FRI 6/8: Photo, Film, Science, Dyke March, Art, Rock, Dance

In a good sign of things to come, the CTB calendar is populated with cheapness through next Friday.

I promise not to get crazy with Goldstar links but there has to be other Click & Clack fans out there, and the intriguing "Car Talk: The Musical!!!" opens next week at the Central Square Theater. Tickets can be had for as little as $18.25 if you order them today.

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FRI 6/8 (thru SAT 6/9)

10am to 10pm
Flash Forward Festival
at The Fairmont Hotel, Battery Wharf, Boston (North End/Waterfront)
FREE

Last year's inaugural exhibit was an excellent survey of photographers from Canada, UK, and the States where there were 2 or 3 works by each winner of the related competition.

The exhibit returns to a large room and a couple satellites at the Fairmont that is open until 10pm. Between 10am and 6pm, there are various free lectures and panels today and Saturday.

On a side note: The Fairmont Hotel is a great place to meet someone for drinks or dinner when you don't want to run into anyone you know...

FRI 6/8

2pm
"Paul Simon: Under African Skies": Screening
at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Ave, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

If you're free this afternoon (or you playing hooky on a sunny day), a nice break would be sitting in a cool theater and watching a documentary about the 25th anniversary of Paul Simon's most popular album "Graceland".

Bakithi Kumalo played bass on the album (notably on "You Can Call Me Al" -- not him but you get the idea), and he's appearing at the screening.

Be warned: This is feel-good music, and you will be whistling or humming these tunes for the rest of the day.

FRI 6/8

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.

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.

FRI 6/8

7pm
Boston Dyke March
meet at Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common, Boston (Tremont St Side)
FREE

Feat: Robyn Ochs, Tiggy Upland, Nicky Click, Grygiel, Janae Johnson

Perhaps we can agree that the Pride Parade/Festival is a fine celebration, but there's room for more thought-provoking fun & games like the Dyke March.

This year's discourse includes bisexual activitist Robyn Ochs and "Tiggy Upland", the pink-wigged persona who is advice columnist for the Bisexual Resource Center. (Guys, I still think this ain't your best meet spot tonight.) Besides the speakers, the music is promising with Grygiel (who was part of one of my faves MeandJoanCollins) and electro-performance artist Nicky Click.

As I read it, people are encouraged to begin gathering at 6pm before the march and rally at 7pm.

FRI 6/8

7pm to 10pm
Chris Spuglio & Stephanie Arnett, "Skin": Opening Reception
at Atlantic Works Gallery, 3rd Fl, 80 Border St, East Boston (near Maverick Sq)
FREE

Painter-sculptor Chris Spuglio and photographer Stephanie Arnett will share their work dealing with identities projected by our exterior.

Whenever there's a reason to go to Eastie, it also a chance to grab a tasty meal at Santarpio's or somewhere you haven't tried.

FRI 6/8

9pm
Trabants, Axemunkee, The Invisible Rays, Electromagnets
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
$7 / 21+

Whoa, this is a lot of instrumental rock in one place! I'm not sure which was the first radio station to proclaim "Less talk, more rock", but it's a mantra for the ages that pertains to this gig.

Guitar players often rein free when singers sit on the bench, and one of our local aces Cathy Capozzi leads Axemunkee that will likely provide several highlights. Get ready for some surfy, spacey, groovy, just-plain rocking' good times. Reliable sources say that Electromagnets is tweaked version of The Derangers.

If that wasn't enough, the full-on instrumental Weisstronauts are playing downstairs with classic-country lovers Hillbilly Holiday.

FRI 6/8

10pm
"Alice in Wonderland": Pride Celebration
at Bijou, 51 Stuart St, Boston (Theater District)
FREE before 11pm / $10 after / 21+

Feat: DJ Joe Bermudez & special guest

Far from being a gay-fun maven (gayven?), this looks like an over-the-top dance party that may be the opposite of the Dyke March earlier.

If you get in free at 10pm, the bonus also looks to include an hour of free sweet tea vodka cocktails, free body painting from 10pm to midnight, and everyone should get a Milagro tequila toast at midnight. (Some people may sleep through the Pride parade...)

FRI 6/8

10pm
JJ & Thee Cuban Heels
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

If you want to hear some fierce rock 'n roll and have a few beers at the end of the night, squeeze into Toad for the Thee Cuban Heels.

The incredible JJ Rassler (DMZ, The Queers, Downbeat 5, etc) and his current combo dig deep into the feral, oft-overlooked rock/R&B/soul of the 50's and 60's. It's going to be a treat.