THUR 5/29: Canada Stuff, DIY Porn Advice, Rock, Talk, Cambridge TV

I usually try to put the weekly listings in chronological order, so let me say that the rock at the Middle East is really good tonight. I'm torn, because I want to go -- but that means I may not have anything close to a "Cheap Thrills" list for tomorrow. I don't even think I'll have a "Sneak Peek" until tonight...

I will admit I was a little hesitant to list the first event below, because this isn't a sex-blog or an X-rated blog. I don't know who reads this, but I like to think that mature, open-minded people read my stuff. So don't freak out at me, folks! "Live and let live."

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THUR 5/29

6:30pm to 7:30pm
DIY Porn Panel
at Good Vibrations, 308A Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

Hey -- we're all adults here, right? (Oh, we're not? Hmm, sorry.)

Apparently there's more to a good sex video than 'good sex' and some kind of 'video'. Sexologists Jamye Waxman (advice columnist for Playgirl -and- adult film director, among other things) and Megan Andelloux are expected to appear as well as someone from the Boston Underground Film Festival.

If you're thinking about doing it or are already having fun with ol' video camera, you can pick up a bunch of tips on making "dynamic porn on a budget" -- and who doesn't like the sound of that?

From what I've heard, the atmosphere at this shop is a pretty comfortable for both men and women. However, the directions say to enter through the "rear" of the building...
(sophomoric chuckling)

THUR 5/29

8am to 8pm
"Next Stop... Canada"
between Trinity Church & Boston Public Library, Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Oh, Canada is a beautiful country; and they're visiting Boston for a few days to invite us up. Today, there are some people from Ottawa to encourage you. The pictures I've seen show a lovely place, and there seems to be plenty of interesting things to do.

Although people will be there from "8am to 8pm", the action is really going to take place from noon to 2pm and from 4pm to 6pm. You'll see an Aboriginal hoop dancer, an amazing food carver Chef Armando from their Le Cordon Bleu school, and a shucker from The Whalebone Oyster House, who'll give out free shucked oysters. Boston piano player David Maxwell has played at the Ottawa Blues Festival and will be out there at some point today. If you're considering a trip to Canada, you can get some literature and talk to Canadians all day long. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way -- except for the guy shucking out free oysters around lunchtime and quitting time...

Other Thursday stuff from the Weekly List:

THUR 5/ 29

6:30pm to 8pm
"Banned in Boston: The Silent Speech of Margaret Sanger": Discussion
at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

About 80 years ago, pioneering birth-control advocate famously did NOT give a speech in Boston, but her remarks were read by someone else (at a Ford Hall Forum) while she sat with a gag over her mouth. This was the "Banned in Boston" era, and she was told she could not deliver her remarks. Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood and Susan Shaer of Women's Action for New Directions will be two of the speakers that will discuss Sanger's speech, her message, censorship, and so on.

"Equal time will be provided for the speakers' remarks and questions from the audience."

THUR 5/29

6pm
Russell Banks, Mike Gravel, Howard Zinn: "A Conversation about American Identity"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 (tix available at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave -- or by phone: 617-661-1515)

With wacky former presidential candidate Mike Gravel involved, this should be a wild discussion. All three have recently published books. Gravel has released an autobiography. Novelist Russell Banks (The Sweet Hereafter, Affliction, etc) has written a nonfiction examination of the arcs of the American story from colonial days on. Howard Zinn has an updated & illustrated version of his classic that's been re-titled "A People's History of American Empire".

EVENT UPDATE: Please note that due to personal matters, Professor Zinn will not be attending tonight's event with Russell Banks and Mike Gravel.

THUR 5/29

8pm
"(In)Famous: 20 Years of CCTV’s Most Talked About Programming"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$2

For an extra two bucks, stay and watch some of the classic and infamous clips of the last 20 years Cambridge Community Television. Besides the typically proud moments of local TV, see footage of "gratuitous frontal nudity, the violation of an uncooked chicken, and a bunch of other shows that prompted residents to file complaints with the FCC."

If you want a commemorative t-shirt as well, you can get the advance shirt/ticket package for $20 here. But I assume they'll sell t-shirts that night as well...

THUR 5/29

9pm
MSPCA Natural Disaster Relief Fundraiser
Feat. The Rudds, The Gobshites, Andrea Gillis, The Silver Lining, Erica Owen
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

There are so many reasons to check out this show from the powerful, clever pop-rock of The Rudds to the punky Irish folk of The Gobshites to soulful vocals of rockin' Andrea Gillis. Unfortunately I read this may be your last chance to see the neo-psychedelic folk/pop of The Silver Lining. They'll probably do one-offs here and there, but this is the last gig. The good news is that you'll probably walk away with a free copy of their new CD tonight. Heck, you might even be an animal-lover (in the platonic sense); the proceeds will benefit the MSPCA.