Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 09/15/06
Gee, I almost forgot this week. My attempts to start a company based on activities and events are progressing!
Tonight, Sep 15, at 6pm former Secretary of Defense William Cohen is presenting his new book, a fiction about a secretary of defense, go figure. Harvard Coop, www.harvard.bkstore.com.
Theatre Scene stuff, they’ve made a musical version of the film High Fidelity, at the Colonial Theatre, Sep 26-Oct 22, which is also hosting 12 Angry Men, Nov 7 – 19. And the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is supposed to be good, now playing at the Wilbur Theatre.
This weekend wraps up the Boston Comedy Festival, to Sep 16, http://www.bostoncomedyfestival.com
There is plenty of weird stuff happening this week! Let’s start with The Salem Pirate Faire, Sep 16-17, on the North Shore, http://www.pastimesentertainment.co
Not weird enough? In southern New Hampshire, check out BioBlitz at the Seacoast Science Center. http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.or
Or try the Freedom Trail Frenzy Scavenger Hunt, Sep 16, http://www.watsonadventures.com. RSVP for meeting spot. 2-4:30pm. Test your knowledge of Old Boston. For adults. $15
Still not weird enough? How about Hoot & Howl Night – BBQ at Wolf Hollow. I’ve been there, it’s in Ipswich and basically it’s a zoo for wolves and you get to howl with the wolves. It’s awesome, definitely go. Sep 16. Call ahead to reserve a space. 114 Essex Rd, Ipswich, MA. 978 356-0216. http://www.wolfhollowipswich.com
While you are in Ipswich, you can also go to Ipswich ChowderFest, Sep 16, http://www.ipswichchowderfest.com.
The Boston Folk Festival is also this weekend, Sep 16-17. http://www.bostonfolkfestival.org,
Yet another open studio is this weekend, the South End Open Studios (also known as the Boston Open Studios). http://www.useaboston.com. 560 Harrison Avenue, Boston. 617-267-8862. local arts exhibition. 11am-6pm. The difference is that Boston’s best artists live in this area, so you might find something really good if you go.
Also, check out True Story Theatre at Club Passim. It is a really cool improv troupe that takes true stories from the audience then retells them improvisationally. http://www.truestorytheater.org/calenda
Sep 16 is Endless Summer Waterfront Festival @ Nantasket Beach. That’s in Hull, MA on the South Shore. http://bostoncentral.com. 12-6pm. Free. Artists, bands, food, sandcastle building.
Tuesday is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. Comic journalist Dave Barry started this tradition, see http://www.talklikeapirate.com. Since there’s no actual Boston-area gathering, why not attend the Floating Gallery, at McCormick&Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel, 34 Columbus Avenue. Sep 19th. You can talk like a pirate there, then. The Floating Gallery is a high culture collection of local artists that changes its venue monthly to appeal to differing communities.
Finally, and probably the most important event of the week, Revels RiverSing is happening on Sep 21st. 6-7:30pm. Participatory singing on both sides of the Charles River. Bring a flashlight. Thousands come. Weeks footbridge, Charles River, Cambridge & Boston. http://www.revels.org.
Boring events of the week include yet more charity walks, American Heart Walk Sep 16, and Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Sep 17. heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.a
In Boston, they are holding a block party to benefit Charles River Skatepark, Sep 16, http://www.charlesriverskatepark.org/ev
Also, if your idea of a good time is getting smashed, because all the arts and culture in New England kinda bore you, and what’s really fun is getting some distance from all the pain in your life by getting drunk rather than trying to solve your problems, then check out Boston Oktoberfest, Sep 16, http://www.beersummit.com. Not only will there be beer, they’ll have music too.
Next week, Sep 20th is the Annual Bike Nite at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston. It’s to benefit firefighters, and apparently… you show up with your bike? That’s the whole event? Oh, there’s a competition, and I’m sure they’ll be beer, so hey.
The Museum of Science, Boston and the collection of Harvard University Museums are each having free admission days. MoS is called “College Night”, and its for students only, but get free admission to everything including the films and laser shows Sep 18, 4-10pm. Harvard’s is Sep 17th, 1-5pm and they call it “Community Day”. http://www.mos.org and http://www.artmuseums.harvard.edu.
Finally, holdovers from last week, the Eastern States Exposition is ending this weekend. It’s incredibly cheesy, like a huge-o agrarian festival, and worth checking out just for that reason. To October 1, http://www.thebige.com, West Springfield, MA. Cirque du Soleil is still performing, http://www.cirquedusoleil.com,a nd King Richard’s Faire and the Maryland Renaissance Faire are ongoing (http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net, http://www.rennfest.com)
The warm weather will be gone in a month, so this is your big chance to visit a state park, or go to Davis Farmland with their petting zoo and huge corn field maze (http://www.davisfarmland.com.)