Sneak Peek: SAT 10/16 & SUN 10/17

*** I've got updates for this preview, but I'm basically re-posting the previous one for now. ***

If you like drinking wine, there are a few tastings between today and Sunday at shops in Cambridge/Boston/Brookline where you can also buy tickets for next weekend's "Wine Riot" at a $5 discount (still more than $10, but a decent deal).

And If you're thinking about getting married or want jewelry, there's a chance to win a $20k diamond ring via a "treasure hunt" on Saturday afternoon.

Update: Hey, did you hear President Obama and James Taylor are appearing at a Deval Patrick rally at the Hynes Convention Center on Saturday (12:30pm). It's free...

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SAT 10/16

10am to 5pm
Boston Book Festival
at Boston Public Library & other Copley Sq locations [PDF Map]
FREE

Lots of literary panels, readings, performances, and fun for the reader and writer alike. I like the idea of "Writer Idol" where people bring the first 250 words of their manuscript to be read aloud by an actor then critiqued.

I almost forgot to mention the $10 musical show at 7:30pm with musician/authors like Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses), Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna), Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Joe Pernice.

SAT 10/16

10am
Annual Tour de Somerville
Meet at Seven Hills Park, behind the Somerville Theatre (Davis Sq)
FREE

Get on your bike and ride through the city of seven hills (probably more) with the theme of "Paths, Present and Future: A Mystic River Ramble".

Raindate: SUN 10/17

SAT 10/16 and SUN 10/17

11am to 6pm
Annual Fort Point Open Studios
all around Fort Point (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

It's the godfather of Boston Open Studios. Some of the artist studios are open on Friday, hundreds of artists open their doors on the weekend.

I like how the Open Studios graphic hops on the autumnal train and says "Pick Your Own Art".

SAT 10/16

Noon
SketchCrawl 29
Start at Middle East Restaurant, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / Whatever you drink

Drink, draw, go to another bar, and repeat.

SAT 10/16

2pm to 5pm
Annual Grand Wine Tasting
at Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquors, 716 Broadway, Somerville (Ball Sq)
FREE / 21+

Yes, another booze-related event. There's going to be about 50 wines to taste (many of these will be at a discount for the day). If you haven't been to the store in a while they've expanded!

SAT 10/16

6pm
"OCD Stories: An evening of reflection, humor and education"
at McLean Hospital, de Marneffe Bldg, 115 Mill St, Belmont
FREE

Stories about obsessive-compulsive disorder for OCD Awareness Week

SAT 10/16

9pm
Rick Berlin, Buried Beds, Samantha Farrell
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Rick Berlin has a new CD, and a bunch of top-notch musicians played on it and will appear at this gig. "First 15 people through the door get a free CD." Doors open at 8:30pm.

SAT 10/16

10pm
The Sweet & Lowdown
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Hear some awesome bouncy, swinging jazz and pay a little extra for drinks, so it's a trade-off.

Also playing Sunday night at Upstairs on the Square.

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SAT 10/16

10:30pm
Hurray for the Riff Raff
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5-ish

Folky music from New Orleans

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SUN 10/17

4pm to 9pm
Djangofest!
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
$10

Music inspired by the great Django Reinhardt

SUN 10/17

5pm
Annual Boston Blues Challenge Finals
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

The winners go down to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge.

SUN 10/17

7pm
Story Slam: "Terrified"
at Milky Way Lounge/Bella Luna, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain (The Brewery Complex)
$5

Tell a 5-minute real story covered by the theme, and you could advance to the Championship in April.

SUN 10/17

9pm
Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, Side Effects, DJ Hot Grits
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

If you don't care about Monday morning, you could blast away with some great rock and punk.

SUN 10/17

9:30pm
The Sweet & Lowdown
at Upstairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Again -- hear some awesome bouncy, swinging jazz and pay a little extra for drinks, so it's a trade-off.

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