FRI 10/12 & SAT 10/13: ArtsCentral: "See Art in Everything"

Image of the mural "The Potluck" used with permission, courtesy of the Central Square Business Association.

6pm to 9pm (SAT: Noon to 6pm)
ArtsCentral 2007
in Central Square businesses & along its streets, Cambridge
Buttons: $10 for 14+ / $5 for 10 to 13 / FREE under 10

The ArtsCentral theme says, "See Art in Everything," and they're not far off. Central Square will be bursting with even more art than usual. The creative juices will be flowing with a wide array of art exhibits/installations, performances, arts & crafts vendors, and participatory fun. It's well distributed over more than 40 spots -- most are close to Mass Ave between the YMCA and MIT Museum.

There's a lot of free outdoor performances & store exhibits, but you could support the arts and buy a button. You get into the 'special' events with it, and the button can be used to redeem various food & retail discounts in the area.

The Friday festivities consist of 6 events including a 'barbecue & avante garde poetry reading' at Out of the Blue Art Gallery, a vintage kids movie at Carberry's, and an opera singer at La Groceria (am not sure how they're going to keep out regular diners, but a button is 15% off the food).

At the Temple St Stage, I'd probably try to catch The Chicken Slacks Soul Revue (Noon) or Mamadou's take on West African music (1pm) but there's a variety of music, dance, and more here and at the Main St Stage on the other end. Inside the Cort Putnam furniture store, it will be mainly jazz and a spoken word performance. If you're a jazz guitar fan, you might find Brian O'Connell (Noon) interesting; he'll play a 'touch guitar' where both of hands will be on a double-wide neck to play melody and accompaniment at the same time.

A couple other notables are ImprovBoston comedy performances at The Field every couple hours and a rededication of the mural behind Harvest Co-Op (beginning at 4pm) with the artist David Fichter as well as a "short play by Cambridge youths".

See the website for full schedule & map (PDF), and see below for the list of discounts.

Purchase buttons at Cambridge Savings Bank (Central Sq) , Economy Hardware, Leader Bank, University Florist, and the Central Square Business Assoc. office (130 Bishop Allen Dr).


BUTTON DISCOUNTS

- The Asgard; 350 Mass Ave.
-- ½ off appetizers; October 8-14

- The Phoenix Landing; 512 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off food; October 12-14

- Economy Hardware; 434 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off entire purchase; October 5-19

- Desi Dhaba; 401 Mass. Ave.
-- 15% off food excluding alcohol; Month of October

- Cinderella's Restaurant; 901 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off order (except alcohol); October 8-14

- Toscanini's; 899 Main Street
-- Free drink upgrade on any non-ice cream beverage; Oct. 1-14

- Carberry's; 74 Prospect Street
-- 10% off any purchase; October 8-14

- Ten Thousand Villages; 694 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off full purchases; October 13

- La Groceria Restaurant; 853 Main Street
-- 15% off food; October 12-13

- Hot Off the Press; 736 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off food order; Month of October

- The Middle East; 472 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off of food; October 8-11; 20% off of food; October 12-13

- Lewis' Beauty Salon; 44 Prospect St.
-- $5 off service; Month of October

- MIT Museum; 275 Mass. Ave.
-- Free Admission with Button; October 13

- Artist & Craftsman; 580 Mass. Ave.
-- 10% off most items; October 12-13

- Teddy Shoes; 548 Mass. Ave.
-- Free gift with purchase over $25.00; October 13

- Pearl; 579 Mass. Ave.
-- 25% one non sale item; October 12-13

- Venus Cosmetics; 480 Mass. Ave.
-- 20% off purchases; October 13