March 2006 Archives

I couldn't believe it at first. New England's strangest event this week has got to be the Fiddler on the Roof Sing-Along, Sunday April 2 at 3pm in Somerville, at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. It’s a charity event benefiting the Mystic Chorale, a local chorus. Show up and sing along with the audience, secure in the knowledge that there have got to be worse singers all around you. The Chorale helpfully puts the lyrics up on the screen. And they’re having a costume contest and may even dance in the aisles. Just like The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Except not. www.mysticchorale.org

Speaking of Rocky Horror, it’s the oldest and (before Fiddler butted in), the only participatory film around. The film can best be summarized as a bad musical, and involving a transvestite alien. That’s why college groups like to make fun of the film, dressing up in black and doing a parody show in front of the screen. Wellesley and Brandeis do shows occasionally, and a group called the Full Body Cast does a Rocky Horror Picture Show, Saturdays at midnight, in Cambridge at the Loews Theater on Church Street. It’s seriously too weird to live life without seeing. But if you are easily weirded out, there’s always Fiddler. www.fullbodycast.org

Returning to normalcy, for you knitters out there, check out CraftBoston, at the World Trade Center in Boston, March 31 to April 2. It’s essentially a huge crafts market, but given the chilly weather, what else have you got to do than walk around indoors, ogle fine art, and spend money.

Unless you’d like to learn to juggle. Trying Juggling on Sunday afternoons in Cambridge. Sundays 2-3:30pm at Harvard, and Fridays 4-6pm and Sundays 3:30-6:30pm at MIT. Both groups encourage outsiders to just show up. Even if you always miss the wastebasket with a wadded up ball of paper, they can teach you to juggle. Or sit there and let them entertain you. If you are lucky, someone will tie balloon animals. While you are at MIT, make sure to check out the results of the recent Origami Competition on the second floor of the Student Center. world.std.com/~juggler, web.mit.edu/juggle/www, and hcs.harvard.edu/~juggling

Oh, I mentioned earlier that the Harlem Globetrotters are going to the Worcester DCU in early April. Well, guess what, they are also coming to the TD Banknorth Garden (used to be the Fleet Center) this weekend. So check 'em out.

I'm going straight to hell. Yesterday I walked into one of the Galleries on Newbury Street. I didn't say anything, but when they started treating me as if I were rich, I didn't say anything like "Um, you do realize my budget is more in the $25 range, not $2,500." They have this trick where they take the painting off the wall, bring it to a special viewing room with a sofa. And sure enough, it looks exactly the same in the viewing room as it did out in the gallery. Also see http://www.boston.com/ae/theaterarts/localartgalleriesdirectory/
The big event of the week is the St. Patrick's Day Parade - Boston, May 19th. 1pm, from Broadway T stop (Thomas Park) to Andrew Square. www.cityofboston.gov. Also Scituate, & Manchester, NH. The one in Holyoke claims to be the 2nd largest in the country. I wonder if that's true -- they're close enough I suppose to NYC which has the largest. www.holyokestpatricksparade.com, at Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St 12pm.
Festival season is finally going to start rolling, with the Paradise City Arts Festival, March 17-19, at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough. Like most arts festivals it is a thinly disguised marketplace, but it's probably worth checking out. Rt 495 to exit 24B (Rt 20W). F 10-6, S 10-6, S 11-5. 800.511.9725
Of more cultural significance is The Evacuation Day Re-enactment, March 18th, in Dorchester. During the Revolutionary War, before they came back with a vengeance, the British abandoned Boston to the revolutionaries. This event involving actors dressed in period costumes will re-enact the revolutionaries march into taking Boston.
Continuing with the good stuff, this week check out Juggle Mania, by the MIT Student Juggling Club, March 18th at MIT in Cambridge. This would appear to be their big event of the semester or year. 6:30PM in MIT room 54-100. It's free and some visiting nation-level jugglers will be there.
Finally, although I never really go to book readings -- they tend to be lots of fans fawning over an author -- this one I can't resist. Daniel Dennett, "Religion as a Natural Phenomenon", March 20th in Cambridge. He is a philosopher and brain scientist who studies human consciousness, and I'm sure he'll have some interesting things to say about how evolution and the brain play a role in the human desire for religion. Askwith Forum at Longfellow Hall, Harvard University. (617) 661-1515. 6:30PM. Plus, he looks like Santa Claus and you want to stay on the "good" list for Xmas, right?

Also, I checked out the New England Spring Flower Show, which goes to March 19th, and it was pretty cool, surprisingly so I have no interest personally in gardening. Also I checked out the New Art Gallery in Newton I mentioned yesterday for the "Obey" exhibit and it was only so-so, skip it.

Hi everyone,

I'm rushing off to the Mass Tourist Bureau to see if they want a new activities website with some kickin' technology.

As you may know, I maintain a list of activities year-round, but in March I make a huge update for Spring/Summer festivals. It is at www.serpermethod.com/johnnys-activities-03-2006.xls

Today there is a film on the "OBEY" phenomenon. It's when an artist (from RISD I believe) put up logos all over the city -- you've seen the Andre the Giant logos, right? Well it's become a cult phenomenon. I'm going to see the documentary film about it. Tonight Thursday 7pm in Newton, www.newartcenter.org.

-Johnny

Breaking news, a free improv comedy show at MIT tonight. 8pm, MIT room 6-120. The Roadkill Buffet Show.

Winter Restaurant Week, March 5-10 is basically a marketing gimmick, but may be a way to experience a pricey restaurant for less.
Comedian Jerry Senfield visits the Wang Center on March 4th.
The largest festival for live roleplaying in the area is coming up. Intercon, March 3-5 in Chemlsford. Live roleplaying is sort of like improv comedy, but sometimes it's drama or sci-fi or horror genres instead. See website and sign up in advance for the games.
Also, check out Spring Public Night at Wellesley College's Whitin Observatory, March 3rd. In Wellesley. 7-9pm. Someone important will be giving a talk on the Cassini mission to Saturn. No RSVP needed; just show up. Note, their website is screwed up and does not show the date, but I'm on their mailing list, so it's definitely happening. Call 'em.
Comedian Wanda Sykes, March 3rd at the Orpheum Theatre.
MIT's favorite a capella group is putting on the MIT Chorallaries Bad Taste Concert, March 4th in Cambridge. MIT room 10-250. Arrive early for seating. 11pm. An interactive annual concert with jokes in poor taste and where the audience gets to throw toilet paper and act crazy.
The Bank of America Celebrity Series hosts The Chieftains, March 11th. That's really next week but since I know about it now and you need some time to buy tickets, why announce it late? I'll try to do better about that.
Also it's the annual AAA Travel Show, March 3-5 in Foxboro. Admittedly it's more of a marketing event than a festival. But aren't you curious how must it costs to visit Grenada, Tivolo, and Botswana? Check out the various AAA discounts at http://www.aaa.com/aaa/240/sne/membership/tickets.html. (Hey! The Globetrotters are coming to town April 2nd. I'll remind you later.)

This week's bonus event, how about coming to my house and doing some Spring Cleaning? :)