Johnny’s List of Quirky Boston Events: 01/26/06

01/26/06 by

This weekend is the
Dance Complex Winter Shared Choreographers’ Concert, Jan 27-28, which I add mainly because not much is going on this weekend. But it’s dance, and dance is usually interesting. I keep seeing this group advertised and have been meaning to go. Cambridge. 536 Mass Ave. 617-547-9363.
What happens when Ernest Shackleton tries to expore the Antarctic? Possibly the best survival story of all time. I really enjoyed the PBS documentary. Let’s hope that
Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer, Jan 25 – Feb 11 is as good. Sugan Theatre Company, at the Boston Center for the Arts. Boston. 539 Tremont Street. 617.933.8600.
After a couple of years of coming up with nothing — does anyone know if Chinatown Boston has a website? I figured out the mystery of Chinese New Year. It’s a family event, not a public event, and that’s why there’s no street festival (at least not that I can find, and I called around) on January 29th, when it becomes the Year of the Dog. However, New Years goes on for 18 days. So interesting stuff is happening. For example
Lion Dance at Peking Tom’s, Jan 28 at 8pm. And special New Years’ dinners all that week.
Also the
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center New Years’ dinner, Feb 17th. Dim sum, arts and crafts, silent auction.
I recently checked out the
Rainforest Café, in the Burlington Mall. It’s just a restaurant, but the place is full of animatronics, like Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. Worth checking out if you are in the area.

Also, the “Winter Flea” is taking place this weekend. If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry about it.

Also, I have finally figured out skiing. I’ve been a skiier all my life, but my attitude is that I go just to have fun, not to do the most challenging trails possible. I spent a few hours studying New England ski resorts online and this is my wrap-up.

Johnny’s Ski Resort Picks

Resort (my picks in bold) Location Hrs. from Boston Web Vert. Drop Novice Trails InterMed Trails Onsite Hotel Tubing Cross Country/ Nordic& snoshoe Night Skiing Notes
Blue Hills Canton, MA 0.5 www.thenewbluehills.com 350 8 8 – – – – Make the trip to Wachusett
Nashoba Valley Westford, MA 0.8 www.skinashoba.com 240 3 8 – X – to 10pm Largest tubing park in New England
Wachusett Mountain Princeton, MA 1.3 www.wachusett.com 1,000 6 11 – – – to 10pm daily Epinions 3.5/5
Gunstock Gilford, NH 2.0 www.gunstock.com 1,400 6 31 – X X – Longest tube park in NH. No novice trails from the top.
Mount Sunapee Newbury, NH 2.1 www.mountsunapee.com 1,510 17 32 – – – – Surprisingly good snow conditions.
Attitash & Bear Peak Barlett, NH 2.7 www.attitash.com 1,750 14 33 X – – – –
Loon Mountain Lincoln, NH 2.7 www.loonmtn.com 2,100 10 32 X X X – Ice skating. Epinions 4/5. More beginner-oriented. Tubing can rescue your vacation if your newbie friend hates skiing.
Waterville Valley Waterville Valley, NH 2.7 www.waterville.com 2,020 19 23 X – X – Indoor ice skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, “sports center”.
Cannon Mountain Franconia, NH 3.0 www.cannonmt.com 2,146 9 26 – – X – Winter hiking & ice climbing. Cross counry is nearby www.franconiainn.com. More expert-oriented.
Cranmore North Conway, NH 3.2 www.cranmore.com 1,200 14 18 – X – to 9pm S Large tubing park. Take 3 lessons & get an all-season pass free. Epinions 4.5/5.
Bretton Woods Bretton Woods, NH 3.3 www.brettonwoods.com 1,500 31 41 X X X to 9pm FS NH’s largest. Sleigh rides. Epinions 4/5. More family oriented.
Killington Killington, VT 3.5 www.killington.com 3,050 60 78 ? ? – – Nationally ranked ski resort.
Wildcat Mountain Jackson, NH 3.6 www.skiwildcat.com 2,112 12 21 – – – – Older & typically behind on improvements. But solid skiing.
Sunday River Bethel, ME 3.6 www.sundayriver.com 2,340 32 45 ? ? – – –
Stowe Stowe, VT 4.2 www.stowe.com 2,360 8 28 X ? X ? Nationally ranked ski resort.
Sugarloaf Kingfield, ME 4.4 www.sugarloaf.com 2,820 35 41 X ? ? ? Epinions 4.5/5
Mad River Glen Waitsfield, VT 4.2 www.madriverglen.com 2,037 14 14 ? ? ? ? Epinions.com 4.5/5. Overly challenging for me, I think.