Entertainment
Dottie Hottie reports "My First Place," a show on HGTV, is seeking out people who say "wicked" a lot, more specifically, "fun, high-energy" Hubstas willing to be videoed while looking for their first house.
Morgan Shaker is prominent among the young creatives at the Whitehaus – the Jamaica Plain musician, poet, and artist co-op known for its DIY philosophy and positive “yes wave” attitude. One of many musicians under that roof, he often takes a lead role as organizer and promoter of events. Friendly and thoughtful, he’s frequently called upon to share his philosophy about what the Whitehaus Family is and does.
Right now, Morgan Shaker is busy promoting Blastfest III, March 20th, at the Cambridge YMCA. It’s an equinox celebration that runs 11 AM to 11 PM and features the talents of over two dozen acts. It’s also all ages show, and admission is $5 to $10 “on a sliding scale…no one refused”– a remarkable bargain for twelve hours of entertainment. Once admitted, you may come and go as you please.
An improbably wide variety of musical styles will be represented. Taken collectively, these dissimilar sounds contribute to Blastfest’s “Weird New America” vibe. Blastfest is an unusual event for sure, but it’s also part of a tradition of independent event promoting–and simply independent doing–that is dear to a virtual community of like-minded artists worldwide. Read more
Look! Another reality show seeking Bostonians:
Are you fabulous, with a wicked crazy social life and a tendency to tell it like it is? Do you believe Massachusetts beats the hell out of New York? Are your priorities workouts, hair and friends? A TV production company is seeking cast members for a new reality show set near Boston. The show will feature attractive, charismatic men and women, between the ages of 25 and 40.
Translation: We wanna do Jersey Shore, only we'll call it Reveah Beach, cuz it'll be wicked pissa.
Via John Keith.
Although Neil Young Trunk Show, a hard-rocking performance movie directed by Jonathan Demme, only recently had its local premier at Coolidge Corner Theatre, it will be on DVD and Blu-ray before you know it. If you want to catch this film in a theater before then, one of the few places in the country to do so is Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge. There, starting March 19, it will run for one week. Read local review of Neil Young Trunk Show.
Boston might be more famous for its museums than its nightlife, but there’s plenty of both. When you combine the two, sophisticated Bostonians turn out in droves. “Gardner After Hours,” held at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on the third Thursday of each month, is just such an event. Read the article by John Stephen Dwyer.
It’s 12 metres wide, pink and designed to teach Torontonians about Canada's second biggest cancer killer — colorectal cancer.
The Giant Colon Tour has rolled into Toronto, kicking off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Cancer Care Ontario, ColonCancerCheck has set up a giant walk-through colon at Toronto’s Dufferin Mall in the city’s west end until March 6.
Read more
Steve Garfield is tweeting from the Oscars carpet.
Marjorie Arons-Barron reports on the renovated Washington Street theater's re-opening yesterday:
... The art deco style is drop-dead gorgeous; the sparkling lights on the marquee, a wondrous beckoning. ...
Paul Marotta took in a dress rehearsal of the Waltham Symphony Orchestra yesterday.
Copyright Paul Marotta. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.
Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme was in Brookline yesterday to receive the Coolidge Award. His latest performance film, Neil Young Trunk Show, had its New England premier at Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday as part of the Coolidge Award festivities. Read more...
ART seeks boy, 9-12, for role in play. Pays $400 a week, but does involve some rehersals in New York (to learn how to hate the Yankees?) - with expenses paid, natch.
A Los Angeles company with the right to market T-shirts and tchotchkes for the band Muse today filed suit against an army of unknown T-shirt sellers and a mysterious Company XYZ to prevent them from selling bootleg Muse stuff when the band plays the Garden on March 6 - and as it continues to tour the country. Read more
"Summer in Winter: Paintings by Anthony Apesos" is on display at the Arnold Arboretum until March 6. Read the full review by John Stephen Dwyer.
When not exploring colonial mysteries, J.L. Bell keeps busy on more contemporary questions, such as the date Superman and Robin first appeared in a story together.
Craig Goedecke reports on a protest planned for this coming Wednesday at the State House against a bill that would reduce the amount of tax credits available for moviemakers in Massachusetts:
... While the bill does not eliminate the film tax credit, it is equally disastrous. They will have lots of people testifying to rollback the film credit: in turn this could have a negative impact going forward for our efforts to preserve the credit, and keep films rolling. WE NEED TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD! WE NEED TO BE THE OPPOSITION! LET'S ALL RALLY BEHIND THE MASS FILM TAX CREDIT!!! Bring your cameras! Wear your crew/union shirts! Let’s show them "FILM CREDITS=JOBS"!!! THE MORE PEOPLE THAT ATTEND THIS… THE STRONGER WE BECOME!THE BATTLE FOR HOLLYWOOD EAST BEGINS NOW! ...
Geoff Edgers reports the Wang is renting itself out on May 6 to the "Bellator Fighting Championship," which boasts that one of its proudest moments last year was when one fighter "locked in a standing inverted triangle choke to render [his opponent] unconscious while he was still standing."
Sam Baltrusis updates us on the upcoming "OxyMorons," a film about a Charlestown guy's "rise and fall as a player in the local Oxycontin trade."
The Boston Licensing Board votes today on transferring the Kells' liquor license to Tavern in the Square, which plans to gut the place and convert it from a nightclub into a sports bar with an extensive menu.
At a hearing yesterday, Tavern in the Square lawyer Robert Allen of Brookline said that assuming the transfer is approved, the new owners will pay $1.4 million just to get in the door - which includes $250,000 for the value of the liquor license and $100,000 in "good will."
Shawn Ahern, who would run the latest Tavern in the Square outlet, said the chain plans to "open up" the existing space, to let in more light and will expand the kitchen.
He said the chain is well aware of the unique issues of serving liquor in a student area - the day before, the Kells was up before the licensing board for serving a drink to a minor - and said the chain is proud to have never had any violations at locations in Central and Porter squares.
"We want to see it cleaned up, we want to see less violations," board Chairman Daniel Pokaski said.
Boston city councilors said today that Gov. Patrick's plan to cut the amount of money available to companies that make movies in Massachusetts would harm a nascent industry in the state.
City Councilor John Tobin (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain), who submitted a call for a hearing on the financial impact of the change, compared moviemaking to the Red Sox. Sure, David Ortiz and other players make "an obscene amount of money," but they're also responsible for hiring large numbers of local residents.
The tax credit "puts men and women from the city of Boston, and from around the Commonwealth, to work," Tobin said.
Councilor Bill Linehan, (South Boston, South End) said, if anything, the state should be looking at expanding the credit to bring more jobs here.
Tobin's proposal for a hearing.
Jody reports The Biggest Loser, is having a casting call in Boston next month, because really, what's a reality show without somebody to drop their Rs along with their pounds?
The Boston Licensing Board could vote Thursday to strip the Lyons Group, one of the city's largest nightclub and restaurant operators, of a valuable liquor license because it hasn't actually used it since 2007. Read more
The Boston Licensing Board tomorrow hears from the owners of the Kells on Brighton Avenue on their plan to sell the bar's liquor license to the Tavern in the Square chain.
Today, though, the board heard what could be the last police complaint related to the bar: That it served a drink near closing time on Dec. 13 to an underage guy using his older brother's out of state license e- who then got knocked unconscious by a bar worker rushing outside to deal with a possible fight. Read more
The Boston Licensing Board today urged Church, 69 Kilmarnock St., to install new sound-proofing material in its ceiling to dampen noise from bands - and complaints from nearby residents, who have been complaining of loud noise from the bar for more than a year now.
Licensing Board Chairman Daniel Pokaski said steps already taken by the club, which include curtains around the stage, ceiling insulation and band contracts that let the club turn down the volume on speakers, have failed to reduce the annoyance to Peterborough Street residents. Read more
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