TUES 6/5: Scooper Bowl, Venus, Music, Trivia, Video

FYI: Cheapness through Friday is on the calendar.

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TUES 6/5 (thru THUR 6/7)

Noon to 8pm
Scooper Bowl
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$8 / $4 for children ages 3 to 9

There were some winter days that could've been better suited than this week, but we love all-you can eat ice cream anyway. You know gaggles of kids will be there.

At $10 with 37 or so flavors mean that you can sample everything at approximately 27 cents per scoop...

Or it's still rather enjoyable to gorge oneself on a few handfuls of the best flavors from Baskin-Robbins, Ben & Jerry's, Breyer's, Brigham's, Hood, Byrne Dairy, Ciao Bella Gelato, Edy's, Friendly's, and SoCo Creamery.

Proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

TUES 6/5

6:20pm to Sunset
The Transit of Venus
at the Surface of the Sun
FREE

The clouds may part to unveil the passing of Venus across the Sun. As far as events in our solar system goes, 105 years isn't long but some of us won't be around for the next Transit.

Last week, I mentioned a couple options in the area to watch with people who might have something intelligent to say about it.

Of course, there's a video feed on the web.

TUES 6/5

Spaghetti Dinner (6pm), The Derangers & Triple Thick (7:30pm)
at Johnny D's, 17 Holland St, Somerville (Davis Sq)
$10

Okay, you've got my interest when someone throws in a bowl of (locally sourced) pasta with a couple rock bands. Or vice versa -- however you want to think about it. This is the first of 'Spaghetti Tuesdays' to come this summer.

They're kicking it off with some kick-ass garage and surf rock.

TUES 6/5

8pm
Geeks Who Drink: "Sterling Cooper Draper Quiz: A Mad Men Quiz"
at Common Ground, 83 Harvard Ave, Allston
$5 per player

Besides their usual trivia nights at various local pubs, the GWD occasionally host a trivia night that geeks out on a specific TV show or other subject pop-culture mania.

I wonder how many people will show up in retro suits and dresses and want big tumblers of booze tonight?Teams are limited to a maximum of six "Mad Men" fanatics, and the winners could walk away with a decent cash prize.

TUES 6/5

8pm
"A Night of Music Celebrating Dinah Washington"
at The Beehive, 541 Tremont St, Boston (South End)
FREE

Feat: Michelle Wilson

Although Dinah Washington may not be a household name, she was one of the most popular and influential blues/jazz singers of the '40s and '50s with hits like "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" and "Ain't Misbehavin'".

She definitely influenced Michelle Wilson who takes her "Evil Gal" nickname from a Washington single from 1943. It should be a mix of uptempo R&B, torchy standards, and more.

TUES 6/5

8:30pm to 11:30pm
"YouTube Party"
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
FREE

They describe it as an "experiment" and "video, music, innovative interactive party". I suspect it'll be an onslaught of people sharing favorite video clips interspersed with music. Not a bad night to hang out at Atwoods.

TUES 6/5

9pm
Alen of Dale, Dharma Bird, Pale Cowboy
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

This sounds like a good night for country-flavored folk-rock by Alen of Dale and Pale Cowboy that occasionally takes some twists and turns. Dharma Bird is a string band with a singer-songwriter at its core. From my sampling, all of the bands pay a lot of attention to the lyrics.