Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 02/14/07
Hi all,
Happy V-Day. Whether you’re celebrating or hating all the people out there celebrating, I hope this post makes you smile. I put in about 2 hours a week for about 100 readers and myself, so there is a small amount of love-for-the-world flowing your way whenever I post. So — this one’s for you! Someone has recently made some hateful and untrue comments about me, so send a little support my way as well if you would like. 🙂
Tonight only! Valentine’s Day Massacre, some sort of Vagina Monologues style comedy theatre event, http://twogirlsforfivebucks.com. 9pm, Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston, MA, 857-891-8739.
Also tonight for Valentine’s Day! Flirt Fest, 6:30-10pm, Mansion, a new nightclub, 1 Boylston Place, Boston. http://www.BostonEventGuide.com. Or pick up the Improper Bostonian, they have a bunch of nightclubs doing stuff tonight and I don’t usually bother to list clubs, bars, restaurant events… too banal.
The weird event of the week is sledding! I’ve been carrying around sleds in my car’s trunk waiting for a day like today. Special sledding section below all the other events.
The most unique event of the weekend is the Merrimack River Eagle Festival, MA, Feb 17, in Newburyport. http://www.massaudubon.org/eaglefestiva
Think puppets are just for kids? Puppet Regime has special shows meant for adults (and others for kids). I haven’t seen it, and I can’t tell if it’s engaging, but I do feel that you’re unlikely to see any OTHER puppet show that’s better targeted for adults. So check it out. http://www.breadandpuppet.org. Feb 12-18, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA. 617-933-8600. Geopolitical events, with kid-friendly matinee.
The Boston Science Fiction Film Festival is this weekend, Feb 18-19. Somerville. http://www.somervilletheatreonline.c
What is Boskone? Only the co-biggest (with Arisia) fantasy / sci-fi convention in New England! Feb 16-18. http://www.nesfa.org/boskone. Westin Waterfront, Boston. Overly intellectual readers wishing they were elves.
Or mix that up with the seriously sub-intellectual Monster Jam Truck Rally. Basically the idea is that cars smash each other. And this is in the same space that I saw Sarah McLaughlin perform, so I am wondering how they do that. DCU Center, Worcester. http://www.eviltickethandlingfees.com.
For those who need a super injection of weird, try Model Train Weekend at the National Heritage Museum. It’s a great museum, I’ve visited twice now and they have modern new exhibits with real style, and for a guy like me who grew up locally and was bombarded with American Revolutionary War History, their museum about the 18th century was surprisingly fresh. http://www.monh.org, 33 Marrett Road, Concord, MA, 781-861-6559. Annual display by the Northeast Ntrak Modular Railroad Club.
Speaking of weird little events that will get you off your sofa and out seeing some of New England’s great museums, check out [SENSE]ation Day at Fuller Museum. They’ll have a bunch of interactive performances, participatory arts making, candy making demonstrations, Japanese paper dyeing, mask-making, etc. May be kind of a kids thing, but hey, I am a kid at heart. Sunday Feb 19. http://www.fullercraft.org, 455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA. 508-588-6000.
Oliver Twist opens this week, Feb 17 – Ma 24. Don’t get all excited, this is not Oliver the musical. It is the adaptation by Neil Bartlett. Also, the last thing I saw at the Zero Arrow Theater, involving Don Quixote, was too interpretative and basically tremendously awful. I assume this is not the same people? http://www.amrep.org/oliver/
If anyone cares, Cats opens Feb 20th at the Opera House. It’s just the kind of thing your arty friends will turn up their noses at. Yet for a time I believe it was the longest running or best-selling musical. Basically, if you like Phantom of the Opera, you’ll like Cats. Same dude, Andrew Lloyd Weber. I’ve heard that Cats is sort of for kids. I dunno. I’d like to see it.
Also the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival is happening, Sheraton Hotel Framingham, Feb 16-18, Framingham, MA. http://www.bbu.org/jvhome.htm. I’ve been to a different bluegrass festival and the music, in which lyrics are important but the chords are kind of all the same, didn’t grab me.
More film festivals. There’s a film event called the BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour coming up. Feb 20-22 @ 7pm. Top climbers describe mountaineering exploits. Sounds pretty impressive doesn’t it, until you realize that nobody is speaking, the director won’t be there. Basically it’s some films. http://www.regenttheatre.com/events/ban
Also, get your costume ready, because it’s Harry Potter Fest. Feb 20-23. http://www.coolidge.org. Coolidge Corner theater in Brookline.
Also at the Coolidge, An Unreasonable Man, which is the Ralph Nader flick. Highlights the story of aa crusader and presidential candidate who was a little too idealistic to make a difference in the world. That is not an event, just a movie, but I thought I’d mention it.
Chinese New Year celebrations have again eluded me. There’s supposed to be a parade, but nobody advertises it on the Web. I guess Chinatown is such a close community that they assume we’ll see their posters. Please email if you have info.
Seriously famous author Normal Mailer is reading from his new book Feb 15th at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617.661.1515. 6:30pm.
Continuing events, How I Learned To Drive, thru Feb 18, at the Devanaughn Theatre, http://www.devtheatre.com. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set to ballet, thru Mar 3, http://www.bcaonline.org. Doubt thru Feb 18, http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.co
Also as I mentioned last week, the Hasty Pudding Man/Woman of the Year Awards are coming up. See http://www.hastypudding.org.
Also, I finally went to magic night at The Hong Kong, every Tuesday, and it was fun. Highly recommended. Arrive a little early and they have card magicians doing close up magic. http://www.thecomedystudio.com.
Here’s a heads up on some upcoming stuff you might want to buy advance tickets to. I do NOT believe in listing everything! Like the rest of my weekly blog, I only list the fun geeky stuff I’m personally interested in. John Mayer, Feb 26, Mullins Center. Harlem Globetrotters, TD Banknorth Garden, March, http://www.ticketmaster.com. The Chieftains play Symphony Hall annually, March, Symphony Hall, http://www.bso.org/symphonyHallHome.jht
-Johnny
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SPECIAL SLEDDING SECTION
Here are some ideas for great places to go sledding. Most of these came from contributions, not places I’ve personally been to. Please email me with more!
— Danehy Park, Cambridge. I’ve been there, a great one and where I usually go! For mapquest purposes, see 99 Sherman Street, Cambridge. Closest T stop: Alewife.
— Blue Hills, in Canton. I’ve been there, it’s great.
— Olmsted Park, JP. From Rte. 9 south to Perkins Street, just before Jamaica Pond. Just south of Rte. 9 is a prime location for seeing ducks, swans and geese. Some great sledding toward Jamaica Pond.
— Marine Park, South Boston, abutting the MDC Murphy Skating Rink
— Boston Common has a hill, with the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.
— Belmont Country Club on Winter Street. I’m told the Oakley Country Club in Belmont off Belmont Street no longer allows sledders.
— Mt. Hood in Melrose. Supposed to be great.
— The Sheepsfold over in the Middlesex
— Lexington High School has a pretty good hill behind it
— Prospect Hill in Waltham. “Its a bit of a hike up but its awesome.”
— Allston/Brighton: Hobart Street Playground, Hobart and Raleigh Streets.
— Edgerton Park, but I don’t know where this is!! Allston?
— Arnold Arboretum, South Boston.
— Millenium Park, South Boston. 1205 VFW Pkwy, Boston. Although I’ve only been there in summer, I believe there are some big hills.