THUR 7/7: Art, Music, Books

Okay, I think summer has hit its cheap stride.

Multiple free outdoor music options are available weekly (two examples below), and we have a bunch of festivals coming soon.

FYI: Friday cheapness is on the calendar.

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THUR 7/7

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

Isabella Stewart Gardner would open her home to the neighborhood a century ago, and now the museum continues the tradition for three summer Thursdays.

Each night will have a different theme, and this first event focuses on the beautiful courtyard garden that might be my favorite part of the museum.

It's a family-friendly event, but it shouldn't stop you from strolling through the galleries. (Although quite a few people do show up.)

If not tonight, there is 7/21's "Summer Sensation" and 8/4's "Tonight: It's About Time!"

THUR 7/7

6pm to 8:30pm
Tubby Love & Eric Robertson
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
FREE

Two buddies are going to attempt a musical peanut buttercup while people chill out on the steps of the ICA.

Tubby may say something like, "You got your bluegrass in my reggae!" And Eric would respond, "Hey, you got your reggae in my bluegrass!"

Even when the summer music series ends on THUR 9/8, every Thursday is a free night at the ICA, so you can enjoy the exhibits including "The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl".

THUR 7/7

7pm to 9pm
Henry Jimenez y Los Homeboys
at Sheehy Park, about 1525 Tremont St, Mission Hill
FREE

You don't need to specifically have to know the meringue to enjoy yourself. When you're doing a quasi-salsa jiggle, that beat will likely be a meringue.

Since graduating from Berklee, Henry Jimenez has produced hits and won Grammy's. A couple years ago, he guested with another band during the Tito Puente Latin Music Series, and it looks like he's put together a version of his old band.

There's more Latin jazz/salsa over the next 5 weeks at different locations, and that's a lot of free music!

THUR 7/7

7pm
"Publishing On Paige!": A Celebration of Authors Published by Harvard Book Store
at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Some technology has put the squeeze on book stores, yet advances like the Espresso Book Machine has added a new dimension to the experience.

Besides out-of-print books, this machine in the corner has helped authors self-publish. Some of them will talk about "Paige" (the robot's name) amid the light refreshments.

THUR 7/7

The Postelles (11:30pm), The Dig (10:30pm), Art Decade (9:45pm), Ambassadors (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

In my opinion, you won't regret a late Thursday night to see The Postelles unleash a set of top-notch guitar-pop -- especially since there's 3 similarly hooky indie-rock bands before them.

If Art Decade hasn't moved to Brooklyn like the other bands, they will eventually.

THUR 7/7

9:30pm
Dead Cats Dead Rats, Sherman Burns, All Dinosaurs, Short Fuse Burning
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$7 / 18+

If you're looking for something louder and harder, this would serve your purposes.

From Dead Cats Dead Rats who are this year's best punk band in the Phoenix Music Poll to the metallic Sherman Burns to the loud 'n fast Cleveland rock of All Dinosaurs -- this is going to be another good reason to be a little bleary-eyed tomorrow morning.