THUR 7/14: Lantern Fest, Bastille Day, Photo, Book, Music

On such a beautiful day, anywhere outside is a good idea. There are a couple options where you'll get more than the view.

I guess the sand sculptiors of the annual Festival may have started yesterday, but I think I'd wait another day or two before heading to Revere Beach.

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THUR 7/14

5pm
Bastille Day Celebration
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

6:30pm to 8:30pm -- The Chicken Thieves
9pm to close -- DJ Kamal

Hey, it's Bastille Day!

Raise a toast to the French while listening to the classic gypsy-jazz sound a la Django Reinhardt from The Chicken Thieves. Or go later and pretend you're descending into a French disco with DJ Kamal.

The Beehive does a good job of altering their menu for events like this -- not a cheap thrill but tasty.

THUR 7/14

5:30pm to 7:30pm
"Let's Play Ball: A baseball-themed exhibition": Opening Reception
at Panopticon Gallery, Hotel Commonwealth, 502 Comm Ave, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
FREE

Feat: David Levinthal, Arthur Griffin, Ernest Withers, Stephen Sheffield, Jim Dow, Tony King

If you don't go tonight for the reception tonight, a baseball photography exhibit might be something one could add onto a Fenway Park trip (through TUES 9/6).

I'd like to see scores of people wearing anti-Yankees shirts and clopping their flip-flops into the Hotel Commonwealth to the gallery.

THUR 7/14

6pm to 9pm
Annual Lantern Festival
at Lake Hibiscus, Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Ave, Jamaica Plain
FREE / $10 requested donation per lantern

Feat: Grand Master Tsuji's Taiko drummers, Showa Institute & Gund Kwok dancers, Ron Murphy, The Whiskey Boys

Based on the Japanese midsummer Bon Festival, a Buddhist ritual in memory of loved ones in which lanterns represent the souls of the dead are floated out to sea and prayers are offered so that they might rest in peace.

You can send a lantern(s) floating into Lake Hibiscus at sunset in memory of loved ones. Purchase a lantern with a message in Japanese calligraphy and/or write some of your own thoughts on the shades. (In my experience, it seemed like they sell fast.)

You can watch for free too. There is a variety of music and dance from 6pm to about 8pm, including Samurai Taiko drummers, Japanese & Chinese dancers, a gospel singer, and some Irish music.

It's a beautiful sight, and I found it difficult not to feel some emotion and meditate on those who have departed.

Have I mentioned the shortcut from Forest Hills T via Tower Street lately?

PS: While not exactly nearby, you could continue hanging out in JP by heading to The Haven and check out Naga Gaga and Mr Sister.

THUR 7/14

7pm to 9pm
Ray Gonzalez
at O'Day Park, 85 W Newton St, Boston (South End)
FREE

As part of Tito Puente Latin Music Series, the veteran Ray Gonzalez is bringing up some tasty salsa from CT where he's involved with a large Latin music program that includes a festival with his name on it.

THUR 7/14

6pm to 8:30pm
Il Abanico
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

Not only do I like the idea of indie-rock with a Latin-American influence, I like it in practice as well. Take a listen in the summer air and visit the galleries inside -- all for free!

And similar to the Latin music series, there is more free music on a weekly basis.

THUR 7/14

7pm
Adam Mansbach & Ricardo Cortes, "Go the F*** to Sleep": Reading
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

This has to be the best title for a children's book ever! Maybe some may not find it suitable for their kids, but I have to believe some have read this to their little brats -- I mean, precocious tykes.

The author and illustrator will both be on hand.

THUR 7/14

Taiwan Typhoon (11:50pm), The Rationales (10:50pm), Reverse (9:55pm), I Pistol (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

Are you ready to rock? It's past Memorial Day and July 4th, so it's about time to get a big blast of rock in your face. (Wait, did that come out right?)

Two bands that I really dig are kicking things off. You can't go wrong with the heavy crunch that surrounds I Pistol's big melodies. Even as Reverse has changed over the years, they still got a big bag of sturdy yet agile riffage. As a bit of palate cleanser, The Rationales dish up some catchy, rootsy rock before Taiwan Typhoon rocks hard from guys who can really play and keep bringing down the hammer.