Sneak Peek -- SAT 4/25

It's a mix some really interesting things and some that are just so-so, but it could be something tacked on to something else you want to do.

I just noticed that I didn't pick any music shows, but there's so much good stuff happening during the day. And so perfectly timed!

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SAT 4/25

11am to 8pm
Breakonomics 2009
at La Sala de Puerto Rico, 2nd Fl, Stratton Student Center, 84 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT Campus)
$10

Nine hours of dance competitions (B-Boy, Popping, House)!?!

Includes a Boston/NYC battle between Jet Liem (Boston) and Fifo.

SAT 4/25

Noon to 4pm
Science Carnival
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

The Cambridge Science Festival (thru SUN 5/3) begins with the Science Carnival and many other activities. It's fun for curious minds in whatever body you inhabit.

At the Kresge Auditorium, there will be live stage performances, experiments & demonstrations with titles like: Nanoparticles and Stained Glass, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Demo, You Can Do the Rubik's Cube, Science of Baseball, DIYbio: Build Your Own Biology Lab, Silicon in Motion (not about boobies), How to Update Your House into Energy Saving Homes and Save Money, etc.

Admission to the MIT Museum is also free on 4/25, and several cool things are happening over there. (You must see the permanent Arthur Ganson sculpture exhibit!)

SAT 4/25 & SUN 4/26

Noon to 6pm
North Cambridge Open Studios
around North/West Cambridge
FREE

It looks like the Cambridge Arts Council is coordinating all of the "open studios" this year [PDF brochure]. It'll be a great weekend for a walk and art stops.

SAT 4/25 & SUN 4/26

1pm to 5pm
Sailing Open House
at Boston Sailing Center, Lewis Wharf, Boston (North End)
FREE

Enjoy a tour of the facilities and a free boat ride for about 30 minutes. No sailing experience necessary. It's probably going to be crowded thanks to the beautiful weather, but you could try to go this first Open House of the season.

It's first-come, first-serve. Wear something comfortable that is okay to get slightly wet. Remember it's slightly colder on the water.

They'll offer discounts on lessons, but you don't have to sign up for anything.

SAT 4/25

1pm to 3pm
"Discussing the Documentary": Panel Discussion
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
FREE

A conversation and Q&A three IFFBoston documentary filmmakers: Ben Steinbauer (Winnebago Man), Jody Lambert (Of All The Things), and Ondi Timoner (We Live In Public).

"Limited to capacity, first come, first serve."

SAT 4/25

1pm to 4:30pm
"Boston Is Watching"
at Boston Room, First Floor, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Part of the the Boston Cyberarts Festival.

If one doesn't really get "virtual reality", this is one aspect that seems to make sense to me. I wouldn't pay real money for my avatar's virtual hotel room, but viewing and buying art seems plausible.

The art scene on Second Life has been brewing for a few years, and Brooklyn Is Watching is a group that's very active. They're going to give a presentation along with Berklee professor Lori Landay and several flesh-and-blood versions of virtual artists...

(At least, this is wha I think is happening.)

Note: "Some mature content may be reviewed. Parental guidance is suggested."

SAT 4/25

1:30pm
"The Maker Revolution"
at Microsoft Startup Labs, 11th Fl, 1 Memorial Drive, Cambridge (Kendall Sq)
FREE

Willoughby & Baltic Gallery, a place for local (and benign) mad scientists, are presenting discussions, workshops, performances, etc. My virtual buddy Bill T. Miller is participating in a panel discussion and will give a performance on a cornucopia of modified electronic instruments. You might also experience: hostile artificial grass ("Sod Off"), "video" plate-breaking, a body-throbbing machine, and more.

1:30pm to 2:30pm -- "Building Electronic Circuits & Sounds for Performance & Installation": Panel Discussion
2:45pm -- Bill T Miller's Orgy of Noise.
3pm -- Adam Ribaudo, Monome Performance

More workshops follow and occur on Sunday from 1pm to 6pm.

SAT 4/25

2pm
Beer Tasting
at Formaggio Kitchen, 244 Huron Ave, Cambridge (Huron Village)
FREE

Sample some beer from Pretty Things Brewery. Author Lucy Saunders will be there as well to discuss "grilling with beer". The bummer is their Saturday sidewalk grill might be out of food (most under $10) by the time of the free beer samples...

It's not that far of a walk from Harvard Sq; I just rarely walk in that direction...

SAT 4/25

3pm to 6pm
"Beer Pairing Goes Green": Local Beer & Food Tasting
at Wine Gallery, 375 Boylston Street, Brookline
FREE

Devon & Jeff from DrinkCraftBeer are cool guys, and all the beer and cheese has been made with 100 miles including: Pretty Things, Peak Organic, Mayflower Brewing, Mercury Brewing, Shy Brothers Farm, and Westfield Farm.