FRI 5/7: Lotsa Art, Animation, Talk, Rock

Ain't this weather great?

I think the artists do well by selling their wares before Mother's Day. Moms usually love decorative crap...

Hey, you have until 3pm to possibly win two tix for Golden Bloom's ukulele homage to Neutral Milk Hotel. See below!

In case the beer lovers haven't heard Cambridge Brewing Company is celebrating their 21st anniversary with lots of special beer tonight and tomorrow.

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FRI 5/7 (and SAT 5/8)

10am to 5pm
SMFA Spring Sidewalk Sale
at School of the Museum of Fine Arts, 95 Museum Rd, Boston (The Fens)
- What you buy -

Hundreds of pieces by SMFA artists will be for sale in media such as ceramics, photography, paintings, drawings to jewelry, t-shirts, prints, etc.

I read that "prices start at $5" - and - "In case of rain, the event will be held indoors at the Museum School."

If you're there, you should also check out MassArt's sale down the block in the Tower Bldg lobby. You might see something Mom would like.

FRI 5/7 (to SUN 5/9)

4pm to 7pm
Annual Fort Point Art Walk
around Fort Point, South Boston
FREE

Saturday & Sunday -- Noon to 5pm

Wouldn't it be nice to walk around when the weather is being so agreeable (with the possible exception of Saturday) and check out some art?

Fort Point is one of the first areas -- if not the first neighborhood -- that hosted open studios in Boston. Enjoy these talented artists' creativity and hospitality before they're all gentrified out...

Take a look at the PDF map for info about some activities.

FRI 5/7

6pm to 8pm
"Get Your Freak On! Celebrating Circus Folk, Carnies & Sideshow Freaks": Opening Reception
at Space 242, 242 E Berkeley St, 2nd Fl, Boston (South End)
FREE w/ RSVP

Wow, there is a lot of freaky art by over 100 artists in many shapes and forms.

There may still be time to RSVP. I've been to Space 242 a few times (scroll down a bit), and so few galleries have a bar area like them...

FRI 5/7

7pm
Squealing Pegs 2010
at Tower Auditorium , MassArt, 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (Fenway)
$5 donation / $2 donation with MassArt ID

This is a chance to see the world premieres of the best student animation of the last year. A lot of these shorts will go on to many film festivals all over the globe -- and will probably win a few awards too.

I'm guessing there will be some adult content (i.e. funny stuff that annoys the easily offended). Don't say I didn't warn you!

FRI 5/7

7pm
"Food, Glorious Food: Our Palate vs. Our Planet?": Lecture
at Cahners Theater, Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston
FREE

Chef Joanne Chang, food writer Corby Kummer, and sustainability expert Helene York will "explore the relationship between our love affair with food and our desire to protect the planet."

Seating is limited. Passes are available in the Museum lobby beginning at 5:45pm on the day of the program. First come, first served.

Perhaps we can change what and how we eat while still having something delicious?

FRI 5/7

9:30pm
Ketman, Thalia Zedek, Uninhabitable Mansions, The Big Big Bucks
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

Ketman has a new CD, and it's about time we have some new tunes of focused yet chaotic post-punk. Previously Thalia Zedek reminded me of a female Leonard Cohen, but I listened to her 7-minute version of "House of the Rising Sun" the other night. I think Zedek's could better be compared to latter-day Marianne Faithfull, but her songwriter has the intensity of Cohen or Nick Cave.

It's appropriate to call Uninhabitable Mansions a "Brooklyn-based art collective and band". Some people make music and art, and some people do one or the other. They probably live in a brownstone together, and the songs seem more chipper than the other three groups on the bill. I've overcome whatever hangup I had about The Big Big Bucks and enjoy the moments of pop sweetness ensconced in their messy rock.

FRI 5/7

9:30pm
Spitzz, Glitter & Lies, Lovewhip, Oilhead
at PA's Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

Again, it's another case of "one of these things are not like the other". But isn't that one of the joys of life? In the middle of a bunch of punk, Lovewhip will break out their electro-rock dance party to satisfaction of everyone without a stick in their butt. (Too bad, it's not 18+ anymore...)

FRI 5/7

9:30pm
Bookkeeper, The Jesse Minute, Brontosaur
at House of Blues Restaurant, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

Pretty good mix of raucous, quirky, and punky indie-rock.

FRI 5/7

10:30pm
Lars Vegas
at Alchemist Lounge, 435 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE

A trip to Lars Vegas can be had for the price of a T ride...

This band has been synthesizing rock and loungey rhythms for a while (their "Junkie Rock Star" was in "Next Stop Wonderland"), so it's so cool that we still can catch this band. Gotta love the witty lyrics spewed out with a cadence that often sounds like a spoken-word artist.

The rumor is that the Alchemist is changing hands soon (maybe this month), so who knows if they're still going to host live music in the new incarnation...