WED 1/27: Science, Games, Food, Film, Bingo, Music

Sorry, I couldn't narrow it down any more than this... I would want to go to all of these things!

Why did I pick today's image? Hey, there's a band who named themselves after Charlie Brown's friend (or a candy). Although her hair is quite brown, I think of her as a ginger.

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

WED 1/27

5pm to 7pm
Richard Wrangham, "Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human": Lecture & Booksigning
at Geological Lecture Hall, Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE

In the first of three lectures in a series titled "Food For Thought", the main thrust of Prof. Wrangham's new book seems to be that our forebears began cooking much earlier than previously thought -- and it had a tremendous influence on our evolution.

The book-signing (5pm) precedes the lecture (6pm), and it should be an illuminating glimpse into our relationship with food.

Moderated by Prof. Noel Michele Holbrook (Biology & Forestry)

WED 1/27

6:30pm
2nd Annual Rock Paper Scissors Competition
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5 / 21+

It was called Ro-sham-bo by my friends and I. Whoever invented this game was a genius -- except he couldn't figure out how to put it in a box and sell it! It's difficult to find three other objects that relate to each in other in such an elegantly simple relationship.

Register with your battle name (help here or here) from 6:30 to 7:30pm, and the first battle begins at 8pm.

There are prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. Some people get pretty serious about it, so you can read some tips.

Sounds like it was a good time last year...

WED 1/27

6:30pm to 8:30pm
"Ginger Explosion"
at Grand, 374 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5

Mmmm, ginger... chefs from various restaurants (including Union Square's Ronnarong) are creating sweet and savory dishes that celebrate this tasty tuber. You might want to read up about the multi-purpose root, because there's going to be a trivia contest and other fun.

I looked at the Facebook page, and it's probably going to be a full house. It's given that most people don't show up even though they RSVP, but these folks have also organized other events that deliver the goods (an ice cream party and nutty tasting). I went to the "Ice Cream Showdown", which was held in the lot next to Grand, and it was a big crowd.

(No kicking of gingers, please!)

WED 1/27

7pm
"Lost In La Mancha"
at Room 133, Bldg 3, 33 Mass Ave (Rear), Cambridge (MIT Campus)
FREE

The last screening of "The Life and Death of Terry Gilliam: A Film Symposium" is actually a film about the director.

Unfortunately and ironically, Terry Gilliam's attempt to film his version of the Cervantes classic turned out to be quixotic. What could have been a DVD extra turned into a complete documentary about the travails that befell Gilliam and company in the ultimately unsuccessful enterprise.

WED 1/27

9pm
Rock N' Roll Bingo
at Milky Way Lounge / Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
FREE

Do I really think it's going to start on time? No, but I think there's a chance that it'll start close to 9pm. When I went to the Model Cafe on a Wednesday night for bingo fun, and it was a good time without even winning. It seems like fun alternative to pub trivia while still being (very) competitive. The tunes between games are better than your typical trivia host who puts their iPod on shuffle.

There should be at least 6 chances -- and you might even get a cupcake just for playing...

It looks like the deal is first Wednesdays at the Model and last Wednesdays at the Milky Way.

[Facebook]

WED 1/27

8:30pm
The Peppermint Patties, Old Jack, Logan 5 & The Runners, Ed In the Refridgerators, Cult of Point Break Society
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

Did you miss "One Night Band" last August? I've attempted to kick my own ass on several occasions when thinking about it. Some of those temporary groups are reuniting over 3 shows in the next couple weeks (discounted multi-night deal available).

This band came up with a clever angle in that day before the show; the songs have a classic '50s vibe and "murder/death" is the subject of every song. Besides the original three tunes, they've added a couple more to their repertoire for this gig.

There's a lot of "cross-breeding" in the Boston scene, so the P-mint Patties are connected to a multitude of bands (The Luxury, Old Jack, Muy Cansado, The New Alibis, Vagiant, Harry & the Potters, Cult of Point Break Society, etc). Some of these bands are joining the rock fun with sets of their own.

It's a damn good bill with solid bands like Old Jack and Logan 5 & The Runners. The interesting thing about Cult of Point Break Society is that it's a project that often changes personnel as it annually performs a different classic/cult-favorite album. Ed in the Refridgerators started about 10 years ago when the duo were pre-teens, so it'll be fun to see them recapture the original angst...

I actually believe this will begin very close to 8:30pm, because they're going to premiere the "One Night Band" short film that was documented the whole process.

WED 1/27

9:30pm
Jimmy Ryan & Hayride, Sarah Borges
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$6 advance / $7 door / 21+

For a rootsier night of awesomeness, mandolinist-extraordinaire Jimmy Ryan and the super-band comprised of Duke Levine, Andrew Mazzone, and Billy Beard are in the middle of a residency where they play an "acoustic" set and an "electric" set. There's a different guest each week, and tonight they'll be joined by Sarah Borges who basically has the voice of a honky-tonkin' angel.

If you're interested, someone took photos from last week's show with Ward Hayden of Girls Guns and Glory.