Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 11/02/06
Tonight is the Forest Hills Cemetery “Day of the Dead”, see last week. http://www.foresthillstrust.org.
The weird event of the week is the largest annual quilting show in New England is this weekend, with competition entries from all over the world. A Quilters’ Gathering, http://www.aquiltersgathering.com.
Not weird enough? How about the Annual Boston Bellydance Awards. http://www.joharasnakedance.com. Cambridge, MA. This is not just awards, but a competition open to the public I believe? Nov 5.
Still not weird enough for you? The LAST performance of Murder at the Coconut Cabana is Nov 10th. It’s an interactive murder mystery. http://www.swaymambo.com. Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, Danvers, MA. To benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Still not weird enough? Some MassArt students have decided to have set the Guinness World Record for the largest snowball fight. Obvioiusly, they can’t plan a date because they are waiting for some kickass snow. Would somebody who’s on Facebook please track this for me? http://massart.facebook.com/group.php?g
And to blow the roof off of weird, I just learned that it’s National Novel Writing Month. See http://www.nanowrimo.org. A bunch of people try to write a novel in just one month. Basically if you always wanted to write a novel but are fundamentally too lazy (raise hands? mine included?) you just try to type out something in one month and you can go back and fix it later. It sounds really inspirational and they have a lot of local self-help sessions kind of like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting except it’s I Can’t Get Started Writing Anonymous. See Boston events at http://www.nanowrimo.org/modules/ne
The Hyde Park Open Studios is this weekend, obviously feeling grumpy about being pushed out of the summer by other cities’ open studios. Nov 5-6. http://www.hydeparkopenstudios.org
The Ellis Antiques Show is Nov 3-5, http://www.ellisantiques.com. Park Plaza Hotel & Towers, Boston, MA, 617-248-8571. Boston Magazine “Best” antiques show.
If you’ll be out west, check out Franklin County CiderDay, Nov 4-5, http://www.ciderday.org. Greenfield, MA. Several farms in Western MA show making apple butter, all kinds of apple events and giveaways.
And while you’re on your way, check out Davis Farmland with their corn field megamaze, which closes Nov 12.
Ongoing stuff: Twelve Angry Men as I mentioned is coming to the The Colonial Theatre. Altar Boyz closes Nov 5th, also Colonial Theatre. The Boston Jewish Film Festival continues to Nov 12th. http://www.bjff.org.
Now that it’s Fall/Winter, festivals slow down and I’m going to list some things that are more regular events.
Check out Battleship Cove, in Fall River MA. http://www.battleshipcove.org. 800-533-3194. Real WWII battleship and submarines to tour. Carousel next door. Overnight camping. AAA discount.
Speaking of overnight camping, if you have kids, they do overnight camping at the Boston Childrens Museum and the Boston Museum of Science, too.
Or if you are going out West anyway, check out the MASS MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art). 87 Marshall St, North Adams, MA. 413-662-2111. http://www.massmoca.org. It’s a truly great museum in the same league as the MFA, which is probably why it’s so far away — Boston’s not big enough for ’em both.
Also, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government has a speaker program and you can get on their mailing list. Every week or two they will let you know which famous dignitaries are coming to lecture, it’s pretty awesome if you are into politics.I am offline right now but email me or look for “IOP” on the Web, Institute of Politics or something. I bet you a dollar the JFK Library & Museum has one too.
Also, it’s not too cold to go on a nice hike, means you won’t sweat at all. Try Mt. Monadnock, which claims to be the 2nd most popular peak in the world. 93N to Rt 101 W to 202 S to Rt 124 W. West of Jaffrey, NH. Good view of July 4th fireworks atlaspyro.com. And cross-counry skiing. http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us/ParksPag
Finally the Charles River Canoe & Kayak is still open — to Nov 12th — at their Newton location. http://www.ski-paddle.com. Rent a canoe / kayak and go crazy.
By the way, I hear that Amy Sedaris is coming to town I think it’s Nov 9th at the Brattle. No, it’s at the Harvard Coop. Tickets go on sale today, so buy some.
That ought to hold you for a week.