THUR 6/12: Taste of Fort Point, 2 Great Documentarians, Scooper Bowl, Music

Now there's the look of joy from unlimited ice cream! If you're downtown today, you might want to fight the crowds in Fort Point for free grub. (To make my brother's saying more poetic, "Two's company; free's a crowd."

I wanted to write more about the music playing tonight -- but I didn't... I really should've added this "Rock the Runway" thing too, which is a fashion show with bands: Aloud, Rogue Heroes, Lannen Fall, and more.

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THUR 6/12

6:30pm
Facing Realities: Dialogues in Boston Documentary Film
at Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (Seaport / Waterfront)
$10 / $7 students & seniors

Maybe other people don't share my love of documentaries, but I oftentimes find them more interesting and gripping than fictional films. The extra cool aspect of this program is the appearance of the filmmakers tonight.

I haven't seen "Backyard" ('84), but Ross McElwee made one of the best documentaries I've ever seen: "Sherman's March" ('86). It was supposed to be a Civil War piece, but he turns the camera towards himself and examines his love life and anxiety about nuclear holocaust. There's so much more that happens; there's narrative strength, subtlety, and humor that would be hard to recreate. Michael Moore said it was his inspiration to make "Roger & Me" -- for what that's worth to you. "Backyard" is a portrait of his Southern family and racism (and likely much more).

"Operation Filmmaker" sounds a little like a comedy. A news crew takes footage of a distraught Iraqi film student after his school was destroyed by Allied bombs. Actor Liev Schrieber sees it and invites to guy to work on a film that's shooting in Europe. It's eventually discovered that he's far from a hard-working, earnest film student, and it happens to be captured in this documentary.

The director, Nina Davenport, and Ross McElwee will have discussion after the screenings. There may even be free refreshments.

Today's stuff from the Weekly List:

THUR 6/12

Noon to 1:30pm
Annual Taste of the Fort Point Channel
at Children’s Wharf Park, 300 Congress St, Boston (Waterfront/Seaport)
FREE

If you work or live around Fort Point, you may already know this -- but anyone can head over to try samples from the neighborhood's restaurants. There are quite a few nice ones participating. I'd ask why, but I don't care.

THUR 6/12

11am to 7pm
Last Day... Scooper Bowl
at City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$8

All-you-can-eat ice cream, 'nuff said! There are 11 companies who each usually have 2 to 4 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and/or sorbet. I've seen people seemingly satisfied at 7 or 8 scoops, but you really should try as many flavors as possible -- at least multiple cups of your favorite...

Proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

THUR 6/12

10pm
Chris Wilhelm
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

Boston folk singer has a clean, earnest style that is very compelling. You get the feeling that his catchy songs have a meaning that begins somewhere in his torso -- and not simply on a piece of paper.

THUR 6/12

9pm
Ryan Fitzsimmons Band, Kill The Alarm, Joel Ackerson
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$8 / 21+

Three killer folk/pop/rock artists at one of the best darkish, intimate clubs in town.