What's Coming Up in New England - Sep 24
You want weird; you got it. In fact there's too much to choose just one as the best.
J. Cannibal's Feast of Flesh, Sep 29, is a zombie themed costume competition, performance, and movie. I went last year and it was surprisingly fun! Saturday Sep 29 at midnight, Coolidge Corner Theatre. Brookline, MA. I called and what they mean is Saturday at 11:59pm not Friday at 11:59pm like last year. http://www.jcannibal.com
What's better than 3 hours of zombies? Eighteen hours of the poetry of Emily Dickinson! During the Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon, volunteers will read 1,789 poems in 18 hours. That's Sep 29, 6am to midnight, at the Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main Street, Amherst, MA. 413-542-8161. http://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org
Closer to home, but also poetry, the WCPA 2007 Poetry Contest Winners' Reading. Sep 30. Worcester, MA. http://www.wcpa.homestead.com/
It doesn't get much stranger than this. Did you know that Fluff, the sandwich spread made from marshmallows, was invented in Somerville? Well, they're having a festival to celebrate. "What the Fluff?", Sep 29, 4-7pm, Union Square Plaza, Somerville. They'll have food and games. http://www.unionsquaremain.org
Do you want to save the environment and see funky hybrid cars? Check out the AltWheels Transportation Festival, Sep 28-29. Last year the Sunday was at Larz Anderson Auto Museum but this year it appears to be both Saturday and Sunday at Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston. 508-698-6810. Also, the silver statue lady will be there. She's a performer who literally just stands around. http://www.altwheels.org
We haven't seen a re-enactment in a while. Here's one, Sep 29, Colonial Faire & Muster of Fyfe & Drums, at the Wayside Inn, by which I believe they mean the one at 72 Wayside Inn Rd in Sudbury, MA. As well as the military drills and parade, they'll have contra dancing and what appears to be a re-enactment wedding. http://www.sudburyminutemen.org/faire.h
It's not too late to visit King Richard's Faire, to Oct 21, weekends only, http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. That's in Carver, MA.
However! I have heard that the Connecticut Renaissance Faire is even better. Sep 29-Oct 21, in Woodstock, CT, which is only barely in CT and just 1.5 hours from Boston. Raine or shine. Weekends & holidays, 10-5:30. 860-923-0454. http://www.ctfaire.com
The MFA is having a free night for college students. Just bring your ID. Sep 27. http://www.mfa.org
Highly recommended! I've been to the Three Apples Storytelling Festival, Sep 28-30 in Bedford, MA. This appears to the most popular New England storytelling festival, and it's not at all just for kids. http://www.threeapples.org
Also storytelling, Laura Packer is giving her performance as part of the New England Fringe Festival, Sep 29, 9pm - "Death (because we all end up there)". Roxbury. http://www.laurapacker.com. The festival goes to Sep 30, http://www.nefringefestival.com/acts.ht
The Big E, is still going, the region's largest agricultural faire, to Sep 30, http://www.thebige.com, but you'll probably have just as much fun visiting the much closer Topsfield Fair, Sep 28-Oct 8. Arrive early to get good parking. I've been to this one and it's Moo-ey Oink-y Neigh-y fun. http://www.topsfieldfair.org
I didn't know that agricultural fairs had changed at all since 1850, but apparently they're having "An Early 19th-Century Agricultural Fair" at Sturbridge Village. I was just there a month ago and the re-enactment museum is wonderful even without an ongoing festival. You really owe it to yourself to go. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA. (508) 347-3362. 9:30-5. Craft demonstrations, food vendors, music. Sep 29-30. http://www.osv.org
Out west, I just visited the Amherst College Museum of Natural History, which has the world's largest collection of dinosaur footprints. It's not the biggest, but it's well curated and definietly worth seeing -- a delightful surprise that admission is free. On the campus of Amherst College, Rt 9 & Rt 116, Amherst, MA. 413-542-2165. Tue-Sun 11-4. http://www.amherst.edu/museumofnaturalh
While you're out west, the Apple Harvest Festival Craft Fair is Sep 29 on the Amherst Town Common in Amherst, MA. 413-545-2129. 10am-5pm. Looks fun but generic. http://www.amherstarea.com/events/i
This weekend is Trails and Sails Weekend, Sep 28-30, a loose collection of events all over the North Shore. You can go on a hike, take a tour of a cemetery, and see a salt marsh farm, or hear storytelling in Salem. Their really funky Web site is http://www.essexheritage.org/ts/
My favorite professor, Joe Haldeman, has won the biggest awards in science fiction for his novels. He makes appearances only rarely, so be sure to attend his book reading, "The Accidental Time Machine", Sep 27, at MIT Room 6-120 in Cambridge, MA. 617-253-7894. 7pm. Free.
Danehy Park Family Day happens every year in Cambridge at Danehy Park which is near Alewife. They'll have kids rides, arts & crafts, music and other performers, free t-shirts & snacks and other gifts such as kites! Sep 29. http://www.cambridgema.gov/DHSP2/da
Have you heard of the NBC show "Last Comic Standing"? They are coming to the Lowell Auditorium, Sep 28, http://www.lowellauditorium.com
Unfortunately for Lowell, there's a much closer open studios in Jamaica Plain. Jamaica Plain Open Studios, Sep 29-30, http://www.jpopenstudios.com
While you're in town, attend the Lowell Open Studios. This is when local artists let you intrude on their private homes and workplaces, mainly because they want you to buy stuff. But it's much more fun than a gallery experience. Lots of walking around, chatting with the actual artists. Sep 29-30, Lowell MA. http://www.lowellopenstudios.org
ZZ Top plays Sep 29, at the Bank of America Pavilion. They're b-b-b-bad to the bone. http://www.livenation.com
FirstWorksProv is an arts festival in Providence, RI, Sep 28 - Oct 13. I've seen their first act, Pilobolus on Sep 29. They are acrobats and dancers and it's wonderfully powerful, definitely worth seeing if you like gasping and modern dance. They'll have other performances and funky high-tech visual art installations, too. http://www.firstworksprov.org
The BeanTown Jazz Festival is Sep 28-29, Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA. http://www.beantownjazz.org
The Manhattan Short Film Festival at the MFA is Sep 29, at 5pm. http://72.5.117.145/calendar/event.a
The Boston Harbor Islands Regatta is Sep 29, a good excuse to take the ferry out and explore the islands while the weather's still good. http://www.bostonharborislandsregatta.c
98.5FM MixFest is a big concert thrown by one of the larger radio stations in town. Sep 29, at the Agganis Arena at Boston University. Boy so many things happen at the Agganis Arena. I wish MIT would build a huge concert hall and attract world-class shows like this. http://www.agganisarena.com/events/cale
Instead, MIT is opening an extension to the MIT Museum, and that's pretty col too, because it's probably the place where robots will start their world takeover. Sep 29 is opening day. http://web.mit.edu/museum/
Not to be outdone, the Museum of Science, Boston, is opening a new exhibit based on the TV show CSI, "Crime Scene Investigation". CSI: The Experience opens Sep 30, and runs to Oct 31. http://www.mos.org
Samaritans 5K Run/Walk and Family Fest is Sep 29, Artesani Park, Soldiers Field Road. Brighton, MA. 617-536-2460. It's not just a run along the Charles River. It ends with a festival with music, games, kid's events. Benefits the Samaritans, suicide prevention. http://www.samaritanshope.org
Obviously not reading the charity calendar, the Juvenile Diabetes Walk is the same day, 10am Sep 29 at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston. http://www.mass.gov/dcr/hatch_events.ht
Somebody crazy has put up a Web site with many of the playgrounds in New England. I notice they're missing the entire cities of Boston and Cambridge. http://playgrounds.eagletribune.com/
The Ghosts and Gravestones Tour takes you around Boston visiting various locations purported to be haunted. Sep 21-Oct 31, 7 nights a week. It's a 90 minute tour that perpetuates the kind of lack of critical thinking that goes into belief in ghosts. Also it's fun. http://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/
Continuing events: Wicked, to Nov 11. http://broadwayacrossamerica.com/BAA.Pu
It's not too early for Halloween! Below is the Halloween special. Note, all these haunted houses will have lines the later at night and the later in the season, so it's completely worth it to go early. Think haunted houses are stupid? The worst ones are (Spooky World) but the best ones are a kind of interactive theatre you just can't get elsewhere.
-Johnny
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HALLOWEEN SPECIAL -- only what's open this week
-- Barrett's Haunted Mansion, 1235 Bedford St, Abington, MA. 781-871-4573. MY RATING: A. Rt 3S to Rt 18S. 7-10:30pm daily except 1-5,10,11,12,31. A BIG one worth seeing. See website for coupons. You can also pick up coupons at the restaurant next-door. http://www.bhmansion.com
-- The Asylum of Horror, Fall River, right next to the Factory of Terror. Anawan St. Fall River, MA. 508.324.7709. MY RATING: A-. Sep 28-30, Oct 5-8, 12-14, 18-21, 25-31, 7-11pm. See website for coupons. http://www.asylumofhorror.com
-- The Factory of Terror, Fall River, MA. MY RATING: B-, but worth seeing if you are in town for the Asylum of Horror. Rt 195E to exit 5. Left off exit. Behind Dunkin Donuts. Sep 21-22, 28-30 @ 8-11pm, Oct 5-8, 12-14, 18-21, 25-31, 6:30-10pm but to 11pm Fri-Sun. Extensive 35-room haunted house. See website for coupons. http://www.factoryofterror.com
-- Witch's Woods. Nashoba Ski Area. Westford, MA. 978-692-3033. MY RATING: C. Rt 2W to Rt. 2A/119, 6mi to Powers Rd. The worst one, skip it! Sep 28,29,30, Oct 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-31. http://www.witchswoods.com
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Hi!
"For Emergency Use Only" is a modern dance performance which consists mainly of seeing how much they can fling themselves around, through, over, and into each other. Dance Complex in Cambridge, Sep 21-22, http://dancecomplex.org or http://myspace.com/greenchairdanceg
If you'll be way out in Western MA, there's a crafts fair at Deerfield, which they're calling -- wait for it!! -- the Deerfield Craft Fair. Sep 22-23, http://www.deerfield-craft.org/
Tonight at 6pm at MIT at "Sidney Pacific" which is on the corner of Sidney and Pacific Streets in Cambridge, they're having a screening of "The Departed", the movie, and then some real life police are going to talk about real life in relation to it. Sounds totally awesome and I believe free dinner is provided. Free and open to the general public. http://events.mit.edu/event.html?id=805
-Johnny
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Hi everyone,
Here's this week's calendar of the weird.
National Talk Like A Pirate Day is TODAY Wednesday, September 19. This holiday was invented by syndicated humorist Dave Barry. There's no hidden symbolism here, the idea really is to talk like a pirate all day. http://www.talklikeapirate.com
Highly weird! How about a scavenger hunt... for sea creatures? BioBlitz is an annual event at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH. Volunteers and naturalists scour the local environment counting and identifying species in a biological scavenger hunt. Educational, fun, and slimy. Sep 22. (603) 436-8043. http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.or
This one I've been to and it's highly recommended! Sep 23, Revels RiverSing is when you and 2,000 other people sing on both sides of the Charles River, the Cambridge side and the Boston side. Weeks footbridge, which is near JFK street, Cambridge, MA. Picnic at Winthrop Park in Harvard Square at 5pm and then at 5:45 a procession to the river. Then sing 6-7:30pm. Participatory. Bring a flashlight. http://www.revels.org
Last week's Hoot & Howl Night at Wolf Hollow was postponed due to rain. So it's now happening Sep 22. RSVP is advance for their BBQ and wolf lecture, at the end of which you get to howl with the wolves! Ipswich, MA. http://www.wolfhollowipswich.com
Some MIT geologists are making their annual trek to Western MA to camp overnight and explore rock formations. Sep 22-23. Free. Non-MIT people can attend but only with an MIT person guesting them. For questions, and to RSVP, email sbowring@mit.edu
Here's some great weird for you. In Newport, RI, there's a place called Green Animals Topiary Garden, at 380 Corey's Lane, Portsmouth, RI. 401-847-1000. They have over 80 sculpted trees and it seems to be a fantastic garden. Well, they are having their Fall Family Festival, Sep 22. They'll have scarecrow building and storytelling. http://www.gonewport.com/nav.aspx?id=17
I just saw Braveheart so I am completely ready for The New Hampshire Highland Games, Sep 21-23, which they claim is the largest in the Northeast. They'll have a "seminar" in Whiskey Tasting, a "Sheep Dog Processional", and workshops in Scottish Country Dancing. That's over two hours away in Lincoln, NH, so make a weekend of it and go hiking in the White Mountains. http://www.nhscot.org/
Another cultural festival is the North American Indian Center of Boston Pow Wow, which is the only Native American Indian festival that I know of that is actually in the Boston Metro area. Sep 22-23, 105 South Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA. 617-232-0343. http://www.wanderingbull.com and there are a ton of others at http://www.powwowschedule.com/powwow200
If you're aching for a Renaissance Faire and just can't bring yourself to revisit King Richard's Faire (below), try the Miracles in Motion Medieval Faire, which will have a jousting tournament and medieval games and foods. The event promotes horseriding for "kids with special needs", so it's unclear to me whether you have to have a special kid in tow to attend this event. Sep 22. 118 Wyman Road, Keene, NH. 603-357-7282. http://www.miracles-in-motion.org
This one's quite unique. The Working Waterfront Festival is Sep 22-23, in New Bedford, MA. There are so many marine or shoreline festivals in New England. Well this one is set to actually educate you about what being a fisherman is like. Or fisherwoman. Fisherperson. Person of fish. http://www.workingwaterfrontfestival.or
Grotonfest is yet another tiny town festival, with live music. I was unable to confirm this because their schedule is still "TBA". Sep 22. http://www.grotonfest.com/
The Boston Blues Festival is Sep 23-24. http://www.bluestrust.com/
The Phantom Gourmet Food Festival, Sep 23, on Landsdowne Street in Boston. Buy tix in advance, $40. 11am-4pm, next to Fenway Park. http://www.phantomgourmet.com
Hub on Wheels, as if we need more roads closed in Boston, takes over Storrow Drive for bicycling and much of the city as well. It's a "citywide bike riding festival", Sep 23. Unfortunately, I really don't know what that means. It seems to be some kind of charity, and there don't appear to be any "bike tours of Boston" happening. I think basically it's like a charity walk and they simply fail to explain that on their Web site. http://www.hubonwheels.org/
If you missed last week's Chowderfest, check out the Bourne Scallop Festival, Sep 21-23. Main Street in Bourne, MA, which is on Cape Cod. They are breaking out of the box by offering an arts show, rides for kids, and live music, not just the scallops. Be the first on your block to try scallop juice! Just kidding. http://www.capecodcraftshows.com/bo
The Bolton Fair is yet another agricultural fair. Who knew there were so many farmers here? Sep 22-23, Bolton MA, http://www.boltonfair.org
Also highly recommended, and highly weird, Midnight Seduction is a flirting party game. It's free. This is a heads up for October 6 because RSVPs are required. http://myspace.com/bostonseduction
Have you ever heard of the book, "Everything I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarden"? That's by Unitarian minister Robert Fulghum, who's written a bunch of feel good taking on various topics and musings about life. He is doing a book reading, presumably to promote a new book, Sep 23, at the First Parish Church. http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Event
Suzanne Vega, Sep 20 at the Somerville Theatre. Stevie Wonder, Sep 20, at the Bank of America Pavilion.
Are you a Web designer? The world's biggest conference on Macromedia Flash, Flashforward, comes to Boston this year, Sep 19-21. http://www.flashforwardconference.com/
Outdoor movies:
-- Cape Cod. Family Movie Night Under the Stars presents "Happy Feet", Sep 21. http://www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.or
-- Somerville. Sep 21. 8pm. El Silencio De Neto, in Spanish with English Subtitles. A story about 1950's Guatemala. Like we'd all rather see that then "Scary Movie 6". http://www.eastsomervilleflicks.org/
-- Durham, NH. Spiderman 3, at 11pm. https://blackboard.unh.edu/webapps/u
Continuing events:
-- The New England Fringe Festival continues to Sep 15-30. http://www.nefringefestival.com/acts.ht
-- The Wings of Freedom Tour, to Sep 24, http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cfsc
-- The Big E, or Eastern States Exposition, to Sep 30, http://www.thebige.com
-- The Atheist at the Huntington Theatre Company, to Sep 21, http://calendar.boston.com/events/s
-- Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps", to Sep 23. http://www.artsboston.org.
-- King Richard's Faire, to Oct 21, weekends only, http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net.
-- Pirates: Rum, Rogues & Romance, to Sep 21, http://www.dinnerandashow.net/daily_spe
-- Wicked, Sep 12 - Nov 11. http://broadwayacrossamerica.com/BAA.Pu
-Johnny
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Hi!
Sorry, I found another.
Soundscape is a weird musical experiment where 16 performers are spread out throughout a building so that each can only hear the two closest to them. They then perform "with each other" and you get to attend, wander through and see what happens. Sep 14 - 15, 368 Congress Street, Fort Point Channel, Boston, MA. 7pm-11pm. Free. http://www.soundscape2007.com
-Johnny
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Hi!
I got excited this week and posted so early that I have some updates too weird to resist.
"Ferrets of the Caribbean" is the annual Ferret festival run by the Massachusetts Ferret Friends association. Sep 15, in Natick, MA. Questions? The "Ferret Hotline" is (781) 224-1098. http://www.maferrets.org/
Barktoberfest - Pound Hounds Family Fun Day & Dog Walk is Sep 16. 4-H Fairgrounds, 51 S. Chelmsford Rd., Westford, MA. 508-435-5029. http://www.poundhounds.org
"stART on the Street" is an arts festival in Worcester, Sep 16 from 11am-6pm. Park Ave. and Elm St. Worcester, MA. Rain date Sep 23. Over 240 local artists try to sell you stuff, and they'll have tons of performers and the usual kids stuff like face painting. http://www.startonthestreet.org/
Jack Welch, the famous businessman, is speaking at Salem State Theatre, Sep 18. If you don't know who he is, you won't care. http://www.aceticket.com/search.php?sta
-Johnny
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Hey-o,
Here's what's coming up in New England.
TONIGHT! College Night at the Museum of Science, Boston. Free with a college ID. http://www.mos.org/eventsactivities/so
Also free: admission to the Southwick's Zoo, for those with an ID from Rhode Island. Sep 15. http://www.southwickszoo.com
Also free, it's the Harvard University Museums Community Day, Monday Sep 17. This refers to the Fogg, Busch, and Sackler museums. Not sure about the Harvard Natural History Museum but I don't get that sense. http://www.artmuseums.harvard.edu/event
The weird event of the week is Hoot & Howl Night at Wolf Hollow! Sep 15 they will have a BBQ and you get an hour lecture on wolves and even get to howl along with them. I've been twice and it's fantastic! Rain date Sep 22. Ipswich, MA. http://www.wolfhollowipswich.com
Also in Ipswich! It's the Ipswich ChowderFest. You would think that this event would be pretty simple. You show up, eat chowder, and leave. But no! They will have karate demonstrations and face painting. And nearby attractions include Crane Beach and Castle Hill. http://www.ipswichma.com/calendar/detai
Highly weird, there are a number of full-sized statues made from hay. These "hay sculptures" can be found at an exhibition called "Scarecrows in the Garden". Although it'll be open for a while, the day to go is Sep 16 which is artists demonstration day. Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Rtes. 102 and 183, Stockbridge, MA, which is also where the Norman Rockwell Museum is. http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/event
What's better than eerie human-shaped shrubs? Pirates! An interactive dinner theatre event featuring pirates. Check out Pirates: Rum, Rogues & Romance, Friday September 21, in Boston. http://www.dinnerandashow.net/dailyspe
If you prefer to do the pirating personally, you may want to go to the Back to School Scavenger Hunt at the Boston Public Library, Sep 14, conveniently timed at 3pm so that most of us can miss it. Kids will solve clues and puzzles throughout the library. Prizes will be awarded. http://www.bpl.org/news/upcomingeve
One-upping this event, the Society for Creative Anachronism will even give you a sword to swing. I'm not sure Pirates are allowed, however, you may have to dress as Prince Charming or Princess Decadent. The "Fall King's & Queen's Champions of Arms Tournament" is Sep 14-16, in Spencer, MA. Inspired by Chaucer's Tales, you'll meet pilgrims, see archery, and they'll be lots of steel on steel fighting. http://www.latourdulac.com/canterbury/
This week's best pirate event though is bound to be the Salem Pirate Faire, Sep 15-16, at Winter Island Park in Salem. There's an interactive theatre group who I've seen before and they are sensational. They're going to have an ongoing storyline happening throughout the weekend. http://www.pastimesentertainment.co
The New England Fringe Festival is a celebration at various venues of dance, performance, and music, Sep 15-30. It costs less to buy tickets in advance. http://www.nefringefestival.com/acts.ht
Second, they'll have a professional storyteller, Laura Packer, give three shows. Sep 15, 8pm, "Sex and other misadventures", Sep 22, 6pm, "Love (not the mushy kind)", Sep 29, 9pm - "Death (because we all end up there)". That's in Roxbury. I haven't seen her perform but I hope to and the buzz is all that she's fantastic. http://www.laurapacker.com/
Open Studios are events where local artists open their private homes and art studios to the public. Yes, it's pretty commercial and everything is for sale. However, it's fun to walk around some neighborhood and interact with the original artists, not just a merchant reseller. This weekend there is one with two names. It's either the Boston Open Studios, or the United South End Artists Open Studios, depending on who you ask. It's possibly the best of the lot, check it out. http://www.useaboston.com/
The Wings of Freedom Tour is a traveling airplane show, Sep 12 - 24, visiting Lincoln, RI; New Bedford, MA; Plymouth, MA; Beverly, MA; and NH. http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cfsc
With so many cultural festivals, let's not forget Africa. There's going to be an African Cultural Festival on Sep 15 in Worcester. http://www.african-museum.com/3rd-Annua
Also there's a Polish Harvest Festival, Sep 16, http://www.ourladyofczestochowa.com/
Every year there is a folk festival at UMass Boston. It's called the Boston Folk Festival, Sep 15-16. They'll have a songwriting contest, which is nearly sold out, so buy your tickets in advance. Features a ton of really famous people inside the folk music community that those of us outside haven't heard of. http://www.bostonfolkfestival.org
There are a lot of agricultural faires in New England where you get to pet sheep and see pie baking competitions. The largest of them all is the Big E, or Eastern States Exposition, and I'm sorry to say that some tourists fly in for the Big E and leave, and that's all they'll ever see of New England. The Big E is Sep 14-30, and they'll have parades, amusement park rides, and tons of vendors and animals. I went one year and it was interesting to see how the other half lives. They have a stellar horse show. It was also a little like strolling through an hicksville infomercial and I was glad to leave. http://www.thebige.com
Here's how they do it in upscale Acton instead. No horses or pie. But add a moonbounce, an Aerosmith tribute band, marionettes, and fireworks! It's "Acton Day 2007 at NARA Park", Sep 15. http://www.acton-ma.gov/calendar/defaul
Every Sunday through Sep 30, the Longfellow National Historic Site has an "arts in the park" festival. They encourage participants to soak up the natural beauty of the park and draw or paint. And they'll read Longfellow's poetry. 1-4pm. Free. (671) 876-4491. http://www.nps.gov/long/planyourvisit/e
While you're in the metro northwest area, check out Billerica's Yankee Doodle Homecoming Weekend is Sep 14-16, They'll have a parade, a crafts fair, a battle of the bands, a military display, and other things worth stopping by but only if you're already in the area. http://www.yankeedoodlehomecoming.org/
On the South Shore, the Quincy Arts Fest is Sep 14-16, it appears to be a juried art exhibition with crafts and artist demonstrations. Hopefully including metalworking. http://www.quincyart.org/ or http://ci.quincy.ma.us/progartsfest.a
Also on the south shore, and appearing to be much more interesting, The Endless Summer Waterfront Festival, in Hull, MA. Sep 15. Where else can you go for a chalk drawing competition, a hot dog eating contest, a sandcastle competition, and event a police "K9" dog show. 12-6pm. Free. Artists, bands, food, sandcastle building. http://www.hullnantasketchamber.com/end
Then in the evening! While you're in Hull, go to Earthdance Boston, Sep 16, 12-6pm. Apparently it's the world's largest "synchronized dance", which I guess means they'll be using the Internet to stream from one DJ's iPod. http://www.earthdance.org/boston/
I regret to inform you that the "Samuel Adams Octoberfest" will take place in September. Apparently they couldn't wait to get you drunk. This is a one-item event, very much like chowderfest except frat boys don't eat chowder and then tip your car over. Sep 15. Castle at Park Plaza, Boston. http://beersummit.com/customer/home.p
Apparently they can't wait in Harvard, MA either because they're already having the "Harvard Fall Festival", Sep 15-16. They'll have a crafts fair, barbecue, oh, and fireworks too! http://www.harvardfallfestival.com/
While you are way out there on Rt 2, also in the "can't they find something better to celebrate" category is the North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival, Sep 15-16. Orange, MA. Actually this one looks surprisingly interesting, with horse rides and music. http://www.garlicandarts.org/
Another one-item event, the Harwich Cranberry Festival, on Cape Cod, Sep 15-16, (508) 430-1165, http://www.capecodchamber.org/calendar/
The "British Invasion Weekend" is the largest British auto show in New England, and it's conveniently located 5 hours away in Stowe, Vermont. http://www.britishinvasion.com/
The Greater New England Guitar Festival is more than just a big flea market. You can take workshops and jam with others. Sep 15-16, Bayside Expo Center in Boston, http://www.grabyourguitar.com/
Please avoid the Boston Gift Show, which is like a temporary mall where a convention center used to be, also in the Boston Expo Center, Sep 15-18, http://www.bostongiftshow.com
If you're on the wagon, try instead the American Heart Association's "Heart Walk". Sep 15. 8:30am registration, walk at 10am. 1mi, 3mi, or 6mi route along the Charles River. http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/d
Don't feel left out if you're busy, on Sep 16 it's the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk instead. http://www.jimmyfund.org/eve/event/bost
Three free outdoor movies:
-- Somerville, MA. Auto Da Compadecida, Sep 14, with English subtitles. Brazil's top grossing feature film. http://www.eastsomervilleflicks.org/
-- Sandwich, MA. "Charlotte's Web". Sep 14. http://www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.or
-- Durham, NH, which is only an hour from Boston. Shrek the Third, Sep 15, https://blackboard.unh.edu/webapps/u
Genesis, the group that got Phil Collins started, plays tomorrow, Sep 11 at the TD Banknorth Garden.
Reservations for the "Free Night of Theatre" may go on sale TODAY, September 10, keep checking their Web site at http://www.freenightoftheater.net
The Atheist at the Huntington Theatre Company, Sep 12-21 in Boston, is about a journalist who writes about and then gets caught up in a scandal. http://calendar.boston.com/events/s
BU is also producing Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps", which they say is a spy novel mixed in with Monty Python. Sep 17-23, Boston. http://www.artsboston.org
Continuing events, King Richard's Faire, to Oct 21, weekends only, http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. Romeo & Juliet to Sep 16, http://www.publicktheatre.com. "Walk Inside the Camera" to Sep 14, http://www.brooklineartscenter.com/even
Heads up, they'll have a Guitar Hero Competition at the Boston Public Library, Sep 18. 3:30pm in the Young Adult Room. Does that include me? http://www.bpl.org/news/upcomingeve
Last week I mentioned that Suzanne Vega is performing Sep 20 at the Somerville Theatre. Well, so is Stevie Wonder, Sep 20, at the Bank of America Pavilion.
Also a heads up, the Phantom Gourmet Food Festival is Sep 23, on Landsdowne Street in Boston. They always sell out so if you want to spend $40 to sample meals from various restaurants, buy in advance. 11am-4pm, next to Fenway Park.
This is just about the weirdest thing going on NEXT week. Heads up, the MIT Geology department (ok, "Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Science") has a field trip coming Sep 22-23. It's free and you get to camp overnight with them as they head to Western MA to see dinosaur footprints and explore and learn about rocks. Because really, what's more important than rocks. Non-MIT people can attend but only with an MIT person guesting them. For questions, and to RSVP, email sbowring@mit.edu
That's nearly 50 ideas on what to do in New England. Please don't waste it mowing the lawn. Let the basement stay dusty and munch some summer.
-Johnny
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Hi all,
You want weird events, you got it.
TONIGHT! "Raising Arizona", a free film in Copley Square. See below.
What's stranger than a conference of stargazers? There are two big ones in New England, and one is this weekend. It's Anuna Hill Days, Sep 7-9, http://www.arunah.org in Cummington, MA. A weekend festival for serious astronomy buffs but if you're an amateur I imagine they'd include you and educate you.
The strangest this weekend will most likely be the Civil War Living History Weekend, a re-enactment at Fort Adams, in Newport RI, Sep 8-9. Union and Confederate armies will recreate camp life and you'll be able to see military drills and weapons demonstrations. http://www.fortadams.org
What's better than a zoo? A free zoo! With a Massachusetts state ID, get free admission to the Southwick's Zoo, the largest zoo in New England, Sep 8. Those from RI, your day is Sep 15. http://www.southwickszoo.com
Also free! College Night at the Museum of Science, Boston. Free with a college ID. http://www.mos.org/eventsactivities/so
Not edgy enough? Check out Raptor Weekend at the Aubudon Society of Rhode Island, Sep 8-9 in Bristol, RI. 401-245-7500. It's the largest and probably only raptor event in New England. See owls, hawks, eagles in live demonstrations. http://www.asri.org/raptor_weekend.htm
Ultra-edgy is Dr. Sketchy's in Boston. Sep 9 at Great Scott, which is a bar in Allston. Bring your pencils and paints and make sketches of models who perform and pose in the burlesque tradition. http://www.myspace.com/drsketchysbo
Lowell makes such a big effort at reaching out to tourists, you really should reach back. This weekend's event is dueling banjos, called Annual Banjo & Fiddle Contests. Sep 8. http://www.lowellsummermusic.org
Did you know that there's a New England Barbecue Society? Now that you know, do you care? Well, then, while you're in Lowell visit the Rib n Brews Festival. There's not a whole lot hiding underneath this event. You eat, you drink. There'll be live music, and the best BBQ wins a contest. Tsongas Arena, 300 Arcand Drive, Lowell. http://www.lowellma.gov/eventitems/2007
Jackson Hill Cider Day is Sep 8. Basically you wander through their orchards, see a real cider press, and participate in apple bobbing, making wool from sheep, and tour the "the oldest surviving wood frame house" around. http://www.nhpr.org/calendar/eventdetai
Jamaica Plain is having their "First Thursdays" event Sep 6. No movie but there will be outdoor performances and a poetry reading. This event basically promotes the galleries, which stay open late. Centre and South Streets, Jamaica Plain. http://www.jpcentresouth.org
The Charlestown Art in the Park Festival is Sep 8, in Charlestown. This is essentially a sales event, but you'll get to see the works of over 50 local artists and meet them, too. http://www.artistsgroupofcharlestown.co
Another arts festival I am mentioning mainly because my favorite folk group is performing, Atwater-Donnelly, Sep 8. It's the Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival, with museum tours and over 100 art vendors, http://www.atwater-donnelly.com/calenda
This arts festival has a confusingly big name, "The Boston Arts Festival", with a confusingly small online presence. As best I can figure, it's yet another outdoor local artist sale but they'll have performances, too. Sep 8-9. http://www.cityofboston.gov/arts
Probably the best arts festival this weekend is the Cambridgeport Open Studios. Open studios are a lot better than "art in the park" events because you really meet the artists, never simply vendors, and you get to hang out in their private homes or studios and eat their free food while avoiding the topic of actually making a purchase so they can make rent. Sep 8-9. http://www.caosonline.org
Nearby, check out the Somerville Greek Music & Food Festival, Sep 8-9. It's the smallest event I'm listing this week, but sometimes these small events hold special treats and you'll find people who aren't too busy to chat with you and really introduce you to their culture. They'll have a moon bounce but they say it's "for the kids". What about us big kids? Pout. http://www.grecianfood.com/
Going up slightly in size is the Brazilian Independence Day Festival, Sep 5-9, Wed & Thu there are film screenings, and they don't say whether it's in English or Portuguese, and the main outdoor festival is Saturday, Sep 9, at Artesani Park in Boston. That's the park right off Storrow Drive as you head west past Harvard. There will be free music and kids activities. No moon bounce. But there's a canoe and kayak rental next door for the Charles River. http://www.verdeamarelo.org/
Another local festival, but better produced I'm sure, is the Jamaica Plain World's Fair, Sep 9. They're also going to have a moon bounce, but add in performers and dance music on three stages. The event includes karaoke; I'm not sure if that's a draw or a reason to stay away. http://www.jpworldsfair.org/
Every year there's a free theatre festival which sells out right away. So get ready to grab your tickets September 10th when I believe they may be going on sale. http://www.freenightoftheater.net/
The largest antiques festival happens in Brimfield, MA three times a year. The next one is Sep 4-9, http://www.brimfield.com
The MSPCA Walk for Animals is Sep 9, on Boston Common, but also Springfield and Hyannis. http://www.walkforanimals.com
Another event involving pets, the Pet Rock Festival, Sep 9, at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. There'll be pet competitions and free music.
The Wachusett Mountain Music Festival is Sep 8-9, they'll have pop music and blues. I've been to this event and it tends to be more homey than the local art festivals. You're more likely to find plaster Winnie the Pooh piggy banks than african sculptures. However, they do have a fantastic chairlift ride to the peak and you can hike all around Mt. Wachusett. http://www.wachusett.com
Just a trickle of free summer outdoor movies remain:
-- Boston (Copley Square). The IFC free film fest is at the lawn in Copley Square outside Trinity Church. Sep 4: Raising Arizona, Sep 5: The Princess Bride, Sep 6: Napoleon Dynamite. Isn't it funny how these free outdoor film organizers make it a big secret when the film starts? Hunt for it at http://ifc.com/freefilmfest
-- Sandwich, MA. Night at the Museum. Sep 7. http://www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.or
Continuing events, King Richard's Faire, to Oct 21, weekends only, http://www.kingrichardsfaire.net. Misalliance to Sep 9 and Romeo & Juliet to Sep 16, http://www.publicktheatre.com. "Walk Inside the Camera" to Sep 14, http://www.brooklineartscenter.com/even
Heads up - the Ig Nobel Prizes are a serious of comedy parody prizes following the Nobel Prizes. You can buy tickets now, and should, since they usually sell out. The show is Oct 4 at Harvard, http://www.improbable.com/
Also heads up, get your tickets for Wicked, the musical about the Wizard of Oz. Um, witches. Whatever, it's been extended and now runs Sep 12 - Nov 11. http://broadwayacrossamerica.com/BAA.Pu
Also heads up, Suzanne Vega performs at the Somerville Theatre, Sep 20. The musician was a hit back in 1987 with hits including "Luka" and "Tom's Diner", which is sung a capella. http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com
If you're thinking DANG how can I learn more about all these heads up instead of getting fed events weekly, you can download my entire spreadsheet of activities, which I just updated, at http://www.activityinfo.com/johnnys-act
-Johnny
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