Winter Fest, Japan & China, Beatles Sing-along, Maple Syrup tapping, SF Movie Marathon, and Surrealist Night

I have an extra ticket to see Sleep No More this Friday, January 22, at 7pm. See the description below and contact johnny@wheelquestions.org to come along with our group of five. It’s supposed to be the most amazing theatre in Boston this year, or possibly ever.

Also, did you know that I have an art project? It’s called Wheel Questions, and I’m writing a book. I’m looking for some volunteers to read and comment on sections as they come out. Please write me.

Love this blog? Subscribe to email, Facebook, or Twitter.

-Johnny


The Week in Weird
MIT Bad Ideas Competition 1/22 – 1/24 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
The event of the week is the Bad Ideas Competition at MIT. Students are given funding to build wacky outdoor structures, like a small roller coaster. Go watch or take part!
East Campus, Ames Street, Cambridge, MA. more
Newburyport Winter Carnival 1/23 North Shore Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
This festival looks more like a winner! There’s no shopping mall involved. They just got a little confused naming the local park. It features horse-drawn hayrides, skating on the pond, sledding, and a “human dog sled race”! 10:30am-4:30pm.
Bartlett Mall (which is really a park), Newburyport, MA. more
Experience the Way of Tea – Japanese Tea Ceremony 1/23 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Also at MIT, as part of their annual arts month, learn new social skills at this formal tea ceremony. 2-3pm. Free but RSVP in advance.
Mezzanine Lounge W20 (Student Center), 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more
Ipswich Chinese New Year Celebration 1/23 North Shore Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Festivals are few in January, but here’s one, several weeks too early for Chinese New Year. See a lion dance and taiwanese drum performance, then get to try it yourself. Snow date the next day. 3-4:30pm.
Ipswich Performing Arts Center, 130 High St, Ipswich, MA. more
Beatles Sing-Along in Brookline 1/24 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
What’s the only way to make a high school concert more painful? Let the audience sing along! Well… since this Beatles Sing-Along takes places the Brookline Music School, it’s probably on-key. Give it a shot! 2pm.
Brookline Music School, 25 Kennard Rd, Brookline, MA. more
Somerville Maple Syrup Project (Tree Tapping) 1/21 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
I really want to see this! They tap actual maple trees and you get to help! Meet near Tufts University main library at 3pm. Boildown event March 12-14 all day at the Somerville Community Growing Center.
Meet at Professors Row & College Ave, Somerville, MA.617-628-9988. more
Rock-paper-scissors Championship 1/27 Boston Metro
Also in Somerville, test your mettle at the ultimate psych-out game: Rock Paper Scissors. And this time, you’re doing it for prizes. What I want to know is, how can they stretch such a rapid sport into an entire evening’s entertainment? 6:30pm. $5. 21+.
PA’s Lounge, 345 Someville Ave, Somerville, MA.617-776-1557. more
Surrealist Nite with Roger Miller 1/23 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
My Somerville pick would be this one. The 1920s was the height of the surrealist movement, and they developed a lot of wacky games like Exquisite Corpse, which is a word & drawing game. Come learn the games and play with others. They’ll also have strange music. $8 in advance.
The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA.617.718.2191. more
Bigfoot Stomp: A Snowshow Hike 1/24 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
This surreal hike through the Blue Hills should be fun. I’ve always wanted to try snoeshowing. 1pm.
Blue Hills, Canton, MA.617-698-1802 x212. more
Welcome to Our House’ A Living History Tour 1/23 Metro West Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
I can’t resist re-enactments. This one takes place at the home of the author of Little Women. They do these tours every month year-round and during school vacations. 4:45pm.
Orchard House, 399 Lexington Road, Concord, MA. more
Fried Rice Iron Chef 1/27 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Food contents are usually fairly drab: rows of booths, thanks for the food. This one will have some real action, apparently, modeled after the TV show.
MIT, Baker Dining Hall, Cambridge, MA. more
Annual Science Fiction Marathon @ MIT LSC 1/23 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Why so much Somerville and Cambridge? Is Boston a cultural wasteland of “recurring” rather than one-shot events? Well, here’s another sci-fi marathon in case you missed last week’s. It includes a free sneak preview of District 13: Ultimatum which will no doubt be awesome!
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. more
Movie Magic 1/27 – 2/10 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Oh wait, here’s one! The Museum of Science is just barely in Boston, and an expert from the world of computer graphics comes to give a talk as part of this lecture series.
Museum of Science, Cambridge, MA. more

Also Fun
Free Science Talk & Exhibition @ HMNH 1/22 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Here’s another talk, which is free and includes free exhibition admission, for the opening day of an exhibition on the photography of animals. You’ll see a bunch of other talks on their website, too. 4pm.
HAH-vid Museem a’ Nat’ral Hist’ry, Cambridge, MA. more
Burn Your New Year’s Resolutions: erotic mistakes and amorous misadventures 1/24 – 1/26 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Local writers read erotic and humorous stories at this local “toy” shop for naughty girls and boys.
308-A Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. more
Winterfest Weekends @ Fruitlands Museum 1/16 – 2/28 Worcester Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
I’m always skeptical of ‘festivals’ that last over a month and seem to be “business as usual”. However, the Fruitlands Museum has sled trails, ice skating (but not rentals?), and a bonfire!
102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, MA.978-456-3924. more
Sock Hop to benefit the homeless 1/22 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
9pm. 21+. Bring new socks to donate to a locate homeless shelter, or $5.
Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA. more
Hot Chocolate Tasting 1/23 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
This event seems rather small, but they’ll have music and booths on the sidewalk with hot chocolate. 1-3pm.
In front of Hidden Sweets, 25 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA. more
Integration Bee 1/27 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
You’d have to be a little loco to participate, but it might be fun to watch math wizards compete.
MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
Boston Wine Expo 1/23 – 1/24 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Or maybe you’d rather drink wine. Ho hum. Please tell me you have better hobbies than getting frotzed.
Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA. more
National Hug Day 1/21 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Finally, free hugs day is tomorrow, but nobody, seems to care. No response to my investigative journalism with local hug groups. Maybe they’re depressed and need a hug.
Hug people and avoid lawsuits. Good luck!, Boston, MA. more

Recurring Events
Sleep No More 10/8 – 2/7 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
I hear this show is amazing. They’ve taken over an entire unused school in Brookline, and every room has a display and actors. You get to stroll from room to room interacting with everyone as the plot proceeds.
Some School, Brookline, MA. more
Sleigh rides & smores at Point of View Farm 1/1 – 2/15 New Hampshire Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Weekends through February, you can get a real sleigh ride in New Hampshire.
160 South Road, Deerfield, NH.603-463-7974. more
Kimball Farm Horse-Draw Sleigh Rides 1/1 – 2/15 Northern Mass Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Or closer to Boston in Haverhill, MA, if there’s snow.
Kimball Farm Corn Maze, 780 East Broadway, Haverhill, MA.978 521-3990. more
Breakdance Classes 1/4 – 1/27 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Learn to breakdance! I’ve been to this one and it’s really fun!
MIT, Cambridge, MA. more
MIT IAP (Independent Activities Period) 1/4 – 1/29 Boston Metro Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Over winter break, MIT holds a variety of classes, lectures, and special events, many of which are wonderfully weird and open to the public. Check their calendar.
MIT, Cambridge, MA.617-253-1000. more
Concord Museum is Free 1/17 – 1/24 Metro West Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
The Concord museum is free on Sunday.
Concord Museum, Concord, MA. more

Performance
Atwater-Donnelly 1/23 Metro West Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Atwater-Donnelly is my favorite folk group. They’re really amazing! They don’t come to the Boston area often, so rush out to see them. I believe they’ll have stepdancing at this one, too. 8pm.
Amazing Things Arts Center, 160 Hollis St, Framingham, MA.(508) 405-2787. more
more
Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival 1/26 – 1/31 New Hampshire Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
This is the regional portion of the nation’s foremost college-level theater festival. I went one year and it’s surprisingly fun.
University of New Hampshire, Durham, Durham, NH. more
Free performance of Commedia Dell’arte 1/22 – 1/24 Metro West Weird Boston Events, by Johnny Monsarrat
Do you know what commedia dell’arte is? Me neither! I’m guessing some kind of comedy? Here’s a chance to explore 16th century Italy for free. 1/22 and 1/24 at 7pm.
Waltham Mills Artists Studios, 144 Moody Street, Building 18, 3rd Floor, Waltham, MA. more

 

Want this weekly? subscribe and see Wheel Questions, too. Send encouragement & ideas to johnny@weirdbostonevents.org.