SUN 2/24: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

Will Tarantino win anything tonight? I just dig his movies.

Saturday & Sunday Calendar

There is a lot of fun this weekend, but I gotta give you a calendar only. I might even spend some day-job time today, and I'm woefully under-prepared for my 2 songs for Monday night's open mic at a place that rhymes with "Mizard Mounge"...

If you're ever going to go to Lowell, it should be for the human dog sled races today at Lowell Winterfest!

Wednesday to Saturday Calendar

Okay, we may be getting back on track. More fun should be appearing on the calendar.

PS: If you're going for Wednesday night drinks near Kenmore Square, you might as well go to Cornwall's and try a free alcoholic ginger beer drink...

Monday to Thursday Calendar

Since some may have Presidents Day off (and my not mind a crowd of kids), there is a daytime event at the JFK Library.

MON 2/11: Listen/Read Tips for Cheap World Travel

MON 2/11

7pm to 8pm
Matt Kepnes, "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter": Discussion/Signing
at Harvard Coop, Level 3, 1400 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

There is a wide range of music choices on the CTB calendar, but I wanted to give a special shout-out to Boston-based travel dude Nomadic Matt.

Traveling abroad can cost a pretty penny/peso/euro/yuan, so a $50-per-day strategy is rather economical.

If you don't go tonight, you may want to find out how he settled on the $50 threshold.

After the talk, Matt encourages anyone to hang out with him at Park.

SUN 2/10: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

Although the 1931 newsreel about 'iced tennis' only gives the location as America, I'd like to think this occurred somewhere in the Boston area.

Build a Snow Fort with Confidence

Thanks to Nick for sending this link to the snowfort planner!

It may be too late to buy the $7 snow brick mold on Amazon, but the tool could still help you get your Nemo-supplied fun-pack into something pretty cool with a little planning and teamwork..

I bet your neighbors would get into the act if they figure out where put the stuff from shoveling out their cars, etc.

Or you could go play in the snow behind the Davis Square Theater.

The Blizzard of '13

The T is not running. The Governor says you can't drive.

There are 2 snow parties in Somerville, and acoustic music at an art gallery in JP tonight.

Everything is cancelled or will be.

Thursday Calendar

Even though I didn't get Friday stuff posted yet, most of it will likely be cancelled due to the blizzard...

Wednesday Calendar

If all goes well, this will be updated with fun through the weekend by tonight...

TUES 2/5: Free-ish IHOP Pancakes

Okay, things are rolling a bit better...

More Tuesday cheapness can be found on the calendar!

--------------------------------------------------------------

TUES 2/5

All Day
National Pancake Day
at Participating IHOP Locations
FREE / Donation suggested

National Pancake Day has rolled along the calendar again -- a week before the traditional Pancake Day -- and most businesses will still be open.

For quite a few years, the International House of Pancakes chain serves about a million free stacks of pancakes. There is one small, non-binding catch: IHOP hopes that their guests make a donation to support children’s hospitals. The average donation has been about $2 in the past.

So really, it's only potentially free. Still when was the last time someone made you a short stack (3) of pancakes? Even with a donation, a beverage and a reasonable gratuity; it's not a bad deal.

There's a limit of one stack per person, and you have to eat them there.

Of course, no one will know if you have 3 pancake meals at different locations.

(If you're going to the Brighton and Harvard Sq locations, the best #64/#66 bus transfer is near the nexus of Cambridge St, Brighton Ave, and N. Beacon St. Or you can just have one stack...)

MON 2/4: Big Quiz Thing & More

There is more Monday cheapness is on the calendar, but Big Quiz Thing is pretty awesome if you haven't been before.

Below is an old post of mine.

--------------------------------------

MON 2/4

8pm to 10pm
The Big Quiz Thing
at Club Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
FREE

Do you know a free trivia night where there's a $200 1st-place prize? It's very competitive, but it can be done. The Cheap Thrills Boston team tied for 2nd place in June. I think our team helped to make the night considered to be "The ideal live-trivia audience".

Your average pub trivia is alright, but this is probably the most entertaining trivia game I've played.

There are audio and video questions in categories like "A Quick Tour Through TV Game Show History", "Public Zoo", and “Never Break the Musical Chain”. The hosts are witty too.

Even a wrong answer has a chance for points if it's funny enough.

I may not be able make it on Monday night, so I can't definitely join a team.

If you don't win the grand prize in the 3-way finale, your team could go home with some books, DVD's, gift card and/or tickets to "The Donkey Show".

There is a bar as well even if it isn't a pub.

SUN 2/3: Sunday Night Off-Topic Video

For something completely different: Remember when gay Hispanic poet Richard Blanco recited an inaugural poem that Carl Sandburg would've enjoyed...?

2/3: 6 Non-Super Bowl Things

Trying to get back in the saddle...

--------------------------------------------------

SUN 2/3

Noon to 9pm
"Harvard Skate on the Plaza"
at Science Center Plaza, about 1 Kirkland St, Cambridge (Harvard campus)
FREE / $5 skate rentals

It's not a big rink (40’ x 60’), but it's cheaper than the Frog Pond or Kendall Square.

The rink is going to open from Tuesday to Sunday through THUR 3/14.

SUN 2/3

2pm to 5pm
"Session Planetaria": Round-Robin-Style Improv Jam
at Sally O'Brien's, 335 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

Today's Theme: "Soul Food"

Okay, they got me. When you put a crazy name on an open-mic, I'm a bit more interested.

Last year, these folks were congregating at an East Somerville Ethiopian restaurant, and now they're in big-time Union Square. It's billed as "Rhythm, Rhyme, Stories and Songs with a world beat", so sit back and enjoy -- or sign-up (at 1:30pm or by email).

SUN 2/3

3pm to 5pm
iOS Game Dev Competition
at Grier Room #401, EG&G Education Center, 50 Vassar St, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

Over the last month, teams have designed games that can "(1) run on the iOS simulator, (2) have at least one playable level or mode that doesn't crash". Booths will be set up for each game to give their pitch and demonstrate the game.

It's not the Lombardi Trophy, but at least 4 games will win prize money from $6,670 to $1,000.

The event is open to the public after 3pm.

SUN 2/3

4pm
MIT IAP Orchestra: Beethoven's Symphony No. 5
at Kresge Auditorium, 48 Mass Ave, Cambridge (MIT campus)
FREE

There's not much specific info about this gig. MIT's Independent Activities Period is a month where peculiar stuff is presented by students, staff, and alum's. My guess is that conductor/sophmore Daniel Zhang roped a bunch of players to learn Beethoven's Fifth over the last 4 weeks.

If you're going to the game competition (above), you might as well check out the concert too.

SUN 2/3

4pm
Roy Sludge
at Radio, 379 Somerville Ave, Somerville (Union Sq)
FREE

On most Sunday afternoons, Roy Sludge and his buddies dish out foot-stomping country music with loads of wit. (In a nod to the Dead Kennedys, the CD's title track is "Too Drunk To Truck").

It doesn't matter if you had brunch nearby or need to shop at Market Basket across the street or just want to swing by for some day-drinking, the doors are open and the tunes are top-notch.

Sludge and company will be hunkered down every Sunday in February.

SUN 2/3

The Milligrams (11:25pm), Western Education (10:25pm), Plumerai (9:30pm), To The Wedding (8:45pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8 / 18+

What football game? It's just another Sunday with a bunch of synthy/shoegazy bands rocking out.

Good times!

A New Friday Calendar

There is more to come, folks.

I have not surrendered. Infact, I think of 2/1/13 as being the beginning of the CTB year...

There are 7 good reasons to go out and spend a little money -- or none at all.