FRI 9/9: Science, Comedy, Shalespeare, Rock, Ethnic

If you're at a library or bookstore, keep an eye out for a booklet of free fiction.

In anticipation of next month's Boston Book Festival (SAT 10/15), 30,000 copies of Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo's story "The Whore's Child" is being distributed starting today which is becoming an annual project known as "One City One Story".

Most of the time when I list street festivals, it's because I think it's fun to grab a bite and watch the crowd, so I put a couple of those things at the bottom of today's post.

Saturday and Sunday cheapness is on the calendar.

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FRI 9/9

5pm to 8pm
Second Fridays
at MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave, Cambridge (near Central Sq)
FREE

Honestly, there are lots of cool stuff at the MIT Museum that's worth the price of admission, but it's even better when you can get in for free -- like every 2nd Friday of the month.

If you really want to see the best exhibit in the building, go upstairs and spend some time with the kinetic sculptures of Arthur Ganson. They look cool, and many embody scientific/philosophical ideas.

For budding sci-fi writers, MIT writing professor Joe Haldeman will read from his latest story and talk about the writing process at 6pm.

FRI 9/9 (thru SUN 9/11)

7pm
3rd Annual Boston Improv Festival
at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
at YMCA Theater, 820 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 for most shows

Today's schedule:

7pm -- Ladies & Gentlemen , The Hitmen, Fruit Paunch
at Main Theater

7pm -- Boris Khaykin, Laura Crawford, Legion, KAndy
at YMCA Theater

7:30pm -- 8GirlsHarold,Borealis, Upstate
at Studio

8:30pm -- The Amie and Kristen Show/The Kristen and Amie Show, King Friday, Local 154
at Main Theater

8:30pm -- MurderFist, People"s Sketch Association, The Magnet Theater Touring Company
at YMCA Theater

9pm -- AJ Schraeder, who cares, losdosdudes
at Studio

10pm -- We Slept Together, We"re From Here
at Main Theater

10:30pm -- Elvis & Me: An Improvised Romance, The WalMart Ladies
at Studio

11pm -- Just The Funny, North Coast
at Main Theater

Again... I'd like to be able to recommend specific shows to you, but you never know what's going to happen. Right? (And I didn't do the research on each performance group...)

Performers from around the country and beyond have convened to make you laugh on the fly. We came out to support them last year, so let's shoot for the third annual Improv Fest.

No one can guarantee that an improv show is going to be good, but many of these performers are very good at what they do. Take a chance and laugh.

FRI 9/9 (to SUN 9/11)

Various Times
Theatre@First, "As You Like It"
at Seven Hills Park, behind the Somerville Theatre (Davis Sq)
FREE

Friday & Saturday -- 8pm
Sunday -- 3pm

Their productions are normally seen at venues near Davis Square, however this Shakespearean comedy is Theatre@First's first foray in an outdoor performance.

Not unlike "Three's Company", there is some confusion that makes everything that follows so much more interesting -- and what's a little transvestism between friends and lovers?

I'm intrigued when they say the set and lighting team have experience at Burning Man...

FRI 9/9

9:30pm
Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Rob Potylo, Stephen Fanale, Keith Pierce
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$6 / 21+

Rob Potylo (fka Robbie Roadsteamer) is serious about his music, even when some songs take a humorous turn. He's just released his third album of material in a year. Even when these simple, straightforward tunes get a little quirky, it feel heartfelt.

I like when punk-rock dudes Zip-Tie Handcuffs are loud, so we'll see how going 'acoustic' works for them tonight. Keith Pierce normally rocks out with Mellow Bravo, and I expect the volume will be turned down a notch as well while still being intense.

FRI 9/9

10:30pm
Caged Heat, The Weisstronauts
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$5 / 21+

It could be me, but there aren't many Caged Heat sightings. Whenever bad-ass frontwoman Chilly Kurtz plays a gig, one should expect a torrent of bluesy garage-punk (or a maybe combination of those descriptors in a different sequence). I saw somewhere that ex-Vagiant guitarist Elena Siegman will join in on vocals.

The Weisstronauts open with a set of instrumental rock that I enjoy. Should be a good time.

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Weekend Ethnic Fests:

Besides the Greek & Armenian fests that start tonight, tomorrow is the Cambridge Carnival Parade from Central Square to Kendall Square -- and the last Italian street fest of the year is Saturday & Sunday's Feast of Saints Cosma & Damiano in East Cambridge.

FRI 9/9 (to SUN 9/11)

Various Times
Greek Music & Food Festival
at The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, 29 Central St, Somerville (Spring Hill)
FREE

Friday -- 5pm to 11pm
Saturday -- Noon to 11pm
Sunday -- Noon to 9pm

Oh, Greek food is so good. Isn't it?

Since I don't otherwise get homemade Greek food, I love these opportunities and share them with you. There's live music, but I mainly go for food and atmosphere.

If you want to take the T, think #88 (Davis Sq/Lechmere) or #90 (Davis Sq/Sullivan Sq).

FRI 9/9 (to SUN 9/11)

Various Times
Boston Kermesse -- Armenian Open Air Festival
at Armenian Cultural Educational Center, 47 Nichols Ave, Watertown
FREE to walk around

Friday -- 7pm to Midnight
Saturday -- Noon to Midnight
Sunday -- Noon to 7pm

Have you heard there are quite a few Armenian people that live in Watertown? Yes, it's true.

As far as I can tell there is going to be some entertainment that requires a ticket, but you can freely stroll around the food and other vendors and get a more concentrated Armenian experience than walking down Mt. Auburn Street.