Cheap Thrills: 2/11 and 2/12

Okay, here's a few things for today and tomorrow that would've been on the weekly list. Maybe tomorrow, I'll also share a few 'cheap Valentine' ideas along with more stuff to do...

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MON 2/11

7pm
Drew Gilpin Faust, "This Republic of Suffering": Discussion & Signing
at Harvard Coop, Level 1, 1400 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

She’s not just the President of Harvard, and here’s a chance to hear Dr. Faust talk history. Her book explores the impact of the massive casualties of the Civil War on myriad levels. It may be crowded with brown-nosers and those with questions that have nothing to do with her book.

MON 2/11

7:00 p.m.
Lyrical Clinic: "Hip-Hop -- How Do We Save It?"
at Berk Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

This isn’t necessarily a ‘lyrical clinic’ for your next MC battle, but rapper Lyrical (who knows how to handle the battle mic) will probably talk about it as well as the state of hip-hop sales and creativity, the underground scene, promoting responsible hip-hop culture, and more. Expect some performance as well. (Factoid: He also teaches statistics at a local college.)

MON 2/11

East Boston Makeout Club (10:10pm), Ian Schwartz (9:20pm), Phil Wisdom (8:30pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$3

Tiny instruments for a tiny price. The East Boston Make-Out Club Band and Ian Schwartz are prime examples that the ukulele should be taken seriously as a musical instrument even though the lyrics are often humorous perspectives on life. Phil Wisdom may not be uke-ing it tonight, but his indistinctly named band, Butterknife, sounds pretty good.

MON 2/11

5pm to 6:30pm
Big Picture Panel on Sustainable Energy
in Kirsch Auditorium, Stata Center, 32 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

"What are the biggest obstacles to sustainable energy? What is being done right now? How will this be affecting your career? Come and see what the experts have to say. Sustainable careers are not just for do-gooders. Sustainable energy is not just about solar panels, wind power, and fuel cells. And we are not just waiting for the miracle gadget that everyone can just buy."

Various MIT professors will speak on different topics with a Q&A session followed by a reception (so don’t fill up beforehand)...

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TUES 2/12

7pm
"In the Mood For Love": Free Screening
at Harvard Film Archive/Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

Wong Kar-wai not only creates lush, colorful cinemascapes; but he's also a master at capturing the joy and ache of love.

TUES 2/12

7pm
Dan Kennedy, "Rock On": Reading
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

I'm an unabashed admirer of the humor on McSweeney's, and Dan Kennedy has written quite a few pearls of ironic hipster hilarity over the years. If you're interested in getting wiseass eye's inside view of why the music industry sucks, you'll enjoy hearing some of -- maybe even reading -- Kennedy's book about his marketing job at Atlantic Records.