THUR 2/3: Food, Politics, Art, Film, Dating, Music

"Gong Hay Fat Choy!"

Yesterday was Groundhog Day, and now we begin the Year of the Rabbit. It's a good week for woodland creatures.

I made one of my old mistakes by writing too much for the early items and not leaving enough time for the later events. Sorry, folks.

Yes, I stuck a video in the middle of the post. It seemed appropriate.

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THUR 2/3

5:30pm to 8pm
Farm Share Fair 2011
at Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Could you really eat farm-fresh produce in a fair commercial transaction directly with the people growing your food? Yes, you can -- at least from June to October.

More than a dozen CSA's will be in attendance tonight to answer all your questions. The weekly produce delivery is more than one person can/should consume, so think about inviting roommates or friends to join you tonight.

A couple years ago I remember seeing a handy chart about CSA's in The Weekly Dig that I couldn't find. You can read this article and this article if you want to be better prepared for talking to the farmers.

Pizza from Zing will be for sale (by donation?) too.

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THUR 2/3

6pm
"Tunisia, Egypt And Lebanon: Changing Arab Politics?": Discussion
at JFK Forum, Littauer Bldg, 79 JFK St, Cambridge (Kennedy School of Govt)
FREE

A conversation with: Rami Khouri, Tarek Masoud, Roger Owen, Malika Zeghal

Well, isn't this a timely discussion!

I'm going to say that most news outlets aren't capable of giving the appropriate insight -- because you probably already hold that position.

One has to have a better understanding of the current upheaval from North Africa to the Middle East after listening to four scholars from American University of Beirut and Harvard from departments of Public Policy, Middle East History, and Contemporary Islamic Thought.

The discussion will be moderated by R. Nicholas Burns -- a longtime, high-ranking diplomat who joined the Kennedy School faculty a couple years ago.

Watching this online will be better than any TV news program on at the same time.

THUR 2/3

6pm to 8pm
Stan VanDerBeek, "The Culture Intercom": Opening Reception
at LIST Visual Arts Center, Wiesner Bldg, 20 Ames St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

5:30pm: Pre-Reception Panel Discussion

Wow, Stan VanDerBeek is a really cool pioneer experimental film and video that I don't recall knowing before know. Although he died almost 20 years ago, this is the first museum survey solely dedicated to his work.

The exhibit includes early paintings/collages, many animated videos, and several of his more expansive film experiments -- some were developed while he was a research fellow at MIT in the late '60s.

If you have the time, a couple museum curators and a couple relatives of VanDerBeek will have a pre-reception panel discussion in the Bartos Theatre (same building) at 5:30pm.

After watching this 1959 video, one has to wonder if Terry Gilliam had seen VanDerBeek' films before creating his montages for "Monty Python's Flying Circus":


THUR 2/3 (and FRI 2/4)

7pm
"The Deer Hunter": Screening
at The Modern Theatre, 525 Washington St, Boston (Downtown Crossing)
FREE

Thanks to Joe and his broad listing of free movies in the Boston area for making me aware of this "Michael Cimino Retrospective" that includes tomorrow's screening of "Year of the Dragon" when the director himself will be on hand for a Q&A session.

I can't imagine anyone watching the "The Deer Hunter" and not feel depressed at the end, but it's a good movie.

The Modern has quite a bit of free cinema all month long.

THUR 2/3

8pm to 10pm
"Your Best Pick Up Line" Party
at Cask 'n Flagon, 62 Brookline Ave, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE / 21+

I don't think FlipMe's dating card system may be the best way to meet someone, but you could win "an overnight getaway" to Mohegan Sun if you have the best pick-up line.

Cape Cod landscaper and "The Bachelorette" finalist Chris Lambton is the judge.

THUR 2/3

The Memorials (11pm), Just Like Vinyl (10pm), Pride Of The Atlantic (9pm), Hannibal Montana (8pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 18+

There was another rock show at Great Scott that leaned towards the heavy-progressive rock, but I had to recommend the gig with The Memorials that includes the former drummer from The Mars Volta. (And if you're into this kind of stuff, The Fall of Troy's guitarist plays in Just Like Vinyl.)

You might expect the drums to be prominent in The Memorials; still there's a palatable balance between melody and heaviness. I like that they add some color to the rock scene too. I also like the dynamics from Massachusetts dudes, Pride Of The Atlantic.

THUR 2/3

9:30pm
Will Dailey & The Rivals, Christian McNeill, Tin Can Tele
at Lizard Lounge/Cambridge Common, 1667 Mass Ave, Cambridge (between Harvard Sq & Porter Sq)
$10 / 21+

I've pledged to stand up and proudly enjoy Will Dailey's music even when he's getting played on Top-40 radio and headlining at the House of Blues. His music is damn good and heartfelt -- and the kind of music that the masses can dig.

In the meantime, he's going to soulfully sing his well-written, poppy folk-rock every Thursday this month with different bands opening each week.

Then every Friday, dozens of people will find themselves humming a Will Dailey tune.

Christian McNeill kinda kicks ass too, and I've also enjoyed Tin Can Tele in the past.