Weekend CTB Calendar: 8/26 to 8/28

I will try to have a weekend summary up on Friday.

I can't give much of a recommendation to the Red Bull boat race on Sunday after the generally disappointing Flugtag last weekend, but some people might be into it...

SAT 8/20 & SUN 8/21: Top 5 Cheap Thrills

Inching towards greatness, my friends...

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SAT 8/20

Noon to 7pm
Red Bull Flugtag Boston
at Hatch Shell, Storrow Dr, Boston (Charles River Esplanade)
FREE

What may appear to be a ridiculous competition of engineering and gumption actually ...is pretty much that. There is a 45 year history of flugtag, and Red Bull has been hosting competitions around the world for 25 years.

Thirty teams will shove one of their own into the Charles River. Ostensibly they will all try to glide as far as possible from the 28-foot floating platform. The real fun will be the spectacular failures, and there will be great art-pieces flopping in style.

SAT 8/20 & SUN 8/21

Various Times
9th Annual Boston GreenFest
at City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
FREE

Saturday — Noon to 10pm
Sunday — Noon to 6pm

GreenFest mainly consists of information booths, but it doesn't hurt to get educated in between environmentally-sound amusement. Be open to those who have some ideas to improve the planet and maybe let us live here a few more years.

There are musical performances the whole time and a film-fest inside City Hall. You might even take a spin in an electric car or electric bicycle.

SAT 8/20 & SUN 8/21

2pm
The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)
at Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville (near Union Sq)
FREE / Donations welcome

Teen troupe doing one of the most difficult balancing acts related to Shakespeare — three actors performing a rollicking remix of every play that he wrote. (At least, the plays attributed to The Bard and only the plays we know about...)

SAT 8/20

3pm
4th Annual Boston Fuzzstival
at Middle East - Downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$20 advance / 18+

The second day of the annual Fuzzstival is over $10, but you get 19 bands for slightly more than a buck per band. It's more than garage & psych rock, so get ready a major sonic assault.

Stage 1: Doug Tuttle (12:15am), Quilt (11pm), Major Stars (10pm), Ghost Box Orchestra (9pm), Black Beach (8pm), BoyToy (7pm), Painted Zeros (6pm), Jaw Gems (5pm), Sunwatchers (4pm), Bat House (3pm)

Stage 2: Mini Dresses (11:45pm), Las Rosas (10:30pm), Zip-Tie Handcuffs (9:30pm), Ravi Shavi (8:30pm), High Pop (7:30pm), Way Out (6:30pm), Weakened Friends (5:30pm), Milk (4:30pm), Beach Toys (3:30pm)


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SUN 8/21

2pm to 6pm
SomerStreets: "Seize the Summer"
at Holland St, from Davis Sq to Teele Sq, Somerville
FREE

Feat: School of HONK, Matt Heaton & the Outside Toys, Pat & the Hats, Big Big Buildings, Todd Thibaud & the Royer Family Band, Esh Circus Arts, etc

Loitering in Davis Square is not a bad choice on many days. It doesn't hurt that the city is blocking a mile of road with music, art, games and more.

Wear your swimsuit to brunch, then head to the "90ft obstacle course water slide" that's open to everyone who is ready for good, wet fun.

Rain or shine.

Weekend CTB Calendar: 8/19 to 8/21

I'm not going to write much here, because I might actually give a more detailed post tomorrow.

I do have to say, "FLUGTAG!?!?!"

TUES 8/16: National Rum Day -- in Cambridge

6pm to 8pm
National Rum Day: Tasting Pop-Up
at Zinc Apartments Outdoor Terrace, 22 Water St, Cambridge (near Lechmere)
FREE w/ RSVP / 21+

You can celebrate National Rum Day anywhere, nowhere, or in your kitchen; however there is a nearby spot where it won't cost you anything.

The beautiful thing about this sampling is that the all of these rums were distilled within Route 128 with the furthest site being about 80 miles away.

When celebrating Rum Day, it's worth noting that Boston had a rich rum history before the Civil War (i.e. part of the slave economy), but don't let history ruin every rum & cola or mojito.

Much like everything else made, bought, or sold in America before 1860; many people suffered while others partied. Perhaps we should appreciate that we have made progress in the last 150 years -- AND that local jobs are being created (with wages) by getting sloshed on locavore liquor.

It sounds like 5 local rums will be available at the top of the apartment building. Who knows how many people live in this building, but most will probably try to muscle in.

Reserve your spot and taste spirits from Privateer (Ipswich, MA), GrandTen Distilling (Boston, MA), Deacon Giles Distillery (Salem, MA), Short Path Distillery (Everett, MA), and New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery (Winchester, NH).

Extra points for anyone who says "Happy Rumadan" to a stranger on the terrace...

PS: The CTB Calendar is currently updated through Friday...

Weekend CTB Calendar: 8/12 to 8/14

Ignore that I'm still slacking after a week's vacation -- there is cheap fun to be had!

Weekend CTB Calendar: 8/5 to 8/7

Still in Maine, and - believe it or not - I didn't sit at the keyboard all week.

Remember this is the last weekend for Shakespeare on the Common... If you're going to be at Assembly Row on Friday night, the screening of "Good Will Hunting" is also giving away swag like Rubik's cubes...

There are some good bands as well as women wrestling on Saturday... And a wide variety of free fun on Sunday...