THUR 7/21: Film, Museum, Music, Comedy

If you're interested in the German arts and classical music scene -- or want to peek in -- there's a reception & concert with artist/pianist Peter Dopatka at Goethe-Institut Boston (Back Bay) on TUES 7/26, but you need to RSVP by today at this email (I think).

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THUR 7/21

11am, 6pm
Double Feature: "The Godfather" & "The Godfather, Part 2"
at Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$9.75 / $7.75 student / $6.75 senior

Dude, the first 2 Godfather films... That's six hours of some of the best cinema for one low price. (And they serve beer now.)

THUR 7/21

5pm to 8pm
Neighborhood Nights: "Summer Sensation"
at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

The Gardner is a wonderful and peculiar landmark that I've always enjoyed thoroughly on every visit. Just like Isabella did when she was alive, the museum is opening the doors on a few summer nights for the community to enjoy the collection. (Tell them I sent you, if they ask...)

Go tonight or THUR 8/4.

THUR 7/21

Duppy Conquerors (6pm), Monkeyhouse (5:15pm)
at Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center Courtyard, 41 Second St, Cambridge (East Cambridge)
FREE

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

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

More al fresco music choices:

Jeez, there's going to be an outdoor dance performance before a reggae band? That's going be an admirable performance in East Cambridge by Monkeyhouse and Duppy Conquerors. There are plenty of steps for seating.

The ICA offers a similar seating program for tonight's jazz trio Sons of Daughters as part of the summer music series. When you feel like going inside, it's free on Thursday nights.

When you think about it, salsa music might feel more authentic when it's hot and humid. These guys are the real thing, and now it's time to listen and dance as part of Tito Puente Latin Music Series.

THUR 7/21

8pm
Harold Night Tournament
at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / $7 with student ID

For the next 3 weeks, ImprovBoston's Harold Night is holding a 'tournament' where 2 teams will compete tonight and next Thursday where the winners go head-to-head on the following Thursday.

If you've seen improv comedy before, you might be familiar with the Harold format. There's several performances every Thursday, but people get more excited when there's competition.

Four teams make a small bracket, but your guess is as good as anyone else...

THUR 7/21

JJ & Thee Cuban Heels (11pm), The Weisstronauts (10pm), Baby Ray (9:15pm), Hillbilly Holiday (8:30pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$8 / 21+

If you want to hear great rock 'n roll, just look for JJ Rassler. Through an assortment of great bands (DMZ, Queers, Downbeat 5, etc), he never fails to make great music and Thee Cuban Heels are no exception. Not exactly punky as other outfits, but there's still a ferocity.

Besides some cool instrumental rock from The Weisstronauts, most of Hillbilly Holiday played in the tunefully clever rock band Baby Ray, so that band is getting back together for a one-off(?) reunion set. Good stuff!

THUR 7/21

9:30pm
Howlies, Pray For Polanski, Bearstronaut, Beat Surrender
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$8 / 21+

There are some Canadian indie-rockers with a couple good local bands at Great Scott, yet I really enjoyed the powerpop of Chicago's Howlies. Pray For Polanski are celebrating their album release, and their twangy indie-rock is pretty awesome in my book. (They're also at PA's Lounge on Friday.)

Kudos to Beat Surrender for naming themselves after a Jam song, and you can hear the influence.