Johnny’s List of Weird Boston Events: 01/25/09
01/25/09 by
Johnny Monsarrat
The Week in Weird |
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| Harvard Square Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off & Volleyball | Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| The weird event of the week is an outdoor volleyball tournament and chili contest in Harvard Square. 2009: Details are few but hit up Harvard Square from 1-3pm and look around for it. And they’ll have live music. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Harvard Square Winter Green Breakfast | Jan 30 | Boston Metro | |
| Also in Harvard, wear green and get a free breakfast. 2009: 7-9am. It has something to do with the “Walk/Ride Days” program. As though Bostonians don’t know the subway exists? Holyoke Center and Forbes Plaza, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| MIT 6.270 Robot Competition (physical robots) | Jan 29 | Boston Metro | |
| Also, it’s robot competition week at MIT, as different classes come to an end. This one’s the biggest and best, where students build physical robots and have them compete. MIT Room 26-100, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Maslab Robotics Contest | Jan 30 | Boston Metro | |
| Also involving real robots! 2009: Open house at 3:30pm then contest at 5:30pm. MIT Room 26-100, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| MIT 6.370 Robot Competition (software “bots”) | Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| This one involves software-only robots that compete in a virtual world. With lasers! OooOo. 2009: 7-9pm. MIT Kresge Auditorium, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Dorkbot Kick-Off Meeting | Jan 27 | Boston Metro | |
| 2009: 7-9pm. This is also a good time to start making your own robots, or other high-tech toys, with this kick-off meeting to Dorkbot, a local hobby club. Willoughby & Baltic, 197a Elm Street, Somerville, MA. more |
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| Market Day at Birka: Renaissance Faire | Jan 30 – Jan 31 | New Hampshire | |
| Perhaps you prefer the past to the future. This is the largest local event by the SCA, the Society for Creative Anachronism, as seen in the 2008 movie “Role Models”. They’ll have a medeival market place, food, costuming, fight tournaments, and you’ll learn something about history. 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH.(603) 715-5523. more |
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| Charm School @ MIT | Jan 30 | Boston Metro | |
| Also for geeks, Charm School teaches the unwritten rules of social conduct, like what to do with all those forks at a fancy restaurant. 2009: 12-4pm. No signup required. Student Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Experience the Way of Tea – Japanese Tea Ceremony | Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| You’ll be able to use your new social skills at this formal tea ceremony. 2009: 1-3pm. Free but RSVP in advance. MIT Room 10-105, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Special Effects at the Movies | Jan 27 – Jan 29 | Boston Metro | |
| Did you miss last week’s science fiction marathon? Come see unnamed special effects movies and hear unnamed people talk about how it all works. MIT, Cambridge, MA. more |
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| Adult Spelling Bee (and we do mean X-rated) | Jan 30 | Boston Metro | |
| OK. MIT isn’t the only source of weird this January. BU is hosting a spelling bee featuring naughty words. However, you’ll have to befriend someone waiting in line with a BU ID and become a “guest”. Boston University, Boston, MA. more |
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| AIDS Dance-a-Thon | Jan 30 | Boston Metro | |
| 2009: 8pm-12am. Marriott Hotel, 110 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. more |
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Recurring Events |
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| Free Admission to the Old State House Museum | Jan 1 – Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| The entire month of January is free for Massachusetts residents (bring an ID) at the Old State House Museum. 206 Washington St , Boston, MA, Boston, MA. more |
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| Sleigh rides & smores at Point of View Farm | Jan 2 – Feb 28 | New Hampshire | |
| Weekends through February, you can get a real sleigh ride in New Hampshire. 160 South Road, Deerfield, NH.603-463-7974. more |
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| Kimball Farm Horse-Draw Sleigh Rides | Jan 2 – Feb 28 | Northern Mass | |
| Or closer to Boston in Haverhill, MA, if there’s snow. Kimball Farm Corn Maze, 780 East Broadway, Haverhill, MA.978 521-3990. more |
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| MIT IAP (Independent Activities Period) | Jan 5 – Feb 1 | Boston Metro | |
| Over winter break, MIT holds a variety of classes, lectures, and special events many of which are open to the public. Check their calendar. MIT, Cambridge, MA.617-253-1000. more |
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Performance |
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| Cabaret | Jan 11 – Feb 8 | Boston Metro | |
| I’ve seen this show and it’s genuinely fantastic. It’s a glimpse into the culture that prepared Germany for World War II and the persecution of Jews, set to a musical. Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA. more |
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| Rossum’s Universal Robots | Jan 22 – Jan 31 | Boston Metro | |
| Also involving science fiction, but retro — from the 1920s — is “Rossum’s Universal Robots”, a theatre show about revolting robots. Jan 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 @ 8 PM, Jan 25 @ 2pm. Or check out the beggars’ “Pay-What-You-Can” preview Jan 22 @ 8 PM. Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA.(617) 926-1245. more |
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| Bread and Puppet Theatre | Jan 26 – Feb 1 | Boston Metro | |
| 27 puppeteers and a brass band. One show for adults and one for kids. 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA.617-426-1522. more |
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| Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival | Jan 27 – Feb 1 | Northern Mass | |
| Regional portion of the nation’s foremost college-level theater festival. Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl St, Fitchburg, MA.(978) 534-9000. more |
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| Elvis | Jan 31 – Feb 1 | Boston Metro | |
| Elvis has been sighted a lot recently. He returns to the Regent Theatre Jan 31 and Feb 1. Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA. more |
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Travel |
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| 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s bday | Jan 17 – Feb 1 | Maryland | |
| A big Poe event is being held in Maryland, if you’d like to travel. Baltimore, MD. more |
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