SUN 4/17: Skills, Grilled Cheese, James Joyce, Music

Be industrious or lazy. It's Sunday, so have a good time before the countdown until next weekend begins.

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SUN 4/17

10:30pm to 6:30pm
Boston Skillshare 2011
at Simmons College Main Bldg, 300 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
$3 to $10 sliding scale donation

How did I forget the SkillShare yesterday? In my defense, it's a month earlier than last year.

There are four 90-minute blocks that usually offer about 10 choices. My favorite title is "Dr Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Spending Money Online For Adult Toys and Learned To Love Home Depot"...

Previous skillshares have been in the main building, so that's a good place to start finding stuff. IT's a sliding scale, so pay what is good for you.

SUN 4/17

1pm to 4pm
Free Grilled Cheese
at Cheeseboy, Train Concourse, 720 Atlantic Ave, Boston (South Station)

A free grilled cheese is a pretty nice treat. Anyone can swing by for a complimentary "Cheeseboy Classic" (American cheese on Italian bread) in celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month.

Limit one per customer.

SUN 4/17

1:45pm
Bloomsday Boston
at Connolly House, 140 Comm Ave, Chestnut Hill (BC campus)
FREE

The organizers quickly admit that it's two months until the actual Bloomsday. This way you can listen to James Joyce-related lectures and Irish music with the college crowd today, then go a Bloom-like drunken ramble in June.

SUN 4/17

2:30pm
"1,000 Cranes": Benefit to Help Rebuild Japan
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
$10 / 21+

As far as a charitable endeavor to aid Japan, Architecture for Humanity seems like the right idea.

One of the wonderful thing about benefit shows is that you can simply enjoy the music and not have to be invested in the philanthropic aspect...

There are a couple 'surprises' in the afternoon. Kristen Ford and Will Dailey are two of my faves. Should be a good time.

2:30pm -- Leon Rich
2:45pm -- Brendan Hogan
3pm -- Nick Zaino
3:30pm -- "A Surprise for everyone"
4pm -- TBA
4:30pm -- Fortune Teller
5pm - Mearii Japan
5:30pm - Kristen Ford Band
6pm - Dogs on Television
6:30pm - Dave Alpert
7pm -- Creek River String Band
7:30pm -- Acousticana
8pm -- Will Dailey
9pm -- Young Tremors
10pm -- Tokyo Tramps
11pm -- The Day's Weight

There will be a silent auction with goodies from local musicians and restaurants and stores and stuff -- and an area to make paper cranes.

SUN 4/17

8pm
Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra
at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St, Boston (New England Conservatory/Fenway)
FREE

Feat: Daniel Bernard Roumain & Patrice Rushen

The BCSO is an 80-piece orchestra with a repertoire that includes contemporary, jazz, video game music, etc. (I attended a video game concert was impressed by the scope.)

To give you an idea, the program includes:

Shchedrin, "Piano Concerto No. 1"
Glazunov, "Saxophone Concerto"
Michael Daugherty, "Metropolis Symphony"
"Hip-Hop Essay for Orchestra"

World-renowned violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain and Grammy Award-winning pianist Patrice Rushen will will also join the ensemble at various points for some musical star-power.

SUN 4/17

9pm
Asa Brebner Band
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Great American rock 'n roll and roots will fill the tiny venue with a good beer selection. Do you want anything else for free?