MON 5/24: Film, Stories, Music

Lots of library items tonight. Not usually too exciting, but you don't have worry about the heat in your apartment for an hour or two.

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MON 5/24

6pm
"Touching the Game: The Story of the Cape Cod Baseball League": Screening
at Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Copley Sq)
FREE

The title of this documentary spells it out. Although I've never been to a CCBL game, it's supposed to be pretty amazing experience -- especially if one considers that about 15% of the players end up in the majors.

Filmed during the summer of 2003, you get a look into the players' summers on the Cape (along with their host-families and day jobs) as well as interviews from fans to players like Varitek and Nomar.

Filmmaker Jim Carroll, who started out at NESN, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A session.

MON 5/24

6:30pm to 8pm
All-Star Story Slam
at Lecture Hall (basement), Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE

For those who enjoy hearing a good story, 12 people who have previously won "Story Slams" in the past year will present 5-minute stories of any theme to represent Massmouth at the National Story Slam in Chicago next month.

Be ready to pay attention, because the audience will vote on who will be heading the Windy City. Each storyteller throws in $20, and the winner gets the kitty to defray their travel expenses.

MON 5/24

7pm to 8pm
Beacon Hill Chamber Group Classica
at Charlestown Public Library, 179 Main St, Charlestown
FREE

A classical quintet plays some Haydn and Vivaldi in what should be an air-conditioned room.

Program:

Haydn, "Menuetto"
Vivaldi, "Concerto in F Major, op. 323"
Haydn, "Divertimento 'Der Geburtstag', Hob.II"
Haydn, "London Trio No. 1 in C Major, Hob.IV"

MON 5/24

7pm
"Sustainable Seafood Isn't Just for People": Lecture
at Harborside Learning Lab, New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston (Waterfront)
FREE w/ RSVP

Jennifer Goldstein and Michelle Cho (wild fisheries specialists) discuss how the aquarium tries to provide environmentally sustainable diet for the inhabitants since they studied the subject last year. With the variety of sea life, it must be challenging.

Apparently there is a "learning lab" in the parking garage, and this is where free lectures are taking place on many Mondays and Tuesdays over the next couple months.

The program should last about an hour with a reception afterwards. (Probably no seafood served...)

Registration is required.

MON 5/24

The White Owls (8pm), Jen Kearney & The Lost Onion (10pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

The White Owls are killer blues squad that has Dennis Brennan ripping through classic tunes with yet another set of top-notch players. It's one of the benefits of living in the area: the amazing Brennan often plays with various outfits usually for free or a small cover. Those who go will hear the blues played head and shoulders above other bar bands.

Jen Kearney & The Lost Onion keep the place jumping for the rest of the night with some solid soul/funk with Latin accents.

MON 5/24

9pm
Have Nots, Sonic Boom Six, Knock-Out, Brunt Of It
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

There's a range of ska-punk happening tonight. The local bands Have Nots and Brunt Of It carry the torch for Boston punk and ska with high-energy stuff. Sonic Boom Six from Manchester (England) mix ska, reggae, hip-hop, and punk into something that doesn't excite me immediately; but you might find it interesting.

MON 5/24

10pm
Pants Yell!, A Smile and a Ribbon
at ZuZu!, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

After 7 years of jangly, melancholy indie-pop, Pants Yell are going to "pursue other opportunities and spend more time with the family." Well, maybe just pursuing other opportunities...

Since a final show usually brings out more people, Pants Yell could easily be playing a much larger room (see above photo of a November gig). I get the feeling that the Swedes have an appreciation for their music from other shared gigs. Swedish twee-poppers A Smile and a Ribbon are opening with some quirky, effervescent tunes.