SUN 9/23: Art, Fests, Music, Film

Hard to believe that Summer is officially over, but that doesn't mean we can't have outdoor fun.

It's New England, baby. This is when we thrive!

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SUN 9/23

11am to 6pm
Annual Jamaica Plain Open Studios
all around Jamaica Plain [PDF Pamphlet/Map]
FREE

Some kind of art is being made behind every other door in Jamaica Plain. You can walk in on a well over a hundred of those artists this weekend. And in most cases they won't be stoned out on the couch... In other cases, art will exhibited in galleries, churches, and businesses -- indoors and out.

While there are a few open studios that are sprinkled in other parts of JP, the majority of artists are swathed from the Stony Brook T stop to Green Street T stop to the south end of Centre Street.

SUN 9/23

Noon to 6pm
Allston Village Street Fair
on Harvard Ave, from Brighton Ave to Cambridge St, Allston
FREE

Stage performers: The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra, The Shills, The Force, Planetoid, Bonfire Bandit, Garvy J, Brunt of It, The New Highway Hymnal, Alchemilla, more

Street performers: Bloco Afro Brazil, Jenny the Juggler, Boston Hoop Troop, Melodeego, Sidewalk Sam, Boston League of Women Wrestlers, BU Fencing Club, Rhythmic Explorations, more

This block of funky storefronts epitomizes Allston, and it's great to see it turn into the cooler version of Harvard Square's Mayfair.

I didn't see a hard schedule for the performers, so you may not be able to show for a specific band. Just show up and enjoy the ambience.Of course you'll find food vendors, arts/crafts, kids crap, etc to amuse and satisfy to various degrees.

Part of the event's beauty is that it can't look much worse even after all the trash that might be left behind...

I'd love to say, "Let's keep Allston beautiful", but can we at least get most of the trash into bins?

SUN 9/23

Noon to 6pm
Annual Serbian Festival
at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 41 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge (North Cambridge)
FREE

Schedule:

Noon -- Balkan Express Boston
2pm -- Folk Dance Performance
3pm -- Tamburitza Trubadura
4pm -- Grupa 381

Like a lot of countries in the Balkans, it's been a tough road for centuries. I admire these Eastern Europeans for a strong sense of family and a music that makes you want to dance even in a minor key.

The food matches a region that has ben in transit for so long, so it's probably a hearty mix of European, Mediterranean, Turkish, etc.

SUN 9/23 (and MON 9/24)

Various Times
Boston Film Festival
at Stuart Street Playhouse/Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart St, Boston (Theatre District)
$10

Schedule:

2:30pm -- "Greedy Lying Bastards"
4:45pm -- "Wolves Unleashed"
7pm -- "The Sessions"
9pm -- "The Shining" - Restoration & Panel Discussion

Of the various film festivals throughout the year, the BFF selections probably have the greatest likelihood of ending up in wider distribution; so this is a chance to see a film before most Bostonians.

I've heard a lot of buzz about "The Sessions", which means you could wait or see it first and act cool when your friends ask if you've seen Laura Dern as a sex surrogate to a dying, disabled man.

When you see a documentary called "Greedy Lying Bastards", you know there's a certain point of view. When you're central point is the Gulf-spill crisis, you may be onto something.

Restored or not, "The Shining" will scare the crap out of you.

SUN 9/23

3pm
Vanya Records One Year Anniversary BBQ
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
FREE / 18+

As an ancillary event to the Allston Village Street Fair, feel free to hang out with the Vanya Records crowd. These are the folks behind the Boston foundation dance night The Pill, and I've seen Mr. Vanya contribute to the Boston Phoenix.

Expect DJ sets from Bearstronaut, Andre Obin, the New Highway Hymnal, Glass Teeth for a party that might include some free vittles from the grill.

SUN 9/23

6pm to 7:30pm
9th Annual Revels RiverSing
over the Charles River, near the Weeks pedestrian bridge, Cambridge or Boston
FREE

Pre-Autumnal Equinox Celebration at Winthrop Park:

3pm -- New School of Music Kid’s Cabaret
3:45pm -- Historical Fun about the Equinox
4:15pm -- The Dirty Water Brass Band
5pm -- Revels 'Family Fun'
5:45pm -- Parade to the River

If any part of the nation should celebrate the change of seasons, it's New England that undeniably benefits from the most fantastic vistas and weather and apple-picking (the original version).

Why not sit by the river and sing along while the the chorus and giant puppets and jazz saxophone welcome the autumnal equinox. Or just listen and absorb the good vibes.

SUN 9/23

4pm
"The Last Days of Pompeii": Screening
at Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

In 1926, this was the longest, grandest Italian film produced. Think of it as a Shakespearean love story under the undeniable catastrophe with an Italian twist.

Pianist Robert Humphreville provides live soundtrack.

SUN 9/23

7pm
Acappella Night
at The Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St, Boston (Kenmore Sq)
$5 suggested donation

Feat: The Nor'easters, Fermata Town, Redline, Pitch Please!, The BosTones

I'm not sure if I'll ever get excited enough about a cappella music to get off the couch, but you might feel like it. I acknowledge the genre is more contemporary then ever, yet it's not my thing.

SUN 9/23

8pm to 10pm
Trivia Sundays: "P!nk Album Release Party"
at Geoffrey's Cafe, 142 Berkeley St, Boston (Back Bay)
FREE

There's nothing wrong with the dominant trivia conglomerate, but I love the independent nights with their own take. Like drag queens hosting trivia.

Topics are said to include The Golden Girls, GLBTQ history, Drag drama, 80's pop culture; so you've got an idea where this is going. Among the prizes are copies of Pink's new CD.

Hosted by Rainbow Frite, Raquel Blake, Brian Spencer

SUN 9/23

9pm
The Tin Thistles, Welter, Hooker Clops, Old Hat, 3TV’s
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

It's a bummer when a band breaks up as they release an album, but don't focus on that when Boston punks The Tin Thistles rip it up tonight on their farewell (for now, I don't believe most goodbyes anymore). Philly rockers Welter, local punkers with a great name Hookerclops, and folk-punks Old Hat make it a party.

The 3TV’s may be great, but I don't like that they have any music easy to find online. So I say, "3TV’s may be the worst band in Boston." Quote me on that.