SAT 1/29: Chocolate, Australia, Art, Too Much Music

It's a sunny day!

So the science geeks, mystics, and simply curious can unite for a few minutes at MIT's Infinite Corridor to see the sun set (about 4:49pm) in perfect harmony with the floor plan.

I emailed with an MIT historian, and he doesn't think it was planned like Stonehenge -- where there's a similar effect on the Solstices. You can see the effect on Sunday too.

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SAT 1/29

1pm to 2pm
Harvard Square Chocolate Sampling
at Deguglielmo Plaza, about 25 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Most people won't -- and shouldn't -- go out of their way for some free tastes of chocolate from various nearby shops. If you're nearby, you should swing by. What the heck?

There's actually a lot of choco-related stuff going on in Harvard Square, but this is the free thing. Oh, and you can pick up a 'Chocolate Treasure Hunt' map for a dollar. It could be a vaguely fun way to walk around for an hour or so. Who knows what happens while you're doing it. Maybe more chocolate?

And the dollar goes to benefit the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter.

SAT 1/29

2pm
Australia Day Party
at The Asgard, 350 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Central Sq & MIT)
$10

This will be the most Australian place in town today! Don't think that Australian ex-pats would find it cheesy to celebrate their national day at a faux-Irish pub -- they don't care as long as their beer at the party. I've yet to meet an Australian that wont reply to the "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" chant.

Besides Aussie beer (Coopers) and meat pies, there will be raffles, auctions, giveaways, and a Peter Garrett dance contest. That's especially funny if you know the band Midnight Oil. In case you're game, watch this video for some tips.

It goes all night, and all are welcome. The proceeds from the door and raffles will benefit the Australian flood victims.

SAT 1/29

7pm to 10pm
"The Bathers": Closing Reception
at Meme Gallery, 55 Norfolk St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE

A bunch of Estonian artists have traveled to Latvia, Australia, and Miami to recreate their performance art piece where the traditional Estonian sauna is made out windows. Whether you're in or out, you're participating and/or watching. You think about it and decide.

They needed to resize the thing to fit in the gallery base on this video. Hey, it should be warmer in the sauna even if it's just people's breathing...

SAT 1/29

Sarah Borges (7:30pm), JJ & Thee Cuban Heels (10pm)
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Dang. If I didn't have tickets to a concert tonight, I'd want to hang out all night at Toad.

I could listen to Sarah Borges sing anything with that honky-tonk angel voice. Her band stuff has rocked out more recently, but I imagine a solo set will be a sweet set of heartfelt originals and choice covers. I'd like to stick around for the late set when the great JJ Rassler (DMZ, Queers, Downbeat 5, etc) pulls out the obscure rock/R&B treasures of the 50s/60s.

SAT 1/29

9pm
Aloud, One Happy Island, Oranjuly, This Blue Heaven
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

Oh, wow. I like free shows, but this is a crazy-good show. Everyone of these bands have got some stellar material. Aloud has blown me away every time I've seen them from lean, mean anthemic rock to more introspective stuff. They've been out on the road perching the gospel that rock is not dead, and we get a show before they head out again.

You can't go wrong with all of the seriously splendid indie-pop that fills the night.

SAT 1/29

9pm
Mean Creek, Taxpayer, Girlfriends, Dirty Dishes
at Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave, Allston
$10-ish

WTF? Another killer rock show tonight?

Girlfriends are really close to the top of my heap with some seriously awesome fuzziness. Everyone should already love Mean Creek, but it's never too late to download the new EP and get on board. I don't know how Dirty Dishes emerged fully-formed to be a candidate for the UK's next darling bad, but they could be... (Heck, I didn't know Taxpayer was still a band, but apparently they are.)

The new venue at Harpers Ferry's old location may or may not charge more at the door, so I'm listing this as goodwill.

SAT 1/29

9:30pm
The Konks, The Tampoffs, Tunnel Of Love, Triple Thick
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 21+

Aw, crap! How can I miss the FINAL Konks show?! After 12 great years of greasy, primal, reverb-drenched garage-rock magnificence, I will just pretend that they're already planning their first reunion gig when Trina's Starlight Lounge suddenly closes and becomes the Abbey Lounge again. It would probably be this same line-up too!

You, you, you can go and rock your ass off.