Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 02/07/07

02/07/07 by

Hey-o,

Here’s what weird and coming up in New England.

Somebody in Lowell thought it would be great to have a Lowell’s WinterFest Celebration, Feb 9-10. Unfortunately it will be a bit chilly this weekend (high of 32F). However, the event features a soup bowl competition, juggling clowns, and the “National Human Dogsled Competition”. I swear I am not making that up. http://www.lowellwinterfest.org. Lowell, MA.

Further off into the impractical spectrum, there will be a Peace Vigil, Feb 9th, on Cambridge Common in Harvard Square, Cambridge, 6-9pm. Bring a candle. This is not a political event, just a sit in. http://www.earthspirit.com/events/peacevigil.html.

It does get weirder. Bo Diddley is still alive, the legendary singer and guitarist, and one of the founders of Rock & Roll. He performs Feb 10th at the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St, Cambridge. http://www.charleshotel.com.

The Beatles are not still all alive, but a tribute band, Revolution – A Tribute to the Beatles, is performing Feb 10th at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville. http://www.songstreetproductions.net/

Vietnamese-Americans are also celebrating TET, a major holiday. Some bad stuff happened on one particular TET, but we’re forgetting that. And the only vietnamese event I know of all year, so hit it up. Bayside Expo Center, Boston, MA. 617-474-6000. http://www.baysideexpo.com/eventDetail.php?id=1165414045.

Darwin Day is also occurring, Feb 12. http://www.darwinday.org. A bunch of events are happening worldwide. Do a search for “, ma” on the page http://www.darwinday.org/englishL/home/2007.php. For example, Redline the bar at 59 JFK St, is doing a Toast to Darwin, http://www.naturalism.org/darwinday.htm. A bunch of churches are hitting the evolution question. And the Boston Photonics Center hosts, “Biological Arguments Against the Existence of God”, Feb 13, Rm. 428, Boston University Photonics Center, 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston, MA.

Also, the Special Olympics Passion Plunge is happening again, Feb 10th at Revere Beach. Those poor kids! http://www.passionplunge.org/

Every heard, the theatre students at Harvard (which has no theatre department) host an awards ceremony called the Hasty Pudding Man/Woman of the Year. This year, their pics are Scarlett Johansson (Feb 15 parade) and Ben Stiller (roast Feb 23). You can buy tickets, at http://www.hastypudding.org/pages/show/moywoy.shtml. And do it NOW, they’re bound to run out.

There’s still a Korean Drum/Dance Workshop at MIT, Feb 9-11, http://web.mit.edu/oori/www/workshop.html. Although you have to register to actually be instructed, presumably they’ll allow bystanders to stop by and listen.

There is a heavily advertised Chinese cultural performance happening Feb 10th, called Boston New Tang Dynasty Chinese New Year, http://shows.ntdtv.com/index_a.html. It’s a dance performance and concert.

Also Garrison Keillor is speaking Feb 11. He’s the guy from NPR’s Lake Wobegone, and who starred in the recent film, A Prarie Home Companion. Symphony Hall, Boston.

That’s pretty much it for weird.

Performances, there’s a “Flamenco Festival”, in other words a concert, Feb 9-11 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, MA. 800-233-3123. http://www.maj.org/P2007/wm_flam.html. And the Regattabar Jazz Festival is Feb 9-16, http://www.regattabarjazz.com. Another concert series masquerading as a festival.

I just heard about How I Learned To Drive, thru Feb 18, at the Devanaughn Theatre. The story of a young woman who learns about life while learning how to drive a car. Paula Vogel’s brilliant Pulitzer Prize-winning play. http://www.devtheatre.com. 791 Tremont St, Boston.

I don’t normally list food events, because they’re too commercial, but two major ones are occurring. The Anthony Spinazzola Gala Festival of Food & Wine, is I believe the biggest (and probably most expensive) charity food event. Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Feb 9. And the Boston Wine Expo happens Feb 10-11, http://www.wineexpoboston.com/pm.

Continuing theater, Silence, http://www.newrep.org/a/0607/silence.html. Britannicus continues to Feb 11, http://amrep.org. The African American Theatre Festival goes to Feb 11, http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=3646&src=t. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to ballet, thru March 3, http://www.bcaonline.org. Doubt thru Feb 18, http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Have fun. P.S. Please get your friends to sign up to the mailing list at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/johnnys-list.

-Johnny