THUR 8/20: Music, Fossils, Shakespeare, Film

Instead of not writing at home last night, I was not writing while watching bands at the Middle East. All the bands sounded great, and the crowd was accordingly large as if it was a weekend show.

It was a certain singer-drummer's birthday, and it was a damn good party. I saw some friends and met some musicians from bands I like.

Yes, I had a vegan cupcake and it was delicious -- although I shuddered at the thought of the soy beans that were slaughtered for my pleasure...

Not much late cheapness tonight. I can't remember if I didn't search well enough or if nothing jumped out at me.

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THUR 8/20

5pm
Boston GreenFest: Kick-Off Concert
Feat: Mr. Lif (9pm), Tem Blessed (8:15pm), Samba Tremeterra (7:15pm), The Click 5 (6pm), The Motion Sick (5pm)
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

If I still worked downtown, I'd go listen to the awesomeness that is The Motion Sick and stick around for the other bands. I hear The Click 5 is no longer aiming their music at prepubescent girls, so guys don't have to feel weird for enjoying their pop-rock.

After Brazilian drum and dance excellence from Samba Tremeterra, two of the best local hip-hop acts are performing.

There's going to lots of exhibits, workshops, activities, etc on Friday and Saturday (10 am to 10pm), but I'm surprised by the ridiculous amount of music all day long on multiple stages. You should check it out even if you don't want to lead a more environmentally responsible life.

THUR 8/20

5pm to 8pm
Summer Museum Nights: "The Best Fossils Darwin Never Saw"
at Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$4.50 / $3.50 seniors, non-Harvard students / $3 ages 3 to 18

After the "Glass Flowers", the next HMNH exhibit I rave about is the collection of strange fossils (because the coelacanth is ugly). There are some crazy specimens from the miniature horse to the 6-foot sloth to the giant aquatic dinosaur.

Grad student Ben Kotrc will give "gallery talks" -- at 6pm & 7pm -- on the absence of fossils from certain prehistoric eras that puzzled Darwin (but have since been discovered). Ben is from Austria, so I imagine his accent will add some scientific authority to the already interesting topic.

This is the third and last summer night when you can visit the HNMH for half-price. Sure, Mass residents get in free on Sunday mornings, but who wants to go to a museum when it's time for brunch & Bloody Mary's?

THUR 8/20

6:45pm
"The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)"
at Christian Herter Park, 1175A Soldiers Field Road, Brighton (near Charles River, across from WBZ)
FREE

This is it -- the Orfeo Group's last free performance (until more are announced)...

If you're not interested in watching just one play, this is short attention span Shakespeare.

You could still pay a reasonable $15 to see it on Friday or Saturday.

THUR 8/20

7pm to 11pm
Inman Under The Stars: Movie Night & Neighborhood Social
at the East Cambridge Savings Bank's parking lot, 1310 Cambridge St, Cambridge (Inman Sq)
FREE

Most "family-oriented" events don't grab my attention, but it might be a good night to get out of the house. If you're in the area and feel like watching "ET the Extra-Terrestrial", the movie starts around 8pm. There is going to be free popcorn, bottled water, and iced tea.

Pre-movie entertainment includes "Jungle Jim's Big Balloon Alien Show" (7pm)

"Light rain or shine"

BYO chair, blanket, etc.

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I was compelled to include this green rap by Tem Blessed and his crew (playing at tonight's GreenFest concert: