Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 10/10/06

Hi there, early this week, couldn’t wait! Haunted houses again are at the bottom, they are the weird thing of the week.

The non-Halloween weirdness of the week is the Skillz 4 Billz Breakdancing Competition. Yes, you heard me! Oct 14-15, YMCA Chinatown at 8 Oak Street, Brighton. http://myspace.com/ofshadowandearth

If that’s not weird enough, check out Owl Day at Peabody Essex Museum, Oct 15th, http://www.pem.org. Salem, MA. 1-3:30pm live owl & various owl exhibits & events. Wood carving, pine cone sculptures, film. It’s right in Salem center so make a whole day of it and see the other events.

In fact, while you’re there make sure to check out the Legacy of the Hanging Judge, which I may have mentioned before, but it’s going on all month at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem. It is basically a theatre performance which takes place in novelist Hawthorne’s old house and featuring the house itself. I went last year and it was spooky and fun.

During the day, Fort Point Open Studios is open Oct 13-15, Local arts exhibition. Fri 4-8, Sat & Sun 12-6. http://www.fortpointarts.org. This is probably the best of all the open studios, but they’ll do it again in time for Xmas, don’t worry. Also the Arlington Open Studios is happening, I kinda feel like Somerville and Arlington are competing to be Cambridge and Arlington got booted out. Oct 14-15, http://www.acarts.org. 12-5pm.

The Society for Creative Anachronism is hosting the SCA Falling Leaves, which is one of 2 largest SCA Boston annual events for medeival re-enactment. Sunday Oct 15. http://www.carolingia.eastkingdom.org/events.html

And, like we don’t have enough walks around Boston, the American Diabetes Walk, http://www.mass.gov/dcr/events/hatch.pdf, the Walk for Autism Research, http://www.autismwalk.org/boston, and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, http://www.mass.gov/dcr/events/hatch.pdf are all one day this weekend Oct 14-15. And I even left out the walk for brain damaged people, no really, am not kidding it’s called the Hold Your Head High Walk.

Obviously not realizing that we have very important things to do such as visit haunted houses, Aretha Franklin is coming to town Oct 14. Opera House, Boston. http://www.ticketmaster.com. $45-$75. And next week, Good Charlotte is playin The Avalon, Oct 18.

And now for some ongoing stuff! Apparently the Freedom Trail Frenzy Scavenger Hunt is going to be a regular event from now on, see http://www.watsonadventures.com, Oct 14, Oct 21. RSVP for meeting spot. 2-4:30pm. Test your knowledge of Old Boston. For adults. $15.

Also King Richard’s Faire continues, to Oct 22. http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. However, the CT Ren Faire closes this weekend, http://www.ctfaire.com.
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Almost all the haunted houses will finally be open this weekend.

Livingston Street Terror. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=85805814. Livingston St, Tewksbury, MA. MY RATING: A+. Fri-Sat 7-10, Sun 7-9. Weekends Oct 6-29. Rt 93N to exit 42, into Tewksbury. One of the smaller ones. See website for coupon.

Barrett’s Haunted Mansion. http://www.bhmansion.com. 1235 Bedford St, Abington, MA. 781-871-4573. MY RATING: A. Rt 3S to Rt 18S. 7-10:30pm daily except 1-5,10,11,12,31. A BIG one worth seeing.

Asylum of Horror (haunted house). http://www.asylumofhorror.com. Anawan St. Fall River, MA. 508.324.7709. MY RATING: A-. Sep 29,30, Oct 1,6,7,8,9,13,14,15,19,20,21,22,26-31, 7pm+ . See website for coupons. See the Factory of Terror also in Fall River while you’re there.

Castle of the Damned at Hammond Castle. MY RATING: B. Fri & Sat Oct 13-28. 7-10:45pm. 10:45 is last ticket. http://www.hammondcastle.org. 80 Hesperus Ave, Gloucester, MA. 978-283-2080. It’s very theatrical and interesting, the one that’s most like a theatre production, but… just not that scary. Good one to take kids too. Unfortunately it’s quite a ride away on the North Shore from Boston.

Berwick’s House of Horrors (Berwick’s Boys Foundation). UNRATED. http://www.berwick.org/text/HAUNTED.htm. 335 West Street, West Bridgewater, MA. Oct 14,15,20,21,22,27,28,29, 6:30pm-10pm except close 9pm Sunday. Rt 24S to ex 16B, Rt 106W. Right at lights after Charlie Horse onto Manley.

Haunted Mansion @ Victorian Park. http://www.hhhproductions.com. Salem, NH. 603-898-1803. UNRATED. Rt 93N to ex 3, Rt 111E to Rt 28S. Fri-Sun Oct 6-22 + 25-31 from 6:30pm. See website for coupon.

Jaycees Haunted House @ Walpole Mall. http://www.foxborojaycees.org. Orpheum Theatre, 1 School St. Foxboro, MA. 508-543-0712. UNRATED. Fri-Sun Oct 6-30 + Oct 31. FS 7-11, Sun 7-10. Rt 95S to exit 10. Right off exit. 1/4 mile on rt.

Factory of Terror (haunted house). http://www.factoryofterror.com. Fall River, MA. MY RATING: B-. Rt 195E to exit 5. Left off exit. Behind Dunkin Donuts. 6:30-11pm, Oct 13-16,20-23,25-31. Extensive 35-room haunted house. See website for coupons. A BIG one worth seeing. See the Asylum of Horror in Fall River while you’re there.

Witch’s Woods (haunted house). http://www.witchswoods.com. Nashoba Ski, Westford, MA. 978-692-3033. MY RATING: C. Rt 2W to Rt. 2A/119, 6mi to Powers Rd. The worst one, skip it! Every Thu-Sun night Sep 29-Oct 28 + Oct 30,31.

Spooky World. http://www.spookyworld.com/. Bayside Expo Center, Boston, MA. Probably the same as last year’s “Hallowscream”, which I rated C+. 6pm-11pm Fri Sat Sun. Matinees start 1pm Oct 21,22,28,29