January 2007 Archives

Hey-o,

The African American Theatre Festival is Jan 26 - Feb 11, at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street. http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=3646&src=t

-Johnny

Hey everyone,

There are so many weird and unique events in New England this week! I have just updated my huge-o spreadsheet of the year, get it at http://serpermethod.com/johnnys-activities.htm. Also, my tiny company is hiring a high-end architect and programmer, to grab 150,000 New England event listings each month. Email me at johnnydeppfun@yahoo.com.

The SCA is a historical re-enactment group and they only have a couple of big local festivals a year. This weekend, Jan 26-27 is "Birka" in Manchester, NH. It's a Renaissance Faire and there will be music and fighting demonstrations. http://www.eastkingdom.org/event-detail.html?eid=1267.

Also weird, the Superbowl of Birding at Joppa Flats, Jan 27th in Lowell. This is a birdwatching event where teams of adults and kids "compete" to find the most birds. Everyone welcome, you don't have to have any experience. 5am to 5pm. http://www.massaudubon.org/NatureConnection/Sanctuaries/JoppaFlats/news.php?id=397&event=no&sancnews=yes. 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA, 978-462-9998.

Also weird, the big railroad festival of the year is here, Jan 27-28. It's the Amherst Railway Society's Big Railroad Hobby Show. http://www.amherstrail.org/show/show.htm. Unfortunately, it is about 90 minutes west of Boston at the Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA. 413.737.BIGE. They hook together dozens of privately built tracks to create one huge railroad track system

If you're into sex and sensuality, also weird is the Fetish Faire Fleamarket, Jan 26-28, http://www.nelaonline.org/fff.html. Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, Danvers, MA.

There's also a Chocolate Tour of Boston, Jan 28, http://web.mit.edu/~chocolatiers/www/iapcal2007.html. Meet at MIT Lobby 7, 1-3pm. Speaking of chocolate, try the Milk Chocolate Tasting at MIT, Jan 30th, Same website. Cambridge.

It's the Annual Science Fiction Marathon at MIT. Jan 27. http://lsc.mit.edu. Cambridge.

Revels: Pub Sing, is a participatory singing opportunity and they're the group that does the singing on both sides of the Charles River in the Fall. Reservations are required. 6-9pm. 240 Moody Street, Waltham, MA. Pub sings occur every few months.

Last week I mentioned Do Re Me studios which does karaoke. Their pricing is actually $30/hr for a five-person room, and they have larger rooms as well. Also I've just learned of Limelight Stage & Studios, http://www.limelightboston.com.They not only have private rooms, but public karaoke as well, and you can even record your own CD or DVD as a gift. If you sing poorly, a really bad gift. 204 Tremont St. Boston, MA. (617) 423-0785.

There is a Snowball Fight planned at MIT but unless there is a miracle of snow, it won't happen I guess. Jan 26. http://student.mit.edu/iap/nc22.html

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Lord of the Dance is showing Jan 26-27 at the Opera House in Boston. That's Michael Flatley's Celtic dance thing, you've heard of it.

The Dance Complex Winter Shared Choreographers' Concert is happening Jan 26-27. This is not participatory, but a performance. http://www.dancecomplex.org. Historic Odd Fellows Hall, 536 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA. 617-547-9363.

Here are some theater opportunities.

Reefer Madness is playing at the MIT Musical Theatre Guild, Jan 26 - Feb 3. http://mit.edu/mtg/www/. La Sala De Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center, Cambridge. 617-253-6294. It's a comedy musical about kids getting seduced by drugs, based on a film wayback from 1936 but still relevant today.

The Winter's Tale opens Jan 25, to Feb 3. http://www.cmacusa.org/. At the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, in, you guessed it, Cambridge.

Barber of Seville: a "semi-staged performance", I guess this means they're concentrating mainly on the music, not the theatre aspects. Jan 28th. http://www.newtonsymphony.org. Rashi Auditorium, Newton. 7pm.

A new exhibit is opening at the Museum of Science, Boston. It's "Animation", Jan 28 - May 16. http://www.mos.org. One Science Park. Cambridge, MA. You get to see how cartoons are made and even star in one yourself with some videocamera tricks.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is happening again, Jan 30-Feb 4. It is the regional session of the best college-level theater in the country, and winners in various categories are chosen. http://www.kcactf1.org. Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl St. Fitchburg, MA. (978) 534-9000. Also at the Four Points Sheraton in Leominster, MA.

Ongoing events, MIT IAP continues, the student frolicking, playing, and education festival. To Feb 1st. http://www.mit.edu/iap. The Environmental Film Festival @ MIT is ongoing... each show comes with a dinner before and a discussion after, http://web.mit.edu/sfgs. Silence is still playing, http://www.newrep.org/a/0607/silence.html. And so is Britannicus, http://amrep.org.

Advance notice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, www.bcaonline.org, coming up in Feb. And would someone please write me about the Annual Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown, which is the largest annual Boston event with no website, apparently.
That's enough for one week. As a reminder, any updates or last-minute stuff I'll put weekly on my blog at http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com.

But wait, there's more! I've just completed a study of what's happening every weeknight. Let's say it's Tuesday. You don't feel like going to a bar (too non-cultural) and there's plenty of live music, but frankly can you really chat with your friends while at a concert? No. So you're looking around for the kind of weird quirky stuff that I post regularly. Unfortunately, most of it happens on weekends. So what about Tuesday? And the rest of the week?

Well, to get the entire spreadsheet, visit http://serpermethod.com/johnnys-activities.htm. Notice that on the recurring and museums worksheets there are now columns N thru T listing weekday closing times.

However, here is a digest version, below. Print this out and keep it in your car for spontaneous outings. If you enjoy it, drop me a note. Ciao!

-Johnny
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DAILY - WINTER - EVENTS OPEN AFTER 7PM EVERY DAY (PARTIAL LIST)

Arcade / Billiards: Boston Billiard Club, Open 7 days 'til 2 am. 126 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA. 617 536-7665. http://www.bostonbilliardclub.com/boston.htm.

Arcade / Billiards - Felt, Open 7 days 'til 2 am. 533 Washington St, Boston, MA. 617 350-5555. http://www.feltclubboston.com.

Arcade / Billiards - Flat Top Johnny's, Open 7 days 'til 1 am. 1 Kendall Square, Building 200, Cambridge, MA. 617-494-9565. http://www.flattopjohnnys.com

Arcade / Billiards - Good Time Emporium. Daily 'til 1am, Fri & Sat to 2am. 30 Assembly Square Drive, Somerville, MA. 617.628.5559. http://www.goodtimeemporium.com. Huge! Laser tag, race cars, bumper cars, over 200 arcade games, 60 pool tables, batting cages, basketball court, bowling, food, concerts. Friday special -- just $10 for unlimited access to bumper cars, go karts, laser tag.

Arcade / Billiards - Jillian's. Monday-Saturday 11am-2am and Sundays 12pm-2am. 145 Ipswich St, Boston, MA. 617-434-0300.

Arcade / Billiards - Kings, Open 7 days 'til 2 am. After 6pm 21+. 10 Scotia St,Boston, MA. 617 266-2695. http://www.backbaykings.com.

Arcade / Billiards - The Rack. Open 7 days 'til 2 am. 24 Clinton St, Boston, MA. 617-725-1051. http://www.therackboston.com. Restaurant and DJ dance as well as pool. A nice dance club where you can do something besides dancing and not too loud to have a conversation.

Arcade / Bowling - Boston Bowl. 24 hrs! Never closes! 820 Morrisey Blvd, Boston, MA. 617-825-3800. 44 bowling lanes, pool, arcade, batting cages. And "glow bowling".

Arcade / Bowling - Lanes n Games. Daily 9am-midnight. 195 Concord Turnpike, Cambridge, MA. 617 876-5533. Call first to ensure lanes are available - usually full Sun-Thu 6-10pm. Right at the end of Rt 2E near Alewife.

Arcade / Bowling - Milky Way Lounge & Lanes. Mon-Thu to 12am, Fri Sat to 1am, Sun to 11pm. 403 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA. 617-524-3740. Eat dinner, go bowling, they even have karaoke. 7 lanes. I went once and it was a 2-hour wait for bowling. You have to reserve a lane a day in advance.

Arcade / Bowling - Sacco's Bowl-Haven. Daily to 12am but 11pm Mon & Sun. 45 Day Street, Somerville, MA. 617 776-0552. http://www.saccosbowlhaven.com

And a bunch more that I'll cut and paste later.

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MONDAYS - WINTER - NON-DAILY EVENTS OPEN AFTER 7PM ON MONDAYS

Charles River Fun Run. Cambridge Fitness & Racquet Club, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA. 781-275-1584. http://srr.org/events/pepe/friday/index.html. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 6:00PM.

Bell ringing at MIT. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 7pm, MIT room 5-232. Mondays at 7pm at MIT room 5-232. And Wednesdays in IAP and more? Thursdays 7-9pm at Church of the Advent, 30 Brimmer Street, Boston. Saturdays 11am-1pm, Old North Church, 193 Salem Street, Boston, MA. Practices are sometimes cancelled, check website. Meet in Lobby 7 at 6:30pm Thursdays and 10:30am Saturdays, then head over to Boston to ring.

Participatory Dance - Contra (Concord). Concord Scott House, 74 Walden St., Concord. 781-272-0396. Monday, Thursday 7:30-10:30. Beginners welcome, no lessons really needed. http://www.neffa.org/invite.shtml

Participatory Dance - Lindy Hop (Cambridge). First Church, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA. Lindy Hop practice, no experience required. 8:30-11pm.

Participatory Dance - Salsa - Felt Boston. 533 Washington St, Boston, MA, 617 350-5555. http://www.feltclubboston.com. Beginner lessons Mondays 7pm.

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TUESDAYS - WINTER - NON-DAILY EVENTS OPEN AFTER 7PM ON TUESDAYS

Participatory Dance - Breakdancing @ MIT. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 617.304.6319. http://www.mit.edu/~imobilare. TUESDAYS: 7-9:30 pm, FRIDAYS: 6-8pm, SATURDAYS: 2-4:30pm. MIT Building 13 lobby, but check website.

Stargazing @ Clay Observatory -- Brookline. 20 Newton Street, Brookline. 617-454-2718. http://www.dexter-southfield.org/podium/default.aspx?t=15746. Tuesday evenings, weathear permitting, call ahead.

Participatory Dance - Contra (MIT). 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 617-253-FOLK. http://web.mit.edu/fdc/www/contra.html. Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 8-10:30pm. MIT Student Center, 4th floor.

Magic - Mystery Lounge @ Hong Kong Comedy Studio. 1236 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 617-661-6507. Professional magicians play Tuedsays, 8pm.

Rollerskating - Roller World. Public skate Tuesdays 7:30-11pm, Sundays 1-6pm. 425R Broadway, Saugus, MA. 781-231-1111.

Participatory Dance - Swing (Arlington). 56 Pond Lane, Arlington, MA. http://www.danceboston.com/tuesdays.html. Tuesdays, 7-11:30. Thursdays, 6:45-11:30. Beginner classes at opening time.

Karaoke (public) -- Cambridge. Charlie's Kitchen. 10 Eliot St. Cambridge, MA. 617-492-9646.

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WEDNESDAYS - WINTER - NON-DAILY EVENTS OPEN AFTER 7PM ON WEDNESDAYS

Charles River Fun Run. Cambridge Fitness & Racquet Club, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA. 781-275-1584. http://srr.org/events/pepe/friday/index.html. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 6:00PM.

MIT Caving Club. Wednesdays at 7:30. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. http://web.mit.edu/spelunk/www. At MIT Room 36-155. There aren't any real caves in New England, but visit this club and you can check out their trips elsewhere.

Stargazing @ BU -- Coit Observatory. 725 Comm Ave, 5th floor, Boston, 617-353-2630. http://www.bu.edu/astronomy/opennight.html. Call first, closed if overcast weather. Weds 8:30-9:30 Apr-Oct, else 7:30-8:30 winter.

Participatory Dance - Barefoot (Cambridge). Church @ Mason & Garden Streets, Cambridge, MA. 508-405-0908. http://www.dancefreedom.com. Every Wednesday 7:30-10:30.

Participatory Dance - Ballroom (Dedham) - Moseley's. 50 Bridge St, Dedham MA. (617) 243-0076. http://www.moseleysonthecharles.com/entertainment/ballroom.htm. Wednesdays, lessons 7pm, dance 8-11.

Dance - Bellydance (perf. only) - Middle East, 480 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA. 617-864-3278. http://members.aol.com/middleeastdance/Schedule.html. Sundays & Wednesdays bellydance performance. Starts 9pm?

Participatory Dance - Israeli. MIT Student Center, 84 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA. http://web.mit.edu/fdc/. Wednesdays 8-11, includes lessons. See website.

Comedy - Improv - Naked Comedy Showcase. 1253 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 617-576-1253. Improv Boston in Inman Square. First & Third Wednesday of every month, 10pm. They do improv comedy -- but naked.

Boston Poetry Slam. Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. (617) 354-2685. http://www.slamnews.com. Wednesday nights, 8pm-midnight. People read poetry like it's a one-person theatre show. Worth checking out and not just for literature snobs.

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THURSDAYS - WINTER - NON-DAILY EVENTS OPEN AFTER 7PM ON THURSDAYS

Bell ringing at MIT. 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 7pm, MIT room 5-232. Mondays at 7pm at MIT room 5-232. And Wednesdays in IAP and more? Thursdays 7-9pm at Church of the Advent, 30 Brimmer Street, Boston. Saturdays 11am-1pm, Old North Church, 193 Salem Street, Boston, MA. Practices are sometimes cancelled, check website. Meet in Lobby 7 at 6:30pm Thursdays and 10:30am Saturdays, then head over to Boston to ring.

True Story Theater. They have participatory theater where you can give them a life story and then you join in the re-enactment of that, theatre style. I've seen it, it's highly recommended! Playshops are generally Thursdays but not every week. Please RSVP. And they have non-participatory performances, too. In Arlington.

Participatory Dance - Greek. Church, 29 Central Square, Somerville, MA. 617-625-2222. Thursdays 7-9pm. http://www.townonline.com/somerville/calendar/8999357641149892127.

Participatory Dance - Contra (Concord). Concord Scott House, 74 Walden St., Concord. 781-272-0396. http://www.neffa.org/invite.shtml. Monday, Thursday 7:30-10:30. Beginners welcome, no lessons really needed.

Magic - Le Grand David Magic Show. Cabot St Theater, Beverly, MA. 978-927-3677. Most Sundays at 3pm. Some Thu @ 7:30. See website, http://www.legranddavid.com.

Participatory Dance - Swing (Arlington). 56 Pond Lane, Arlington, MA. http://www.danceboston.com/tuesdays.html. Tuesdays, 7-11:30. Thursdays, 6:45-11:30. Beginner classes at opening time.

Participatory Dance - International. Church, 35 Church St, Watertown, MA. http://www.facone.org. Thursdays 8-10:45pm, includes lessons. Year-round.

Participatory Dance - Lindy Hop (Arlington). Church, 21 Marathon Street, Arlington, MA. http://jera.pair.com/~mjonas/mikes/stomp.html. First Thursday of the month. 9:30-11pm..

Participatory Dance - Scottish (Salem). Church, 211 Bridge St, Salem, MA. http://calendar.boston.com/events/show/657002. Thursdays, lessons 7:30, dance 8.

Dance - Swing (Newton) - Swing 440. American Legion, 295 California St, Newton, MA. http://www.hoptothebeat.com/dances.html#swing440danceclub. Some Thursdays, 7pm lessons, 8-11 dance.

Hi!

Here's what's coming up in New England.

Let's start with a bang. Tonight, the Somerville Theatre shows their annual compilation of the best short animation films of the year. The Animation Show is Jan 18th at 6:30pm and 9pm. 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA, 617-625-5700.

Also, how about Battle of the Brownies at MIT? It's another of the Laboratory for Chocolate Science events, and it's Jan 20th. http://web.mit.edu/chocolatiers/www/iapcal2007.html. 4-6pm. MIT in Cambridge. RSVP ahead if you want to compete for best recipe.

The weird event of the week is the Charity Snowman Building Competition @ MIT, Jan 21st. Don't laugh too loud because some snow is expected Fri & Sat. 12-4pm, Kresge Oval, MIT, no limit but sign ups required to compete. http://student.mit.edu/iap/nc22.html

Another weird event is True Story Theater, happening Jan 22nd, 6:45-7:45pm at the United Baptist Church, 322 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA. I saw them perform at First Night Boston and it was quite interesting! You tell them a quick story from your life, like the morning you woke up on a fraternity's pool table with no clothes on and no memory of the previous evenig. Then they act it out, improv-style. Quite engaging, I definitely recommend this. They have performances every month, the next ones being Feb 10, Mar 8. http://www.truestorytheater.org/calendar.html. Also, somewhat vaguely, I am seeing an event on their website called "playshops", where you get to participate and do some improv with them. Jan 28th.

I don't normally list fashion events, but this one looks interesting. Cocktails & Couture @ The MFA is the classy event for the week. Jan 22 at 6:30. It's a fashion show of Paris collections. Sip cocktails, get a gift bag, go to be seen, and possibly hook up with overly thin overly hip art students.

Tracy Morgan, the former Saturday Night Live star, is performing at the Comedy Connection, Jan 19-21, Fanueil Hall, 245 Quincy Market Building, Boston, MA. 617-248-9700. http://www.comedyconnectionboston.com

Looking for something creative to do? How about a class at the Brookline Arts Center, based in, you guessed it, Brookline. Their adult classes schedule is http://www.brooklineartscenter.com/classes/adult.html#1, and they have one for kids, too. For example, they are having a free demonstration of acrylic painting Sat Jan 20th, the lecture is 10am-12pm and then a workshop 1-4pm. It's interactive so you get to try actually painting.

You can find these kinds of events all over. For example, Jan 21 is Family Sketching Sunday at Harvard's Sackler and Peabody Museums. This event happens every week, 1:30-3:30pm. Basically it's a guided tour through the museum and your kids get to draw stuff. I don't have any kids, but sometimes I am the kid for these events. (Oh sure, like you've never asked for the crayons and kids placemat at Bickford's or Denny's.)

This weekend is also the Greater Boston Antiques Festival, which is more of a flea market than a festival I suppose, but I'm sure you'd find some good 19th century pickings there. Shriner's Auditorium, Wilmington, MA. http://www.neantiqueshows.com. (781) 862-4039.

Here's one that going to make you shake your head and wonder where I came up with this stuff. How about renting a snowmobile, dirt bike, or ATV (an All Terrain Vehicle, which is basically a 4-wheel motorcycle)? Because what's better than cruising up to 60mph through ice, snow, mud, and dirt in one of our public parks? Make sure to choose a park that permits it, see http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/orv.htm. For rentals, see http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/hvd/hvdrec.htm, or the Sunday River Ski Resort in Maine. I know there are others but I couldn't find them. To buy an ATV, prices start at $3500, see http://www.greaterbostonmotorsports.com and http://www.parkwaycycle.com. That sounds expensive but you can generally lease or buy used for $1500. For snowmobile rentals, try http://www.neoc.com in Maine, http://www.northernextremes.com in New Hampshire. Anybody know places closer?

Since it's too cold for outdoorsy festivals I prefer to list, here are some theatre and film events.

Silence is a theatre show, a comedy set in the middle ages. Jan 17 to Feb 11. http://www.newrep.org/a/0607/silence.html. Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA. 617-923-8487.

Also Brittanicus is opening, Jan 20 to Feb 11, It's a play about Emperor Nero in ancient Rome. Political thriller & family drama. Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA. 617-547-8300. http://amrep.org

Science on Screen: So Much, So Fast, is a documentary film about a young man diagnosed with ALS. Speak with the director afterwards. Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA. Jan 22. 7pm. http://www.coolidge.org.

Continuing events, it's still IAP at MIT, the time of year when every student club and professor wants to teach, interact, and bedazzle you. The public is generally invited. http://www.mit.edu/iap. And the Environmental Film Festival @ MIT is still continuing, http://web.mit.edu/sfgs. Each film has a dinner beforehand and a discussion afterwards.

Heads up, Lord of the Dance is coming Jan 26 & 27. It's that Michael Flatley thing, with Irish Step dancing. Opera House, Boston.

There is a great place for karaoke called Do Re Mi Music Studios in Allston. Normally with karaoke, you go to a bar, and have to hear lots of drunk people sing off-key before you get a shot. Well, Do Re Mi has a private studio. There's no bar, so bring your own booze (or milk and cookies) and you can sing 20 songs in an hour for just $40 or so. That's not expensive at all, if you have a group and figure you're saving money on consumables. 442 Cambridge St, Allston. Best of all, they're pretty much always open so if you simply can't find something interesting to do, a good backup to keep in mind.

One closing event, every Saturday at MIT is a game called Patrol. Basically you run around with plastic toy dart guns shooting people. 8-11pm. Meet at MIT room 36-115. http://www.mit.edu/activities/assassin/patrol.html

Have fun

-Johnny

Hi!

Want to know what it's like to be an urban youth? Check it out! Breakdancing performances tomorrow.

-Johnny

MLK Unity Jam
Friday, January 12, 2006
3-9 PM
Charlestown Community Center
255 Medford Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Hi!

The first weird event of the week is Arisia, one of two major science fiction conventions in the Boston area. If you like science fiction, fantasy, anime, or just costuming or roleplaying, check it out. (The other conventions are Boskone in February and Readercon in July which is really just for booklovers and writers.) Jan 12-14. Hyatt Regency Cambridge. http://www.arisia.org.

Pumping it up a notch, how about Dark Chocolate Tasting at MIT? As I mentioned earlier, it's Independent Activities Period at MIT and a lot of fun one-shot stuff is happening, see http://www.mit.edu/iap. The dark chocolate tasting is one of a number of events being run by the "Lab for Chocolate Science", which I assume is a joke. Jan 16 from 8-10pm. http://web.mit.edu/~chocolatiers/www/iapcal2007.html.

Another weird event, is the Annual MIT Mystery Hunt. Think of it like a scavenger hunt except way bigger -- most teams are 12 people or more, but if you're just a single you can join a group. Jan 12-15. http://web.mit.edu/puzzle. I did it once and in my opinion, there is such an emphasis on making it hard that it wasn't really that much fun. But crazy antics certainly ensue, so check it out, maybe as a bystander. :)

It's hard to top that, but the weirdest thing happening is Professional Bull Riders. Yes, a rodeo in New England. Jan 12-14 in Worcester at the DCU Center, 50 Foster Street. Worcester, MA. 617-931-2000. I've been to the DCU Center (to see Srah McLachlan) and it's unclear to me how they're going to get a bull show in there, but their website insists they really will ride bulls for us. Yee haw! Website is http://www.EvilHandlingFees.com. Oh wait, sorry, http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Not so weird, the Boston Celtic Music Festival is Jan 12-14, http://www.yellowcarmusic.com/bcmfest/ at Club Passim in Cambridge. Club Passim, 47 Palmer Street. Participatory and performance Celtic dance, music at several venues in Cambridge. Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton music.

Also see the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of the City of Boston. http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=3385. Jan 14-15. Starts off with a concert at the Opera House featuring Peabo Bryson, who sung the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack. Then new Gov'nor Deval Patrick, will give a keynote speech Jan 15th, which is bound to be good! Everyone says he's an inspirational speaker.

Baratunde Thurston is performing at Comedy Studio, which is in the Hong Kong Restaurant in Harvard Square, Cambridge. 1238 Mass Ave, 3rd Floor, Cambridge, MA. http://www.hongkongharvard.com. I saw an essay he wrote and he seemed pretty funny so I thought I'd list him.

Finally, January 16th also opens the Environmental Film Festival at MIT, going to Feb 3rd. I don't generally list film festivals, but it's the dead of winter, so what else are we going to do? And this isn't just passive vegetation, there is a dinner before each screening and a discussion afterwards. http://web.mit.edu/sfgs. Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge. See Web site for listings.

Speaking of winter, here are some more museums to visit while waiting for the chill to pass. This week's theme is oOOOOOOOOld New England.

The American Textile History Museum is all about Lowell's big past being a textile capital. (Fall River too). http://www.athm.org, 491 Dutton St, Lowell, MA.

The Hancock Shaker Village is in Pittsfield, which is way out in Western Massachusetts. http://www.hancockshakervillage.org. Route 20 & 41, Pittsfield, MA. (800) 817-1137.

Or visit the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, http://www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org, 66 Main St, Essex, MA. 978.768.7541. Rt 133. Sat & Sun 10-5. Rt 128N ex 15, School St. Turn left.

Finally finally, it's inevitable, so you might as well give in and finally see Blue Man Group. It's a series of skits and they're funny and worth seeing. Also if you call more than 2 weeks ahead you can get free seats for volunteering to usher. http://www.blueman.com, Boston.

Shear Madness is the other one. Every magazine I have ever read on activities and events (which is a lot) lists Blue Man Group and Shear Madness. It's a murder mystery featuring hairdressers and actually quite good! At the end they let the audience pick who gets to be the murderer. (Which does take the fun out of guessing since presumably it could be anyone.) http://www.shearmadness.com. Boston.

Another fixture of the Boston theatre scene is the Medieval Manor Theatre Restaurant. They do a dinner theatre, medeival-style, which is to say BAD. But if you bring a birthday party or large group you can single out the Birthday Boy or Girl and they'll do a skit and embarass 'em. http://www.medievalmanor.com. Also Boston.

Note, I went to Joey & Maria's Comedy Wedding and it wasn't really worth seeing (sorry!). The comedy was disconnected, with too much ad libbing and no real attempt to pace it. The actors give individual attention to particular tables, which is a cute concept, but not as engaging as actually performing in a well-rehearsed well-timed comic concept as a full cast. Also Boston.

OK that ought to hold you. By the way, my company making event listings professionally may have a sale soon. So I may have higher quality stuff and even weirder picks for you in 2-3 months.

-Johnny

Happy new year!

If you missed the holiday lights, one place is still running them: Lookout Farm. I went there and it was only OK, but worth seeing if you bring kids. http://www.lookoutfarm.com. 89 Pleasant Street, South Natick, MA. 508-651-1539

It's the First Friday of the month again, so there are arts socials happening. I went to the SoWA First Friday last month and it was really worth seeing. Basically, all the galleries open up their studios until late and you can walk around chatting with random people and eating free wine and cheese. Serious art people are there, the kind who actually buy $15,000 paintings, but regular people too. http://www.sowaartists.com. 450 Harrison Ave and surrounding area, Boston. 5pm to 9pm. Come and have dinner in the area, too.

Another First Friday is at the MFA. http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=73. 465 Huntington St, Boston, MA. 617-267-9300. And another is at the BCA, Boston Center for the Arts, 551 Tremont St, Boston. http://www.bcaonline.org. I haven't been to either of these too but I've heard the MFA is partly a singles thing.

Bodyworlds is ending this weekend at the Museum of Science, Boston. That's the wicked gross exhibit of dead people preserved as statues. But some people think it's great. So see it now or lose the chance. :)

The weird event of the week is an Elvis Presley impersonator. Spirit of the King is playing Jan 6th at the Cutler Majestic Theatre.

Do you like dancing? The other weird event is Dance Across the City, Jan 5 and 6, http://www.danceacrossthecity.org. First, on Friday Jan 5, performance by Boston Ballet, Boston Arts Academy, and Pilobolus. I saw Pilobolus perform and they're totl'y awesum!! Even better, Jan 6th is a day of free dance classes. There is no pre-registration required so you can just drop in. What's better than that?

This is a pretty slow time of the year for festivals, so here are some more tips on dancing. They have "barefoot" dances in Cambridge and Watertown. Basically, this is just what you imagine. Lots of new age hippy people dancing without shoes. I've heard it's great fun. Dance Freedom, http://www.dancefreedom.com, is at the Church @ Mason & Garden Streets, Cambridge. 508-405-0908. Every Wednesday 7:30-10:30. Also Dance Friday, http://www.dancefriday.org, Church @ 111 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, 617-997-0948. Fridays 8pm-12am. Barefoot, or soft shoes - no street shoes or heavy dance shoes are allowed.

What's really fun though is breakdancing. There is a breakdancing club at MIT, see http://www.mit.edu/~imobilare. They have open practices every Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat. This means you can just show up, even if you're a little shy, and they'll teach you some steps!! How awesome is that! Throughout January they are having formal 'lessons', Tue 5-6pm, and Fri 4-5pm, Lobby 13 at MIT.

There is also folk dancing, of several varieties. Contra dancing is a kind of traditional UK line dancing, it is social so you get to meet people and it's sort of like square dancing because someone calls out the steps. You can pick it up without any training and it's very easygoing -- no one's going to fault your arm position or anything as in ballroom dancing. It happens every Monday and Thursday at the Concord Scout House, 74 Walden St. in Concord. http://www.neffa.org/invite.shtml. 781-272-0396. Also MIT has a contra group, web.mit.edu/fdc/www/contra.html.

There are so many kinds of dance, it would be hard to list them all, but The hoenix does a good job of it. A few others. For international dance, see http://www.facone.org. For renaissance dancing, see http://www.renaissonics.com/h/main.html. And for Salsa dancing, which requires just a short lesson, see http://www.havanaclubsalsa.com/salsa_fridays.shtml and http://www.tlsalsa.com/rylesdirections.html.

There are also some people crazy about drumming, who do a Drum and Dance event, the 1st Saturday of the month 8-11:30pm except July. http://www.earthdrum.com/calendar.htm. 11 Garden St, Cambridge. And see www.drumconnection.com for "drop-in" drumming. Basically you show up and drum with them. :)

Finally, for dance classes, see http://www.brooklineartscenter.com, and http://www.dancecomplex.org.

The museum of the week is the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum. Yes, a museum about toilets. 10am-2pm. September to June only. http://www.wbur.org/special/strangemuseums/plumbing.asp. 39 Piedmont St, Worcester, MA. 508-754-9453.

And I highly recommend the Fuller Museum of Art. It's one of the few museums in the US dedicated entirely to crafts, and it's a real gem. I have no idea why they placed it in out-of-the-way Brockton, MA, but I've been twice and you need to see it next time you're in the area. 455 Oak Street, Brockton. 508-588-6000.

Also weird, the Higgins Armory Museum. Basically, 200 suits of armor and other paraphernalia. 100 Barber Ave, Worcester, MA. 508-853-6015. The last time I was there, they were having a fencing competition but the lighting conditions were so poor I think the fencers were really sweating it. http://www.higgins.org. Recommended.

Closer to home, try the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. You know those stories about 19th century explorers, the first "white men" to explore darkest Africa? Where do you think their stuff ended up? At Harvard of course! Come check it out. 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA. (617) 496-1027.

Enjoy.

-Johnny