscious song” and “evocative original works”, but basically, there is live jazz on a regular basis in Cambridge. So if you like live jazz, check it out! Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge, MA. more
Sat 3/5Boston MetroMassachusetts Poetry Recitation Semi-Finals
I’m not big into poetry. And I’m not big into any kind of concert at the high-school level. But these are the best of the best, the semi-finalists performing hoping to get to the nationwide finals. In the famous words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Itz woith a shot! Watz the woist that could happen?”. Sat Mar 5 in Boston & Framingham. Sun Mar 6 in South Yarmouth and Springfield. Then the State Finals on Sunday, March 13 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Boston’s Old South Meeting House. Also Concord, Springfield, and on Cape Cod, Boston, MA. more

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