July 9-17, 2012: What to Do in Boston & Beyond this Week
07/09/12 by
Johnny Monsarrat
Ticket Giveaways
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Annie – tix giveaway
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Beverly, MA
Everyone’s favorite orphan is coming to the North Shore and I have 2 pairs of tickets to give away for the 7/18 show! Email johnny@eventsinsider.com to win and brag about how you’ve been telling friends about Events INSIDER.,
Beverly, MA , |
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Canobie Lake Park – tix giveaway
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Salem, NH
– My favorite amusement park isn’t as large as Six Flags New England, but it’s so much more friendly and outdoorsy, and they don’t ask for money every 5 minutes. I have two pairs of tickets to give away! Email johnny@eventsinsider.com to win and brag about how you’ve been telling friends about Events INSIDER.,
Salem, NH , – |
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Bye Bye Birdie – tix giveaway
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Waltham, MA
– An Elvis-like rock star comes to this 1960s town and WHAT will happen? I have two pairs of tickets to giveaway for any performance of this parody musical. Email johnny@eventsinsider.com to win and brag about how you’ve been telling friends about Events INSIDER and make sure to pick which date you want.,
Waltham, MA , – |
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The Week in Weird
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Forest Hills Lantern Festival
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Jamaica Plain, MA
The Forest Hills Lantern Festival is simply amazing, and makes my list of 23 favorite events of the year. Write a message or japanese character on rice paper, wrap it around a wooden float with a candle, and they all get floated on a lake as the sun sets and music plays in this cemetery. 6-9pm. Rain date 7 days later. Bring a blanket because geese poop on the grass.,
Jamaica Plain, MA , |
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Revere Beach Sand Sculpting Festival
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Revere, MA
– Also not to be missed is this beach festival I’ve been to three times! Professionals come to make enormous sand sculptures during the week, and there are sculpting lessons, vendors, and live music Fri-Sun. Fireworks Saturday night!,
Revere, MA , – |
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GA Expo and Open House
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Stow, MA
Time for hot air balloons and airplanes! Uh-oh, that airplane is flying right into the balloon! Oh no! What will happen? 10am-2pm.,
Stow, MA , |
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Green River Festival (Balloon Festival)
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Greenfield, MA
– Did you miss the one last week? Here’s another festival with hot air balloons! And they have three live music stages but no fireworks. Off Rt 91 exit 26.,
Greenfield, MA , – |
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Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Haunted Mind
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Concord, MA
Re-enactments are a great way to learn some history. Meet and listen to a famous American author get spooooooky. 7-8pm.,
Concord, MA , |
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African Festival of Boston
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Boston, MA
Sure, they’ll have live music and the ubiquitous vendors and food, 10am-9pm. But the parade at 10am from Boston Common is the real draw to this festival, and African-themed fests are rare. I’m sure the upbeat yet disorderly and not very useful website is a good metaphor for the festival: lots of fun, kinda crazy.,
Boston, MA , |
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Military History Day
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Wenham, MA
I’ve seen this one! Re-enactors come and show off real WWII vehicles including a “duck” (an amphibious truck) and weapons. A D-Day Veteran will share stories and there will be period songs. The Wenham is an amazing example of a world-class museum in the middle of ‘nowhere’ and this is one of VERY few World War II re-enactments in New England. A true gem. 10am-3:30pm.,
Wenham, MA , |
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Micro Mini Car Day at Larz Anderson Museum
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Brookline, MA
You simply must go to the Larz Anderson auto museum at some point. Why not this weekend and see tiny clown sized cars? 1-4pm.,
Brookline, MA , |
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Annual Antique Auto Show
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Lincoln, MA
And here’s another car show at the historic Codman Estate.,
Lincoln, MA , |
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The Long Arm of the Law
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Lincoln, MA
The 1700s were more than just minutemen! See re-enactors portray police, judges, and criminal! Looks like there are three different shows. 12pm, 1pm, 2:45pm.,
Lincoln, MA , |
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Civil War Living History Weekend
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Newport, RI
– I saw this last year and it was FANTASTIC! This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. A perfect excuse to see this re-enactment at an old seaside fort in Rhode Island.,
Newport, RI , – |
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Newport Kite Festival
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Newport, RI
– While you’re there, check this out. The best thing about Kite Festivals is trying it yourself and getting advice from experts! The secret is that cheap toy store kites are harder to fly. Once I accidentally whacked a kid with a kite at this event, but kites don’t weigh anything, so he just waved at me, and his mom wasn’t a lawyer.,
Newport, RI , – |
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Canoe and Dinner on the Charles
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Natick, MA
We’re not talking a ham sandwich here… They *cater* this event! Nice. 6-9pm.,
Natick, MA , |
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Fireflies at Audubon
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Natick, MA
Yes! Yes! Yes! Eat ice cream and go looking for fireflies at night. Awesome! (And then bats on 7/31.) 7:30-9pm.,
Natick, MA , |
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Readercon
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Burlington, MA
– Here’s a convention for the more hard core cons for science fiction and fantasy readers. It’s expensive ($70), but attracts top writers.,
Burlington, MA , – |
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Whaling City Festival
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New Bedford, MA
– You won’t whales, but you will see racing pigs! It works like this: (1) get some pigs; (2) they race! Also multiple music stages, carnival rides, seafood, crafts, flea market, and car show. Last year they also had a free ice cream event, a laser light show, so that might happen, too.,
New Bedford, MA , – |
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Pirates’ Ball
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Hyannis, MA
This is indoors/outdoors. Dress up like a pirate, music & dance, food & drinks. Auctions, raffles. So that’s decent — it’s at night, though. I like that!,
Hyannis, MA , |
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Get Johnny’s 2012 New England Guide
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All Over
– You are missing out if you only read about my events! What about destinations? Get my 2012 New England Guide and find dinosaur footprints, zoos and ziplines, where to go stargazing, and where to find an indoor water park in December! Just follow the link and help spread the word to friends about Events INSIDER. (And email johnny@eventsinsider.com. I’m not a mind reader.).,
PUT City HERE, PUT State HERE , – |
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Also Fun
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Science Social at the Museum of Science
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Boston, MA
A BBQ at the Museum of Science for only $25? Get me there! 6pm.,
Boston, MA , |
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Introduction to Piracy & A Viking Adventure
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Worcester, MA
ARR! Learn to speak all piratey and wield a mighty cutlass! 10am-3pm. Costs real money to learn but you can always just show up and observe.,
Worcester, MA , |
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Revels Boston Harbor Cruise and Sing
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Boston, MA
The Revels Pub Sing hits the high seas! Well, the Harbor. I wonder if they’ll be singing shanties? This sunset cruise sells out fast, but don’t worry- there’s another one in August. (Better book your tickets now!) 6:30-9pm.,
Boston, MA , |
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Bastille Day Party and Dance in Boston
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Boston, MA
I was disappointed by this, even though the French Consulate runs it. It comes with live music but not much else, and beacuse of alcohol laws they block off their street page with a tall chain link fence. Why celebrate freedom in a giant crowded cage? How about losing the alcohol and just having a street party? Mais, non! Sacre bleu! Mon Dieu! That wouldn’t be French.,
Boston, MA , |
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Bastille Day Festivities in Harvard Square
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Cambridge, MA
I prefer this block party! Live music, then DJ. Last year they also had sidewalk chalk art, jugglers, and a “French Waiters Race,” but not this year, I guess, but they added a beer garden. Bleah. Getting buzzed is hardly your best creative self-expression. 5-10pm.,
Cambridge, MA , |
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Boston Harbor Swim
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Boston, MA
A 22-mile swim? Riiiiiiiiight. I’ll sit this one out. Just go watch.,
Boston, MA , |
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Museum Free Fun Fridays
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All Over
Every Friday in July, a number of local museums and destinations offer free admission, thanks to Highland Street! This week see free theatre, the Children’s Museum in Holyoke, Franklin Park Zoo, DeCordova Sculpture Museum (my fav!), and Danforth Museum of Art.,
PUT City HERE, PUT State HERE , |
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Thoreau Society Annual Gathering
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Concord, MA
– Wow! Famous biologist E. O. Wilson speaks at this weekend for people who like Thoreau way too much. Hope they aren’t preachy about utopia. “All are welcome” to their nature tours… What, is the rest for members only?,
Concord, MA , – |
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Meet, Plan, Go! Boston
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Cambridge, MA
Do you like traveling? Meet some fellow wanderers and trade travel tips. Once my mom booked a room for the two of us at a convent in Rome. We had to explain to the adamant nuns that we were NOT a couple before they let us in!,
Cambridge, MA , |
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Newport Music Festival
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Newport, RI
– Opportunities to listen to live music are a dime a dozen in New England (lucky us!). But everyone should visit the mansions in Newport. Here’s your excuse.,
Newport, RI , – |
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A Visit with Abraham Lincoln
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Barrington, NH
Here’s a pic of Lincoln on a bad hair day. Come see him re-enacted!,
Barrington, NH , |
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Boston Poetry Slam: NorthBEAST Summer Regional II
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Cambridge, MA
Four teams battle to the death – with poetry! Well, it’s not really to the death. One team will travel to the national competition. I’ve seen poetry slams, they’re like one-person theatre shows, not like high school English class, I promise! (Unless you loved high school English class, in which case, yes, it’s the same.) 8pm.,
Cambridge, MA , |
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Plymouth Maritime Day
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Plymouth, MA
– They parade boats with lights. Serene, but boy — boats with lights move *slowly*. Blessing of the Fleet, kids activities. 1-10:30pm.,
Plymouth, MA , – |
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Plymouth Harbor Folk Festival
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Plymouth, MA
While you’re in Plymouth, this free music festival might be worth a look. 10am-9pm.,
Plymouth, MA , |
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Wedding Re-enactment at Plimoth Plantation
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Plymouth, MA
Also in Plymouth, see a 17th century wedding and join the festivities! Song, dance, old timey kids games. No Xbox. More like Hoop & Stick. Wow, Mom, Microsoft just came out with Hoop & Stick 2.0: Thundery Thunder of Doomy Doom.,
Plymouth, MA , |
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Creatures of Bliss and Mystery: a 19th Century Children’s Circus
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Amherst, MA
This small circus event is less about Emily Dickinson and more about old-timey entertainment. It’s for kids, but there will be juggling demonstrations and workshops adults might enjoy. 12-4pm.,
Amherst, MA , |
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St. Mary Society Festival
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Newton, MA
– When you visit an amusement park, you know nobody. When Fiesta Shows brings a carnival to your town, you know everybody!,
Newton, MA , – |
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Special Olympics Carnival
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Saugus, MA
– It’s like seeing your friends at the mall, except it’s a traveling carnival!,
Saugus, MA , – |
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Scituate Harbor Carnival
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Scituate, MA
– Fiesta Shows makes housecalls! They’ve brought their carnival to North Attleboro as well.,
Scituate, MA , – |
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Firefighters Kids Day Carnival
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North Attleboro, MA
– Whee! Go for a ride. Here’s a traveling carnival in Attleboro.,
North Attleboro, MA , – |
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Green Animals Children’s Party
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Portsmouth, RI
I’ve been to this location, which is smaller than you might hope for. But they really do have shrubs shaped like animals, and do you NEED an excuse to visit Newport’s mansions, beaches, and cliffwalk?,
Portsmouth, RI , |
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Opening Reception of Self Illuminated
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Waltham, MA
Holy crow! Two words: PLASMA… wait for it… SCULPTURES! And this from the ‘world’s foremost expert’ who worked on Star Trek. 7-9pm, and if you can’t make it, the exhibition goes on for a while.,
Waltham, MA , |
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Fire and Ice Days
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Sturbridge, MA
They’re making ice cream the 19th century way, see hand-pumped fire trucks, a fire truck parade, and a chil competition! This and all the usual awesome live re-enactments that make OSV my favorite historic re-enactment museum.,
Sturbridge, MA , |
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Indian Motorcycle Day
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Springfield, MA
I don’t get why antique motorcycles have so many fans, but they do. The Springfield Museums are worth a visit. Check them out! 9am-4pm.,
Springfield, MA , |
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Boys & Girls Club Harbor Cruise
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Boston, MA
What’s better than a tour of Boston Harbor? Doing it to help charity. 6:30-10pm.,
Boston, MA , |
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Literary Firsts
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Cambridge, MA
Think of it as a poetry slam meets TMI: Each reading features one essayist, one fiction writer, one poet, and at least one writer who will relate a personal account of an initial sexual experience. 7pm. Free.,
Cambridge, MA , |
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Boom Town Festival
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Cambridge, MA
– I was really excited to hear about this free festival until I realized it’s a loosely connected series of random tours and art projects mainly for kids. Ah, well.,
Cambridge, MA , – |
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Model T Day at The Ice House Museum
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New London, NH
So why does this one have skis? See real old-timey Model T Fords! 9am-1pm.,
New London, NH , |
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Southwick Rotary Grill’n Daze
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Southwick, MA
OMG, it’s FREE! Quit the bowling league! Forget model airplanes. I’m talking ‘about The New England Barbecue Society. Yum!,
Southwick, MA , |
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Greek Festival and Clambake at Ipswich
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Ipswich, MA
– Food, food, food, and food. Oh, and kids activities and dancing.,
Ipswich, MA , – |
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Oreo Cookie’s 100th Anniversary Celebration
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Falmouth, MA
On the plus side, this is Oreo-themed. On the negative side, the best they could come up with was “various crafts and games”?,
Falmouth, MA , |
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Powwow at Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum
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Warner, NH
– This festival offers drumming, dance, performance, and kid’s crafts. It’s small, like, it’s really small — I’ve been. But smaller festivals often have more spirit and are more fun. If you happen to be in New Hampshire, stop by. Pow wows are awesome.,
Warner, NH , – |
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Artists Weekend at the Fells
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Newbury, NH
– Gardens. Painters. Painters painting gardens. Visitors. Painters. Visitors watching painters. Painters painting the visitors watching painters. And of course you can buy art and there’s a free reception at 3pm Sunday.,
Newbury, NH , – |
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French Film Festival
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Boston, MA
– Here’s an idea: dress as a mime and go. Guys! Hold your film festivals in the winter. We’d like to be outdoors this weekend. Films are en Francais, with le subtitles. If they feature any Director and Cast Q&As, or any kind of social mixer besides planting your but in a seat in a dark room, they fail to mention it on the website.,
Boston, MA , – |
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Providence Sound Session
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Providence, RI
– I’ve seen Big Nazo, the band with giant puppets — they are AMAZING! Check out this parade — sorry, “procession” — on Saturday and wow, they’ll have roller derby gals as well. That’s like a giant catfight on wheels. Oh wait, roller derby *is* a giant catfight on wheels!,
Providence, RI , – |
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Providence Restaurant Week
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Providence, RI
– And here’s another commercial event, but it lets you afford fancy restaurants, briefly.,
Providence, RI , – |
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Brimfield Antiques Festival (Summer)
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Brimfield, MA
– This is the largest antiques festival in New England, which is a big deal until you realize that they hold it 3 times a year and it’s just shopping. More people tend to show up for the spring and fall shows, I hear, because it is HOT out there.,
Brimfield, MA , – |
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Interviews from Boston’s High-Tech & Business Networking Community
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Mobile App: Boston’s Largest HiTech Calendar
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All Over
– Do you like business & high-tech networking? I have the free app for you! Using technology I have compiled the largest calendar of startup and business events around Boston, and packed it into a mobile app for the iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android. Contact me to sponsor, to have your group listed, or to help with Version 2.,
PUT City HERE, PUT State HERE , – |
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Independence Day: Worcester
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Worcester, MA – Tornados
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Worcester, MA
July 4 isn’t quite over. See fireworks 10:30pm after the game!,
Worcester, MA , |
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Clinton, MA
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Clinton, MA
Fireworks are a go! Run by the Fire Department. At dusk. Called to confirm this.,
Clinton, MA , |
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Restaurant Review
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Angora Ice
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Chestnut Hill, MA
– What’s this, you say? Frozen treats that are healthy? Click for Johnny Plankton’s review. (You guys know that’s not me, right?) I’m the other Johnny.,
Chestnut Hill, MA , – |
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Performance
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Ana Tijoux – Brighton Music Hall
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Allston, MA
Grammy-nominateed performer Ana Tijoux is bringing her top-charting latin rhythmic and hip-hop y reggaeton sounds to the Brighton Music Hall this week. 9pm.,
Allston, MA , |
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2010: Our Hideous Future: The Musical!
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Providence, RI
At the same time, I have no idea what this is, and yet it seemed filled with the promise of awesome. Is it a retro look at the future embodied in a theatre show? Yah, I guess.,
Providence, RI , |
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Travel
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Green Mountain Aerobatics Contest
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North Springfield, VT
– Did you say airplane AEROBATICS?? That’s way better than when airplanes hit the gym and do airplane aerobics.,
North Springfield, VT , – |
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Yankee Ultralight Flyers Fly-In
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Greenland, NH
– So here’s an easy way to die: ultralights. Check ’em out and check out the hobbyists who love ’em.,
Greenland, NH , – |
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Sandblast – Sand Sculpting Festival
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Greenwich, CT
It’s great to see professionals build sand sculptures, but in this one, adults and kids can join in! 12:30pm. Rain date next day.,
Greenwich, CT , |
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Get a Clue! Tour
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Hartford, CT
– Mind blowing! This interactive murder mystery lets you wander through the Mark Twain House like it’s the boardgame Clue!,
Hartford, CT , – |
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ConnectiCon
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Hartford, CT
– You guys know Donald Duck is already wearing no pants, right? See a “comic strip tease” and a Rocky Horror cast performs a Joss Whedon play, a masquerade, and a lot more at this geek convention for anime, gaming, web comics, science fiction, and fantasy.,
Hartford, CT , – |
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Colombian Festival
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Norwalk, CT
Wow! I don’t speak Spanish but in addition to the food, music, demonstrations, dancing, and vendors, you’ll meet Colombian party animals, according to these photos!,
Norwalk, CT , |
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South African Braai at the Mystic Aquarium
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Mystic, CT
So.. Basically there’s food and you get to meet penguins. Not sure what the big deal is. 6:30-9:30pm. Well, it’s a fundraiser to save rare penguins and you get to meet other enthusiasts outdoors at the aquarium. I guess that’s good. Anything outdoorsy at night is fun, penguins or not.,
Mystic, CT , |
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Great Northeastern War – Medievial Re-enactment
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Hebron, ME
– See crazy people bonk each other with plastic swords! This medeival war re-enactment is a 2.8 hr drive from Boston but it draws over 1,000 people a year. This is a SCA event, so it’s historically accurate, unlike most medieval/Renaissance faires. There will be classes in archery and fencing, live music, dancing, kids activities, and festival merriment. Sounds fantastic!,
Hebron, ME , – |
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Scottish Tattoo
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Bucksport, ME
There’s a Scottish Festival happening! These are always great fun.,
Bucksport, ME , |
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Take Tea with Queen Victoria
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Parsonsfield, ME
Wow, I’ve never seen Queen Victoria re-enacted before. Come join her for a traditional Victorian tea.,
Parsonsfield, ME , |
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North Atlantic Blues Festival
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Rockland, ME
– Here’s one of those music festivals where you should drive up and stay the entire weekend.,
Rockland, ME , – |
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Basin Bluegrass Festival
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Brandon, VT
– Where’s my banjo? Now this is a proper music fest: a massive, outdoor jam that takes over an entire park!,
Brandon, VT , – |
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Shipwreck Tours
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Vergennes, VT
Explore a shipwreck – without getting wet! This tour brings you to a real shipwreck site and they lower a camera into the water for you to see everything.,
Vergennes, VT , |
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French Heritage Days in Vermont
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Vergennes, VT
Wow! Meet old-timey French re-enactors, see fencing demonstrations, antique vehicles, old timey games, French Canadian fiddling and Indian storytelling… lots of cultural fun!,
Vergennes, VT , |
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Middlebury Festival on the Green
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Middlebury, VT
– They’re claiming this is “Vermont’s Favorite Festival”. Could be, it’s free outdoor music!,
Middlebury, VT , – |
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Let me build you a website!
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All Over
– Need a website? I just built the official website for Liv Tyler’s new film. Hire me to build yours on the cheap! Email johnny@eventsINSIDER.com.,
PUT City HERE, PUT State HERE , – |
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Please support Johnny’s Big Diet
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All Over
– I’m employing peer pressure to help me with a new diet. I figure if I post my weight to the blog every week I’ll be too embarassed to cheat. In early May, I weighed 354.6 and now I’m 317. My goal? 210. Please email support to johnny@eventsinsider.com.,
PUT City HERE, PUT State HERE , – |
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