Sneak Peek: FRI 6/6 to SUN 6/8

Okay, here's some stuff for the weekend. Go Celtics!

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FRI 6/6

7pm
Preacher Jack

8:30pm
Thunderpants Johnson's Hillbilly Orchestra, Gilded Splinters, Birdwatchers of America, Dearborn Valley
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE / 21+

I'm a fan of Preacher Jack, and how can you not like a band called Thunderpants Johnson's Hillbilly Orchestra? Free rootsy, rockin' fun.

FRI 6/6

10pm
Mieka Pauley Band, Bronze Radio Return, Phil DaRosa
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

Mieka Pauley is an awesome songwriter, and she's a genuine talent with a unique voice. The guys from Harriet Street will be backing her up tonight.

FRI 6/6 to SUN 6/8

11am to 10pm (8pm on SUN)
St. Athanasius the Great Greek Festival
at 4 Appleton Street, Arlington
FREE admission

You don't have to spend more than $10, but there's a good chance you will want to. Everything is freshly prepared by the ladies of the congregation. You'll find the usual gyros, spanakopita, moussaka, souvlaki, etc. -- along with a variety of Greek desserts -- but the special you won't find at most restaurants is the open spit-roasted pig and lamb. Go with a couple friends and share the pig plate, which has been raved about. (It probably won't be done before 6pm or so, when the crowd is at its peak.) Thankfully, they're also serving beer and wine. Plenty of music and dancing to enjoy throughout the weekend.

Rain or shine, there is a big tent to keep all of the baklava dry.

There are other Greek festivals in the next couple weeks (Central Sq and South End).

FRI 6/6 to SUN 6/15

Various Times
Boston International Film Festival
at Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
Most $10

Take a look at the schedule and surprise yourself.

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SAT 6/7

11am
"Jaws"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

A Cape Cod classic! Prof. J.D. Connor (Film, Harvard) will lead a discussion afterwards.

SAT 6/7

Noon-7pm
The Distillery Open Studios
at 516 East Second St, Boston (Southie)
FREE

This year in addition to Open Studios we have added an "art sale" which will provide an excellent opportunity for the general public to purchase work directly form the artist/craftsperson - much of it at a discount! Over a dozen tables and displays will be set up on the ground level in conjunction with open doors throughout the entire building. Woodwork, metalwork, jewelry, stationery, painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, photography, installation, and much more will be represented.

A free reception and preview will take place in the gallery on Friday from 6pm to 9pm.

SAT 6/7

2pm to 4:30ish
Field Trip: Number One
Feat: Boy Without God & The Gilded Moons, Seth Moore, Kids Are Goats, Shai Erlichman
by the fountain, 206 Clarendon St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

This should be pretty cool. It's a mobile concert that starts with a 30-minute acoustic set in Copley Sq, then the whole group takes a short walk to the next performance and so on and so on... Seth Moore and Kids Are Goats are in town from Murfreesboro, TN.

Rain Date: SUN 6/8, Noon

SAT 6/7

2:30pm to 4:30pm
A Conversation with Dr. Muhammad Yunus
at JFK Presidential Library & Museum, Columbia Point, Boston
FREE w/ RSVP

Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, is the father of micro-lending. If you ever wonder how poor people around the world might find some stability and self-sufficincy, then this should be a fascinating talk. Moderated by Dr. Lincoln Chen, founder of Harvard University's Global Equity Initative.

When I last checked, you could still register to attend.

SAT 6/7

7pm
Lewis Black, "Me of Little Faith": Reading
at First Parish Church, 3 Church St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$5 (tix available at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave -- or by phone: 617-661-1515)

He probably won't be as agitated, but it's cheaper than his Orpheum gig...

SAT 6/7

9:30pm
Pela, Static of the Gods, The Motion Sick, Shawn Fogel
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 advance / $10 day of show / 18+

Lots of most excellent rock music and songsmanship -- including one of my local faves, The Motion Sick (their 100th show). Oh, and Shawn Fogel's drummer? If you've ever read a book on Nirvana, he probably wrote it.

SAT 6/7

9:30pm
The Field, Andre Obin, Coral Cola
at Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston
$10 / 21+

I'm not a huge techno fan, but I sympathize with artists who'd like to perform in the US but have visa difficulties. After missing a bunch big shows Swedish -- are there any dangerous Swedes? -- act The Field (with a band) has been allowed to visit, and they're doing 3 shows in 3 days. It's interesting stuff. It'll probably be a full-capacity crowd.

SAT 6/7

11am to 4pm
Ballet Skillshare
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

I only saw this on the Lemmingtrail board. Supposed to be a "...body-positive, fun-filled space to stretch, move, dance and have shit tons of fun." Sessions may include: "ballet basics", "barre", "center/across the floor/combinations", "improv", "choreography".

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SUN 6/8

9am to 5pm
Annual Dragon Boat Festival
along Charles River, Memorial Dr, Cambridge
FREE

Like Head of the Charles, but with cooler looking boats...

SUN 6/8

Noon to 5:30pm
Annual Bike-A-Thon/Green Roots Festival
at Southwest Corridor Park, 100 Boylston St, Jamaica Plain (outside Stony Brook T Station)
FREE

...an outdoor gathering of environmental organizations, neighbors, and friends: featuring live music, food, and thoughtful content including workshops and panel discussions on themes of water, home-improvement, urban toxins, local food, and transportation.

We are proud to feature best-selling author Bill McKibben as keynote speaker.