2/21 & 2/22: Top 7 Cheap Thrills to Make You Leave Your Place

There is more on the CTB calendar, and these are my weekend highlights.

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SAT 2/21 & SUN 2/22

11am to 8pm
Slope Fest
at Lawn on D, 420 D St, Boston (Southie)
FREE

It's difficult to know what's going on this weekend at the park near the Seaport, because it has been postponed due to all of the friggin' snow yet the event description has not changed. If you like to frolic in a more organized manner with food trucks and a bar, then this is your place. Other cheap options include Boston Common or the MIT snow mountains off Vassar Street.

Slope Fest does offer a snow tubing down a 70-foot long slope for a few bucks, which could be cool...

SAT 2/21

12:30pm to 3:30pm
Indoor – Outdoor Snow Day
at Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse, One Circuit Drive, Boston (Dorchester/Jamaica Plain)
FREE

Unlike Slope Fest, Franklin Park keeps it modest. After postponing a few times, the Snow Festival is now an indoor/outdoor fun day. You can borrow a sled if don't have one, or you can hang out and play games inside. Whatever, man...

SAT 2/21

10am to 4:45pm
Lunar New Year Celebration
at Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston (Fenway)
FREE

Yes, the MFA is worth the $25 adult admission. On the other hand, it's nice to get in for free -- and they do give you a little bit of pressure to pay on the 'free' Wednesday nights.

THere are too many people on these full-on free days -- they just process you in and let you roam the galleries where various activities & performances draw upon the Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese celebrations of the lunar new year.

SAT 2/21

Noon to Midnight
"Bit Fest 2: Electronic Boogaloo": Arcade & Video Game Festival
at Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler St, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE / 21+ after 6pm

Besides the various older home systems, there will be about 2 dozen old arcade games -- so bring as many quarters as you can carry (not kidding). Casually play or sign up for one of the hourly tournaments to show everyone that you kick ass at MarioKart 64.

Expect to see stuff that you probably haven't seen in years on the vendor tables. Vintage-game-influenced music will set the mood to play again and again.

Do I have to remind you that this going down at a brewery?

SAT 2/21

4pm to 6pm
Banditas
at Plough & Stars, 912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
FREE / 21+

7:30pm to 9pm
Tad Overbaugh & The Late Arrivals
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

When it's cold and snowy, I know some of you like to grab a pint or two (or more). If the Red Line is running, there are two free gigs within walking distance of Harvard Sq and Porter Sq. You could even start with grrl-powered harmonies over garage rock and have plenty of time to partake some rootsy-twangy songsmanship.

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SUN 2/22

8pm to 10pm
Geek Girl Boston presents: "Historical Hysteria"
at Club Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10 Standing Room / $15 Stools / $20 Table Seats

During the day, a noted biblical scholar is giving a lecture that should be rather interesting at Trinity Church. I'm more inclined to watch a burlesque dance inspired by Julius Caesar. History is the theme for the performances which will include some circus arts. (The seating map shows an extra performance area adjacent to the stage. Some people will even tell jokes & stories without taking off their clothes.