THUR 12/15: Books, Laughs, Tunes

If you love shellfish and you're around Newbury Street tonight, there's a cooking demo for a scallop cookbook at Trident Booksellers (7pm). I bet there will be samples passed out at the end...

By the way, there is cheapness through Sunday on the calendar (maybe a few more items to be added).

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THUR 12/15

7pm
Sophie Blackall, "Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found"
at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Brookline (Coolidge Corner)
FREE

Isn't funny how the "Missed Connections" on Craigslist (or any publication) can set the imagination in motion? Illustrator Sophie Blackall turns her talents to delightful recreations of her favorites, and many of them have been put together in a book.

Also appearing will be Judy Rosenberg of Rosie's Bakery to promote her awesomely titled "The Rosie's Bakery All-Butter, Cream-Filled, Sugar-Packed Baking Book".

THUR 12/15

8pm
Chandler Travis Holiday Extravaganza
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$20 -- or whatever you can afford

Feat: Livingston Taylor, Jen D'Angora, The Upper Crust, The Connolly / Conley Christmas Singers, Merrie Amsterberg, Jennifer Kimball, Miriam, Factory Seconds, Alastair Moock, "Athol Thingerth", more

I know this isn't technically $10, but there is the "whatever you can afford" option. And the flyer above made me chuckle.

There are so many good musicians playing -- how can this be anything but a good time. (The Connolly / Conley Christmas Singers are Jeff from The Lyres and Clint from Mission of Burma doing a few Xmas tunes.)

All proceeds go to the Somerville Homeless Coalition, which is a worthwhile cause. So don't say you can only afford $10 then buy a round of shots for strangers...

THUR 12/15

8pm
Awkward Compliment's Comedy Night
at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville
$5

Feat: Fists of Joy, Christa Weiss, Laura Crawford, Hollywood Gudernatch

Want a few laughs tonight? Across the street from Chandler's Holiday Extravaganza, Awkward Compliment hosts a comedy show every Thursday night at the Somerville Theatre. Some of the folks from last night's listing are performing tonight as well.

And they serve beer and wine like any civilized movie theater should.

THUR 12/15

Swaggerin' Growlers (11pm), Bryan McPherson (10pm), Jeff Rowe (9pm), Mark Lind (8pm)
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
$10 / 21+

At some point, Bryan McPherson moved to Berkeley. Although he says it didn't have to do with the power-to-the-people themes in his music. A bunch of folky-punky friends are joining him for a gig while he's back in town.

THUR 12/15

Chad Perrone (10:45pm), Mieka Pauley (9:45pm), Lauren Flaherty (8:45pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10 / 18+

I haven't seen Chad Perrone or Lauren Flaherty in person. The construction of their songs are musically valid and the performances are good, but only Mieka Pauley strikes a nerve with me.

I get the feeling some or all of them will have backing bands rather than solo sets. Consider this as one sure thing and a two chances to be impressed.

THUR 12/15

9pm
The Weisstronauts, Hillbilly Holiday, The Rudds
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$5 / 21+

Wow, this is the 12th year that The Weisstronauts have played a "Holiday Jubilee" show. This is the kind of instrumental rock where I don't miss the vocals, because the playing is so good without going over the top. The show starts off with a bunch of indie-rockers who have gone country, and The Rudds shake off the mothballs for a return of their twisted pop-soul-rock goodness.