A friend asked this week whether I was obsessed with all things cheap, invoking certain assumptions about my ancestry which (beyond being entirely spurious) I had really thought we were beyond in the year 2011. Certainly, to be cheap is to be vigilant and my passion for free has at times bordered on the fanatical. But don’t bite the hand, cheapskates. Because if one thing’s not cheap it’s finding a therapist to vent my feelings of underappreciation. Although… Groupon’s taken a weird turn lately, so maybe I could get a free couch session somewhere. Don’t tempt me.
Monday, June 27
Club Oberon near Harvard Square hosts The Big Quiz Thing, a live trivia game show from New York City. Grand prize is $200, and the consolation prize the satisfaction of knowing what a herd of giraffes is called (for the cheatskates, it’s a “tower” of giraffes). Doors open at 7:30 PM, seating for first comers. Take the Red Line to Harvard, then follow Mass Ave toward Central Square to Oberon.
Tuesday, June 28
The WFNX Alternatour brings soul rockers Fitz and the Tantrums to the Paradise for a whopping free dollars and zero cents. Doors open to admit the 21+ at 7 PM.
Wednesday, June 29
The 30th annual Boston Harborfest kicks off with ceremonies at noon outside Faneuil Hall. Wednesday’s events include tours of the U.S.S. Constitution (admission by donation) and the Old North Church ($6 admission for students).
Slam-happy Cantab Lounge in Central Square serves up the first-ever MBTA Slam for anyone who’s ever sung praises to the Red Line, cursed the inconstant Green or reviled the system-wide shutdown before last call. A $3 cover plus ID (18+) gets you in for the four-way Red vs. Blue vs. Orange vs. Green battle to the pithy, rhythmic and public transport-themed death.
Thursday, June 30
Club Passim’s Summer Stage series continues with folk-funk guitar-and-ukelele-ist Connor Garvey from 1 to 2 PM on Palmer Street outside the Harvard Coop.
Friday, July 1
SoWa Artists Guild First Fridays opens the workshops and art spaces of the SoWa community to the public from 5 to 9 PM. Roam through 15 galleries and 50 studios of a range of Boston artists, from painters to sculptures to photographers. The Guild is located at 450 Harrison Avenue — take the Silver Line to E. Berkeley.
The Boston Harbor Hotel keeps its summer flick series rolling with Double Indemnity (1944) beginning at dusk.
MFA First Fridays combines the yuppie trifecta: live music, gallery art, and after-work drinks (21+, bring ID). This month the MFA features the Grooversity Brazilian Trio from 5:30 to 9:30 PM in Gallery 250. Take the Green E Line to the Museum of Fine Arts stop, or it’s a fantastic walk through the Fens to 465 Huntington Avenue.
Saturday, July 2
This is the one weekend each year when yelling “The British are coming!” is acceptable for anyone not giving a Freedom Trail tour while wearing knickers. As part of the Boston Harborfest week of reenactments and Independence festivities, Redcoats will march from Long Wharf to the Common along State Street, then skirmish with Colonial militia (we know how this turns out) until 4:30 PM.
Harborfest continues into the night Saturday with Party on the Plaza from 6 to 9 PM. The 70s-flashback (that’s 1970s, not 1770s) “Disco Inferno” theme will bring a number of funk and disco-manic performers to City Hall Plaza.
Sunday, July 3
Boston Pops presents the first of two Fireworks Spectacular concerts on the Esplanade at 8 pm. Seating in the Hatch Shell oval opens at 4 PM, so claim your blanket space early. The concert will also repeat on July 4 at the same time, just before the fireworks display.
Harborfest culminates with the 30th annual Chowderfest on City Hall Plaza. A $12 admission scores you tastes from six local chowder powerhouses. Think Scooper Bowl, with more cream of tartar.
To whom it may concern,
USS CONSTITUTION does not require and will not accept money for admission. As a commissioned vessle in the United States Navy, we are open to the public for free. Our visitation hours and visitor guidelines are published on our website.
The USS Consitution Museum is a private, non-profit organization that has a unique relationship with my ship. They are also open to the public for free but they do accept donations for those desiring to do so.
CDR Tim Cooper
71st in Command
USS CONSTITUTION