Cheapskate’s Guide to Boston Summer: Week of August 16

If the rumors are true, then summer’s final hours draw ever nearer. Which means only one thing, chums: lap up all the free/cheapish gravy you can while it lasts. Whether it’s double features (the kind authorized by the theater knowingly), all-you-can-_____ or fests and feasts, summer is the cheap season—get it while it’s hot, cheapskates.

The Brattle screens double features all week, like Tuesday's offering: Sinbad versus Jason and the Argonauts

Tuesday, August 16

Shocker: Tuesday is pretty dry once again. Variations on a theme, it seems. The 21-negative who can’t head to Kings for College Night (free bowling and pool after 9 PM) might take some solace in the Brattle’s Repertory Series, which works double feature overtime this week. Tonight it’s The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) at 3 and 7 PM, paired with Jason and the Argonauts (1963) at 5 and 9 PM. Students are in for $7.75 to both.

Wednesday, August 17

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra joins the Longwood Symphony Orchestra for Tchaikovsky and Strauss at the Esplanade Hatch Shell. As always, the Landmarks strike up at 7 PM.

The Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square keeps churning out double features as part of its Repertory Series. Tonight’s palate pairs The Robber (2011) with Viva Riva! (2010) for a heist-heavy night of film festival breakouts hailing from Germany and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively. The Robber shows at 3:30 and 7:30 PM, intercut with Viva Riva! at 5:30 and 9:30 PM. Students see both for $7.75.

If any two pastimes were truly made for each other, it’s bowling and being a cheapass. Kings in Back Bay obliges in kind with its Wild Wednesday promotion:  the 21+ get all-you-can-bowl for $10 after 9 PM.

Boston GreenFest 2011 crashes City Hall Plaza starting Thursday

Thursday, August 18

Boston GreenFest 2011 kicks off today at City Hall Plaza for three days of Earth amity, including a packed line-up of exhibitors, local and national performers, global green cuisine, art installations, a film festival, and even laser shows. Concerts begin at 5 PM.

The Brattle rounds out its Repertory Series offerings for the week with a double dose of the Bard that bit you: a pre-Leo Romeo and Juliet (1968) plays at 3:15 and 8:30 PM, paired with the classic Taylor-Burton The Taming of the Shrew (1967) at 6 PM. Students, bite not your thumbs at $7.75 for the coupling.

Diffuse 5 presents a screening of Play in the Gray (2010), a documentary following the lives of Boston drag/cabaret troupe All the Kings Men at 7 PM at Fenway Health on Boylston Street, hosted by select members of ATKM.

Free exercise, dance and yoga continues at the Esplanade with professional swing lessons for all levels at 6:30 PM at the Hatch Shell. Bring your own zoot.

The view from Spectacle Island, one of the possible destinations sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation's Free Fun Fridays this week | Photo by Shawn Musgrave

Friday, August 19

The Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays ferries you to the Boston Harbor Islands today, free of charge. Queues start at 6:30AM on Long Wharf (near Government Center) for ferry tickets, and the Highland website warns that they maxed out last year by 10:30 AM. If you miss the ferry Highland Street is also sponsoring admission to the U.S.S. Constitution Museum in Charlestown.

Free Friday Flicks at the Esplanade Hatch Shell continues at sundown with Rango (2011)

Learn to folk dance in a number of styles as part of Harvard’s Dancing in the Square, presented in coordination with the Folk Arts Center of New England from 7:30 to 9:30 PM.

Saturday, August 20

J.P. weighs in on the music fest scene this Saturday

The first-ever Jamaica Plain Music Festival rears its head this afternoon from 1 to 7 PM at the Pinebank Baseball Field near Jamaica Pond. Two stages and twenty bands of all stripes seek to assert J.P.’s musical chops.

The buzz has it (…sorry) that National Honeybee Day has set upon us, ushered into Boston by the grand opening of urban apiary upstart Follow the Honey in Harvard Square from 11 AM to 8 PM. Learn about urban beekeeping (such as our own BU Beekeepers practice), sample honeys from far and near, partake in honeyoga (or just watch, maybe?) and hear how bees keep our freedom free.

Sunday, August 21

A Boston staple for 100 years, the Fisherman’s Feast begins on Thursday but really hits its stride with the Sunday carnival and culminating Flight of the Angel ceremony, in which a trio of celestially-clad toddlers are hoisted through the streets while showering confetti on the assembled faithful. All of which vaguely has to do with fish, as I understand. In any case, expect great food and plenty of processional pageantry (but those dollars aren’t for the taking).

The Charles River Conservancy presents the third annual Sunday Parkland Games all afternoon from 2 to 6 PM in Allston’s Herter Park. Planned activities include frisbee, bocce, badminton, horseshoes, paddle ball and more, all without any registration or entrance fee required. The events culminate in true Allston style with a community yoga session (also free) from 5 to 6 PM.

About Shawn Musgrave

Shawn Musgrave is a senior studying economics and global development.

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