WED 7/28: Food, Classical, Baseball, Theatre al Fresco, Rock

If I wrote about events of all prices, I'd tell everyone to get to the Drug Rug/Tuneyards at the MFA tonight.

If you're in the Seaport area tonight, be sure to look at the ICA. It's the last of three nights where poetry is being projected on the exterior.

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WED 7/28

6pm to 8pm
Guacaholics Anonymous
at Fenway Cantina, 1260 Boylston St, Boston (The Fens)
$10

I can't imagine someone who paid wouldn't show up to enjoy a cornucopia of guacamole (guacacornucopia?) and a complimentary Patron Citronge Margarita.

There are few catastrophes that would prevent me from going to this sold-out event to taste multiple guac's with a margarita in my hand.

If you want to try, a "waiting list" option is available.

WED 7/28

7pm
Boston Landmarks Orchestra, "Tosca and the Fifth"
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

Members of the Boston Lyric Opera joins the Boston Landmarks Orchestra for a night of opera and symphony. On deck is one of Beethoven's big ones -- the disco song that goes "Bom-bom-bom BOMMM" -- and excerpts from a really lovely Puccini opera.

Program:

Beethoven, "Symphony No. 5"
Puccini, Excerpts from "Tosca"

Cathy Fuller from All Classical 99.5 will host, so I guess it's special.

If it rains (it won't), the concert will take place at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall.

WED 7/28

7pm
Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game
at Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston
$10

One day, I will experience a real Cape Cod League game in Bourne or Falmouth or Chatham. I hear it's a real slice of friggin' Americana, and many MLB players spent time on the Cape before hitting the big leagues.

If you don't want fight the weekend traffic, the league's all-star game is at Fenway, and all tickets seem to be $10. I have a feeling you won't be sitting John Henry's box, but tickets still looked available last night.

Schedule:

4:30pm -- Gates Open to public
4:45pm -- West position players autograph session
5:15pm -- East Infield/Outfield
5:15pm -- East & West Pitchers autograph session
5:30pm -- West Infield/Outfield
5:45pm -- East position players autograph session

6pm -- HR Hitting Contest
6:40pm -- Pre-game ceremonies
7:07pm -- All Star Game

You might see the next Jason Varitek or Jacoby Ellsbury, which would be nice since we haven't seen the current ones recently...

SAT 7/17 (to SAT 7/31)

7:30pm
"Cyrano de Bergerac"
at Mary O'Malley Park, Commandant’s Way, Chelsea Waterfront
FREE

There are only 4 more performances of Cyrano in alternating languages. Tonight, the classic love story is performed in English three times, and en Espanol on Friday.

Think of this as a chance to visit a place you usually just drive through without thinking much about it. Take the #111 bus for an adventure in free theatre -- and who knows what else -- on the other side of the Tobin.

WED 7/28 (to SUN 8/15)

Various Times
"Othello"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

Tuesdays to Saturdays -- 8pm
Sundays -- 7pm (2pm matinee on 8/8)

If my count is correct, "Shakespeare on the Common" is returning for its 15th season. Even if one doesn't make a donation, we shouldn't take for granted what is one of the highlights of free/cheap Boston culture. Take the time to go in the next three weeks.

The productions are always well done, and "Othello" is especially one of the Bard's best. As usual, the design has been moved to a different time period. The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company seems to favor the early 20th-century; the set and costumes have a '40s influence.

As I mentioned the other day, Seth Gilliam plays the title character. You'll probably recognize him as Sgt. Ellis Carver on "The Wire" or Clayton Hughes on "Oz" among many film & TV appearances.

WED 7/28

9:30pm
Pretty & Nice, Child Bite, Big Bear, Battle House
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

I've been head over heels for the punky/powerpoppish clang 'n clatter since the first time I heard them. I probably could listen to "Tora Tora Tora" dozen times in a row. (I'm pretty sure I constantly listened to the "Get Young" album for about 5 or 6 hours on one occasion.)

In last week's Weekly Dig they were talking about wanting to add new material, so who knows what you're going to get. The lineup is full of wild, noisy, angular rock, which bodes for a loud and heavy good time.