Boston Events Insider - Overview: November 2005 Archives

Boston Events Insider: Johnny's List of Quirky Boston Events: 11/24/05

Thanksgiving weekend is a family time of year, so here are some family-oriented activities. America's Stonehenge is a stone circle in New Hampshire of unknown origins. Prank or cult symbol? Anyway, it's beautiful and worth a trip if you are in the area. North Salem, NH. 603-893-8300.
While you're in New Hampshire, check out the Canterbury Shaker Village, which is in Canterbury, NH, which is central New Hampshire. The Shakers never had a huge village but it is well-preserved and worth a trip. This is closing weekend, they are doing a gingerbread showcase. You'll see people throughout the place re-enacting the old timey days. The place re-opens in May. It's of moderate interest.
While we're talking about re-enactment villages, I musn't leave out Strawberry Banke Museum, which is in Portsmouth, NH, which is southern NH. They have live actors to greet you and introduce you to the ways of this settlement. It's the closest thing to Plymouth Plantation they have in NH, and well worth seeing. Hancock Street. 603-433-1126.
If you really want a family event that puts both young and old on an even level, try Bowling at Milky Way Lounge & Lanes, in Jamaica Plain, or Lanes n Games, in Cambridge. You need to call first though because sometimes bowling leagues hog the whole place. Lanes n Games, right off Rt 2 near Alewife. (617) 876-5533. Or Sacco's Bowl-Haven, Somerville, (617) 776-0552. Milky Way in Jamaica Plain has a restaurant, and they even have karaoke. 403 Centre St. 617-524-3740
The bonus event this week is Kite Flying!. You can do it anywhere there is wind, such as a beach or a tall hilltop with no trees around. In the Boston area, the best place to go is either Danehy Park in Cambridge or Millenium Park, West Roxbury, field "C". Or try Larz Anderson Park on Newton St. in Brookline. One trick about kite flying... the cheap kites you find at Toys R Us aren't very easy to fly. Go to a hobby shop and get their advice, you can even pick up a kite with two strings that you can steer.
Everyone else, go shopping. :)

By Johnny Monsarrat on November 24, 2005 8:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Content by Jon Monsarrat.

Boston Events Insider: I believe that you're as cool as you want to be.

I wrote this essay for the NPR series "I Believe", and wanted to share it. Hopefully this won't count as a "previous publication" if they care about such things. Well, my chances are about 1 in a 1,000 so whatever. Hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving.

I believe that you're as cool as you want to be.

I know what it's like to have self-doubts. Everyone does. It's especially true when you're a kid and your friends and family ride you too hard. If you're constantly being blamed, it's natural to think, "Maybe it's all my fault!" That's not good for self-confidence.

But I believe that you're as cool as you want to be. I found my way out. It was surprisingly like going on a diet. It takes some effort and you don't become a cool person overnight.

First I identified the sourpusses in my life. You know, the people who always complain. They're never happy with me just as I am. I used to make excuses about sourpusses. Maybe they're just having a bad day. Or - I know! - maybe it's my fault and if I just "worked harder at our friendship" everything would be OK. That's a mistake though, because most people don't change. Once a sourpuss, always a sourpuss. Or to put it another way, you can turn lemons into lemonade but it takes tons of sugar. I was going crazy trying to dump sugar into my relationships. It's very draining.

Then I realized that instead of trying to "fix" the people around me - I can just walk away and seek out people who are sugary to begin with. Loving people who would care for me. At first I was worried that if I walked away from my sourpuss friends I'd never find new friends. I'd be totally friendless forever. Or maybe there aren't any good people in the world and this is the best I can do. Lacking self-confidence makes you think crazy things like that. I felt trapped.

Well, I decided doing something was better than nothing. I pushed away just one sourpuss, basically by slipping from weekly get-togethers to monthly. Or never.

Pushing away one sourpuss didn't do much. But I got a little extra time. And a little extra confidence. Just like with dieting, once I saw that I could do it, I got the courage to keep going. I pushed away more negative people, found more positive people - and suddenly I was as cool as I wanted to be!

These days I like to look at relationships -- friends, family, dating, or business - and ask myself one question: "Is this relationship positive?" Everyone has self-doubts. But these days, I believe I have the power to walk away.

By Johnny Monsarrat on November 22, 2005 8:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Content by Jon Monsarrat.

Boston Events Insider: Johnny's List of Quirky Boston Events: 11/17/05

The most interesting thing happening this week is probably The MIT Museum's Friday After Thanksgiving Chain Reaction, Nov 25th, 1-4pm in MIT's Zeisigner Center. You get to build your own Rube Goldberg device with MIT people and watch as strings pull pencils that drop popcorn onto a bunsen burner and startle the goose who presses a lever. Sounds awesome. Contact them ahead of time about starting a team, or just show up to watch. While you're there, check to see if they still have that house behind the MIT Museum in the alleyway, that you can build if you were a refugee using just a mallet.
The season of festivals continues to peter out. However, this weekend is The Greater Boston Antiques Festival, November 19-20, 2005, Shriner's Auditorium, Wilmington, MA. Just between us girls, how much fun could this possibly be? It is basically a big flea market, except the stuff is old.
Everyone's favorite ballet, The Nutcracker, opens Nov 25th as well. I've never seen this or any other ballet, but it's supposed to be good so hey. Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston.
A few more museums to get your juices flowing. I was really impressed by the Fuller Museum of Art, in Brockton. Like me, I'm sure you're skeptical of any museum in the middle of nowhere. But the Fuller is one of a very few craft museums in the USA and they have some spectacular pieces including Native American fare. Check it out.
Or check out the Concord Museum and the National Heritage Museum, in Concord. I was especially impressed by the National Heritage Museum, which is run by the Masons, which should make everyone think of paranoid conspiracy theories of world domination. But when you go there, well, I found it to be sensational. They have some permanent exhibits about the Revolutionary War, and revolving exhibits that really zap you. Trust me I have been to many museums and they usually are OK but kinda yawn-y. This week's recommendations are not.

By Johnny Monsarrat on November 17, 2005 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Content by Jon Monsarrat.

Boston Events Insider: Johnny's List of Quirky Boston Events: 11/13/05

Oh, I forgot to mention that today is Brookline's 300th Anniversary Party, Nov 13th, 1-6pm, in Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, with fireworks at 6:20pm
Also opening this week, catch UnPOSSESSED, Nov 16-20, at the Zero Arrow Theatre in Cambridge, which is part of the American Reperatory Theater. It's a variation on Don Quixote that includes puppetry and circus antics. I've heard it's good and I'm going on opening day so I'll say more on this later.

By Johnny Monsarrat on November 13, 2005 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Content by Jon Monsarrat.

Boston Events Insider: Johnny's List of Quirky Boston Events: 11/11/05

Looking for something outdoorsy to do this weekend? Try going to the Allston/Brighton Open Studios, Nov 12-13. There are over a dozen open studios in the metro Boston area annually. It's a chance to walk around and see some local artwork, in private homes and art studios. And you can buy something for holiday gift-giving and help support the local artists.
And it's all about Star Wars this November. Not only is there the One-Man Star Wars (see last week), but the Museum of Science has a Star Wars exhibit and the MIT Musical Theater Guild is putting on Star Wars: The Musical Edition, Nov 11-13, 16-20, in Cambridge. Not only did the Lucas people not object, George Lucas saw a portion of the show recently at the Museum of Science bigwig dinner. Apparently as long as you don't make any real money you can rip of Star Wars, neato.
The cold weather isn't all that bad. OK, it is, but it's better to embrace it than to be a big grump about it, since April is 5 months away. How about Ice Skating Opening Da at Frog Pond, 5:30pm at Nov 16th. Every year there's inexpensive ice skating and skate rentals at Frog Pond which is near the Boylston T stop at the movie theater in Boston Common. Opening day is free and they'll have ice skating demonstrations. I went last year and it was a blast!
There are a lot of video arcades around Boston, some of which have mini-carts or bumper cars. There is one place that goes far beyond this to the sport racing level. It's F1 Boston, in Braintree, MA. They get you to suit up in an orange jumpsuit and helmet, there are actual rules to the racetrack and they give you a printout at the end of your timing. It's expensive, but worth it. Make sure to call in advance, same day is fine but you may find yourself unable to get a spot if you just show up, or only call an hour in advance. They have a restaurant there and a pool hall, and a lounge area, although you absolutely cannot drink before driving, and you'll need your driver's license with you. Anyone younger than 21 cannot stay past 9pm or something, too, call about that. 290 Wood Road, Braintree. 781-848-2300
Winter is the time for museums and theater and other indoorsy things. OK, technically it's still Fall but I've just decided to shelve my light weather jacket so that makes it winter for me. The museum of the week is the JFK Museum, near UMass Boston in Boston. As you are aware, former president John F. Kennedy came from Massachusetts and they have an entire library with a cute museum -- and it's free Nov 11-13 in honor of Veteran's Day. I went last year and it was quite interesting and original, not at all dry like I'd expected. The only problem is that the people who built it revered JFK so much that you wonder if you're getting a balanced viewpoint. There's no mention of his numerous affairs, and the Bay of Pigs fiasco gets a tiny mention buried in the text of one exhibit. Well, everybody loves JFK anyway and I'm sure all Presidential libraries are the same. Columbia Point. If you really want to be a savvy Boston area events dog, wait until there's somebody giving a speech you want to come see, for example a Pullitzer Prize winning author is speaking about LBJ on November 20th. 1-866-JFK-1960.
This week's bonus event, and in my opinion Boston's best and most original attaction, is Tomb at 5-Wits, near Fenway in Boston. It's an Indiana Jones like experience where you pretend to be an archaeologist and walk through an ancient egyptian pyramid. Once inside you become trapped and have to solve puzzles and explore the place (which has Disney World style special effects) to escape. It's hard to explain but it's really a must-see. 186 Brookline Ave. 617-375-9487. WR 11-11, FS 11-12, SM 11-8. Call ahead to reserve a spot for yourself. Great for birthday parties and other large groups.

By Johnny Monsarrat on November 11, 2005 8:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Content by Jon Monsarrat.

Boston Events Insider: Johnny's List of Quirky Boston Events: 11/04/05

Now that it's cold out, art festivals are sort of on-hold until April. However, you can check out the Paradise City Arts Festival, Nov 4-6 in Marlborough. You can pretend it's a museum instead of an arts bazaar. Mainly it's a way for the artists to make some money and for you to have a nice time strolling through the fairgrounds. There's one in the Spring as well.
Although theater is year-round I'm giving it more of my attention now because of the weather. I'm curious to see One-Man Star Wars, Nov 8-13 at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. It's supposed to be good, although it's not like I haven't already heard the story.
Maybe it's time for a trip out to western Massachusetts. You might catch a few fall colors. And see the Mass MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), in North Adams. Like the DeCordova, you can rely on Mass MOCA to be consisently surprising and inspiring, as well as accessible (not too arty and abstract!). Exhibits on now include a sound exhibit, "Becoming an Animal", and an exhibit which can only be described as cars caught as if tumbling through the air with sparks (see pic). 87 Marshall St. 413-662-2111.
While you are out west, check out the New England Air Museum, at Bradley International Airport. It just across the border with Connecticut. 860-623-3305. Rt 90W to Rt 91S to exit 40 (Rt 20W). 2nd right onto Rt 75.
And of course, since I have no interest in the Basketball Hall of Fame out in Springfield, and Six Flags is closed, see The Norman Rockwell Museum, in Stockbridge, MA . All the cutesy americana you could ever want to see. 9 Glendale Rd. (413) 298-4100.
I've mentioned it tangentially, but now that it's Thanksgiving season, it's time for you to visit Plimoth Plantation, in Plymouth, MA. It's a live history recreation and really amazing definitely worth checking out. You walk around speaking with actors who are living like the original pilgrims did in the 1620s. There is a native american indian village, too. There's a "harvest luncheon" Nov 11-13 but basically just go anytime. This is a must see! (508) 746-1622
This week's bonus, did you know that there are two museums at MIT? There's the technology-based MIT Museum, and the more artistic MIT List Visual Arts Center, which I've never been to despite having been an MIT student for 6 years. There are a bunch of video installations at List that are worth checking out. Also, behind the MIT Museum (if it's still there) is a house that you could construct using only a rubber mallet. It's meant for emergency relief activities and is worth stopping by to see. It's behind the MIT museum in that alleyway off of Mass Ave, and it's not locked up or anything so if you're a midnight owl like me, check it out.

By Johnny Monsarrat on November 4, 2005 8:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) Content by Jon Monsarrat.