THUR 1/8: Bikes, Elvis, Hamilton, Folk/Rock, Laramie Project

It's Elvis's birthday today, but I want to celebrate the birth of Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke. Where is the David Bowie tribute show?!

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THUR 1/8

5pm to 8pm
"The Bicycle Takes Off" [PDF]: Opening Reception
at Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, 154 Moody St, Waltham
$10

This exhibit opened 8 years ago at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk, CT and traveled to The New York Hall of Science to the Science Museum in Springfield to who knows where else before pedaling into Waltham. It includes 11 early bicycles dating back as far back as 1868. I usually like free opening receptions, but you might not feel as guilty having too much wine or beer when you pay $10...

THUR 1/8

6pm
"Elvis Birthday Bash"
at Dick's Last Resort, Quincy Marketplace, Boston
No Cover

Much like another heavy-set guy in a garish outfit, an Elvis impersonator rolls into town every year to celebrate the birth of the 'King' of rock 'n roll. Dana Z will rock the joint, and all the usual fun will be had like the look-a-like/sing-a-like karaoke contest ($300 grand prize, folks...), audience sing-a-longs, raffles, and jelly-doughnut-eating contest. It's not my favorite place, but Dick's consistently gives a hunka-hunka burning love to Presley every year.

THUR 1/8

6pm
Hamilton: The American Dream
at Abbey Room, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Bill Chrystal has portrayed another founding father, John Adams, in the past. He now breathes life into Alexander Hamilton (the guy on the $10 bill) for an hour or so. Maybe he'll say something about this statue on the Comm Ave Mall... You must insist to hear about his beef with Aaron Burr.

THUR 1/8

7pm
Guggenheim Grotto
$5 / 21+

9:30pm
Chandler Travis Philharmonic, Kami Lyle
$6 / 21+

at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)

When I heard The Guggenheim Grotto a couple years ago, I thought their folky pop explode across America like a mini-Coldplay. Their song "Told You So" briefly took over my mind on a daily basis for months; I'd sing it to myself over and over again. Thankfully for us, the Dublin duo can still do a January residency at cozy clubs like the Lizard Lounge. The doors open at 7pm, and they should start around 8pm.

It's $6 for the late(r) show, but I'm also a fan of Chandler Travis. It's the dead of winter, and his band The Incredible Casuals have long finished their summer-long reign of the Cape. It's time to bring his Philharmonic around Boston for the delicious gumbo of rock, R&B, country, soul, jazz, and whatever else he pulls out of his fez... Chandler's opener is cute-as-heck, pianist/trumpetress singer/songwriter Kami Lyle.

THUR 1/8 to SUN 1/11

7:30pm*
"The Laramie Project"
at Agassiz Theatre, 10 Garden St, Cambridge (Radcliffe Yard)
$10 / $7 students

"The Laramie Project" takes us back to Wyoming in 1998 and tells the heartbreaking story of Matthew Shepard's murder at the hands of two homophobes. The play was written after interviewing hundreds of Laramie residents. This ain't going to be the "feel-good play of the season", but I'm confident the cast and crew have taken great care with the poignant material.

Hopefully, intolerant protesters won't show up at this production like last month at the BCA.


There's a (presumably free) panel at the Agassiz Theatre (looks to located near "5 James St" to me) before opening night at 4:30pm.

* 2pm matinees on SAT 1/10 & SUN 1/11