April 2008 Archives

Hey-o,

There's so much weird this week!! It's the first week of 2008 that I feel like I don't need any filler, and it's going to continue like this through October!

It's Earth Day! Celebrate at the Franklin Park Zoo and elsewhere. Apr 22. Unfortunately the central Earth Day site seems to be down or gone. Anybody have a link?

And now, the weird event of the week! It's the Annual Sheepshearing Festival, Apr 26 at 52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA. (781) 894-2798. This is not just some agricultural festival. Gore Place is an actual 1806 historical mansion and museum, and they'll have sheep-herding dogs, wool spinning, gardening, magicians, and "historic demonstrators" which I hope means re-enactors. And sheep. http://www.goreplace.org/events/events.htm

Not the weirdest, but the most recommended event of the week has got to be the New England Folk Festival, Apr 25-27. I know what you're thinking -- you're WAY too hip to get caught folk dancing. Oh really? Maybe you should give it a chance and just don't make eye contact with the goth friends you'll see slumming it for the day all 18th century. I've been twice and it's the largest gathering in New England of people who not only want to sit and listen, they want to learn dance Bulgarian or Israeli style, learn sea shanties, jam in the corridors with fiddlers and drummers. More than most festivals, people are friendly and approachable. You really can't just go and feel alone in a crowd. Mansfield, MA. F 7pm-11:30pm, S 9am-11:30pm, Sun 9am-5:30pm. Highly recommended! http://www.neffa.org

This week is the Cambridge Science Festival! It's really for grade schoolers, but presumably anybody can stop by and check it out. It's the first citywide science festival in the United States and there are tons of things happening. Apr 26-May 4. Cambridge, MA. http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org

-- A Science Carnival on Apr 26, 12-4pm at Cambridge City Hall, northwest of Central Square on Mass Ave. It's quite a list of free activities and presentations! http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org/2008Festival/ScienceCarnival.aspx

-- The Science Trivia Challenge

-- A wildlife trek to see forest animals such as foxes and otters close to Cambridge. Apr 26, 10am-12pm. "Walk on the Wild Side". http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org/2008Festival/2008ScheduleOfEvents.aspx

-- THe Charles River Watershed Asociation (CRWA) River Science Festival. Apr 27. http://www.crwa.org/events/sciencefest.html

-- MIT/Cambridge Science Expo, Apr 29. Cambridge, MA. 2-6pm. Volunteers needed. 350 seventh and eighth grade students from 14 local public schools. http://web.mit.edu/mitpsc/volunteering/programs/expo

Women's Hula Hoop Party with Allyson Makiej. What more is there to say? If only there were a loving, totally safe environment where MEN could go hula hooping. I'd be all over that. Apr 24, Lowell, MA. They want you to reserve a spot in advance. http://www.revolvingmuseum.org/Calendar/Calendar.htm

Here's an arts festival that attracts 13,000 people, at least so they claim. The Boston College Arts Festival is Apr 24-26. Boston College, Boston, MA. They'll show Urinetown, a musical whose title has always seemed too much marketing not enough substance to me. They'll have music, film, theatre, literature, "kids activities", including the ubiquitous face-painting. If only there were a totally safe envrionment where MEN could go for face-painting. 617-552-2787. http://www.bc.edu/offices/artscouncil/festival.html

If trekking out to BC is too much work, right here in Cambridge we'll have the North Cambridge Open Studios Apr 26-27. As I never tired of repetitively saying, open studios are when artists open their private homes or work studios to the public. So it's a chance to stroll around a region of metro Boston, an opportunity to possibly buy inexpensive art, but more importantly you get to meet the actual artists, not their dealers, and EAT THEIR FREE SNACKS. Yum! Snacks vary widely. Some involve chips. Some involve fruit and wine. 12-6pm. http://www.noca-arts.org

Also outdoorsy: it's Arbor Day Weekend Celebration at the Tower Hill Botanical Garden, which I've never been to but it's one of Boston's top 5 gardens. Apr 25-27. 11 French Drive, Bolyston, MA. As near as I can tell it's quite similar to every other weekend there but shush! It's a festival. And they'll have a "pruning demonstration", with real prunes. http://www.towerhillbg.org

But wait, Johnny, what are Boston's other top gardens? I hear you ask. They are:

-- The Fenway Victory Gardens. You can actually get the city to give you a space and grow your own vegetable or flowers on The Fenway. Boylston Street at Park Drive. Boston, MA. 617 267-6650. http://www.fenwayvictorygardens.com

-- Arnold Arboretum, at 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA. 617-524-1718. It's open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year, they even plow the snow in the winter.

-- Boston Common & the Public Garden of course.

-- The Lyman Estate, 185 Lyman Street, Waltham, MA. 781 891-4882 x244. Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.spnea.org/visit/land/mass.htm

-- Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA. 508-877-7630. http://www.newfs.org/garden.htm

-- Sedgwick Gardens at Long Hill, 572 Essex St, Beverly, MA. 978-921-1944. Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. http://www.thetrustees.org/longhill.cfm

-- And others, maybe I'll post some more next week.

Were you bummed out to miss tickets for Neil Gaiman? They are still on sale, it turns out, at Million Year Picnic, 99 MT Auburn St (downstairs), Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. To reserve tickets call 617-492-6763. The address itself is May 23 at Kresge Auditorium, MIT, 48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. See http://cms.mit.edu/events/specialevents.php

I've always wanted to go to this. You don't really need an excuse to visit the island of Nantucket for a weekend. Rent a bicycle and explore the island. Sit and read or just stroll the shops. In the evening, see a theatre show (this week it's Doubt, the award-winning play which I've seen and recommend.) Same goes for Martha's Vinyard. However! This weekend is the perfect excuse, the Nantucket Daffodil Festival. Apr 25-27. You really couldn't find a more New Englandy home town festival anywhere. Nantucket Island. 508-228-1700. 10,000 attend. Annual Antique and Classic Car Parade, and the Annual Tailgate Picnic, as well as activities such as hiking, fishing, bird watching, and seal cruises. Although most people will ferry there, consider flying... Cape Air, 800-352-0714, Nantucker Airlines 800-635-8787, Island Airlines 800-248-7779. http://www.nantucketchamber.org/visitor/events.html

How long did you sulk for when you learned that the light sabres from Star Wars weren't really real? For me it was about a decade. But wait! The Annual Harvard Intercollegiate Kendo Tournament is like sabre fighting but with kendo sticks, and it looks pretty cool! Apr 26-27, at MAC Mezzanine, Harvard University, 39 Holyoke St. Cambridge, MA 02138. http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~kendo/shoryuhai.php

Even more impressive -- possible -- is a breakdancing competition. Oh yes, baby! "Breakonomics" is Apr 26, at La Sala De Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center, 84 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA. 12-9pm. http://www.mit.edu/~imobilare

Is your idea of fun is picking up garbage, perhaps you'd like to attend the Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. Watch out for that sodium. Apr 26. http://www.crwa.org/cleanup.html

You've played Scrabble the board game. But these people are serious experts. The Scrabble Tournament Regionals are Apr 25-27, in Westford, MA. http://www.scrabble-assoc.com/tourneys/2008/calendar.html or http://sasj.com/tourneys

You missed last week's kiting event? It's still National Kite Flying Month. See Annual Kite Day @ Bose Mountain, Apr 27, Framingham, MA. http://www.kone.org/Events.html and also Apr 26 the Wenham Kite Festival, http://www.kone.org/Events.html

Did you miss the Boston Marathon? Why do you keep missing this stuff? Life's short, you know. Perhaps you should check out the Run of the Charles Canoe and Kayak Race, Apr 27 at Herter Park, Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA. 508-698-6810. http://www.crwa.org/index.html?events/events.html&2

Did you miss the Battle of Lexington re-enactment? History is still yours, go see Battle Road Heroes, Apr 26, at the Minute Man National Historic Park. Walk a candle-lit path and listen to personal stories by re-enactors of Revolutionary War heroes. I hope they have microphones or they expect a really small crowd. http://www.nps.gov/mima/patriots-day.htm

Eddie Izzard is coming to the Orpheum Theatre! He's the British comedian who starred in Oceans Thirteen. He's wacky, go see it. Apr 28-30. http://evilmasteroftickets.com. 1 Hamilton Place, Boston, MA. 617-931-2000

This is Geek Week at ImprovBoston, my favorite (okay, the closest) improv comedy theatre. Apr 23 to 27 they'll have a series of performances aimed at nerds, roleplayers, math geeks, and underdogs in general. http://www.improvboston.com

Also geeky, anything interactive is sure to catch my attention. There's an event called "Three Evenings of Game-Based Performance Art", Apr 25-27. They've chosen to list this event on their Web site without further explanation. How bad could it be? http://mobius.org/mobius_events.php?enum=114

There's an annual event called "Banned in Boston" which is some kind of musical comedy where they lure in local celebrities to do skits and songs. Event usually sells out. Apr 26. Avalon, Landsdowne Street, Boston, MA. 617-524-7045. http://www.urbanimprov.org/?Page=highlights&topic=Banned%20in%20Boston%202008

The MFA is having a festival I don't quite understand. It's called "Art in Bloom" and apparently they place flowers around the MFA and it's business as usual. Well, they will have an opening party, flower arranging classes, and a free night on Monday Apr 28! MFA, Boston MA. Apr 26-29. http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=5626

I'm not really into jazz, but if you are, JazzBoston Jazz Week is coming up Apr 26-May 3. http://www.jazzboston.org/ and the Regattabar "Jazz Festival" which seems to be merely a series of performances, continues through May 5, http://www.regattabarjazz.com

It's a shame to do indoorsy stuff on a nice Spring weekend, but here are a few plays that seemed the most fun:

I don't know much about this play, but I like Tom Stoppard. Travesties is playing at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre, through April 27. Apparently it's witty. Of course! It's Tom Stoppard! There's a description but it's inscrutable. Something about artists and society, blah blah blah, go see it. http://www.artsboston.org/

The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical about musicals. I guess they say you should write what you know. Anyway, it looks good, so I'm listing it. Apr 22-May 4. The Opera House Boston, MA. 617-931-2787. Won 5 Tony awards. http://www.ticketmaster.com

Elections & Erections is a satire about South African politics, including impressions of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. It's sort of a play, sort of a stand-up comedy. Apr 15-May 4, Zero Arrow Street Theater, Cambridge, MA. 617-547-8300

I'm not much on film festivals, but this is a big one. The Independent Film Festival is Apr 23-29. There will be plenty of parties and lectures as well as the films themselves, making this a real festival. It looks like they've really worked hard to make this a nation-level festival, not just some regional thing. http://iffboston.org

Continuing events:

-- Big Apple Circus, Boston, to May 4, http://www.bigapplecircus.org

-- Waltham Spring Carnival, Apr 23-27, http://www.ourladyschool.org/Calendar.asp?page=event&id=261

-- Spin, to May 10, http://www.zeitgeiststage.com/

I'm still seeking a couple of roommates, Porter Square, $500-800, May 1 or June 1. And my startup is looking to hire students at $12/hr to surf the Web to find event listings.

-Johnny

Hello New England!,

This is what's coming up.

This weekend of course is Patriots Day. Everyone will be out seeing the Boston Marathon. I used to think -- before I saw it -- that it would be pretty boring. I'm not really into sportst and have never wanted to run a marathon. However, all the energy and passion from cheering people on makes it quite amazing and I highly recommend going, especially early as the wheelchairs zip through! http://www.bostonmarathon.org

Don't want to run? It's probably not too late to volunteer at the marathon, or to sneak into their pasta party (running uses up carbs) and pretend to be one of the runners. Say you're from Jamaica and put on a funny accent. Apr 20. http://www.bostonmarathon.org/Volunteering/BostonMarathonVolunteer.asp?bostonvolunteer=prerace

There's also a post-race dance party Apr 21, at The Roxy & Pure, 279 Tremont St. Boston, MA. 7:30pm-12:30am, celebration showing video highlights from the Boston Marathon

That's not very weird though. My favorite Patriots Day activities involve re-enactments. This is New England after all!

Lexington is the place to go. Monday April 21, about 2000 people will gather to see re-enactors come play British or American roles in the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. Basically the Brits shout a lot, the Americans flee, and historians aren't sure who really shot first. The minute men are really good at fleeing. I'm pretty sure they managed to do it in less than a minute.

The Web site is http://ci.lexington.ma.us and despite the early timing -- arrive by 5:45am or miss it -- it's really worth seeing. Then they have a pancake breakfast afterwards, a kids parade, an adults parade, a road race, and lots of other activities. It's really a must see. It starts on the Town Green, 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA. 978-388-6749

Also see http://www.battleroad.org/events.html for some marches and commemorations. They also have a reading by lantern light, fife and drum music, you gotta love it. Apr 19-21.

Also also, and we haven't even left Lexington yet, people, Minuteman National Park is having some events. Hundreds of re-enactors camp out and do musket demonstrations. Unfortunately, I looked into it, and to join their group you need to pay $1000 or so for a costume. But man what a costume. See the video at http://www.nps.gov/mima/patriots-day.htm

What's more patriotic than zombies feasting on flesh? There's a festival called J. Cannibal's Feast of Flesh, April 19 in Brookline at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. I've actually been to this event before. They have a costume competition, live music and performers, all zombie-themed, and then show a really bad zombie movie which the crowd loves. I'm calling the Weird Event of the Week -- not to be missed if you like zombies in any way. http://myspace.com/1008505

And now for some more family-oriented activities. For people with kids or adults who think they're kids, like me.

There are very few local kite events, but you can fly a kite and meet some real experts at the Dim Sum and Kite Fly, Apr 20, at the Pope John Paul Park in Dawchesta. Um, Dorcester. Also if you're in RI, one at Colk Park in Bristol RI, on Apr 20. I've been to one of these events and you tend to meet people who will tell you go to fly a kite! Just kidding, they are very friendly and will help teach you to do it well. http://www.kone.org/Events.html

I just heard about a carnival, which I assume is a collection of vendors and rickety-looking fairground rides of dubious quality, meant to be packed up on trucks and driven anywhere. OK now that I've pumped that up I can announce -- ta da! -- it's the Waltham Spring Carnival, Apr 23-27, at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School, Waltham, MA. I wonder how many afflicted schools are out there that need comforting. http://www.ourladyschool.org/Calendar.asp?page=event&id=261

OK, I found a totally safe spot for me to express my inner beast. Earlier I wrote about learning to be a stuntperson in Somerville. Well, they are pumping it up one level with a course in hands-on instruction and practical experience in action filmmaking. Action Film Workshops is a nationwide organization and not just some guy working out of his garage. Apr 19-21. Pre-register at 617 591 0101. http://www.baystatefencers.com and http://www.actionfilmworkshops.com/

This caught my attention. There's a play called Spin, where a presidential candidate has a scandal and his campaign manager needs to crush it immediately. It's Apr 18 to May 10, at the Plaza Black Box Theatre at Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston MA. http://www.zeitgeiststage.com/

This week's bonus events:

-- Learn to SCUBA dive in Cambridge. http://web.mit.edu/scuba-club/www

-- Have a friend coming in from out of town? Don't you think the duck tours have kind of been "done"? Try a bicycle tour. http://www.urbanadventours.com

-- There's a place in New Hampshire where you can see Stonehenge. Well, not really, the real one's in the UK but you can see a stone circle, of which there are hundreds worldwide. But all of them predate Columbus's arrival to the New World, so this "stonehenge" location has got to be a hoax of some sort. It comes with its own Oracular chamber and is fairly impressive if you're in the area. I've been. America's Stonehenge, 105 Haverhill Road, Salem, NH. 603-893-8300. http://www.stonehengeusa.com

-- I drove by this last week and I so want to do it! If you're deathly afraid of skydiving, but still kinda want to try it, they have this giant mongo fan in New Hampshire that blows straight up. You jump on top and it's like floating on air and you can practice all your skydiving stunts. They call it the Vertical Wind Tunnel and it's in Nashua, NH. 603-897-0002. http://www.skyventurenh.com

Continuing events:

-- LEGO exhibit, how awesome is that, to Apr 17, http://www.stamfordmuseum.org

-- Jerry Seinfeld, Apr 18-19, at the Citi-Wang Theatre.

-- Big Apple Circus, Boston, to May 4, http://www.bigapplecircus.org

If you like this list, which takes me 2-3 hours a week to compile, do me a favor and put the word out about two things:

-- First, my company is hiring students. $12/hour in Cambridge, close to the subway. You get to surf the Web and locate fun events all over the USA, and get paid. Need people immediately, call 617-899-7794.

-- Second, I still have 3 roommates to find (and I've got 4 now), for this location just one minute's walk from the Porter Square subway. The whole place is being renovated top to bottom, and rooms are $500-$800. Email johnnydeppfun@yahoo.com for pics & description. May 1 or June 1.

-Johnny

Hi,

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

The weird event of the week is Rube Goldberg Machine Design Contest, Apr 12. Fay School somewhere near Westborough, MA. You get to watch a bunch of middle schoolers design strange devices that pass balls back and forth. Connected to MIT somehow. http://web.mit.edu/museum/rubegoldbergcontest/2008/

Also weird, possibly too weird to comprehend, is the Bedford Minuteman Company's Pole Capping, um, festival, Apr 12. It looks like a pancake breakfast and parade with colonial militia re-enactors, who compete to climb up a pole. And put a cap there. You heard it here first. http://www.bedfordminutemancompany.org/

Thursday, Jonathan Katz is coming to the Somerville Theatre. He's a comedian whose podcast I subscribe to, "Hey We're Back". Intellectual humor, not full of the 4-letter-words. He does a show where he pretends to be a therapist, dispensing bad and hilarious advice. I sent him an email saying he looks much younger in his photo and possibly he thought I was an 'admirer'... awkward! Um, I just meant that in a totally non-fanboy way. April 10. Somerville Theatre, Somerville MA. Just go see it. http://www.jonathankatz.com

The Charles River Dance Festival is Apr 11-12. It's basically a series of dance performances and does not seem to be participatory. Also, I'm guessing it's indoors. Cambridge, MA. http://www.dancecomplex.org/performances.html#crdf

If you want some actual river in your festival, how about the Athol-Orange River Rat Race? It is Apr 12-13 way out in Athol, MA, which is Western Massachusetts. It's basically a canoe race, and does not involve any actual rats. http://www.riverratrace.com/

A sign of Spring is when they start having open studios. An open studios is when all the local artists in some community open their private homes or working studios to the public. You stroll around the community, check out their art, possibly buy some -- but it's usually not a cheap merchant thing -- and chat with the actual artists, not dealers. First up is the Brookline Open Studios, Apr 12-13, http://www.brooklineart.net/artist/

Too expensive for you? Try going to the School of the MFA Open Studios, on the theory that students need money and you'll get a good deal. Apr 13. http://www.smfa.edu

April is national kite month and this Saturday Apr 12 they're doing a kite fly at Wollaston Beach in Quincy, followed Apr 13 with a "Seafood Mega-Fly" on Revere Beach, in Revere MA. What I really want to see is the indoor fly on Apr 12. You can fly kites indoors? http://www.kone.org/Events.html

Far more commercial is Boston Antiques Weekend, Apr 12-13. All the original artists are dead. You can only meet the dealers, who want you pay double for some really really used second-hand stuff. Bayside Expo Center, Boston, MA. http://www.bostonantiquesweekend.com

Finally the Whitin Observatory at Wellesley College is having a public night. Apr 11, 7:30-9pm if it's not cloudy only. Wellesley, MA. http://www.wellesley.edu/Astronomy/080411.html

You know, I wouldn't keep urging you to visit the ICA, the Institute for Contemporary Art and Boston's newest major museum, if you'd just do it. I'm like the perfect mom that way. I'll just nag and nag until I get what I want. Also, they keep having amazing events there! This week's excuse to see the ICA is Kinodance, Apr 11-12. It's like modern dance with 'cinema and sound'. Go figure. http://www.icaboston.org

Similar to the ICA, which is pretty small and more worth the trip if you go when something's happening, is Newport RI. They have a ton of old mansions there open to the public and a cliff walk alone the shoreline. A good excuse to visit the area might be opening week (and discounted pricing) for the Newport Dinner Train. They just sold out through Apr 12 but pre-buy tickets for Apr 19. Also they have Murdery Mystery evenings on Fridays. http://www.newportdinnertrain.com

Also dinner theatre! It's the Quincy Dinner Theatre, in Braintree MA. I guess braintreetheater.com was taken or something. Anyway, their next show, Apr 12-13, has impressionists of Neil Diamond and Englebert Humperdinck. Weird, but totally not for me. http://www.quincydinnertheater.com/theaterschedule.html#vegas

Do you like folk dancing? Perhaps you'd like to dress in costume for the "Elegant Evening", a major annual dance event, which starts with a dance workshop from England and Scotland and beyond. Apr 12. Dance workshop 3:30pm, party 8pm. First Parish Church, 349 Boston Post Road, Weston Center, MA. http://www.facone.org/programs/program/elegantevening.htm

Much closer to the Boss Town is The Harvard Square Bookish Ball. Apr 12, 3pm-9pm. It's free music, dancing, and book talks. Cambridge, MA. http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Articles/The-Bookish-Ball.aspx

Chess, the musical about the Cold War, really isn't as boring as you might think watching a chess game might be. Basically it's a psychological thriller where the pressure of the International Competition causes the contests to break into song. How 'bout that. Apr 11-13, Boston Conservatory Theatre. It's the theatre group at the arts college, The Boston Conservatory. 8 The Fenway, Boston. http://www.bostonconservatory.edu/performances/calendar.html

OK, this one's weird but you have to travel to New Hampshire. Mount Sunapee, the ski resort, is holding their Annual Intergalactic Cardboard Sled Race, April 12. Newbury, NH. You get some cardboard, some tape, a snow slope, teams of crazy people, and race. Yes it really is 2008, even though their site link is http://www.mtsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/onthemountain/events/eventdetails/sledrace07.asp

If you're insanely into the arts, perhaps you'll shell out $125 to attend the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter, which is some kind of party and comes with a Web site that does not adequately describe the event. At that price it must be a fundraiser. And they promise to have drummers, dancers, and sky-high acts. No wonder on whether they mean acts in the air like silk dancing, or just that their performers will be sky-high, if you know what I mean. http://www.afhboston.com/special.html

Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian, is performing Apr 18-19, at the Citi-Wang Theatre.

Finally, I went to upstate New York last weekend and wanted to share thoughts on a number of fun venues on the way:

-- There's a place called East Heaven, in Northampton MA, where you can rent a hot tub on the roof. Especially great during cold, snowy, or rainy weather. Highly recommended!

-- Dr. Spooky's is a childrens zoo based around a haunted theme. All the animals are cute-scary instead of real-scary. As an adult it was marginally interesting to me, but my friends loved it and it certainly was creative! 220 Greenfield Rd, South Deerfield, MA. http://www.drspookys.com

-- There's an innocuous park in Holyoke, MA where you can actually see ancient Dinosaur Footprints in the stone! You have to really look hard to see them, but they're there. http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/298dinosaurfootprints.cfm

-- This is SO AWESOME. Want to fly a falcon? There's a guy named Chris who runs New England Falconry. It's the only one of its kind in New England. He trains hawks and falcons professionally, and for a reasonable fee you can put on a glove and get one to fly to you and from you. Hadley, MA. Highly recommended. http://www.newenglandfalconry.com

-- There are a bunch of caves in eastern NY, but the most commercial one, and probably best to begin with, is Howes Cavern, http://www.howecaverns.com which is right next to Secret Caverns, http://www.secretcaverns.com -- highly recommended. Also there ARE NO real caverns closer to Boston, I researched it. You will find a few jumbles of granite rocks claiming to be shallow caves in NH.

-- They have a butterfly exhibit at the Museum of Science, Boston, and also one at the Franklin Park Zoo. Well, I also visited one in Western Massachusetts, is it the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory, 281 Greenfield Rd, South Deerfield, MA. 413-665-2805. Open 7 days a week, year 'round. It's worth the trip but similar to what they have (seasonally only) at the Franklin Park Zoo. http://www.magicwings.com

Continuing events:

-- Smuckers Stars on Ice, to Apr 11. http://www.starsonice.com

-- Much Ado About Nothing, to Apr 12, http://www.theatreatfirst.org

-- LEGO exhibit, to Apr 17, http://www.stamfordmuseum.org

-- Big Apple Circus, Boston, to May 4, http://www.bigapplecircus.org

I called the organizer of last year's Boston Zombie March (from Davis Square to Central Square), Allison Auldridge. She is officially out, not even local. I'd organize it but since there's no mailing list, and the Web site domain was lost... I'd have to advertise from scratch which means dozens of hours putting up flyers. If someone else wants to pick up the challenge, I'll help advertise. Let me know.

I'm continuing to seek roommates (have an entire house to fill), just 1 minute from Porter Square, new renovation, discounted pricing. Email johnnydeppfun@yahoo.com for pics & description. May 1 or June 1.

-Johnny

Hi!

I couldn't resist posting one more.

William Shakespeare: VAMPIRE HUNTER is Sunday at 7pm at MIT.

Free. 7pm in room 34-101. See below!

-Johnny

Q: What is "William Shakespeare: Vampire Hunter"?
A: It's a play that will be written, designed, directed, rehearsed, and open all in the space of 24 HOURS!

Q: Are you insane?!?
A: Yes! Come see it!

Hey-o,

This is the week in weird! Yay! :)

The weird event of the week is the Guerrilla Queer Bar. The idea is that a bunch of LGBTA or LGBTA-friendly people congregate on a single straight bar on a single night. It's not about challenging anyone, more about being playful and getting two communities to mingle. At least I think that's the idea. This Friday Apr 4 is the next one, 9pm, Tequila Rain, 3 Landsdowne St, Boston, MA.

This one really looks worth the visit. It's called Boston Skill Share, and basically you show up and learn strange skills like juggling or learn about gardening or polyamory. Apr 5-6, at the MIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge MA. http://www.bostonskillshare.org

Here's a new one. Did you know that there are storytelling festivals for adults? Well it's true. It's remarkably like watching a one-person play. Although the national convention is in Tennessee, here's one that's local. Sharing the Fire, Northeast Storytelling Conference, Apr 5, The Crowne Plaza, Nashua, NH. http://www.lanes.org

I've already mentioned the regular storytelling events in Medford,

Also weird! There are two live roleplaying festivals this weekend:

-- At Brandeis University in Waltham, The BSCF LARP Conspiracy, Apr 4-6, http://festival2008.brandeislarp.com

-- At Brown University in Providence RI, ProCon, Apr 4-6, and apparently they do not have a 2008 Web site, but try contacting someone through http://www.brown.edu/Students/Fantasy/

Everyone's favorite community theatre, Theatre At First, is showing Much Ado About Nothing, by Bill Shakey, or somebody, Apr 4-12, http://www.theatreatfirst.org/tickets.shtml

There's still not much in the outdoor festival category happening this Spring. But I found a community carnival in Haverhill, MA, Apr 2-6, http://www.whofish.org/events/Haverhill/MA/HaverhillRecreationDepartmentSpringCarnival/133244.aspx

While you're up north, check out the Lowell Film Festival, at the Revolving Museum, which doesn't actually spin, it turns out. Although I once went to the North Shore Music Theatre and they actually do have a round stage that spins slowly. Apr 4-5. Lowell, MA. http://www.revolvingmuseum.org/Calendar/Calendar.htm

Apparently I was wrong to be dissing Margaret Cho's attack dog style. She's softened her political ranting and is doing more mainstream comedy these days. Apr 5. Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Place, Boston, MA. 866-448-7849.

If you haven't visited the ICA yet, Boston's newest museum, here's an excuse. They are showing award-winning film with a lecture, about a real-life Israeli spy. Champagne Spy. Apr 5. http://www.icaboston.org

I was completely excited about the WCRB Classical Cartoon Festival, where they show kids cartoons set to classical music in Boston Symphony Hall. But then I discovered that it's not live music. Basically they're just projecting a movie. They do have booths and demonstrations for kids where you can interact, so it's not just a film event. Still weird though, considering the dignity of the Boston's classical Mecca. Apr 5. 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. 10am. http://www.bso.org

I went to the a cappella competition two weeks ago, and have to say that the good groups were great, but about half the songs didn't really grab me. Here's hoping the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Competitions are even better. Apr 5. Cohen Auditorium, Tufts University, 40 Talbot Avenue, Medford, MA. 617-627-3493. http://www.harmony-sweepstakes.com

At MIT they're having a conference on humor. It looks more like a comedy festival than a real scientific endeavor, focused on women comics. They may talk about gender issues and comedy, it's unclear. Apr 4-5, Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Free. http://web.mit.edu/gcws/GradConference08/indexschedule08.html

The Huntington Theatre is showing new plays for free this weekend at the Breaking Ground Festival! It's Apr 3-6, Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, Boston. http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/about/newwork/bg2008/index.aspx

The Currier Museum of Art has re-opened, and is free through April 6. It's an arts museum and they claim to have international status. They're having a two-day pottery course and curator talks to celebrate. 150 Ash Street, Manchester, NH. 603.669.6144. http://www.currier.org

Closer to home, AD20/21: Art & Design of the 20th & 21st Centuries is an art show at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St. Boston, MA. 617-363-0405. Apr 3-6. Note, this is really a gallery event, aimed towards sales. http://www.ad2021.com

Also commercial, the Boston Gift Show Apr 5-8, at the Boston Convention & Expo Center, Boston. (800) 272-SHOW. They'll have 450 "exhibitors", i.e. sales booths. http://www.bostongiftshow.com

Continuing events:

-- LEGO exhibit, to Apr 17, http://www.stamfordmuseum.org

-- Big Apple Circus, Boston, to May 4, http://www.bigapplecircus.org

-- Smuckers Stars on Ice, to Apr 11. http://www.starsonice.com

-- Boston Turkish Film Festival, to Apr 6, http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=6106

I'm continuing to seek roommates (have an entire house to fill), just 1 minute from Porter Square, new renovation, discounted pricing. Email johnnydeppfun@yahoo.com for pics & description. May 1 or June 1.

-Johnny