Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 12/13/06
Here’s wat up yo my homie for this week in the world of activities.
Midweek, Thu Dec 14, check out the Weekly Dig’s Annual Holiday Shindig. The Weekly Dig is a local events magazine and I bet their bash will be fun, even if they are having trouble getting a lead band (which I assume is why the lead band is a “secret”). It’s free, but its a fundraiser. Anyone want to do the math on that for me? Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St. Boston, MA. 617-426-7700
Now on to the weekend. By far the weirdest event of the week is the Santa Speedo Run, Dec 16th, which is when a lot of men dressed like Santa except NAKED get to go on a run. It’s for charity. Oh, and they’re not really naked they’re wearing santa beards and speedos. You just know you have to be at this one. The Big Easy, 1 Boylston Place. Boston, MA. 617-351-7000. Registration at 12pm. Run 2-3pm. Then post-run celebration.
Also weird, the Illuminations Tour in Somerville. Dec 16. You take a trolley tour for 45 minutes around to Somerville’s most decked out holiday houses. I am guessing that it’s fun and a nice excuse to hang out in Davis Square for an evening. Catch a show at JohnnyD’s. http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/pr
Or buy some inexpensive art, at the Nave Gallery Affordable Art Sale, to Dec 17, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powderhouse Blvd, Somerville, MA. Thu-Sun only.
Also catch Pablo Francisco, at the Comedy Connection. As you may know, the Comedy Connection, which is near or in Faneuil Hall, is the one comedy spot that draws in stars of world and nation-level prominence. This time it’s Pablo Francisco. This guy is hilarious. Dec 15. Comedy Connection, 245 Quincy Market Place, Boston, MA. 617-248-9700. Seriously, I see ads for the comedy connection all the time and I usually ignore ’em. Search for his name on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean. He does great voice impressions.
Now some merchant events. Thu Dec 14th, it’s “Shop Inman By Moonlight”. Refreshingly, this yet another merchant event does not try to disguise itself as an arts show. And it may be weird enough to at least stop by and check it out. Hot cider, wandering carolers, fortune teller, free soaks in hot tub (bring bathing suit) at Urban Oasis, refreshments.
Also it’s the Mad Dash at Green Street Gallery. They’re closing this gallery, so cheap buys at $150 each of art. Next year it will be Axiom, Inc. Dec 16. http://www.greenstreetgallery.org/last_
Also weird, the Bazaar Bizarre is supposed to be an edgy crafts fair and it looks interesting; they even have entertainment. That would be good because I went to the SoWa and Fort Point holiday markets last weekend and they were both lacklustre. The Cultural Survival Bazaar totally rocked though and I will remind you about it next year. Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA. http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/boston.htm
I promised you some caroling. OK, this is the best I could find. PLEASE — send me more if you know of any. It’s hard to tell in advance whether these are pure Christian carolers or whether they’ll make some attempt to be diverse.
Holiday caroling with the Loose Canon Chorale. Dec 17. http://www.carolingmob.org. Jackson Square T Stop, Large mob open to all to join. 4pm. RSVP appreciated.
Carol Singing & Poetry @ Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Dec 16, http://www.mountauburn.org. 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA. 617-547-7105. 1pm. Free.
Finally, Jingle Bell Rock Karoake, Dec 19th, at the Milky Way, 403 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. 617-524-3740. The Milky Way is supposed to have the best karaoke night in Boston because they have a live band rather than a DJ. Oh, and Santa will make an appearance.
Here are some new ideas for you for Winter. Keep in mind you have to deal with Winter all the way through late March so don’t get all your complaining done the first week it gets cold. You have to stretch it out, ok? In fact, let’s hope it snows; I have four ski lift tickets to Mt. Wachusett that time out this weekend so I’m going even if they only have one snowmaking run open. 🙂
I did a whole study of spas in the region and these popped up as my personal picks. Makes a great gift. I don’t accept any money if you were wondering so these really ARE my personal picks, not some kind of ad space.
— Giuliano Spa (Boston), http://www.g2ospasalon.com, 338 Newbury St, Boston, MA. 617-262-2220
— Larry Barron (Boston), http://www.lbspa.com, 699 East Broadway Street, Boston, MA. 617-269-7699.
— Le Pli Day Spa (Cambridge), http://www.premierspacollection.com/spa
— Paradise Day Spa (Cambridge), http://www.geocities.com/paradise_daysp
— Urban Oasis (Cambridge), http://www.urbanoasiscambridge.com
Where do I go to rent a hot tub? Spas tend to not rent hot tubs. Urban Oasis was the only one I could find in the whole metro area. I called a bunch and got the same answer. However, the Charles Hotel in Cambridge has rooms with hot tubs. http://www.charleshotel.com. 1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA. 617-864-1200.
Finally, check out the Boston Poetry Slam. OK, I know it sounds sort of stupid. But I caught a little at First Night Boston last year and it was terrific. Basically it isn’t just reading poems, it’s acting out the poems — a real performance. This is every Wednesday night at the Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, from 8pm to sometimes after midnight. (617) 354-2685.
Continuing theatre: I saw the Silent Night of the Lambs and it was well-done but more like an excellent amateur group than a big bucks full theatre production. So check it out, but only if you like drag queens. To Dec 23rd. http://www.golddustorphans.com. 1256 Bolyston Street, Boston, MA. 866-811-4111.
Continuing theatre: (use Google or see previous posts), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Wilbur Theatre to Dec 31; Avner the Eccentric: Exceptions to Gravity to Dec 23 (I saw this guy and he’s great but sort of a kids thing); The Nutcracker at the Opera House to Dec 23; Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant to Dec 16 at the BCA; STOMP at the Colonial Theatre to Dec 17 (I also saw this a few years ago, good stuff!); Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes to Dec 29, at the Wang Theater; The Reduced Shakespeare Company in Completely Hollywood (abridged) to Dec 17th at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell (recommend); and the Urban Nutcracker to Dec 17 at John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St, Boston.
A long-distance heads up on some stuff coming up:
— Oliver Twist, February 17 – March 24, 2007, http://www.amrep.org/oliver/
— Cats, Feb. 20 – Feb 25, 2007, Opera House-Boston
— Lord Of The Dance, Jan. 26 – 28, 2007, Opera House-Boston
— A Midsummer Night’s Dream (perf.), Feb 1 – Mar 3, BCA
That ought to hold you for a week. Have fun!
-Johnny