SUN 8/15: Internationalism, Othello, Rock

Today we choose like dinner: Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Latin, Thai, or Indian? Cuisine isn't involved with each event. You still get the idea.

Or you can see Shakespeare or listen to some tunes at Toad or just enjoy a beautiful day.

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SUN 8/15

10am to 2pm
Japanese Car & Motorcycle Day
at Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St, Brookline
$10 / $5 children, seniors, active military

My first thought about Japanese cars are the boring, sensible Honda/Toyota/Subaru kind of cars. Yawn.

I was reminded that there are sporty and vintage models. I didn't know those flashy, modified cars with spoilers are called tuner cars; some will be there too.

Fancy rice-burner motorcycles will also be on display.

SUN 8/15

10am to 5pm
Annual Chinatown August Moon Festival
around Beach St, Harrison Ave, Tyler St, Boston (Chinatown)
FREE

If you want to get a taste of Chinatown, why not go on one of those weekends when there's more action than usual? Sunday is one of those days when music and dance and martial arts demonstrations and vendors are a plenty.

I bet someone will be selling mooncakes. Try one -- it's a Moon Festival thing.

SUN 8/15

Noon to 7pm
Dominican Parade & Festival
from Hi-Lo Supermarket, 450 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
through this possible route
into Playstead Field, Franklin Park (Seaver St / Blue Hill Ave side)
FREE

Noon to 2pm -- Parade
Noon to 7pm -- Festival & Health Day

Today happens to be the 30th Annual Dominican Festival; so if you have never heard of it, you must not have lived in JP (or saw it on CTB last year). They're expecting a crowd between 30k to 50k people.

Sure, it's nice to see any parade along its route. I personally prefer to be closer to the festival itself, and it's supposed to arrive at the park around 2pm.

Along with the Latin music and typical festival, it should smell really good with food from the Caribbean and various flavors around the hemisphere. And if you know someone who doesn't like to go to the doctor, you can trick them to go to the health fair.

SUN 8/16

Noon to 11pm
Fisherman's Feast
about 300 North St, Boston (North End)
FREE

Italian food, music, vendors, entertainment, etc. The highlight happens around 8pm for the "Flight of the Angel" when they attach a little girl on a rope to be dropped near the statue of Mary, then back up to the building. It's pretty cool in a North End kind of way.

SUN 8/15

1pm to 6pm
"Thailand Legacy: The King and Cambridge"
at Longfellow National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE

It seems incredulous whenever I hear that the King of Thailand was born in Cambridge -- the current king of Thailand. It doesn't seem so cool after his highness didn't seem to intervene during this year's protests, but he's 81 years old. Still there's a plaque in Brattle Square.

You don't have to admire the King to appreciate some Thai crafts, games and cultural demonstrations. You can see what a traditional Thai wedding looks like at 1:30pm. Apparently the King played sax when he was younger there will be a performance by some Berklee cats at 4pm.

SUN 8/15

3:30pm to 8pm
India Day 2010
at Hatch Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Storrow Dr, Boston
FREE

Oh last year must have been a big deal at India with the whole "Slumdog Millionaire" phenomenon. It's still the 63rd anniversary of Indian Independence, but I gotta think it's going to be festive day with a little bit of the "Tai Ho" spirit. I'm not sure what to expect, but "Slumdog Millionaire Mix" is part of the entertainment lineup of the traditional and modern.

I found a slideshow from a couple years back of mainly the entertainment. Of course there is going to be also sorts of vendors for food and mercy. Maybe get a henna tattoo?

SUN 8/15

7pm
"Othello"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

It's the last night of Shakespeare in the Common, and they've generally received quite good reviews. The performers give a traditional spin on the tale of the Moor's tragic fall, and the costumes are reminiscent of the WWII era.

Take advantage of one of the highlights of free/cheap Boston culture. Even if one doesn't make a donation, you're supporting by simply enjoying one of Shakespeare's best.

SUN 8/15

9pm to 11pm
Treat Her Right
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Listen to some bluesy rock from a band that originally tore it up before Mark Sandman spread the Morphine sound around the world. They got back together about a year ago, and they're back at it every now and then with loads of slide guitar and harmonica -- including semi-regular gigs at Toad. Good stuff!