THUR 3/3: Talk, Photo, Film, Theatre, Opera, Roots

For some reason, there was no rock shows that knocked my socks off tonight...

--------------------------------------------------------------

THUR 3/3

6pm
"Immigrants in Boston": Panel Discussion
at Boston Athenaeum, 10 1/2 Beacon St, Boston (Beacon Hill)
FREE w/ RSVP

There may still be space to listen to a discussion about the experience of new immigrants to the area and the challenges they face. Moderated by James Jennings (Urban & Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts)

"Reservations are required and will be accepted on the Athenaeum’s events line: 617-720-7600."

THUR 3/3

7pm to 10pm
"Sound on Sight: Photography of Boston Rock": Reception
at Aviary, 48 South St, Jamaica Plain
FREE / All Ages

A new gallery in JP is starting off with a cool idea for an exhibit -- get musicians to be creative with a camera instead of guitars, etc:

Peter Wolf, Naomi Yang (Damon & Naomi, Galaxie 500), Chris Brokaw (Come, etc), Roger Miller (Mission of Burma), Paul Janovitz (Cold Water Flat), Ryan Walsh (Hallelujah the Hills), Laurie Sargent (Twinemen), Richie Parsons (Unnatural Axe), Chris Warren (Viva Viva), JJ Gonson (Feeding Frenzy), Bill T Miller (Orgy of Noise), Mark William Pearson (Neptune), Kevin Micka (Animal Hospital), John Allen (The Fedavees), Kristina Johnson (Roh Delikat), Amanda Kowalski (Uncle Earl), Kate Lee (Peace Loving), Tina McCarthy (Helms)

A couple of them may be better known as photographers (Paul Janovitz, JJ Gonson), but it's still counts. It should be a chance to rub elbows with a bunch of the participants. Milo Jones and likely someone else will perform around 9pm.

THUR 3/3

7pm, 9pm
2011 Oscar-Nominated Shorts Nominees: Animated & Live Action
at Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston (South Boston/Seaport)
$10 / $8 students, seniors

7pm -- Animated
9pm -- Live Action

Did you get an urge to watch the nominated short films after watching the Oscars? You can tonight, and there are some screenings this weekend too.

THUR 3/3 (thru 3/19)

Various Times
"Bear Patrol"
at Boston Playwrights Theatre, 949 Comm Ave, Boston (BU campus)
$8 / $4 students

Thursday thru Saturday -- 7:30pm
Sunday -- 5pm
Late Nite Friday & Saturday -- 10pm for $4.

From what I can gather, this seems to be a post-apocalyptic, beats-heavy, Boston-based take on a "Wizard of Oz" road tale that examines the bonds of family and friendship.

Playwright John J. King said:

I wanted to do a show that was a blast for the audience. When I read the novel of the Wizard of Oz, I kept finding strange connections to Boston, and it’s been fun to create this tour of our city thru the eyes and narrative-arc of a story we all know and love. The familiarity of the tale and setting, I hope, will give the audience a lot to connect to and laugh at.

Ain't it great that we can affordably see wild & crazy theater?

This show "runs 90 minutes", and is "not appropriate for children under 16."

THUR 3/3 (thru SAT 3/5)

8pm
"The Four-Note Opera"
at Plaza Theatre, Boston Center for Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)
FREE

Also Saturday -- 3pm

Ain't it great that we can see wild & crazy opera for free?

Yes, there are only 4 notes in the one-act opera -- it's how the notes are put togther in this avant-garde offering that examines what it's like to sing an opera.

Tickets may be reserved in advance by email by including your name, phone number, requested performance date and time, and number of seats requested.

THUR 3/3

8pm
Oleksandr Poliykov, "Infernal Virtuoso": Liszt Recital
at Seully Hall, 4th Fl, Boston Conservatory, 8 The Fenway, Boston (The Fens)
FREE

As part of their Liszt Bicentennial Celebration Festival (thru 3/12), Ukrainian pianist (and Boston Conservatory student) Oleksandr Poliykov will rip through a program of the maestro's works.

THUR 3/3

9pm
Jeremy Lyons w/ "Washtub" Robbie Phillips & Sean Mannion
at Smoken' Joe's BBQ, 351 Washington St, Brighton (Brighton Center)
$5-ish

Slide guitarist Jeremy Lyons sings with a smokey, bluesy voice that one might hear in a New Orleans club on any night. Now you get this NOLA ex-pat in clubs around here since Hurricane Katrina in solo and various group gigs. Get down with him and his washtub-bassist & drummer buddies tonight.

I have gone by Smoken Joe's a couple times (across the street from Porter Belly's) but haven't actually visited. A lot of people seem to like it, since it mostly looks like a restaurant. I assume there is some bar space, because I've seen cover charges on some shows. And there is some high-quality live blues on most nights.

THUR 3/3

10pm
Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons, Coyote Kolb
at Toad, 1912 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Porter Sq)
FREE / 21+

Yeah, there's a lot good country-flavored, rootsiness going on for late Thursday drinkers.