TUES 3/23: Ice Cream, Film, Rock

Did anyone get a free pastry at Starbucks? I'm more interested in getting a free cone at Ben & Jerry's.

If you feel like having a few drinks in Back Bay tonight, consider going downstairs at the Pour House. Someone is running the marathon and raising funds. For $10 you have a chance to win some good raffle prizess while helping low-income youths go to college.

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TUES 3/23

Noon to 8pm
Free Cone Day
at participating Ben & Jerry's stores

Do I really have to encourage anyone to get a free ice cream?

My understanding is that all local shops are participating (and will give you a cup, if you prefer).

Seems like this annual event is also a way to debut new flavors (milk & cookies, maple blondie, and peanut brittle), but you can choose any flavor.

This could improve your mood on a rainy Tuesday.

* Here's a tip you might not get elsewhere: If you sign up for their mailing list, they will send you a certificate for a free ice cream to the Ben & Jerry's location of your choice. Don't do it today, because you only have 2 weeks to redeem it.

TUES 3/23

6pm
"Dirt! The Movie": Screening
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

Don't we take dirt for granted? This documentary takes a humorous look at all the stuff below us and showing how major farming practices are ruining it. Get knowledgeable and dirty at the same time.

TUES 3/23

7pm
"Romero": Film & Discussion
at Lucy Parsons Center, 549 Columbus Ave, Boston (South End)
FREE

If you saw the Daily Show segment on the Texas School Board that's f---ing with textbooks to jibe with their political views, you would've heard Archbishop Romero mentioned. (He shouldn't be in history books, because one of the board members didn't know who he was.)

In honor of the 30th anniversary of his death, the Salavadorean Initiative for Education and Culture (ISEDUC, no good link found...) is presenting the Oliver Stone film about the Salvadoran human rights activist who was killed.

Hang out with the Marxists, anarchists, etc and feel revolutionary...

TUES 3/23 (and WED 3/24)

7pm
"The Pillow Book"
at Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

When it's a Tuesday or Wednesday, there's a good chance there's a good movie being shown for free at the HFA.

This was one of those art-house films that's so visually stimulating that I don't really remember the plot. Ewan McGregor is living in Japan, and his lover is a calligrapher who writes all over him. Sometimes multiple boxes of action slide over the main screen and there's an overflow of information -- at least it felt that way when I saw it years ago.

If you ever wondered what young Obi-Wan Kenobi looks like naked, this is the film for you.

TUES 3/23

9:30pm
I Have Ears, Tik Tok, BirdsMakeBirds
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$6 / 18+

All of these bands are paying attention to not making interesting music instead just bashing it out -- which also does the trick for me in many cases!

When I heard them do a Beatles cover ("I'm So Tired") last year, I Have Ears got a big thumbs up in my mind. There have been some references to The Strokes, but they seem more powerpop than that. Tik Tok centers around the female vocals and keyboard, and they rock with a strong sense of dynamics to keep things interesting. BirdsMakeBirds have a cool rumbling, indie thing going on that should prick up your ear.

TUES 3/23

9:30pm
Civil Twilight, Reni Lane
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$6 / 18+

I guess the lower cover charge is meant to encourage people to check out Civil Twilight, a South African trio who have moved to Nashville a few years ago. This is pop-rock that's ready for radio and TV shows (e.g. one of their songs has already been on "One Tree Hill").

Maybe it's because she's a cute redhead, but I like Reni Lane's sound better. Reni and band have a sassy, poppy thing going on that comes across as genuinely pleasant. (Of course, she's also had songs in commercials and TV shows.)

I'm guessing this will probably start closer to 10pm...