Prev << | Most Recent | Next >>
Hi all,
This is what's coming up in New England!
The strange event of the week has got to be the Western Mass Highland Games & Celtic Festival. I went last year and it was so much fun! They have bagpipes, fiddles, falconry, traditional games and dancing, and such a great parade I can't even really describe it. I think the Scots just have so much ethnic pride and community it's thrilling to experience their enthusiasm. Jun 28. Franklin County Fairgrounds, 89 Wisdom Way Greenfield, MA 413-584-9182. Rain or shine. 2008: 9am to 6pm. http://www.wmhg.org
CALL?? CANCELLED? The Chronical of Narnia OverKnight. Jun 27. Higgins Armory, 100 Barber Ave, Worcester, MA. 508-853-6015. http://www.higgins.org/Calendar
More movies outdoors. Can I ask a question? Why do so many of them simply say "At Dusk". When's that? 7pm when it starts to get dark? Or 9pm when it's solidly night?
-- Boston, MA. Movies by Moonlight at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Jun 27. "In the Heat of the Night (1969)". 617-439-7000. http://www.bhh.com/specialeventcal.h
-- Falmouth, MA. Wednesday Movies Under the Stars, Jun 25, if you care what they're showing and what time exactly, apparently you'll have to call them. Peg Noonan Park, Main Street, Falmouth, MA. 508-487-3424. At dusk. http://www.falmouthchamber.com/more/cal
This one's indoors, but still interesting. "Dinner and a Movie" is Jun 28 at the Hampshire House, which is a historic mansion on Beacon Hill. That's at 84 Beacon St, Boston, MA. 617-227-9600. It's just $30 for a 3-course dinner followed by Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. http://www.hampshirehouse.com/
It's not just movies that are outdoors at night! How about summer theater! Shakespeare Under the Stars is way out in Hadley, MA, and they're showing Romeo & Juliet Jun 25-Jul 13, and then As You Like It, July 16-27. Jun 25-26 is a preview and costs less. http://www.hampshireshakespeare.org
Or how about dancing! There's an event called Dancing on the Charles, which seems to actually take place outside on the shore of the Charles river. Jun 28 and a number of other Saturdays this summer. http://www.soulclap.us/dotc/
Here are two scavenger hunts! Neither involve stealing road signs and spending a night in jail:
-- Boston Scavenger Hunt, Jun 28, 12:30-4pm in Boston Common. Register beforehand. http://www.misteriosos.org/?cat=4
-- Gallery Scavenger Hunt, Jun 28. At Mass MoCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art. It looks like it's geared towards kids. Oh the waste! You know from kids cartoons and TV that children have no taste. Let's face it, they're just as happy jumping in puddles and picking their noses. Please put your festival energy into appealing to adults! http://www.massmoca.org/eventdetails.p
Special zoo events are usually benefits and tickets can be pricey. This one's, Zoobilee: Feast with the Beasts, Jun 28, is $125. That's less than the price last week to meet Steve Carrell. But hey, you get to ingest and mingle with animals. http://www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org/zoo
A better bet is Chefs in Shorts, which is only $60, another benefit, at Seaport Boston, one of those trade show halls in South Boston. Jun 27. http://www.seaportboston.com/
The town of Amesbury is having a festival! This is about as far north as you can get without falling off into the ocean or New Hampshire. It all starts with a block party on June 25, has a nighttime paddle Jun 27, balloon rides Jun 28, and more. Amesbury Days, Jun 25-Jul 4, Amesbury, MA. 978-388-8110 x314. http://www.amesburyma.gov/home.nfs?a=am
While you're on the North Shore, check out this Catholic festival: St. Peter's Fiesta, Jun 25-29, Gloucester, MA. Religious activities, music, food, sporting events, parade, culminating with the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet from the Boulevard (near Fishermen's Memorial Statue). http://www.stpetersfiesta.org
Although nobody can beat Brookline for nuts, Somerville is giving it a shot by celebrating July 4th a week early. I guess they're just tired of being overshadowed by Boston's July 4. Somerville Independence Day Fireworks. Jun 26. Rain date: July 5. http://www.somervillema.gov/spotlight.c
I've never heard of a genuine improv comedy festival before (although local groups will put on their own shows). Providence Improv Fest. Jun 27. Held in three different locations in Providence, RI. http://www.as220.org/calendar.html
It's a dance party! The City of Cambridge knows how to throw a festival and they have plenty of them. This event is a block party. The streets are closed off next to City Hall and you dance, dance, dance the night away. I've been and it's worth seeing although I wouldn't drive far to attend. Cambridge City Dance Party. Jun 27. 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA. 617-349-4301. 7-11pm. Massachusetts Avenue in front of City Hall. Participatory street dance with funky lights. http://www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.c
What I'd probably avoid is the Puerto Rican Festival. Jun 27-29. I went one year and it was super muddy because of recent rain and there wasn't much there. I see they're going to have a parade though! Playstead Field, Franklin Park, Boston, MA. 866.481.0695 or 617-635-3911. Rain or shine. Free. Parade on Sunday. Also see http://www.fiestashows.com/events/event
I just missed a Portuguese festival in Cambridge but will be sure to post it in 2009. What I can give you is the Provincetown Portuguese Festival. Jun 26-29. 508-487-3298. http://www.provincetownportuguesefestiv
An excuse to try out the Boston Harbor Islands is "Plays in the Park" at Georges Island. Jun 27-Aug 29. You ride the ferry out. 617-223-8666. It's like a little bit of Nantucket Island right next door. Unfortunately it seems to be children's theatre (i.e. boring for adults?) http://www.bostonislands.com
So, despite my insistence you have resisted visiting Newport. Resist no longer. They're having a Newport Flower Show at the Rosecliff mansion, Jun 27-29. It doesn't look like that big a deal, but a great excuse to visit the Newport mansions and cliffwalk. 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. Friday 12-5. Sat-Sun, 9-5. While you're there, check out the topiary gardens with its animal shaped bushes. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and it was worth a visit. http://www.newportmansions.org/page
To lazy to drive or bus to Newport? Apparently there's a new oceanside walk they're completing in Boston. It's called the Harborwalk and I don't know anything about it. Jun 27. It's 47 miles. Yikes. http://www.bostonharborwalk.com
Speaking of new, did you hear in 2004 that as part of the Big Dig, when they sunk the highway underground, that they'd be building a garden on the new ground-level space? I sort of didn't believe it. Or thought it might be completed in 2030. Well, I was driving downtown and I saw it! It exists! Check it out. The Rose Kennedy Greenway, near South Station. It has fountains. http://www.masspike.com/bigdig/parks/gr
The National Heritage Museum in Lexington is free, http://www.monh.org, and the nearby Concord Museum is only $10. But they're giving you a break Wednesday June 25, from 5-8pm. "Be Our Guest" is a free admission event, and they'll have unspecified "activities". Also 7/23 and 8/20. http://www.concordmuseum.org
There are a number of Native American events in New England and this one caught my eye. Jun 29. GLICA Pawtucket Powwow. Livingston Street, Tewksbury, MA. For a huge list see http://www.wanderingbull.com/powwow
While I seriously hope nobody would drive up to Vermont solely to see the Vermont Quilt Festival, Jun 27-29, Vermont is lovely and if you're not going to visit during the warm summer months, when will you ever? New England's oldest and largest quilt event. http://www.vqf.org
Here's some more on Vermont:
-- There's a serious maze called The Great Vermont Corn Maze, Jul 1-Oct 31, at 1404 Wheelock Road, Danville, VT. 802-748-1399. http://www.vermontcornmaze.com
-- There's another maze at the Adams Family Farm, 15 Higley Hill Road, Wilmington, VT. http://www.adamsfamilyfarm.com
-- They have Murder Mystery Weekends year-round at 7 Waldwinkle Rd, West Dover, VT. 802-464-5281. http://www.murdermysteryweekend.com
EurekaFest is an MIT festival for inventors. It should be fun to show up and see what wacky demos are on display. Jun 28. MIT campus and also the Boston Museum of Science. They say to catch the afternoon event when 30 trash cans crash to the floor. http://mit.edu/invent/eurekafest.ht
The Boston Symphony Orchestra dives headfirst into strange this week with "Judy Garland: A Life on Stage". Jun 28-29. This is not a re-enactor with an actor dressed up. They actually replay some old Judy Garland films and bring her to life by lifting out the accompaniment and adding in the Boston Pops. It's apparently the first time anyone's ever tried this. http://www.bso.org
Have you seen "Closer", the movie? I thought it was aces. Well, it's here in theatre form, Jun 25-28, at the Independent Theatre Company, Plaza Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St, Boston, MA. 617-933-8600
Are you a skateboarder? Do you secretly long to be one? You have problems. Stoke your habit at thet T.J. O'Grady Memorial Skate Park Anniversary Celebration, June 28, 4-8pm, Acton MA. http://acton-ma.gov/uploadedFiles/Depar
-- And indoors at MIT LSC, 10 Things I Hate About You, http://lsc.mit.edu/
Continuing events:
-- FAC Pinewoods Weekend and FolkDays, to Jun 26. http://www.facone.org
-- Master Sand Sculpting Competition at Hampton Beach, NH, ended last week. However, it's still open for viewing. I went and saw the fireworks and it was fun! Give it a shot! To Jun 26, http://www.hamptonbeach.org
We are looking for just one more roommate. $500. 2 minute walk to Porter Square, Cambridge. Complete renovation in May means shiny new everything. Ask for pics and info.
That ought to hold you for a week.
-Johnny
Leave a comment