FRI 7/15: Festivals, Shakespeare, Film, Music

Hey, folks. This is the festival triangle weekend. From Somerille's ArtBeat to Festival Betances in South End to the annual Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach, there's a lot of outdoor amusement.

There's Saturday cheapness on the calendar, btw.

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FRI 7/15

Various Times
"Free Fun Fridays"
at Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston
at Garden In The Woods, 180 Hemenway Rd, Framingham
FREE

ALSO:
at The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St, Acton
at Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Ave #11, Worcester

I'm not sure I'd want to go to the Museum of Science on a summer Friday even if it wasn't free. Hey, it might not be a bad idea if you have to occupy a young person...

The Garden In The Woods has intrigued me over the years. It might be a pleasant way to spend a couple hours without paying the usual $10 (or less) admission.

FRI 7/15 (to SUN 7/17)

Various Times
Annual New England Sand Sculpting Festival
at Revere Beach, Revere (closer to the Revere Beach T)
FREE

At this point, I suspect the 14 sculptors have made substantial progress to their projects.

In the past, their creations can still be seen (in some condition) for a few weeks, but there's some kind of entertainment nearby this weekend including fireworks on Saturday night.

To make it worth my while, I need to make this ride to Revere for a trip to Kelly's besides a walk on the beach.

FRI 7/15

6pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at Christopher Columbus Park, Boston (North End/Waterfront)
FREE

One of the best perennial cheap thrills in town has to be "Shakespeare on the Common" every summer since 1996.

In association with the professional production of "All's Well That Ends Well" from WED 7/27 to SUN 8/14, students from the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's Summer Academy Apprenticeship are going to different parks and performing a compilation of Shakespeare sonnets and scenes on the theme of love.

FRI 7/15 (to SUN 7/17)

Various Times
Festival Betances
around Plaza Betances, 100 West Dedham St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Friday Schedule:

6pm -- Opening Procession
6:30pm -- Family Day
7pm -- "Noche de Bohemia" with Gilberto Rivera and Rumba 4

Saturday -- 2:30pm to 9pm
Sunday -- 1pm to 8pm

What started as a Puerto Rican festival has transformed into something generally Latin American, which is cool.

It looks like tonight's program includes family-friendly activities and some more traditional music (compared to many acts on the following days that'll include reggaeton, hip-hop, etc).

My highlights include the greased pole competition (Sunday, 1pm) and the food...

FRI 7/15 (and SAT 7/16)

Various Times
ArtBeat Festival 2011: "Red"
all around Davis Square, Somerville
$3 donation suggested

Friday Schedule at Seven Hills Park (behind Somerville Theatre):

6pm -- Jef Czekaj, "Cat Secrets"
6:30pm -- Sam Reid & The Riot Act
7:30pm -- Atlas Soul
9pm -- Mean Creek

It's one of those weekends when Davis Square gets cooler and hipper than usual. It's going to be a beautiful night to hang out on the lawn behind the T station and hear some great music culminating with Mean Creek. Even Jef Czekaj's reading of his kids' book probably won't be boring since he's a Big Digits guy.

The traffic stops on Saturday for more music and more art and vendors (although you can see a fire sculpture tonight).

Yeah, you don't have to donate $3 but you get a dog-tag to show you're a patron of the arts...

FRI 7/15

8:30pm-ish
Free Friday Flicks: "Megamind"
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

Set your expectations low, and you might have a good time.

FRI 7/15

8:30pm
Wolf's Annual Bastille Day A-Go-Go
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Feat: Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints, Ad Frank, Jed Parish, Holly Brewer, Mick Mondo

As a companion to the annual Mardis Gras shows, Shaun "Wolf" Wortis and his cohorts celebrate French independence as they might in New Orleans -- with a big, old-time R&B show with a bunch of guest singers.

The horns may even expand with soul mavens Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints -- not to mention Humanwine's Holly Brewer and Boston Rock Opera's Mick Mondo. It should be a fun night to jump and dance.

FRI 7/15

9:30pm
Full Body Anchor, The Acro-Brats, Cradle To The Grave, The Scandals
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

Yeah, there was an awesome, stacked rock show last night. It's Boston, so there's going to be a few good shows on a Friday too. Beside 3 top-notch punk bands who have different approaches to keep things interesting, you should check out Full Body Anchor. It's heavy and pummeling that comes from a '90s alt-rock direction that's really interesting, and the band is rather compelling to watch as well. Good stuff!