Week of 11/19-11/25: Laptop Giveaway, Thanksgiving & Santa Parades, Re-enactments, Ice Skate, Fandom, Hobby Train Fests

11/19/09 by Johnny Monsarrat

This week I’m giving away three sets of 4 tickets to Tomb, the Indiana Jones adventure, like a mini amusement park set near in Fenway in Boston. To win, help me get the word out to mailing lists about WeirdBostonEvents.org and let me know how many you reached. The most prolific 3 people (but don’t target inappropriate groups) will win! Email johnny@weirdbostonevents.org.

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-Johnny

The Week in Weird
Wheel Questions Video Blitz & Laptop Giveaway	11/21 – 11/28	Various
Did you know I run this art project called Wheel Questions? The idea is people ask questions about life, which I answer. So far I’ve gotten 10,000 in 2009. Well, I got contacted by HP about their new laptop, the Envy, and now I’m doing a “Video Blitz”. It’s a one-week experiment to see how many questions we can get from the community, and answers I’ll give, all on video. At the end, I’ll give away an HP Envy laptop. Click the link to enter the contest. It just takes 30 seconds and your chances of winning are good because it’s a small contest. (Few thousand people.). See website for tour, Various. more
America’s Hometown USA Thanksgiving Celebration	11/20 – 11/22	South Shore
The first stop for Wheel Questions is this giant Thanksgiving parade and celebration, that will attract 125,000 people. There’s an artist’s event Friday night, a parade and festival on Saturday, 11am-4pm, and then a crafts festival Sunday 11am-4pm. They’ll also have an encampment of historical re-enactors, the Mayflower II ship, and a ton more. Water Street, Plymouth, MA.508-746-1818. more
Living Timeline	11/21	Worcester
Another historical re-enactment is at the Higgins armory, a fantastic museum that’s worth visiting any time. But this Saturday, they’ll have re-enactors portray military from all ages: ancient viking, roman, 15th and 17th centuries, including swordplay demonstrations. 100 Barber Ave, Worcester, MA.508-853-6015. more
Frog Pond Opening Day & Skate Performance	11/19	Boston Metro
Bringing it back to Boston, there’s an ice skating rink on Frog Pond in Boston Common that is refigerated and open in warm or cold weather through March. For opening day, they bring professional ice skaters to perform, the Mayor will give a speech, and skating for the day is free! It’s a wonderful event and highly recommended. 5:30pm. Boston Common, Boston, MA.617 635-2120. more more
Super Megafest	11/21 – 11/22	Metro West
Here’s another fan convention, and they claim to be the biggest. Do you believe that? Well, they have a ton of genuine celebrities coming, including the guys who played Darth Maul (“Star Wars”) and Data (“Star Trek”)! Sheraton Framingham, 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA. more
Great American Smokeout	11/19	Boston Metro
Sometimes all you need is an excuse to stop procrastinating. That’s why the American Cancer Society made the Great American Smokeout, an annual event to encourage people to stop smoking. Their website is blank, but I investigated and discovered a bunch of local events. Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 11/19, has a counseling center for those who want to quit, 11am-4pm. Boston University, 11/19, 12-2pm, is encouraging people to toss a 15 lb. frozen turkey as far as they can to promote going “cold turkey.” And there will be a dance called “Slide and Step Out Smoking”, in Holyoke, Friday 11/20, 6-11pm, at The OBIE Knox Lodge of Elks, 18 Spring Street. MIT, Building 13 Lobby, Cambridge, MA.617-253-4481. more
Greenberg Toy & Train Show	11/21 – 11/22	Lowell Area
If you like model trains, you’ll find a bunch, including LEGO dioramas, on display here. Shriner’s Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA. more
Armenian Food Festival	11/20 – 11/21	Worcester
I’ve rarely heard of an ethnic event with an Armenian theme before, so even though this one’s small, it may be worth a visit. If you don’t feel like traveling, there is an Aremenian Museum in Watertown to try. Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, MA.401-831-6399. more
PuppetSLAM	11/21	Boston Metro
If you don’t know what a puppet slam is, we’re not going to tell you!” That seems to be the attitude of this website. I have to believe it’s a kind of improvisational performance, not necessarily comedy, meant for adults, not kids, that happens to include puppets. Like a poetry slam. 32 Station Street, Brookline, MA. more
Imperial Court “Coronation	11/21	Boston Metro
There’s a local LGBTA group that has a masquerade charity ball to fight AIDS as well as a “coronation”, which is not described but is probably a gay pride parade king & queen or something. Boston Marriott Tremont Hotel, Boston, MA. more
TraniWreck Transgiving Spectacular!	11/23	Boston Metro
Also ‘fabulous’ is this night of burlesque and cabaret! Middle East Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA. more
Rockland Open Studios	11/21 – 11/22	South Shore
Their website says 2007, but they posted it online for 2009, so it must be happening. ET Wrtight Building, 379 Liberty St. Sandpaper Factory, 83 East Water St., Rockland, MA. more
Also Fun
Portsmouth, NH Holiday Arts Tour	11/20 – 11/22	New Hampshire
Portsmouth, NH is having open studios as well, but by adding the name ‘holiday’ they’re hoping you think Xmas and buy buy buy some artwork. Various locations, Portsmouth, NH. more
InsideOut: The Museum School Sale	11/18 – 11/22	Boston Metro
The Museum of Fine Arts isn’t just a museum. They also have a school, and once a year they sell art. This merchant-y event may be worth your time. 230 The Fenway, Boston, MA. more
Paradise City Arts Festival (Fall)	11/20 – 11/22	Metro West
Also commercial, this one is big and worth a mention. I would much more recommend the open studios. Rt 495 to exit 24B (Rt 20W). F 10-5, S 10-6, S 11-5. Royal Plaza Trade Center, Marlborough, MA.800-511-9725. more
Boston Latino International Film Festival	11/19 – 12/13	Boston Metro
I’m not much on sitting idle in the dark, but this film festival will have at least one panel, possibly more, in addition to just showing movies. It’s unclear from the website. It starts with a free event on Thursday! Various, Cambridge, MA. more
Peabody Leatherworkers Museum Open House	11/19	North Shore
Free. Learn about leatherworking from real professionals. 5-7pm. 205 Washington Street, Peabody, MA. more
The Nightmare Before Christmas” at the Museum of Toys and Pop Culture	11/20	Boston Metro
A local comic book store has a tiny museum inside. And they’re having a party to celebrate the Nightmare Before Christmas. 8-10. Arlington, MA. more
Ho Ho Holidays
Trellis Lighting at Christopher Columbus Park	11/23	Boston Metro
Speaking of the Nightmare Before Christmas, we’re on this inexorable train ride towards more and more holiday fare. I hope you like it because yuo won’t be able to avoid it! This week in Boston is this tree lighting event. I’ve never understood tree lighting. Seriously, you flick a switch, so what? But they’ll have 50,000 lights, music performances, and free hot chocolate and pastries. Yum. Christopher Columbus Park, Boston, MA. more
Edaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of Lights	11/13 – 1/3	South Shore
Edaville is more like it, with 7 million lights, and fireworks every Friday night in December. See website for coupons. Daily. I’ve been and it’s a ton of fun even for adults who are kids at heart. Train ride, ferris wheel, carousel. They have Rt 3S to exit 6, Rt 44W for 8 miles to Rt 58 for 8 miles. Pine Street, Carver, MA.877-EDAVILLE. more
Mass Horticultural’s Festival of Trees	11/20 – 12/4	Metro West
They’re having a big party with decorated holiday trees, and a sale, all to benefit people who love plants. 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA. more
Methuen Santa Parade	11/21	Northern Mass
It’s music, the mayor, hot chocolate, and of course Santa, too. Methuen, MA. more
Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting with Bellringers	11/21	Boston Metro
Getting a jump on the season is Fanueil Hall, which can’t even wait to Thanksgiving. However, they’ll have bellringers! I like that!! Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA. more
Recurring Events
1627 Harvest Dinner @ Plimoth Plantation	11/7 – 11/28	South Shore
Plimoth Plantation invites you to join a re-enactment of the original Thanksgiving dinner, with authentic foods, table manners, and hymn singing. Nov 8, 15, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29 at 5:30pm. Reserve in advance. 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA.508-746-1622. more
Petting Zoo in front of Seasons Four Furniture Store	11/21 – 12/20	Metro West
It’s a merchant event with a petting zoo, Santa, elmo, face painting, singers, balloon animals, etc. 1265 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA.781-861-1200. more