TUES 2/21: Talk & Music

New Orleans has no proprietary claim on Mardi Gras, but they do it better than anywhere else. Still we can "Laissez les bon temps roulez" in our corner of the world.

If you're spending time with a kid on vacation this week, there will be activities at the Mary Baker Eddy Library through Friday called "Mapping My World". It's free for ages 17 and under including the Mapparium, which is worth the $6 for adults. (Of course, I'm a fan of the Bugs Bunny Film Festival at the Brattle too.)

And cheapness through Thursday is on the calendar.

Update: So tomorrow is National Margarita Day. Besides celebrating independently, there is a small chance of sampling some free bevvies at Poe's Kitchen at the Rattlesnake (7pm). You can get on the waiting list, and maybe they'll get in touch...

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TUES 2/21

7pm
"Community Gathering for Artists Who Create Socially-Engaged Work"
at Room 181, North Bldg, about 621 Huntington Ave, Boston (MassArt)
FREE

If you create 'socially-engaged' art of any kind, you might have already heard about this get-together. Just trying to spread the word.

TUES 2/21

7pm to 9pm
Science by the Pint: "Clean Energy & Creating Plastic Solar Cells"
at Tavern on the Square, 1815 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Feat: Dr. Alan Aspuru-Guzik

Like the science cafes organized by PBS, some Harvard grad students leverage their resources to spread knowledge to those interested in stimulating conversation at a bar.

Another season begins with solar energy experts and continues on the 3rd Tuesday of the month through August.

TUES 2/21

7:30pm
Fat Tuesday Party w/ Ed Scheer Tuesday Night All-Stars
at Smoken' Joes BBQ, 351 Washington St, Brighton (Brighton Center)
FREE

While mainly a smallish restaurant with a stage, there is a small bar area to have a drink and enjoy bluesy music almost every night of the week.

There seems to be room to sit at a table and not eat from the looks of a recent Tuesday night, but it wasn't Mardi Gras. I suggest calling if you want to get in.

I ate here recently, and the food is really good.

TUES 2/21

7:30pm
Le Mardi Gras w/ Danny Heath & Wali Ali
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Speaking of good food, your meal will likely cost more than Smoken' Joes, but there is more room to hang at the bar.

I didn't find much specific info for tonight's gig.

Wali Ali is a guitarist who has had many high-profile funky gigs (Taj Mahal, Rick James, The Temptations, Peter Tosh, etc). Trombonist/singer Danny Heath is a Louisiana native who moved to the area about 8 years ago and plays with a variety of people. I assume they will lead different groups for at least a set each.

TUES 2/21

9pm
Elephant Wrecking Ball, Brighton Beat, The Hornitz
at Church, 69 Kilmarnock St, Boston (Fenway)
FREE / 21+

Thanks to MySecretBoston's free Tuesdays, there is plenty of funky/jammy bon temps that will roulez.

Elephant Wrecking Ball is led by the trombonist from John Brown's Body by his spacey, heavily-processed horn-playing for a dub-reggae vibe playing around jazz & funk. It should be a good time all the way through with the Brighton Beat's Afro-funk and cool experimentalism from The Hornitz.

TUES 2/21

The Devil's Twins (11pm), The Sinbusters (10pm), The Sour Doo-Dahs (9pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$7

For lots of loud, two-person, punky garage-rock, this is a good bet. It may be too much kick-ass rock in gig, but you can handle it...