SUN 6/24: Fests, Cars, Poetry, Music

The $15 stuff-your-face bacon event is full, but you might be able to get into the $15 stuff-your-face cake event.

Harvard Book Store is opening their warehouse in Somerville for the semi-annual sale for one more day (11am to 6pm). It's like the downstairs section but a hundred times bigger.

FYI: "Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman Story" is at the Brattle through SUN 7/1 ($9.75 to $6.75), and it's a must-see for Morphine fans. "xxx All Ages xxx" is screening at the West End Museum today at 3pm ($10).

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SUN 6/24

Various Times
Common Boston Festival: "Off the Grid"
at Various Locations
Most FREE

Schedule:

10am -- Under and over and through Charlesgate
10am -- Ponds, pastures and parkways: A walk along the Emerald Necklace (Full)
11:15am -- Fenway Victory Gardens Tour
1pm -- The history, landscape and hidden treasures of the Back Bay Fens
1pm -- Common Build 2012 Tour with Judges at Fenway Victory Gardens
1pm -- Circle The City
2pm -- Ride the Necklace (Full)
5:30pm -- A tour of light and shadow, nature and art in the Forest Hills Cemetery at dusk (walking and biking)

How well do you know Boston's Emerald Necklace? This annual architecture/design fest is going "off the grid" but really trying to show you something off your grid. The links above register your attendance.

SUN 6/24

10am to 5pm
Annual Chinatown Main Street Festival
near the Chinatown Arch, 70 Beach St, Boston
FREE

I'm not sure if I've been to this particular Chinatown festival, but -- much like the North End festas in their way -- there is a similarity that blends together.

If you're downtown, you might as well get a bigger-than-usual taste of Chinese arts, culture, and food.

Last time, I did notice the lines for most dim sum places seemed longer than usual.

SUN 6/24

10am to 2pm
British Car Day
at Larz Anderson Auto Museum, 15 Newton St, Brookline
$10 / $5 military, seniors, students, children under 12

There will be other Sundays dedicated to Triumphs (7/31) and MG's/Rovers (8/13), but a car-nucopia of British wheels will roll onto the lawn.

Take a look at this guy's visit in '09 and think about the last time you saw multiple Jaguars, Bentleys, and Aston-Martins in the same day -- as well as Lotus, MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, vintage Mini's, etc.

SUN 6/24

Noon to 6pm
Boston Bazaar Bizarre: Union Made Fair
at Union Sq Plaza, Somerville (nexus of Somerville Ave, Washington St, Bow St)
FREE

Schedule:

Noon -- Marc Pinansky
1pm -- Cargo Cult
2pm -- Lady Pilot
3pm -- Old Hat
4pm -- Man Alive!

With no major gift-giving holidays in the near future, it's time to look around and treat yourself to whatever cool, generally handmade arts and crafts. About 50 vendors will be there.

maybe you can find something out of the ordinary for him. I usually find stuff for myself at these things.

There will supposedly be demonstrations too, so maybe you can make an early Kwaanza gift for that special someone. As you can see from the above flyer, don't be surprised for a nautical theme.

SUN 6/24

1pm to 5pm
Circle The City: Franklin Park Kick-off
at Playstead Park, Franklin Park, 143 Seaver St, Dorchester
FREE

Entertainment schedule:

1pm -- Marcos Santos & Grooversity drumming
2pm -- Boston Moves For Health
2:15pm -- Afrika Gente Band w/ Cornell Coley
4pm -- Boston Pops Brass Ensemble

There's a nationwide initiative to encourage people to get out and enjoy parks. On a monthly basis, "Circle The City" is going to make a big hoopla in different green spaces around Boston.

From 1pm to 4pm, people of all ages can participate in sports activities (e.g. kickball, basketball, tennis, soccer, frisbee golf), fitness crap, bike tours (1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm) -- and there will be a slew of activities especially for kids.

SUN 6/24

4pm
"A Second Look at Robert Frost"
at Longfellow House, 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE

Feat: David Barber, F.D. Reeve

Does the 'second look' seem puzzling? Have we only looked once at one of the greatest American poets? Maybe some didn't spend much time with Mr. Frost after he took the road less traveled.

Two poets (two 'looks'?) will wax about the Pulitzer Prize-winning former US Poet Laureate who spent many years in Massachusetts.

SUN 6/24

8:30pm
Emerging America Festival: Closing Party
at Club Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

I wish the performances would have been at a CTB-friendly price, however everyone is welcome to hang out with performers at the closing party. There will be music, dance, and maybe a few laughs. Last year's musical guest was The Lisps who were working on their own play.

Chicago's The Hypocrites supposedly gave a great version of "The Pirates of Penzance"; maybe they'll repose the Major-General song or something...

There are free site-specific stories created for the festival that can be downloaded and experienced around town at your convenience.

SUN 6/24

9pm
Marc Pinansky & The Bored Of Health
at Precinct, 70 Union Sq, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

On most Sundays, Marc Pinansky of Township freely serves up acoustic songs at Precinct versus the big rock of his current band. I suspect The Bored of Health might be the stand-up bass and steel-guitarist in this clip.

Either Andrea Gillis will play a set or sit in with Marc and the guys.

SUN 6/24

9pm
Ronald Reagan
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE

Even if you don't have fond memories (or just memories) of the '80s, the two sax guys of Ronald Reagan might bring a smile or a laugh with quirky covers of '80s pop and rock. With free music every night, it's always a good spot to grab a beer and be entertained just off the Red Line.