February 2007 Archives

Here's the scoop. The dance festival is indeed at the Dance Complex, see last post. It is non-participatory, basically it is a concert, not really a festival. As well as the hip hop, ballet, modern dance, they'll have jazz and a native american indian performance.

Hi everyone,

Here's what's Wickit Kool and coming up this week.

The weird event of the week has got to be the Boston Massacre Re-enactment, March 1-5, one of those American Revolutionary War things Bostonians love. These events all take place near the Old State House in Boston. Friday 11 & 2, there is a short play about the event. Then Sat 11:30 & 2:30 another play, Trial of the Century, with a re-enactor of will-become-president John Adams. Then Monday March 5th, Meet Paul Revere at 5:30pm or 7:30pm, and the actual re-enactment is at 8pm. I believe what will happen is a few british troops will fire into a crowd, killing 5 people. Shouldn't take long to re-enact! http://www.bostonhistory.org/exhibcal.php

Also in the Where Does Johnny Find This Stuff category, the U.S.S. JFK is a battleship that is being decommissioned after serving as recently as in the 2nd Gulf War. They're opening it up to tourists before giving it the heave-ho. March 1-5, North Jetty, Marine Industrial Park, 660 Summer St, Boston, MA. I could not actually find a website for this, but the Marine Park is at http://www.bostonmarineindustrialpark.com.

The MIT Chorallaries Bad Taste Concert is this Saturday, March 3. It's an a capella concert where the audience gets to throw toilet paper. It's a lot of fun, filled with crass humor, but a couple of things get in the way. Unfortunately, the lines are long, making it a diluted event (invest 4 hours to see a 2-hour concert). That being said, I've been to this annual concert and it's always great but dangerous fun, like a mosh pit. MIT room 10-250. Arrive early for seating. 11pm.

Last week I went to Kaiju, but didn't give the Web address. It's http://www.kaihu.com. It was fun to be a volunteer, and the event was fun too, but serious geek warning. Spending three hours watching guys in anime-style or Japanese Godzilla-style costumes wrestle is not for the non-geek at heart. I enjoyed it but felt after about an hour "OK I get the concept", and didn't feel I needed to see the rest. Check the website for updates on new shows.

Also geeky, InterCon is I believe the largest live roleplaying convention in New England. It is March 2-4 in Chemlsford, http://www.interactiveliterature.org/G/. Live roleplaying is what happens when you take a bunch of Dungeons & Dragons people sitting down rolling dice, knock over the table, and make them stand up, walk around and actually act out their character like improv theater.

I'm a fan of modern dance, so this one caught my attention. It's the Charles River Dance Festival, March 3-4, http://www.dancecomplex.org/performances.html. I have a phone call in, will post something later, you can always get late-breaking news by reading http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com. I assume it is NOT along the Charles River but rather inside the Dance Complex, at 536 Mass Ave, Cambridge. And I further assume that despite the title "Festival", it is merely a series of performances, they say they'll have hip hop, ballet, and modern dance. And disco. Just kidding. :)

Boston Ballet is having a special night called New Visions, "an evening of ballet that will have you on the edge of your seat". March 1-4, Boston. http://www.bostonballet.org/season/performances/NewVisions-2.html. I don't normally get sucked into ballet but this one looks different, edgy, not too high brow ahhhty.

Speaking of high class, catch three operas in three days at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, which is run by Emerson College. Carmen, Madame Butterfly, and La Boheme are all being performed March 2-4 by a visiting group. Boston. http://www.maj.org. 800-233-3123. 3/2 La Boheme, 3/3 Carmen, 3/4 Madame Butterfly, by Teatro Lirico D'Europa.

The Special Olympics is holding their Winter Games, Mar 2-4 in Worcester, and they are always looking for volunteers and spectators. http://www.specialolympicsma.org/events/index.asp?page=calendar. Too far for ya? I'll also list the Summer Games Jun 15-17 later, which will be in Cambridge.

The Central Massachusetts Flower Show is March 2-4, at the DCU Center in Worcester. Same place as the monster truck rally last month. I haven't been to this one, but I did go to the New England Flower Show once and it was surprisingly good. Lots of dioramas and real artwork made from flowers. http://www.centralmaflowershow.com. 508-792-0314. Park at Worcester Municipal Garage at 30 Worcester Center Blvd.

Another more like a marketing event is the AAA Travel Marketplace. I don't know about you, but when I see an all-expense one-week trip to Egypt for $600, I don't shout for joy, I am deeply troubled and looking for the scam. Going to the AAA event, you'll be able to both see the deals and ask questions. March 2-4, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA.

One more marketing event, twice a year it's "Boston Restaurant Week", which is when pricey restaurants lower their prices and reach out to the rest of us. http://www.restaurantweekboston.com. Mar 4-9. It's a promotion, not an "event", but the winter is sparse, so we'll take what we can get.

A musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is running, Mar 6-11, with I believe the original broadway cast. I actually saw this on broadway in NYC last year, my date hated it but I thought it was fun. Let's just say the more you like opera, the less you want to see this. But if you liked the movie, or even briefly considered seeing SPAMalot, you'll like it. Yes, it is based on the movie of the same name with Steve Martin and John Cleese, who are not in the theatre show. Opera House, Boston, MA. 617-931-2787.

It's time for the First Friday celebrations again. They are all basically a mix of cocktails, social mingling, and looking at gallery art wondering what you can afford. March 2. MFA First Friday, http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=73. BCA First Friday, http://www.bcaonline.org. SoWA First Friday, http://www.sowaartists.com, which is the only one I've actually been to and it was fun, worth checking out if you have a companion to make appreciative comments to.

Recurring stuff, the Museum of Science Boston has two great exhibits now, one on Animation, featuring evil monkeys, and one on Darwin, who connected evil monkeys to humans. The MOS has a great IMAX film too about Hurricaine Katrina. http://www.mos.org. Also A Midsummer Night's Dream, the ballet adaptation, closes March 3, http://www.bcaonline.org. Oliver Twist thru Mar 24, http://www.amrep.org. No, this is not "Oliver!" but another production. Orson's Shadow runs through Mar 18.

Heads up, Elton John performs 3/22, in Rhode Island, http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/8231. Justin Timberlake performs 3/26 in New Hampshire, http://www.verizonwirelessarena.com.

-Johnny

Hey everyone,

I'm posting early because of several Tuesday events!

Tonight only! Ever heard of the Singularity? That's when humans are supposed to disappear because technology will advance so far that we can't even imagine what we'll transform into now. But they'll try. Philosophy Cafe, McIntyre & Moore Booksellers, 255 Elm St, Somerville, 7:30pm, Feb 20. http://mcintyreandmoore.com.

Tonight only! There's a new IHOP in Harvard Square at 16 Eliot Street, Cambridge. They're open to 2am daily. The IHOP in Newton off Soldiers Field Road never closes, I think. Anyway! They are having a Free Pancake Day on Feb 20th, all day, to support some kind of charity.

Tonight only! Mardi Gras @ Red Bones BBQ Restaurant Red Bones, 55 Chester St Somerville, MA, 617-628-2200. http://www.redbones.com. 7pm. $40.

Starting tonight! The BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour is Feb 20-22, http://www.regenttheatre.com/events/banff.htm.

Starting tonight! The Harry Potter Fest is Feb 20-23, http://www.coolidge.org.

Wednesday only! What happens when you dress people in Gozilla style monster costumes and make them wrestle? It's Kaiju! I am going as an extra, so I get to dress up, look for me as one of the Minion monsters. No, it won't be doing any wrestling. :)

It's hard to top that for strangeness, so I'm not even going to try. However, how about a cemetery having a festival? It's Longfellow's 200 Birthday Celebration, at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Feb 24, http://www.mountauburn.org/download/february_calendar.pdf.

The Harvard Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award is still forthcoming, Feb 23. http://www.hastypudding.org. Cambridge. This year it's a roast for Ben Stiller.

I am so excited I feel like a little kid! The Harlem Globetrotters are in town for their annual show. DCU Center, Worcester. Feb 25. They also play the TD Banknorth Garden Mar 24-25. http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/8205/806223/?brand=dcucenter. Or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Improv Boston is having it's annual Comedy Beanpot competition. This is when improv comedy groups from local colleges compete. Feb 22-24, http://www.improvboston.com.

There are two major a capella competitions and one of them has a regional contest at Brown University Feb 24. It is the Varsity Vocals International Championship of A Capella. 8 p.m., Salomon Hall 101 & Main Green, Brown University. More regionals will be March 10th at Wellesley and Merrimack College and the semi-finals will be at MIT, March 24.

You'll remember that I raved about the new ICA, the Institute of Contemporary Art which has new facilities on Boston's waterfront. Well, now there's an extra reason for you to attend (the museum is a little small to make a special trip when nothing else is happening). Check out Streb vs. Gravity at the ICA, which is modern performance dance, and looks interesting. They will be throwing and dangling heavy objects and themselves all over. Feb 22-25, http://www.icaboston.org, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA, 617-478-3100.

The strangely named Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival is Feb 24, at the Somerville Theatre. http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. I believe this involves ukeleles and music.

Also a benefit you won't be able to afford to attend is Betting on a Cause & A Cure, Feb 24 at the Charles Hotel. Cambridge, MA. 617-346-5900. It's an annual black tie & gambling event, starring actors Denis Leary, Michael J. Fox, Cam Neely of the Boston Bruins. Cockatails, dinner, gaming, live auction, brunch following day. Benefits the cancer, parkinsons, and firefighters charities.

This week, Orson's Shadow opens. It is a play about film director Orson Welles, and was billed as the "off-Broadway hit comedy / romance, selected by Time Magazine as a top play of 2005". This means it wasn't an award winner, for those of you who don't read these things skeptically. But strange enough for me to list. New Repertory Theatre, Arsenal Center for the Arts, 200 Dexter Ave, Watertown, MA. http://www.newrep.org. 866-811-4111.

And now for recurring events I mentioned earlier!

I tried salsa dancing at Ryles and it was awful. The instruction just rushed us through about 30 steps, I kid you not, before having us try it with a partner. To counterbalance that, I tried learning swing dancing at Swing City in Newton and it was fantastic. http://www.wannadance.com. Fridays.

Also saw the animation exhibit at the Museum of Science, it was surprisingly well done, and free too. Through May 16. Also they have just opened a new exhibit on Darwin. I saw a Darwin exhibit at the NYC Museum of Science and if it's the same, it's also awesome.

John Mayer is still coming Feb 26 to the Mullins Center, wherever that is. 413-545-0505. A Midsummer Night's Dream continues to Mar 3, http://www.bcaonline.org.

Have fun!

-Johnny

Hey-o,

There's a new IHOP in Harvard Square at 16 Eliot Street, Cambridge. They're open to 2am daily. The IHOP in Newton off Soldiers Field Road never closes, I think. Anyway! They are having a Free Pancake Day on Feb 20th, all day, to support some kind of charity.

-Johnny

Hey-o,

A few extras, the Boston Athenaeum, which is kind of an ancient and big library & museum, is having a new showing for their 200th anniversary. http://www.bostonathenaeum.org. It was one of the five largest museums in the country around 1851. Today, not so much.

How did I almost miss this one amongst the great and the weird? The Great Burlesque Expo, Feb 16-19, http://www.burlesque-expo.com.

Also see the "Sex Workers Art Show", a cabaret show with dancing, antics, burlesque stuff, a stripper historian. Coolidge Corner Theater, Feb 17, Midnight, Brookline. http://www.sexworkersartshow.com. 617-734-2500.

Ever heard of the Singularity? That's when humans are supposed to disappear because technology will advance so far that we can't even imagine what we'll transform into now. But they'll try. Philosophy Cafe, McIntyre & Moore Booksellers, 255 Elm St, Somerville, 7:30pm, Feb 20. http://mcintyreandmoore.com.

-Johnny

Hi all,

Happy V-Day. Whether you're celebrating or hating all the people out there celebrating, I hope this post makes you smile. I put in about 2 hours a week for about 100 readers and myself, so there is a small amount of love-for-the-world flowing your way whenever I post. So -- this one's for you! Someone has recently made some hateful and untrue comments about me, so send a little support my way as well if you would like. :)

Tonight only! Valentine's Day Massacre, some sort of Vagina Monologues style comedy theatre event, http://twogirlsforfivebucks.com. 9pm, Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston, MA, 857-891-8739.

Also tonight for Valentine's Day! Flirt Fest, 6:30-10pm, Mansion, a new nightclub, 1 Boylston Place, Boston. http://www.BostonEventGuide.com. Or pick up the Improper Bostonian, they have a bunch of nightclubs doing stuff tonight and I don't usually bother to list clubs, bars, restaurant events... too banal.

The weird event of the week is sledding! I've been carrying around sleds in my car's trunk waiting for a day like today. Special sledding section below all the other events.

The most unique event of the weekend is the Merrimack River Eagle Festival, MA, Feb 17, in Newburyport. http://www.massaudubon.org/eaglefestival. Right now the forecast says Saturday will be sunny and relatively non-killer. They'll have live eagle displays and you can go birdwatching and try to spot eagles.

Think puppets are just for kids? Puppet Regime has special shows meant for adults (and others for kids). I haven't seen it, and I can't tell if it's engaging, but I do feel that you're unlikely to see any OTHER puppet show that's better targeted for adults. So check it out. http://www.breadandpuppet.org. Feb 12-18, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA. 617-933-8600. Geopolitical events, with kid-friendly matinee.

The Boston Science Fiction Film Festival is this weekend, Feb 18-19. Somerville. http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com/somerville/schedule/events.php. Somehow they managed to schedule that conflicting with Boskone, nice going guys. Because it is too cold for outdoorsy active stuff, you have my blessing to waste your time with film festivals.

What is Boskone? Only the co-biggest (with Arisia) fantasy / sci-fi convention in New England! Feb 16-18. http://www.nesfa.org/boskone. Westin Waterfront, Boston. Overly intellectual readers wishing they were elves.

Or mix that up with the seriously sub-intellectual Monster Jam Truck Rally. Basically the idea is that cars smash each other. And this is in the same space that I saw Sarah McLaughlin perform, so I am wondering how they do that. DCU Center, Worcester. http://www.eviltickethandlingfees.com. Woops, I got that web address wrong. It is http://www.ticketmaster.com. 617-931-2000. Gratuitous automotive carnage and fun for the whole family.

For those who need a super injection of weird, try Model Train Weekend at the National Heritage Museum. It's a great museum, I've visited twice now and they have modern new exhibits with real style, and for a guy like me who grew up locally and was bombarded with American Revolutionary War History, their museum about the 18th century was surprisingly fresh. http://www.monh.org, 33 Marrett Road, Concord, MA, 781-861-6559. Annual display by the Northeast Ntrak Modular Railroad Club.

Speaking of weird little events that will get you off your sofa and out seeing some of New England's great museums, check out [SENSE]ation Day at Fuller Museum. They'll have a bunch of interactive performances, participatory arts making, candy making demonstrations, Japanese paper dyeing, mask-making, etc. May be kind of a kids thing, but hey, I am a kid at heart. Sunday Feb 19. http://www.fullercraft.org, 455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA. 508-588-6000.

Oliver Twist opens this week, Feb 17 - Ma 24. Don't get all excited, this is not Oliver the musical. It is the adaptation by Neil Bartlett. Also, the last thing I saw at the Zero Arrow Theater, involving Don Quixote, was too interpretative and basically tremendously awful. I assume this is not the same people? http://www.amrep.org/oliver/

If anyone cares, Cats opens Feb 20th at the Opera House. It's just the kind of thing your arty friends will turn up their noses at. Yet for a time I believe it was the longest running or best-selling musical. Basically, if you like Phantom of the Opera, you'll like Cats. Same dude, Andrew Lloyd Weber. I've heard that Cats is sort of for kids. I dunno. I'd like to see it.

Also the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival is happening, Sheraton Hotel Framingham, Feb 16-18, Framingham, MA. http://www.bbu.org/jvhome.htm. I've been to a different bluegrass festival and the music, in which lyrics are important but the chords are kind of all the same, didn't grab me.

More film festivals. There's a film event called the BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour coming up. Feb 20-22 @ 7pm. Top climbers describe mountaineering exploits. Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it, until you realize that nobody is speaking, the director won't be there. Basically it's some films. http://www.regenttheatre.com/events/banff.htm. Regent Theatre, Arlington. 7 Medford Street, 781-646-4849.

Also, get your costume ready, because it's Harry Potter Fest. Feb 20-23. http://www.coolidge.org. Coolidge Corner theater in Brookline.

Also at the Coolidge, An Unreasonable Man, which is the Ralph Nader flick. Highlights the story of aa crusader and presidential candidate who was a little too idealistic to make a difference in the world. That is not an event, just a movie, but I thought I'd mention it.

Chinese New Year celebrations have again eluded me. There's supposed to be a parade, but nobody advertises it on the Web. I guess Chinatown is such a close community that they assume we'll see their posters. Please email if you have info.

Seriously famous author Normal Mailer is reading from his new book Feb 15th at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617.661.1515. 6:30pm.

Continuing events, How I Learned To Drive, thru Feb 18, at the Devanaughn Theatre, http://www.devtheatre.com. A Midsummer Night's Dream, set to ballet, thru Mar 3, http://www.bcaonline.org. Doubt thru Feb 18, http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. Regattabar Jazz Festival, thru Feb 16, http://www.regattabarjazz.com.
Also as I mentioned last week, the Hasty Pudding Man/Woman of the Year Awards are coming up. See http://www.hastypudding.org.

Also, I finally went to magic night at The Hong Kong, every Tuesday, and it was fun. Highly recommended. Arrive a little early and they have card magicians doing close up magic. http://www.thecomedystudio.com.

Here's a heads up on some upcoming stuff you might want to buy advance tickets to. I do NOT believe in listing everything! Like the rest of my weekly blog, I only list the fun geeky stuff I'm personally interested in. John Mayer, Feb 26, Mullins Center. Harlem Globetrotters, TD Banknorth Garden, March, http://www.ticketmaster.com. The Chieftains play Symphony Hall annually, March, Symphony Hall, http://www.bso.org/symphonyHallHome.jhtml?sh=1&_requestid=72607. Nickelback, March 11, DCU Center, Worcester, http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/8205/710632/?brand=dcucenter. WERS All A Cappella Live, March 11, Cutler Majestic Theatre. Cirque Eloize - Rain, www.celebrityseries.org, Mar 13-18. Christina Aguilera, Mar 30, TD Banknorth Garden. Loreena McKennitt, Apr 21, Citi Performing Arts Center's Wang Theatre, http://www.citicenter.org/club. Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, http://www.alvinailey.org, Also the Wang.

-Johnny

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SPECIAL SLEDDING SECTION

Here are some ideas for great places to go sledding. Most of these came from contributions, not places I've personally been to. Please email me with more!

-- Danehy Park, Cambridge. I've been there, a great one and where I usually go! For mapquest purposes, see 99 Sherman Street, Cambridge. Closest T stop: Alewife.

-- Blue Hills, in Canton. I've been there, it's great.

-- Olmsted Park, JP. From Rte. 9 south to Perkins Street, just before Jamaica Pond. Just south of Rte. 9 is a prime location for seeing ducks, swans and geese. Some great sledding toward Jamaica Pond.

-- Marine Park, South Boston, abutting the MDC Murphy Skating Rink

-- Boston Common has a hill, with the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.

-- Belmont Country Club on Winter Street. I'm told the Oakley Country Club in Belmont off Belmont Street no longer allows sledders.

-- Mt. Hood in Melrose. Supposed to be great.

-- The Sheepsfold over in the Middlesex

-- Lexington High School has a pretty good hill behind it

-- Prospect Hill in Waltham. "Its a bit of a hike up but its awesome."

-- Allston/Brighton: Hobart Street Playground, Hobart and Raleigh Streets.

-- Edgerton Park, but I don't know where this is!! Allston?

-- Arnold Arboretum, South Boston.

-- Millenium Park, South Boston. 1205 VFW Pkwy, Boston. Although I've only been there in summer, I believe there are some big hills.

Hey-o,

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

Somebody in Lowell thought it would be great to have a Lowell's WinterFest Celebration, Feb 9-10. Unfortunately it will be a bit chilly this weekend (high of 32F). However, the event features a soup bowl competition, juggling clowns, and the "National Human Dogsled Competition". I swear I am not making that up. http://www.lowellwinterfest.org. Lowell, MA.

Further off into the impractical spectrum, there will be a Peace Vigil, Feb 9th, on Cambridge Common in Harvard Square, Cambridge, 6-9pm. Bring a candle. This is not a political event, just a sit in. http://www.earthspirit.com/events/peacevigil.html.

It does get weirder. Bo Diddley is still alive, the legendary singer and guitarist, and one of the founders of Rock & Roll. He performs Feb 10th at the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St, Cambridge. http://www.charleshotel.com.

The Beatles are not still all alive, but a tribute band, Revolution - A Tribute to the Beatles, is performing Feb 10th at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville. http://www.songstreetproductions.net/

Vietnamese-Americans are also celebrating TET, a major holiday. Some bad stuff happened on one particular TET, but we're forgetting that. And the only vietnamese event I know of all year, so hit it up. Bayside Expo Center, Boston, MA. 617-474-6000. http://www.baysideexpo.com/eventDetail.php?id=1165414045.

Darwin Day is also occurring, Feb 12. http://www.darwinday.org. A bunch of events are happening worldwide. Do a search for ", ma" on the page http://www.darwinday.org/englishL/home/2007.php. For example, Redline the bar at 59 JFK St, is doing a Toast to Darwin, http://www.naturalism.org/darwinday.htm. A bunch of churches are hitting the evolution question. And the Boston Photonics Center hosts, "Biological Arguments Against the Existence of God", Feb 13, Rm. 428, Boston University Photonics Center, 8 St. Mary’s St., Boston, MA.

Also, the Special Olympics Passion Plunge is happening again, Feb 10th at Revere Beach. Those poor kids! http://www.passionplunge.org/

Every heard, the theatre students at Harvard (which has no theatre department) host an awards ceremony called the Hasty Pudding Man/Woman of the Year. This year, their pics are Scarlett Johansson (Feb 15 parade) and Ben Stiller (roast Feb 23). You can buy tickets, at http://www.hastypudding.org/pages/show/moywoy.shtml. And do it NOW, they're bound to run out.

There's still a Korean Drum/Dance Workshop at MIT, Feb 9-11, http://web.mit.edu/oori/www/workshop.html. Although you have to register to actually be instructed, presumably they'll allow bystanders to stop by and listen.

There is a heavily advertised Chinese cultural performance happening Feb 10th, called Boston New Tang Dynasty Chinese New Year, http://shows.ntdtv.com/indexa.html. It's a dance performance and concert.

Also Garrison Keillor is speaking Feb 11. He's the guy from NPR's Lake Wobegone, and who starred in the recent film, A Prarie Home Companion. Symphony Hall, Boston.

That's pretty much it for weird.

Performances, there's a "Flamenco Festival", in other words a concert, Feb 9-11 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, MA. 800-233-3123. http://www.maj.org/P2007/wmflam.html. And the Regattabar Jazz Festival is Feb 9-16, http://www.regattabarjazz.com. Another concert series masquerading as a festival.

I just heard about How I Learned To Drive, thru Feb 18, at the Devanaughn Theatre. The story of a young woman who learns about life while learning how to drive a car. Paula Vogel's brilliant Pulitzer Prize-winning play. http://www.devtheatre.com. 791 Tremont St, Boston.

I don't normally list food events, because they're too commercial, but two major ones are occurring. The Anthony Spinazzola Gala Festival of Food & Wine, is I believe the biggest (and probably most expensive) charity food event. Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Feb 9. And the Boston Wine Expo happens Feb 10-11, http://www.wineexpoboston.com/pm.

Continuing theater, Silence, http://www.newrep.org/a/0607/silence.html. Britannicus continues to Feb 11, http://amrep.org. The African American Theatre Festival goes to Feb 11, http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=3646&src=t. A Midsummer Night's Dream, set to ballet, thru March 3, http://www.bcaonline.org. Doubt thru Feb 18, http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Have fun. P.S. Please get your friends to sign up to the mailing list at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/johnnys-list.

-Johnny

Hi!

I'm a little late this week; I've just moved into a new Cambridge apartment with a hot tub. Yow!

Plenty of weird to go around. There's a robot competition at MIT, in Cambridge, Feb 3. Students build software-only robots and have them compete in a virtual world. Final Tournament: Feb. 3, 7PM, in Kresge. http://web.mit.edu/6.370

Also, at MIT, a topic called Charm School. All the geeks get to learn social niceties such as how to eat dinner politely, fashion sense, and how to shake hands. Check it out, it's not like they check IDs or anything. Feb 2. http://web.mit.edu/slp/charm. Student Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA. 12-5pm. No signup required.

Not weird enough? How about the Atwood's Tavern Bacon Eating Contest. That's right. All the bacon you can eat. And then some. Feb 3. 877 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA. 617-864-2792. http://www.atwoodstavern.com.

Or see the Special Olympics Passion Plunge. They take mentally challenged kids and convince them that swimming in the ocean during winter is a good idea. Does that sound cruel to anyone besides me? http://www.passionplunge.org. Nantasket Beach or Indian Lake, Worcester on February 3rd and Revere Beach on February 10th!
Still not weird enough? How about meeting Mark Twain -- sort of. A re-enactor will portray the famous pundit and author at, An Evening with Mark Twain, at Amazing Things, 55 Nicholas Rd, Framingham, MA, on Feb 7.

Being a surprisingly busy Wednesday, it's also Feb 7th Vagina Monologues day. See Vagina Monologues at MIT, http://v-day.mit.edu. Cambridge, MA.

Did you hear about Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth? It's a surprisingly non-political look at the science of global warming. They are showing it free in Newton this week because it was nominated for an Oscar. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St, Newton, MA. 617-796-1360. Free, with a discussion after the screening. Feb 3. http://www.ci.newton.ma.us.

Now, some performances.

Colin Quinn, the famous comedian, is coming to the Comedy Connection, Feb 2-3. http://comedyconnectionboston.com. 617-248-9700.

Also, catch A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Shakespeare classic, set to ballet dance. http://www.bcaonline.org. Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. 617-426-7700

"Complexions" looked interesting to me, they are a new age dance troupe, Feb 2-3, Tsai Center @ BU, 685 Comm Ave, Boston. A program of original dance set to Bach, Beethoven, Marvin Gaye, Sinead O'Connor, & others. 617-482-2595.

Also, Justin Timberlake is performing, with Pink. Feb 6. TD Banknorth Garden.

On the geeky side, go play board games at Exploit Boston Game Night, at Soul Fire, 182 Harvard Ave, Allston. 617-787-3003. 7pm. Free. http://www.exploitboston.com. Tue Feb 6.

The archenemies of game night are the high culture art socials to be found at the "First Friday" celebrations. Feb 2 at SOWA (http://www.sowaartists.com/), BCA (http://www.bcaonline.org), and MFA, http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=73. Go drink cocktails, see art, buy art, pick up hot art students.

Recurring events, see previous blog entries at http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com. the Environmental Film Festival @ MIT continues to Feb 3, http://web.mit.edu/sfgs. Silence continues, http://www.newrep.org/a/0607/silence.html. Britannicus continues to Feb 11, http://amrep.org. The Winter's Tale ends Feb 3, http://www.cmacusa.org/. Reefer Madness at the MIT Musical Theatre Guild ends Feb 3, http://mit.edu/mtg/www/. The African American Theatre Festival goes to Feb 11, http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=3646&src=t. And the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival goes to Feb 4, http://www.kcactf1.org.

Finally, it's WinterJam Weekend at the Folk Arts Center of New England. http://www.facone.org/programs/program/winterjam/winterjam.htm. Fairlee, VT. Not close to Boston but if you want a folk festival, there ya go.

Finally finally, Doubt is opening, which won the 2005 Tony Award Best Play, Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and Tony Award Best Actress. Colonial Theatre, Boston. Feb 6-18. http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Have fun

-Johnny