WED 2/11: Anime, Naughty Crafts, Celtic, Beatdown

I'm not a big believer in Valentine's Day, and I haven't seen much Saturday cheapness that directly relates to this fake holiday. I'll try to throw up some ideas in advance anyway. I did post some general suggestions last year.

--------------------------------------------------------------

WED 2/11

7pm to 9:30pm
"Grave of the Fireflies": Screening & Discussion
at Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

Anime and manga must be bigger business in the U.S. than I thought – at least tonight's sponsor, Japan External Trade Organization, wants it to be bigger business. Besides showing this classic, dramatic, un-sci-fi anime film that apparently want to make Roger Ebert weep like a little baby; there's a panel discussion with Japan scholars: John W. Dower, Roland Kelts, and Frederik L. Schodt.

(I joke, but a story about orphans during WWII Japan is going to be sad.)

Attendees also get a "complimentary film guides featuring imagery from the film and essays by eminent scholars of Japanese pop culture and animation." Not too shabby...

Tickets are required and are available day of event starting at 10am on site at Remis Box Office. (I couldn't find the online ticket request.) Lots of people love this stuff, so it might not hurt to pick up tix as early as possible -- 4 allowed per person.

WED 2/11

7pm to 11pm
"Holiday Handjobs" -- Not what you think...
at VFW George Dilboy Post, 371 Summer St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$1 to $2 donation / All Ages

Are you looking for something naughty for the one you lust? Perhaps it's you'd like to give yourself some pleasure (or pain)...

Edgy crafts fair with over 25 vendors and party brought to you by Truth Serum & Nine Inch Needles described as a "curated market with a queer/sex/punk focus/ethic/aesthetic" -- but all adults are welcome. I'm sure it'll be a wild time.

Besides DJ Mark E. Moon throughout the shopping time, around 10pm prepare yourself for "Kielbasia the accordion playing lunchlady drag queen", pianist Billy Hough of The Scream Along with Billy Show, the amazing MC Cathy Cathodic">, and who knows what else...

Proceeds of the door go to $pread Magazine, an "independent publication by and for people in the sex industry and those who support our rights."

WED 2/11

8pm
"Celtic Fusion"
at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE / All Ages

I get the feeling it's going to be a top-notch performance of wide musical traditions from Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton, Scandinavia (?), and America.

Many musicians from Berklee and other schools will perform separately and together as well as others like John McGann, Natalie Haas, Matt Glaser, The Folk Arts Quartet, Jimmy Noonan, Kimberly Fraser, and Blue Moose & the Unbuttoned Zippers.

In between, there's going to be readings from James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and local poets. (Joyce and Yeats will not be in attendance.)

What Cafe 939 lacks in alcoholic drinks, it makes up for in a clean listening space with good acoustics.

WED 2/11

9pm to 1am
Puma Presents: "The MP3 Beatdown, Round 1"
at Enormous Room, 567 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

Like a DJ battle, but the weapon of choice will be mp3 players. Eight teams from Hearthrob, KarmaLoop, Night Society, The Weekly Dig, Bodega, and other cool people will compete head-to-head; the winner will be determined by audience reaction. Dr. Claw will DJ before and after the mp3J's. DJ Mistaker is hosting.

Like an idiot, I didn't check the Facebook page before I came to work, but there are more details there. The battles start at 11pm, but it's going to be crowded especially since there's some promise of complimentary libations. Get there early if you really want to get in.

Stay tuned for Rounds Two and Three...