MON 11/10: Wild Wood, Post-Election, War Film, Jazz

Yeah, I should've had this stuff up already, but I have tomorrow off so things could get caught up...

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MON 11/10

6pm to 8pm
"The Dancing Chickens of Ventura Fabian"
at Taqueria La Mexicana, 247 Washington St, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

Mexican wood-carving craftsmen visiting Somerville? I didn't think the artisans from Mexico were actually here when I saw a mention of them last weekend, but Ventura Fabian and his son are in Boston and have given a couple demonstrations at schools in the past week.

They're going to show how they create these wildly colorful and whimsical creatures known as "alebrijes", and there should be some discussion on the background of this tradition. At the very least, you can ask. "Light refreshments" will be served, but I highly recommend Taqueria La Mexicana. As someone who spent much of my eating life in taquerias around Los Angeles, this is the best, most authentic Mexican food I've had in Boston.

The Fabians will have alebrijes for sale, and they can make a lot more by selling directly here in the US. I don't know how much, but a quick search on the web shows similar items starting in the mid-twenties and going up from there...

MON 11/10

6pm
"Election 2008: The Campaign, the Transition, and the Obama Administration"
at JFK Forum, 79 JFK St, Cambridge (Kennedy School of Govt)
FREE

Some of you aren't ready to stop talking about the election. Hey -- most TV news networks haven't moved on either...

When it's Harvard School of Government, you know tonight's discussion will be filled with cogent insights. The panelists include former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D - who was thought to have presidential potential), Alex Castellanos (Republican consultant & frequent CNN pundit) as well as Jennifer Donahue of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Nicco Mele of EchoDitto (and Howard Dean's Internet Operations Director in '04). Bill Purcell of Harvard's Institute of Politics will moderate.

I was told simply "at the JFK Forum", but I think it's in the Littauer Center...

MON 11/10

6pm
"Flags of Our Fathers"
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Downstairs, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Based on the true story about the soldiers who famously raised the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. As you might expect there's much more to the story than is told in school books. Critics said the companion film ("Letters from Iwo Jima") may have been a better movie overall, this is still supposed to be a worthwhile movie with a healthy dose of "broccoli".

Part of the BPL's "In Honor of Veterans" film series. (FYI: The running time is 2 hours, 12 min.)

Do you remember tomorrow is Veteran's Day?

MON 11/10

8:15pm
Edmar Castaneda Trio, Las Americas Faculty Big Band
at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Ave, Boston (Back Bay)
$10 / $5 seniors & ages 12 to 18

This may sound crazy, but Edmar Castaneda from Colombia rips on the harp! Forget the notions of serene harp music. He can do that too, but this is someone who plays Latin music and jazz with fervor approaching the harp more like guitar than a piano. There are many great Latin players on the Berklee faculty, and this 20-piece Big Band will hit spots across Central and South American countries. It's all part of their annual Latin Culture Celebration.