April 2007 Archives

Hi all,

Here's what's weird this week in New England.

At MIT they have this thing called the "Baker House Piano Drop". Somehow every year they manage to find an old piano, and drop it from the dorm roof. I am not kidding. 6pm today, Thu Apr 26. Preceded by a BBQ. Baker House dorm at MIT, Cambridge. Use the MIT map to find the dorm at http://web.mit.edu.

Also weird, there will be a re-enactment of 19th century singing troupe which appeared at rallies for social causes such as slavery abolition and women's suffrage. Hutchinson Family Singers, Apr 28-29, Edwards Church, 297 Main St. Northampton, MA. http://revels-northampton.com

Speaking of anti-everything, how about anti-creationism. Come check out the Great Tennessee Monkey Trial, also known as the Scopes Trial, Apr 26-27. Stars Ed Asner (Mary Tyler Moore Show) and John de Lancie (Q from Star Trek). I heard this on NPR and it sounds good. New Bedford, MA. Also Concord, NH, Apr 29-30. http://cms.latw.org//latw/Article.aspx?index=68&action=Schedules

As if by cue, this is the last weekend to see "Darwin" at the Museum of Science, Boston. http://www.mos.org

Speaking of the Museum of Science, Boston, apparently they are having some kind of robot musical performance Fri Apr 27, see http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org. 7pm, 8:30pm.

Have you ever seen aerial silk? That's the Cirque du Soleil stuff where acrobats climb, hang from, and swoop around on long strands of silk rather than ropes. It also features "Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band". Anyway I'm really not sure what to make of this, but it's my job to bring you the weird and here it is. There's going to be a performance Apr 29, 5:30pm at Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St., Jamaica Plain, MA. http://www.spontaneouscelebrations.org. Also see http://www.myspace.com/ensmb

Here's another one I'm not sure quite what to make of. Some geeks at Harvard are converting Gund Hall, a 400-person lecture hall, into a gaming extravaganza. Play the WII, play DDR, play with others, play with yourself. Um, by yourself. Apr 28. Gund Hall, at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard, at the corner of Quincy and Camrbidge Streets in Cambridge. http://www.imultiplay.com

I can never resist listing the SCA events. Where else can you go to see geeks (and I am one) bopping each other with phony swords? Or to take part in a Renaiassance-style feast or learn quilting? I'm sure it's worth stopping by. SCA May Day is one of 2 largest SCA Boston events for medeival re-enactment. Fencing, fighting, potluck, dance. 10am-10pm. Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, http://www.eastkingdom.org/event-detail.html?eid=1331

It's Annual Kite Day at Bose Mountain, Apr 29. That's in Framingham. http://www.kone.org/Site/Events.html

Yet another Open Studios is taking place, this time it's the Brookline Open Studios, Apr 28 & 29. It's a fun way to spend the day walking around, meeting local artists as they open their homes and private studios to the public. Oh, and of course most of the art is for sale. http://www.brooklineart.net/artist

The Charles River May Day Festival is May 1. It's always May 1, whether that's a weekend or not, because that's how May Day works apparently. Fortunately, even if you have to work May 1st you can still attend because they have conveniently scheduled it at dawn. Dawn in the morning, not the other dawn. I actually do not have a website for this, anyone have it? But I have http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/Red_Herring/schedule.shtml. Basically there is folk dancing at dawn, at the Weeks footbridge, Charles River, that's by the JFK St Bridge, followed by a small parade to Harvard Square.

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater has their annual performance this weekend and I've always wanted to catch it. Apr 26-29, Wang Theater, (800) 447-7400. http://www.alvinailey.org

It's officially Spring thanks to the Nantucket Daffodil Festival, Apr 27-29, Nantucket Island, 508-228-1700. 10,000 attend, but so what? It's just a good excuse to see the island. Cape Air, 800-352-0714, Nantucker Airlines 800-635-8787, Island Airlines 800-248-7779, or ferry from Cape Cod. Annual Antique and Classic Car Parade, and the Annual Tailgate Picnic, as well as activities such as hiking, fishing, bird watching, and seal cruises. Right now the weather's not suppoesd to be in the 60s but rent a bicycle and you'll make your own heat.

After being closed for repairs, the Bunker Hill Monument is open for viewing. I've never been, but I have read that the fighting there during the American Revolutionary War was incompetent on both sides. Essentially the Americans put themselves on a peninsula and could easily have been cut off. If the British had been competent, the revolution would have ended and today we'd all be speaking English.

Oh wait.

Heads up, Tracy Morgan, one of many former Saturday Night Live comedians comes to the Comedy Connection May 4 and May 6, Comedy Connection, 245 Quincy Market Place, Boston, MA. http://www.comedyconnectionboston.com. And you can check out Jason Alexander, who played Costanza on Seinfeld, as part of the Huntington Theatre Company's 2007 Spotlight Spectacular. Google it.

The Boston College Arts Festival is Apr 26-28, http://www.bc.edu/arts, Boston College, Brighton MA.

The Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race is Apr 29, Herter Park, Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA. 508-698-6810. This is not an exclusive event where you just watch, go ahead and join 1,800 others in this race! http://www.crwa.org/index.html?rotc/rotc.html&2

Theatre stuff, Confessions of a Mormon Boy is a play about a transition from super Christian to druggie loser to getting-his-act-back-together. Doesn't seem to be overly religious in tone. Check it out. Apr 25-May 19, BCA Plaza Theatre, 539 Tremont St, Boston, MA. 617-933-8600. http://www.bostontheatreworks.com

Also "The Wild Party" looks good, sort of a Great Gatsby without the tragedy. Set in the 1920s.New Repertory Theatre, Arsenal Center for the Arts, 200 Dexter Ave, Watertown, MA. http://www.newrep.org.

Also also, "The Ego and the Oracle" looks pretty good, it's at Jimmy Tingle's Off-Broadway, Apr 27-29. Basically someone in the audience asks a question about something big in their life, what should they do, and the comedians respond with a song about it. I think. It's a little hard to tell what this is. But I've been to Jimmy's, it'll be good.

Also x 3, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, by Stephen Sondheim, Apr 27-May 5, MTG Musical Theatre Guild, http://web.mit.edu/mtg

I keep finding more stuff here. The Marriage of Figaro, Shubert Theatre. Google it.

Ongoing stuff, Boston Cyberarts Festival to May 6, http://www.bostoncyberarts.org; Cambridge Science Festival to Apr 29, http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org; Boston Turkish Film Festival to May 11, http://www.mfa.org; Independent Film Festival to Apr 30, http://iffboston.org.

Finally, some info on sailing, canoeing, kayaking.

-- The MIT Sailing Center (on Mem drive near the Mass Ave Bridge) has free sailing courses Wednesday evenings. With an MIT athletic card and two free classes of training (anyone in the community can buy them) you can take their boats out anytime. http://sailing.mit.edu.

-- There is also Community Boating in Boston at http://www.community-boating.org, Spot Pond Boating in Stoneham at http://www.fells.org,

-- My personal favorite is Charles River Canoe & Kayak, out in Newton, http://www.ski-paddle.com.

-- Some of these that I've listed are more the canoe & kayak than the sailing. The good news, no training or certification is needed to take a canoe out. And for an urban guy like me it's weird and good to see that the Charles River becomes more wilderness-like as you get out West.

-- Finally, there are a ton of state parks that allow boating, canoeing, have rentals, etc. See them at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks.

Sailing and canoeing aren't exactly "events", but they are regular fun stuff and I list a lot of that in my big spreadsheet at http://serpermethod.com/blog.

If that doesn't hold you for a week, I don't know what would.

-Johnny

Hey-o,

Oh yes, Anime Boston is this weekend, http://www.animeboston.com.

And EcoExpo at MIT, a festival about greenery, www.cambridgesciencefestival.org

And "Breaking Ground Festival", which is about brand new theatre works, www.huntingtontheatre.org. Apr 19-22.

-Johnny

Hey-o,

A lot is happening!

Let's start with tonigh's weirdness. Tonight, Wed Apr 18, it's the Guitar Hero Challenge @ Common Ground Bar. This happens every Wednesday apparently. It's like karaoke except you play Guitar Hero, the videogame. There's also an air guitar movie out this week, Air Guitar Nation, Apr 20-26, Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St. Cambridge. http://www.brattlefilm.org. Later in the year I'll be alerting you to an air guitar competition.

Speaking of regular events, I've also just learned that Sundays are Frank Sinatra Sundays at Lucky's Lounge. It's a weekly tribute to Frank Sinatra with a live band playing and singing. The next one is Apr 21. 355 Congress Street, Boston. http://www.luckyslounge.com/calendar.html. Every Sunday, 8:30pm-12:30am. 617.357.LUCK.

This weekend is Earth Day, and a number of events are taking place. See http://www.earthday.net. Minor events all over. See the web. Earth Week Beach Sweep, and New England Conservatory Philharmonia TONIGHT Wed Apr 18. Also a very touching event from the "Umass Dartmouth reading and wrighting center". Sigh. Go little "wrighters", go!

Boston's is the largest celebration of Earth Day in USA. Featured is the "Annual Greatest Party on Earth". Apr 21, 8pm-1am. 700 attend, with cocktails, breakdancing and Samba performances, and an art exhibition. I can't tell if it's going to be fun or just weird. http://www.afhboston.com/Information/Events.html

While many are hugging trees, the rest of us are bioengineering mutants in our basements. Check out the Cambridge Science Festival, Apr 21-29. I've been surprised by the wide variety of events and the quality of the marketing. This looks like a great one. Apr 21-29, Cambridge. http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org. For example, there is a Science Trivia Contest, Apr 25, see http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org.

Somewhat weird, check out the Baishaki Mela - Indian New Year Festival. It's the only South Asian Indian event I'm aware of, and I'm sure it'll be good. Apr 21. Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA. 617-786-7720. http://www.bollywoodtalent.com. More than 10,000 revelers are expected. Vendors, Miss India New England pageant, and a team dance competition at John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St, and a dance party.

Also a regular event, the Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunt is happening again, this time it's the "Secrets of Salem", Apr 21, 5-7:30pm. Instead of roaming around stealing road signs, this scavenger hunt challenges you to find out the secrets of this haunted old-timey village. They do these regularly in Salem and at the MFA and elsewhere, and it seems like fun but I haven't tried it yet.

A friend of a friend is organizing a club night at Axis on Friday, Apr 20. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=179948350. They say "no dress code, the crazier, the better". 13 Lansdowne St, Boston. 21+.

This weekend is the New England Folk Festival. If you like folk music, come for the dance and music performances, but more importantly come so that you can join in. They have participatory folk dancing, mainly European, and plenty of participatory singing as well. I've been several times and it's a great one, if a small one. Apr 20-22, http://www.neffa.org. Note this year they are in a new location, at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, MA.

In the "not checking each other's calendars" category, it's the RI Folk Festival this weekend, Apr 21-22. This one I haven't been to, but it takes place in a coffeehouse so it sounds a lot smaller. Peeptoad Coffeehouse, 81 East Killingly Road, Foster, RI. Atwater-Donnelly is a favorite group of mine and will perform. And there is an "Bluegrass and Old-Timey Open Jam" on Sunday at 1pm.

I have urged you before to go to the ICA, the Institute for Contemporary Arts, which is Boston's new museum. I'm doing it again. "Ten's the Limit", Apr 20-21, is a showcase of choreographed dance with a limit of 10 minutes. Go see it and do the museum while you're there; it's awesome. http://www.icaboston.org.

This week also the Boston Cyberarts Festival opens. To me, a festival is a single place, single time event where you can mingle with others. So the Boston Cyberarts Festival is really a bunch of loosely connected museum exhibitions that involve technology in some way. But still cool and worth seeing. Apr 20 - May 6, http://www.bostoncyberarts.org. One example, Ideas in Motion: The Body's Limit, which is some amazing performance dance, at the Green Street Studios, 185 Green Street, Apr 21-22, http://bostoncyberarts.org/conf/iim2007/.

Speaking of science, after my reading their Web site daily for ages, Wellesley College's Whitin Observatory is finally having a public night. So you can go stargazing. Apr 22. http://www.wellesley.edu/Astronomy/publicnight.html. Wellesley, MA. 7-9pm. Talk on Cassini mission to Saturn. No RSVP needed; just show up.


Loreena McKennitt plays at Citi Performing Arts Center's Wang Theatre, http://www.citicenter.org/club, Apr 21. Bob Saget, the comedian, performs Apr 21 at the Orpheum Theatre, 1 School St, Boston. http://www.ticketmaster.com. 617-931-2000.

I don't normally list sports, but I can't resist martial arts movies, or live events. Check out the Annual Harvard Intercollegiate Kendo Tournament, Apr 21-22, Lavietes Pavilion, Harvard University, Soldiers Field Rd, Allston, MA. http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~kendo/shoryuhai.php. It's like sabre fighting but with kendo sticks, looks pretty cool. Best thing you can get outside of Star Wars.

Also there's the annual Champions on Ice performance, a benefit, which means it'll be expensive. TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA. http://tdbanknorthgarden.com/calendar_d.asp?ID=200311111130351011&TYPE=reg&MONTH=4&DAY=22&YEAR=2007. Some of the most famous skaters, including Michelle Kwan, Irina Slutskaya, Sasha Cohen, Tanith Belbin, Ben Agosto, etc. I'm sure it's good but I'm tired of winter sports and weather. It's spring!

Much more in the Spring concept, I'm quite excited to see Art in Bloom at the MFA. It's an exhibition of floral arrangements and artwork. Apr 21-24, MFA in Boston. http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=3409. There is a Monday Night Open House, with free admission from 5 to 9:45 pm. Or take a class on floral arrangement.

Advancing into a summer concept, every year the Boston Sailing Center has a Free Rides Day. I have no idea if it's insanely popular and if there will be long lines. Check it out and tell me, my little guinea pigs. I heard that the wait to ride the mechanical bull at "The Liquor Store" is only 15 minutes, so I guess anything is possible. Sailing Apr 21-22, Lewis Wharf, Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA. 617-227-4198. 1-6pm. Dress warm because it's not really summer yet! No experience necessary.

Finally, a winter concept, for those of you who prefer to stay indoors, not talking to those around you... the Independent Film Festival. http://iffboston.org. The closest thing we have to Cannes. Apr 25-30. Various theatres in the metro area.

Recurring events, the Big Apple Circus continues through April 26. I saw it, worth seeing but don't hurt yourself getting there quickly. It comes annually. The Museum of Science is still showing Animations and Darwin. Miss Witherspoon closes Apr 21, http://www.lyricstage.com/. Titus Andronicus closes Apr 22, http://calendar.boston.com/events/show/1056655-Titus-Andronicus-. And the Boston Turkish Film "Festival" continues to May 11.

Enjoy and see you next week.

-Johnny

Take part in one of MIT's newest Augmented Reality simulations! In this game, a mysterious environmental problem has been discovered on the MIT campus. You and your teammates need to investigate, determine the cause of the problem, and try to stop it from becoming a large-scale disaster. You'll be assigned a GPS-equipped handheld computer to guide you around the MIT campus, where you'll pick up the clues you need to solve the mystery. Each adult-child team (parent or other adult and child between the ages of 8-14) will be assigned a role in the game scenario, and will collaborate with other teams in averting disaster. Limited to 15 pairs of participants per session. Pairs can sign up in advance via tep-signup@mit.edu. Saturday April 21, 9:30AM - 12:00PM, 1:00PM - 3:30PM
Meeting location will be sent to participants holding reservations.

Since running a marathon is inherently unhealthy (it killed the first guy who tried it in ancient Greece), you need to load up on carbohydrates beforehand. Thus, the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner for Boston Marathon, Apr 15, Boston Metro, City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA

Also, Post-Race Dance Party, Apr 17, Boston Metro, The Roxy & Pure, 279 Tremont St, Boston, MA. 7:30pm-1:30am, celebration showing video highlights from the Boston Marathon

The Boston Children's Museum re-opens April 14 after renovations. I've been recently, it's worth seeing, even without kids, but they don't seem to be planning any kind of re-opening celebration open to the public.

Finally, I found another Patriots Day Website worth mentioning, http://www.battleroad.org/events.html. There's a Patriots Ball - Saturday, April 14, lots of historic walks and parades, and even a "Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony at the North Bridge" involving 500 people with flashlights and singing.

Hey-o,

I've mentioned in this blog / email list that I have a company focused now on event listings. We are ready to start making sales and take on investment. Please let me know if you know anyone who works for a newspaper company or is personally wealthy and might invest some cash. http://www.activityinfo.com is the Web site. Yes, it is rough, we are just starting out people!

The weird event of the week is the J. Cannibal's Feast of Flesh, which is a zombie movie and costuming event with dancing, prizes, and performances. Apr 13, at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, at 11:59pm. http://www.coolidge.org/node/764. I know guy who runs it and I've been to one of their shows, it really is a mini festival not just a pure film event. Check it out.

A close second is all the Patriots Day stuff. Did you know that Monday is not actually Boston Marthon Day? It memorializes the day the American War of Independence actually began in the 18th century, and they have a great re-enactment. Here is an overview. The Brits show up, the American militia flee. A few shots are fired. Then -- pancake breakfast and parades! :)

Battle of Lexington Re-enactment & Patriots Day Parades, Apr 15-16, Town Green, 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. 978-388-6749. http://ci.lexington.ma.us. 5:45am on Lexington Green. Other Patriots Day Weekend activities, see www.concordchamberofcommerce.org/patriotsdayevents.htm. Arrive an hour early or bring a stepladder for a good view. 6-10am Pancake breakfast and parade follow the re-enactment. 7:30am youth parade. 1pm Paul Revere Ride Re-enactment. Concerts, etc. 12-2:30 afternoon parade.

Wait one second! The weird just keeps coming. It's the Scrabble Tournament Regionals, Apr 13-15 in Westford, MA. Stop by and compete or just watch. http://www.scrabble-assoc.com/tourneys/listings.html#2007041320070415westf. The website looks lackluster but I bet it's worth a few minutes if you're in the area.

On the other end of geek from brainy to mindless, check out the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sing-a-Long, Apr 14th. If you don't know what this is, you don't want to attend, trust me. Coolidge Corner Theatre, http://www.coolidge.org/node/762.

MIT is holding at Rube Goldberg Machine Design Contest at the MIT Museum. A Rube Goldberg device is basically, um, when you flip a switch and it fries an egg which attracts a dog who pulls on his leash which releases a mouse who scurries onto a balance beam scale which flips over and ignites a primer cord, igniting a bunsen burner which heats some air, filling a balloon, which rises, etc.

Sorry, I got carried away there! Anyway this is not one to miss, however, I believe they are doing it for a high school which means it probably is not participatory for us regular non-high-schoolers. Still, it's just as fun to watch. Apr 14, Fay School, 48 Main Street, Southborough, MA. http://web.mit.edu/museum/rubegoldbergcontest/2007/contestlogistics.html. They also do a participatory version of this the day after Thanksgiving each year, watch this space. Actually don't watch it because I think you need to sign up in advance. So mark your calendar.

Every year the students at the Museum of Fine Arts, and yes, they do have a school there, hold an open market to sell their arts and pay for tuition. It's the School of the MFA Open Studios, Apr 15, http://www.smfa.edu/. I will alert you to the Mass College of Art one as well, in December, which is a little smarter because people want art stuff around holiday gift-giving time.

Also weird, the MIT Chantey and Maritime Sing. You would think once would be enough, but no, there is a group that meets regularly to sing sea chanteys! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me. Apr 15, at the MIT Sailing Pavilion in Cambridge, which is along Memorial Drive next to Mass Ave. I keep meaning to check this out. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/NE_ChanteySings/

For you collegiate citizens, XMortis is happening again, the Fetish/Goth night in Cambridge. Apr 13, http://www.xmortis.com, TT The Bear's, Cambridge, MA. I mentioned it because it's the only 18+ not 21+ event of this type that I know of, and a lot of under 21 people are on this list.

Yes, yes, it's the Boston Marathon, but you already knew about that so I am listing it last. Apr 16. http://www.bostonmarathon.org. Copley Square and everywhere. If you've never been because you think all sporting events are kind of dumb, I encourage you to check it out. There is a huge amount of energy in supporting the runners and it's impossible to not have a smile on your face as the wheelchair racers zoom by way in front of the main pack.

Ongoing events: Miss Witherspoon to Apr 21, http://www.lyricstage.com; Titus Andronicus to Apr 22, http://calendar.boston.com/events/show/1056655-Titus-Andronicus-. And the Boston Turkish Film Festival thru May 11, http://www.mfa.org.

Also ongoing, I went to the Big Apple Circus last week and I think it's worth seeing. There were a couple of wow performances, and many worth seeing, but it wasn't all wow. It's a small venue so don't pay extra for the ringside tickets. Anywhere is fine. Big Apple Circus, to Apr 26, City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Plaza, Boston. http://www.bigapplecircus.org. (800) 922-3772

You are about to miss buying tickets for Loreena McKennitt, Apr 21.

That's enough for one week. Too bad about the pending snow. If you like this list please mention it to someone, they can sign up at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/johnnys-list.

-Johnny

Hey everyone,

There's an old warship the USS Constitution which is now a museum, it's in Charlestown.

They are having an easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday at 9:00am, following the 8:00am Easter Sunrise ceremony. http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil.

-Johnny

Hi!

Here's what's happening in New England this week.

Several events are competing for weird this weekend. First off, because it is Easter, there are a few secular easter egg hunts. Just about any church will have one as well so I've omitted them. All are on April 7th. Bring your own basket.

-- Apr 7. St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, http://www.caritas-semc.org/home/sitecontentlistdetail.asp?s=2824&ss=324.

-- Apr 7. Town of Wilmington MA, http://www.town.wilmington.ma.us/old/newsletter.htm

-- Apr 7. Charlestown Mothers Association. Shipyard Park, Charlestown Navy Yard, 10am sharp. http://www.charlestownmothersassociation.org.

-- Apr 7. Breakheart Reservation at 12pm at the Visitor's Center, in Saugus. I know about Saugus because I called them, the information is not on their Web site. I expect other easter egg hunts to pop up, check my blog late in the week at http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com.

Also weird, Banned in Boston, which is a night of skits and comedy, partly performed by local celebrities and politicians. It's a benefit, which means tickets are expensive and expected to sell out. Apr 5. Avalon, Landsdowne Street, Boston, MA. 617-524-7045.

I guess there's still snow -- at least up North! After two weeks of ski crash dummy events, now there's the Intergalactic Cardboard Sled Race at Mt. Sunapee. Apr 7. http://www.skinh.com.

Not weird enough? How about Breakonomics - a Breakdance Competition at MIT. La Sala De Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center, 84 Mass Ave, Cambridge. Apr 7. http://imobilare.mit.edu. 12-9pm.

Heads up, you will want to start planning for J. Cannibal's Feast of Flesh, a zombie film event, with costuming and prizes and dance performances. It's Apr 13. http://www.coolidge.org/node/764, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline.

Ongoing events, well it's the first fridays again. It's a social arty thing to do if you're a buyer, an artist, or just looking to date one. At the MFA, http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=73. At the BCA, http://www.bcaonline.org. And SoWA, http://www.sowaartists.com.

Miss Witherspoon plays to 4/21, http://www.lyricstage.com. Titus Andronicus ends Apr 7, http://www.artsboston.org/tickets/show.asp?shcode=1414&param2=&param3=&param4=&param5=&param6=&param7=&param8=&param9=&param10=. The Boston Turkish Film Festival goes to May 11, http://www.mfa.org. And the Big Apple Circus goes to Apr 26, http://www.bigapplecircus.org.

Heads up on thing you might want advance tickets for is next. I take the best 1% of a whole lotta stuff I read about. Loreena McKennitt comes Apr 21, http://www.citicenter.org/club. Bob Saget comes Apr 21, http://www.ticketmaster.m, Orpheum Theatre. Champions on Ice is an annual benefit by skating stars at TD Banknorth Garden, http://tdbanknorthgarden.com/calendard.asp?ID=200311111130351011&TYPE=reg&MONTH=4&DAY=22&YEAR=2007. The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater comes Apr 26-29, http://www.alvinailey.org. Riverdance comes Jun 20-Jul 18. Wicked comes Sep 12-Oct 14, http://broadwayacrossamerica.com/BAA.Public.Web/Pages/SeasonTicketHolder/BAACity.aspx?cityID=33. Darwin and Animation are still at the Museum of Science.

Other fun things to do, recurring events. Check out the Prudential Skywalk Observatory and the Top of the Hub restaurant. Prudential Center, Boston. It's not nearly as expensive and touristy as you'd think. http://www.prudentialcenter.com/play/skywalk.html.

Why not check out the New England Aquarium? They have live animal shows and their own IMAX theatre that is open late. http://www.neaq.org/visit/hours.php. Central Wharf, Boston. 617.973.5200.

One way to keep warm when it's still a little chilly is bicycling! There are bicycle trails all over the area, and places that rent. See trails at gorp.away.com/gorpapps/trails/searchresults.tcl?stateid=20. Rentals are about $25/day. Try Cambridge Bicycle, 259 Mass Av, or statewide listings at www.massbike.org/memship/shops.htm. Guided Bike Tours, see www.bostonbiketours.com. See http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/1171/?200626#Lin. See trails at http://www.ci.boston.ma.us/accessboston/pdfs/bicycleplan.pdf

Keeping this on the weird side, (a) you can take a Bicycle Tour of Boston, http://www.ciclismoclassico.com. And (b) you can rent a 7-person bicycle, http://www.bostonpedalparty.com in Kenmore Square Boston.

Ciao!

-Johnny