May 2007 Archives

Hi all,

This is the update on New England craziness.

TONIGHT! As I mentioned earlier, the Revels Spring Pub Sing is May 31. Basically you show up, you sing with them, you drink beer. Reservations are required, and while they do not note the genre, typically it is classical or folksy stuff such as sea chanteys.

Heading up the weird, The Midnight Seduction event I mentioned last week is coming up Saturday June 2! It's the only 'flirting party game' I've ever heard of, and invented by a friend from Philly. If you think you can out-flirt Boston's finest, or would at least like to try, check it out at http://bostonmidnightseduction.com

Also weird -- highly -- it's Cambridge Peace Day. Who better than Cambridgians to have the kind of delusional idealism to celebrate the practicality of utopia, if only everyone would just start recycling. June 2. Cambridge City Hall (795 Mass Ave) and the Cambridge Senior Center (806 Mass Ave). Performances, poetry readings, a workshop to make peace flags and workshops to "heal the body". I swear I am not making this up. Let's all build some giant puppets for peace! http://www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.cfm?storyid=1361

The Scooper Bowl is the world's largest ice cream festival. I heard once that Boston has more ice cream stores per capita than anywhere. We must be nuts, because we don't have the hottest weather in the country, that's for sure. Anyway, this benefits the Jimmy Fund, which is for cancer research in case you didn't know which disease. It's surprisingly fun, there's zero arm-twisting for donations, you just show up, pay your $7 and it's all you can eat ice cream donated by various sources. I went once and nearly hurt myself eating ice cream, but it was SOOO GOOOOD. Jun 5-7, Boston City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA. Group discounts available. Tue 11:30-6, Wed 11:30-8, Thu 11:30-6. http://www.scooperbowl.org

I have a confession. I simply cannot resist re-enactments. Theater, history, festival, all packed into one, and they're usually outdoors too. I basically list all the re-enactments I can find, and I've been to a few as well. You get to meet historians who are so energetic and passionate about their topic that they will actually dress up and spend the day "in character". I love that passion. Here are two this week.

It's a Civil War Encampment! In Amesbury, MA. No, the civil war never got to New England, but that's not going to stop anyone. Come meet the Northerns and the Southerners, June 2-3, 270 Main Street, Amesbury, MA. They'll have battle re-enactments, poetry, song, weapons demonstrations, and plenty of experts on hand. http://www.ci.amesbury.ma.us/home.nfs?a=amesbury&s=special&calEvent=4853

"Abigail Adams Meets Captain William Smith" is a American Revolutionary War re-enactment thing, basically it's a little play about the fellow who ran the Lexington Militia. Captain William Smith House, Lexington, MA. June 3rd at 2:30pm and July 29 at 2:30pm. http://www.nps.gov/ner/customcf/apps/eventcalendar/events/mimaevent18431265.html

I wouldn't go to Lexington just for that, but I've just been again to the National Heritage Museum, which is free, and definitely worth a visit. Also in nearby Concord, check out the Concord Museum, which has an AAA discount. There are about a dozen tiny sites to visit in the area, and you can even take a $45 bike tour (bikes and helmets provided). Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord, MA, (978) 369-9763, http://www.concordmuseum.org ; National Heritage Museum, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, http://www.monh.org ; Bike Tour of Concord, 978-697-1897, http://www.concordbiketours.com

Email me if you'd like the 'big list of everything'. What I do is I print it out and keep it in my car for spontaneity. It lists all the day and night parks, beaches, museums, attractions, arcades, dance nights, and so forth.

The JAMN 94.5FM Summer Jam is June 2. That's Boston's hip-hop radio station. Tweeter Center, Foxboro, MA. http://evilticketmaster.com

Here's one from the "where does he get this stuff category". The largest quilting event in New England is the Quilters' Connection Annual Quilt Show, and I've been. Sounds boring, doesn't it, but the quilts they display are genuinely works of art -- so it's worth an hour, especially if you've got a friend who's crafty and will go oooh and aaah for you. Jun 1-3, Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA. http://www.quiltersconnection.org/qshow.shtml

Ignite Boston is a brand new event run by O'Reilly, the publishers of technical books that go many of us geeks enjoy. They're having a social gathering and lecture on May 31, featuring a bridge-building competition. They give you 1000 popsicle sticks and some glue; you build the bridge that can hold the most weight without crushing. Personally I would put all the sticks in a tight bundle and make an extremely short bridge that could take anything. Tommy Doyle's, 96 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA.

I'm quite excited about the Vermont Balloon & Music Festival, Jun 1-3. You can camp there, and there will be concerts and many discounted balloon rides. Essex Junction, Vermont. http://cvexpo.org/VTBalloon.aspx

While you're there, check out the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Jun 1-10, Burlington, VT. http://www.discoverjazz.com

Aids Walk Boston is this week. It's yet another charity walk, June 3. Walk and help people, or just be lazy and sponsor somebody else to do your walking. http://www.aac.org

Boston Pride Week is Jun 1-10. This doesn't really conflict with Aids Walk Boston because the big event seems to be next weekend: the celebration June 9th, but there are several. http://www.bostonpride.org

For those of you missing Anime Boston, don't go into withdrawal. We've got your Tenchi Muyo at The Brattle Anime Festival. June 2nd. Brattle Theatre, Harvard Square, Cambridge. http://www.brattlefilm.org/brattlefilm/tbaf/

Speaking of movies, where better to see a film than a drive-in theatre. While there aren't any that are close to Boston, I've been recently and it's worth the trip. On Cape Cod there's http://www.wellfleetdrivein.com, and an hour from Boston on Rt. 2 in Lunenburg, MA there's the Tri-Town Drive-In, http://www.tritowndrivein.com. However, the one I recommend is the Mendon Drive-In, at 35 Milford Street, Mendon, MA. 508 473-4958. The trick is to go early, at least 90 minutes early, but bring a frisbee and some board games, some lawn chairs, and just enjoy the outdoors. The Mendon location has a sweet 1950s-style diner, too. It's sort a weird day-in-the-park-but-with-your-car experience.

The Dorchester Day Parade is June 3rd! Dorchester, for those who don't know, is gentrifying and you will no longer get shot there. This message paid for by the Real Estate Agents of Dorchester Incorporated. June 3. http://www.scidorchester.org/node/865

Possibly a little safer neighborhood (and always trying to compete with Cambridge for the Crazy Hippie Award) is JP, and they're having regular festivals on the first Thursdays of the month this year, called JP First Thursdays. It is a gallery event, which means, basically a commercial event in which galleries are open from 6-8pm instead of their normal 9-5pm. Oh wait, I'm wrong, they'll also have performances at two different venues and a poetry reading. OK, now I'm a little less cynical. The first one is June 7. http://www.jpcentresouth.org/news/1stthurs0706.htm

You must certainly avoid the Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-off in Newport, RI, except that it may be a great excuse to get yourself down to Newport and do the cliffwalk and see the old-timey mansions. Oh, and there's a beach with free red kelp thrown in. June 2. http://www.newportfestivals.com/Chowder-Cook-Off/ and the mansions at http://www.newportmansions.org

Another fine excuse to wander to RI, check out the Newport International Film Festival, Jun 5-10, http://www.newportfilmfestival.com

Here are some upcoming performances, which I generally list last because, well, it's effectively summer and a great time to not be indoors.

Chris Coxen's League of Characters is a comedy show featuring a lot of invented personalities and it seems, well, quite inventive. Stanford Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. 617-933-8600. http://www.chriscoxen.com/

Daman Wayans is appearing at The Comedy Connection, the only club venue that gets top-tier performers, June 2-3, http://www.comedyconnectionboston.com

Love's Labour's Lost is one of Shakespeare's comedies -- I caught the movie version, it's funny and worth seeing, though completely predictable unlike some of the better-known Shakespearian comedies. May 31 - Jun 24, at The Basement of the Garage, which has got to be the worst venue name around. Cambridge. http://www.actorsshakespeareproject.org

Ongoing events I've mentioned before: Arms and the Man to June 2, http://www.lyricstage.com/Arms.htm; Present Laughter, to Jun 17, http://www.huntingtontheatre.org; Hillary and Monica: The Winter of Her Discontent, http://www.gloucesterstage.org; Light in the Piazza to Jun 9, http://www.broadwayinboston.com; String Beings (Snappy Dance Theatre) to Jun 10, http://www.worldmusic.org/

Heads up for future events, the US Air Guitar Championships is Jun 8 at Harpers Ferry. Willie Nelson & family perform Jun 14, http://www.melodytent.org. Janeane Garofalo & Patton Oswalt perform June 17, http://www.berkleebpc.com. The Capitol Steps are a singing political parody troupe, as heard on NPR, June 23, http://www.maj.org. George Carlin, the comedian, performs at different venues Jul 27 and Jul 29, http://www.ticketmaster.com, and Bill Cosby performs Jul 29, also ticketmaster. John Mayer, July 17, also eviltickets.com. And the Reel Blues Festival w/ Bo Diddley is Jul 26, http://www.melodytent.org.

That ought to hold you for a week!

-Johnny

Hi!

Plenty of weird this week.

Let's start with the The Great Park Pursuit, May 19 - Jul 2, it's sort of an experiential scavenger hunt where teams are challenged to visit various state parks and compete for outdoorsy prizes. Learn to fish, build a campfire, ride a horse, etc. Must have at least one child to be a team. Or someone very short and willing to pretend. http://www.greatparkpursuit.org/

TONIGHT, MAY 24! It's the Revels Sing at Perkins School for the Blind. Revels are sort of a traveling funky chorus. They can't just hold concerts like regular people. They have to wave giant puppets on the Charles River or visit the Boston Childrens Museum. Sometimes its participatory, but I don't think this one will be. Perkins School for the Blind, 175 N. Beacon St. Watertown, MA. "rollicking sea chanteys and romantic ballads, lively instrumentals and tales of the sea" Anyway, they're blind, they're singing, go see it. http://www.revels.org

The version that's participatory is the Revels Spring Pub Sing, May 31, Doyle's Café, 3484 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. 6-9pm. http://www.revels.org

It just gets weirder. My friend Anon is running his flirting party game again, Midnight Seduction. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you have a flirtalicious mindset. June 2. Cambridge. Student discounts. http://bostonmidnightseduction.com

Ratcheting up the weird, go see Hillary and Monica: The Winter of Her Discontent. It's a play about what would have happened if Hillary and Monica had met during the Bill Clinton affair. A good excuse to visit the north shore and spend the day at the beach or whale watching. May 25-Jun 3, Gloucester Stage Company, http://www.gloucesterstage.org/

Oh, speaking of Gloucester, their annual festival, Celebrate Gloucester, is May 25-27. The idea is to schedule the festival on the coldest day of summer to attract tourists. http://www.celebrategloucester.com/

Not strange enough? How about the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast, in downtown Springfield MA, May 26. 413/ 733-3800. While you're there, check out the science museum. http://www.valleyvisitor.com

In the not paying attention to when Earth Day really occurs category, it's WBOS Earthfest, May 26, at the Hatch Shell, Esplanade, Boston. It's an outdoor concert and it's free. What's better than that? 12-6pm. Two stages, lots of exhibitors.

Not strange enough! These two should help. First, Construction Day at Davis Farmland is May 26-27. Davis Farmland is a petting zoo (with a huge corn field maze that opens in June) and they have hay rides and, in the fall, apple picking. Construction Day is when you get to ride the tractor! Unfortunately, apparently you need to bring a kid to attend. Call first to get an exception and tell them I sent you. I used to work at Davis Farmland, on the maze design. 145 Redstone Hill, Sterling, MA. 978-422-MOOO. http://www.davisfarmland.com

Also, it's the largest breakdancing event in Massachusetts, Unity & Respect Breakdancing Competition, May 26-27, Everett High School, 548 Broadway St., Everett, MA. Sat & Sun 12pm-8pm. http://www.bostonbboy.com

Here's one I have always wanted to go to. You know the street performers who hang out in Harvard Square every summer. Well, there is a weekend full of them at Faneuil Hall's Street Performer's Festival, May 26-28, Boston, MA. 617-523-1300. http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com

Here are four totally romantic and unique things you've never heard of! I never take paid advertisers by the way, I just post the things that look awesome, even if I originally get the information from ads.

Get a bike tour of Concord. Tour includes rental, $45 per person, and learn about the Revolutionary War. 978-697-1897, http://www.concordbiketours.com

Looking for something romantic? Try a gondola trip on the Charles River. Just walk in to join a group, or reserve an intimate tour for two in advance. Boston, MA, 617-876-2800, At the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. My friends tried it and said it was great. http://www.bostongondolas.com

I visited Urban Oasis recently and they have the only hot tub rentals in the Boston area. You can reserve a private room in advance, or -- get this! -- you can simply walk in anytime and they have a "community hot tub" but you would often have it entirely to yourself. It's quite inexpensive, 30 minutes is just $10. They do massage, too, in a totally professional way, not a New Age Crystals way. http://www.urbanoasiscambridge.com

Finally, watch planes arrive at Logan Airport. I just did this and it was awesome. A great spot is Yirrell Beach, in Winthrop. It's not like you see the planes off on the horizon. They fly directly overhead at a height of about 100 feet! As you may know all public beaches are open at night, too. Yirrell Beach, Shirley Street, Winthrop, MA. 617-846-8243. While I was there, I learned that Deer Island, lovely as it sounds, is a sanitation facility. http://www.discoverwinthrop.com/events.asp

If you're like me, you avoid galleries and their $10,000 price tags. However, you may want to check out the International Poster Gallery. Please don't tell me they have $10,000 posters! http://www.internationalposter.com

Here's an update on performances, which I generally put last because who wants to be indoors really when the weather's good.

Pablo Francisco is a comedian who does some great impersonations, search for him on YouTube and go see him May 25-27 at the Comedy Connection in Boston. http://www.comedyconnectionboston.com

Light in the Piazza won 6 Tony Awards in 2005, including Best Score. It's a romantic musical set in the Italian countryside. Go see it May 29 - Jun 9, at the Colonial Theatre, Boston, MA. http://www.broadwayinboston.com

I've always wanted to see the Snappy Dance Theatre. There's just something about modern dance that I love. So I'm excited to check out String Beings, at Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. It's done "in collaboration with" an MIT scientist. I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean. Have they invented better ways to fling each other around on the stage? Or is the art meant to be interpretive of science? 617-876-4275. http://www.crasharts.org

Present Laughter, May 18-Jun 17 is a comedy by playwright Noel Coward, at Huntington Theatre Company, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston. 617-266-0800. http://www.huntingtontheatre.org

Ongoing events I've mentioned before: Arms and the Man to June 2, http://www.lyricstage.com/Arms.htm

And I actually went to go see An Evening with Ladley & Craig, and it was only OK. They take no cues from the audience (I was wrong about that) and it gives the impression of being at least partly staged. The threshhold for humor is therefore higher. Fridays to Jun 22, http://www.improvboston.com.

If you liked any of these ideas, do me a favor and ask a friend to join the blog at http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com or the mailing list at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/johnnys-list

See you next week.

-Johnny

Hey-o,

I forgot one.

The weird event of the week is now changed to the
American Gerbil Society Show, complete with gerbil
olympics, judging, animal treasure hunt, banquet
dinner. May 18-19, Best Western Plaza Hotel, 340 Great
Road, Bedford, MA, 781-275-6700. http://agsgerbils.org

See you there :)

-Johnny

Hi all,

Not a lot weird is happening in New England, but plenty of arty stuff is.

The weird event of the week is the "Nest & Eggs" Exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. It's a new exhibit about (guess), and there's an opening lecture May 17 at 6pm. http://hmnh.harvard.edu

The Paper Cut Zine Library is a lending library of "zines", which are amateur or semi-pro magazines about politics, porn, science fiction, you name it. This is what bloggers did with their spare time before Web sites were invented. They are having their 2-year anniversary party, Saturday at 8pm. Cambridge. 617-492-2600. http://www.papercutzinelibrary.org/events.shtml

Annual Beacon Hill Hidden Gardens Tour is May 17. Beacon Hill Garden Club, Charles & Mt. Vernon Streets, Boston, MA, 617-227-4392, 9am-5pm, $25. Get to see the private gardens of a lot of rich people. http://www.beaconhillgardenclub.org

This week is also the Boston Celebrates Israel festival, May 20, 1-7pm. Music, dance, shopping, technology, kids stuff. It's at the "Dana-Farber Field House" at Gillette Stadium, http://www.celebrateisrael.org/

There's a walking tour of Chinatown scheduled for May 19, as part of the Brookline Adult Education program. Meet at the Chinatown Gate. Call 617-730-2700 to register by phone. 11:15am - 1:15pm and includes dim sum, $45. Also June 2nd. http://www.brooklineadulted.org/bin/catalog/bldCatalogPage.pl?File=FoodandWine.txt&Key=13

Speaking of Chinatown, the Chinatown Spring Festival is May 20, Boston. 617-350-6303. Throughout Chinatown. Free. 11am-5pm. I went to this one year and it was fantastic. So many performances, street vendors, a great party. http://www.chinatownmainstreet.org/

The Boston Theater Marathon is May 20. It's a ten-hour marathon of fifty 10-minute plays. Stanford Calderwood Pavillion at Boston Center for the Arts, Boston. http://www.bu.edu/btm/

There are also two open studios this week, the Newton Open Studios, http://www.newtonopenstudios.com and the SOWA Art Walk http://www.sowaartwalk.com which both feature a ton of local artists opening up their private homes and art studios to the public. Most of the art is for sale; go and support local artists. Along similar lines but not hiding their commercial nature nearly so well, the South End Open Market is every Sunday through October 28, http://southendopenmarket.com/

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is May 19-20, starting at the UMass Boston Campus, 800-510-WALK, http://www.avonwalk.org. Also you can ride a bike, well, a virtual bike since registration is closed, for the Brain Tumor Society in their "Ride for Research", Waltham May 20, http://www.braintumorsociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=RFR_2007Greeting

The Annual Boston Gay and Lesbian Film/Video Festival runs through May 20 at the MFA. http://72.5.117.145/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=51

Present Laughter, a comedy by playwright Noel Coward, comes to the Huntington, May 18 - Jun 17, http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/production.aspx?id=2577&src=t

KISS 108fm, Boston's pop music radio station, has their annual concert May 19, http://www.kiss108.com

Ongoing events I've mentioned in past posts, Confessions of a Mormon Boy, to May 19, http://www.bostontheatreworks.com. Dragonfly Festival (very-short theatre marathon) goes to May 20, http://www.devtheatre.com. Arms and the Man to June 2, http://www.lyricstage.com/Arms.htm. An Evening with Ladley & Craig, Fridays to Jun 22, http://www.improvboston.com. David Copperfield plays May 18-20, at Foxwoods in CT, http://www.davidcopperfield.com

The Brimfield Antiques Festival (Spring) goes to May 18, http://www.brimfield.com. And the sadly overrated Ancient Fishweir Project goes to May 31. The Mark Morris Dance Troupe performs to May 20, http://www.icaboston.org/programs/performance/

Ciao!

-Johnny

Hey everyone,

The Boston 48 Hour Film Project entices directors to create a film in less than 48 hours, and it looks fun so I thought I'd forward it along. There are screenings May 15th, and 16th at the Kendall Square Cinema and a "Best of" presentation June 7th at the Coolidge Corner Theater. http://www.48hourfilm.com/boston/

-Johnny

Hey!

What nice weather. Here's what's going on.

The weird event of the week is the Boston Zombie March. Over 200 people get together, bring your own costuming and makeup, and march like a ravaging horde of zombies, throughout Somerville and Cambridge, entertaining passersby. I went last year and it was fantastic, even though the event seemed to lack organization entirely. By this I mean, the event organizers, if they showed up, didn't say anything or do any leading. Anyway, go and bring a camera. Sat May 12, 6:30pm starting in Somerville. http://www.halfwaytohuman.com.

Also weird, two events involving morris dancing, a kind of folk dancing. First there is The "Kettle of Fish" Ale Festival, May 12, in Quincy. Then, more importantly, it's Lilac Sunday May 13, at the Arnold Arboretum. Lilacs bloom early and it's like the first day of Spring at this enormous park run by Harvard University. I've been several times -- check it out! http://www.mit.edu/~jcb/Red_Herring/day-of-dance/ and http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu

File this one under "confusing but worth a shot!". As best I can tell from their flyer, which says little comprehensible, there is a dance event called "Project Mayhem" at MIT and the best I can figure out, it is a modern dance experience where they'll include some skits. They say they'll have James Bond and Flash Gordon scenes, and robot hip hop with Indian bhangra. I would gamble on this to be a big winner. May 10-13, Little Kresge Theatre, Cambridge, MA, http://dancetroupe.mit.edu

Another weird one is the Scrabble Tournament Regionals, May 12, Worcester. Show up and gawk. I really have no idea how welcoming they are to people just showing up and taking a peek, but thought it wouldn't hurt to list the event. http://www.scrabble-assoc.com/tourneys/listings.html#2007051220070512worce

The weird continues. Burlesque By Women, For Women, May 15, at the Coolidge Corner Theater. Yes, it's a real burlesque troop. No, they're not going to admit men, but I doubt they're going to check genitals so maybe some guys in drag could sneak in. Oh wait, my gender is written on my drivers license, so much for that idea! Brookline, http://www.coolidge.org/ladiesonly

You've seen the cute robot competitions on TV. The place that started it all, MIT's class "2.007", is having their annual competition. I've been and it's a true experience, professional, big, they even have an announcer. If you've never been to any event at MIT this would be a good one to check out. May 15-16. Unfortunately their website fails to mention the location, but I found it here: http://events.mit.edu/event.html?id=7836308&date=2007/05/15

Oh! Very exciting! The world-class dance company, Mark Morris Dance Troupe is in town and performing at the ICA! This is another great opportunity to check out the ICA, which is only really worth the visit if there's something happening (on account of the ICA being smallish, not the quality of their stuff which is awesome opossum).

Yes, I really did just say awesome opossum.

Also exciting! There is a little known soul group in Salem, featuring Eric Reardon and Sarah Seminski, performing May 12 in Salem. I've been and highly recommend. A great excuse to make a day of it and visit Salem. 12:30-2:30pm Eric Reardon & Friends, Derby Square - Front Street. http://www.salemjazzsoul.com/

Theater stuff, check out Arms and the Man, May 4 to June 2, a comedy by George Bernard Shaw set in wartime Eastern Europe, 1885. Yes, they were early innovators in war even before WWI. Lyric Stage Company, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston. 617-585-5678. http://www.lyricstage.com/Arms.htm

Also, this looked interesting, at ImprovBoston they are doing a show called "An Evening with Ladley & Craig", May 4 to Jun 22, Fridays only. It's an improv comedy show about a Broadway musical lyrics & songwriting team who makes up songs according to the audience's cues. 617-576-1253. ImprovBoston, 1253 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA. http://www.improvboston.com

Crazy for You was the Tony award Best Musical of 1992. Gershwin music and a New York City playbody in a Nevada mining town. North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly, MA. 978-232-7200. http://www.nsmt.org

Also coming up are college commencement speakers, some of which caught my eye:

-- Gloria Estefan speaks at Berklee College of Music, May 12.
-- Tom Freston, creator of MTV Networks, speaks at Emerson College May 14.
-- Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek, speaks May 12 at Emmanuel College.
-- Bill Gates, who is Bill Gates, speaks June 7 at Harvard.
-- Robert Pinksy, former US Poet Laureate, speaks May 18 at Mass College of Art
-- Michael Bloomberg, mayor of NYC, speaks May 20 at Tufts.
-- Deval Patrick speaks June 1 at UMass Boston. See, here Deval Patrick is doing the right thing, unlike Bloomberg, by staying in his home state.
-- Madeleine Albright, former US Sec'y of State, speaks June 1 at Wellesley.
-- Dr. Steven Chu, head of Lawrence Berekeley National Lab, speaks 5/20 at BU.
-- Meanwhile my alma mater, MIT, features a former MIT president. Hmm. Not at all like the years we got Al Gore and Bill Clinton. You guys get a late cancellation? The Car Talk guys weren't available?

I don't usually do this, but here is an anti-recommendation. When I was in New York City I saw "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead", which is a parody of the Peanuts cartoon featuring Charlie Brown. Unfortunately, it was awful. Parodies should make intelligent commentary and not be full of awful dialogue, lengthy scenes with no plot movement, and crassness. We walked out. It is now playing in Boston at the BCA Black Box Plaza Theatre.

By the way, this week's Economist Magazine ranks cities around the world for "livability", which combines factors like culture, politics, weather, economic, medical, educational, recreational, housing. In the US, Boston is tied for 3rd place behind only Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Anything from sunny California is far down the list. Please mention this to your smug Silicon Valley friends.

Ongoing events I've mentioned in past posts, "Animation" at the Museum of Science, Boston to May 16, http://www.mos.org. Boston Turkish Film Festival to May 11, http://www.mfa.org. Confessions of a Mormon Boy, to May 19, http://www.bostontheatreworks.com. Ringling Bros. Circus in Worcester to May 13, http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/804232. Dragonfly Festival (very-short theatre marathon) goes to May 20, http://www.devtheatre.com.

The Brimfield Antiques Festival (Spring) goes to May 18, http://www.brimfield.com. And the sadly overrated Ancient Fishweir Project goes to May 31. I'm listing the latter because, well, it definitely fits my theme of weird, but please don't go out of your way to see it unless you're already in Boston Common.

Check my blog for late breaking news additions (most weeks I have some) at http://make-you-laugh.livejournal.com. I also have a myspace blog, email me.

Have a great weekend and see you next week.

-Johnny

Hey everyone,

Late breaking news, Kinodance is some kind of live dance with movie background and part of the Boston Cyberarts Festival, which is why it's so hard to describe. May 2-3, Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 617-482-6661.

Let's start the weirdness with the Cambridge Dulcimer Festival, May 4-6, Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 56 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA. (617) 547-6789. More a 'course' than a festival, but performances and storytelling. http://www.jonweinberg.com/dulcifest/ and http://www.ccae.org

However, the weird of the week has got to be Nerd Nite at Midway Café. May 5, Midway Café, 3496 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA. I've been lurking on this website for months and finally they announce an event! Basically it's a bar but instead of listening to music or banging your head against a wall, you discuss erudite topics of academic interest to the sophisticated, science, politics, I'm not sure what, they don't list anything. However, I read a review once and I think it's worth checking out. Also they have music after. http://midwaycafe.com and http://www.nerdnite.com/

Not weird enough? How about learning that May 5 is Free Comic Book Day! OK, it's a marketing event, but if it entices you to learn a little about comics, they'll hand out some freebies. http://www.freecomicbookday.com

Still not weird enough? Check out the Ancient Fishweir Project. I actually went to this last year. Here it is. Native American Indians used to catch fish by setting up a barrier of twigs and sticks at high tide and waiting for the tide to flow out, leaving all the fish trapped behind. They excavated an ancient one in the Boston Common area and every year they do a re-enactment. As curious as that sounds intellectually, in person, well, in person it is a squat wall of twigs. So check it out but only if you're already in the area. May 9-31, Boston Common by Charles Street, Boston, MA. http://www.fishweir.org

The Harvard Arts First Festival is happening May 3-6, in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Do not confuse this with MayFair, which is a separate event! It's like a mini-First Night Boston with music and performances at many venues throughout the city. 617.495.8676. Looks well worth it; check out their performance calendar. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~arts/

Meanwhile, the Harvard Square MayFair is happening, May 6. 18 Brattle Street, Cambridge, and all around. 12-6pm. All throughout Harvard Square. Live music, dance, street performers. Kids rides, art activities. Sidewalk vendors. This is much more of a marketing / street vendor faire. http://www.harvardsquare.com

Not to be outdone, Jamaica Plain is also holding a street festival celebrating a "victory" in the 1970s when they managed to avoid having Rt 93 go through Jamaica Plain. True, it would have made it harder to cross back and forth across the highway, but it would dramatically have driven up property values, created jobs, and brought a lot of money to the area. Contrast this with Harvard Square which has pretty much modernized and commercialized. Guess which festival will be more popular this weekend. Harvard's. So go ahead, JP, celebrate, but do it small-non-convenient-highway-style. Hope you still like it that way. Wake Up the Earth Festival & Parade, May 5, Jamaica Plain, MA. http://www.spontaneouscelebrations.org

Speaking of walking around, check out the Fort Point Spring Art Walk. Fort Point is this area of South Boston that's got the best art "scene". At least, I think so. May 4-6. It's basically yet another Open Studios, but the Fort Point people hold three a year and they try to disguise that by giving them different names. http://www.fortpointarts.org

The Somerville Open Studios is May 5-6. It's yet another arts expo where you can walk around and meet and greet the artists. Buy some stuff. I went once and ended up so excited that I spend 6 hours in Somerville and saw everything! 617-764-2287. Sat-Sun 12-6pm. Local arts exhibition. http://www.somervilleopenstudios.org

Another marketing event, the Spring Brimfield Antiques Festival is May 8-18. Everything I've read says that if you like antiques, and live in New England, this is the place to go to. Rt 20 at Rt 19, Brimfield, MA. (413) 245 3209. Largest in NE. http://www.brimfield.com

The Ringling Bros. Circus is in Providence, RI and Worcester, MA, May 3-13, http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/804232.

Tracy Morgan of TV fame (Saturday Night Live) comes to the Comedy Connection, May 4-6, Comedy Connection, 245 Quincy Market Place, Boston, MA. http://www.comedyconnectionboston.com

I don't list a lot of theatre, but this one caught my attention. The Dragonfly Festival is a very-short theatre marathon, May 10-20. Apparently its several extremely short works all packed together. The Piano Factory, 791 Tremont St., Boston, MA. 617-247-9777. http://www.devtheatre.com

The Boston Asthma Walk is May 5. Artesani Park, Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA. 781-890-4262. 3.1 mile walk along the Charles River. Registration starts at 8:30am. 10am. I'd like to know whose cute idea it was to round up all the asthmatics and make them jog around wheezing and puffing. Entertaining I'm sure. http://www.asthmawalk.org

I'll avoid cheeky comments about the Walk for Hunger, May 6, http://www.projectbread.org

Ongoing stuff, Boston Cyberarts Festival to May 6, http://www.bostoncyberarts.org; Boston Turkish Film Festival to May 11, http://www.mfa.org; "Animation" at the Museum of Science Boston to May 16. The Wild Party, a theatre show, to May 6, http://www.newrep.org. Confessions of a Mormon Boy, to May 19, http://www.bostontheatreworks.com.

Heads up, I've just learned that David Copperfield is coming to Foxwoods May 18-20, Mashantucket, CT, http://www.davidcopperfield.com. I've seen his show, it's magic in case you didn't know, and awesome.

The KISS Concert is May 19. Would somebody tell me how they manage to convince a dozen bands to all show up and play one or two songs? I've heard it's a great concert if you like pop music (KISS 107.9FM is Boston's big pop station). http://www.kiss108.com/main.html

And the Capitol Steps is coming to the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Jun 23. If you like NPR or the news, this is for you, they are a singing parody troupe poking fun at politics. http://www.maj.org/calmenu.htm

MassArt Fashion Design Senior Collections is May 4. Basically the students show what clothing they've been designing lately. No idea if it's worth seeing, but it's big enough that they hold it off-site. Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St, Boston, MA. http://www.massart.edu

Apparently there's a porn film festival I've never heard of before at the Coolidge Corner theatre at midnight, May 4-5. It's called "smorgasPORN", and no doubt it's bad, but hopefully good-bad, if you know what I mean. Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA, 617-734-2500. http://www.coolidge.org

I don't normally list gallery events, but the Boston Print Fair is May 4-5, at the Boston Public Library. I guess I just can't resist the word "Fair" which implies there'll be more to do than just standing around admiring the artwork and shelling out $10,000 a piece. That's 700 Boylston Street, Boston. In the McKim Building Conference Rooms. 617-266-6540. http://bostonprintfair.com

Finally, this Friday is the First Friday again at some arty destinations where you can socialize with the arts crowd. BCA, http://www.bcaonline.org; MFA, http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=73; SoWa, http://www.sowaartists.com/

Have a great week!

-Johnny