May 2015 – Salem Happenings

Shakespeare: Alive and Well?

There’s been a lot of talk this week about the possibility that someone has finally found the literary holy grail, an actual portrait of Shakespeare. In fact, the supposed discovery has been reported in almost every major publication and has been touted as the “literary discovery of the century” and “the greatest discovery in 400 years.” There is, however, just one small problem. Every bit of evidence points to the fact that the individual in the portrait, which is found in John Gerard’s The Herbal or General History of Plants, is actually a portrait of Dioscorides and not Shakespeare.

Don’t believe me? Just check this article in the Huffington Post. It describes every problem with the idea that the drawing found in the frontispiece is Shakespeare, including my personal favorite, the fact that the second edition of the book actually has the name “Dioscorides” printed under the image in question and not Shakespeare’s name. Now, if you would like to enjoy something that is actually related to Shakespeare, you’re in luck because while Shakespeare may not be alive and well, his works are certainly alive and well in the Boston area this weekend.

First, for all of the fans of tragic love stories out there, there’s always Romeo and Juliet and if you’re looking for Romeo and Juliet, the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has you covered. This is because the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is performing Romeo and Juliet at the Strand Theatre in Boston at 7:30 P.M. tonight (May 29, 2015) and 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 30, 2015.) These performances, which will actually feature the company’s early-career actors, will allow you to see Shakespeare’s classic tale of two lovers caught between two feuding families for a measly fee of $5. For more information on the Romeo and Juliet performances at the Strand Theatre, please visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s website.

If, on the other hand, you’d prefer a love story that isn’t quite so tragic, you may want to check out the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) Institute’s presentation of Much Ado About Nothing. The A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University will be performing Much Ado About Nothing at the Loeb Experimental Theater (Loeb Ex or the Ex for short) at 9:30 P.M. tonight (May 29, 2015.) This show, which will feature graduate acting students from the A.R.T. Institute, will give you the opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s sense of humor as you watch the pandemonium that can arise any time there’s a wedding but especially when the lovers are betrothed. For more information on the A.R.T. Institute’s presentation of Much Ado About Nothing, please visit the A.R.T. Institute’s Shows & Events page.

Finally, if you’re not really a fan of love stories or you’re just more of a history buff than a love story aficionado, the Bridge Repertory Theater (or Bridge Rep for short) may have what you’re looking for. This is because the Bridge Rep is performing Shakespeare’s historical play, Julius Caesar, at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts at 8:00 P.M. tonight (May 29. 2015), 2:00 P.M. tomorrow, and 8:00 P.M. tomorrow (May 30, 2015.) This production, which has taken some liberties with the dialogue to make it more accessible to modern viewers, will let you witness the tale of one of the most powerful men to ever live in the Roman Empire. For more information on the Bridge Repertory Theater’s production of Julius Caesar, please visit the Bridge Rep website.

Photo credit: TRF_Mr_Hyde / Foter / CC BY

A Lego Birthday Party

Chances are, you probably remember playing with Legos when you were a kid (this is of course assuming that you’re not still playing with them now, which may not be a safe assumption.) In fact, Lego is one of the largest manufacturers of toys in the world with over 600 billion Lego pieces in circulation worldwide. As a result, it really should come as no surprise that just about everyone has played with some Legos at some point. However, if your kids are really into Legos or you would like to show them how much fun it is to build a car, a castle, a house, a robot, a skyscraper, a space ship, or any of the other things that you probably built with Legos when you were kid, there is an event this weekend that will let you explore Legos like you have never explored them before.

This is because the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Boston is celebrating its first birthday tomorrow and, as you might expect, they’re throwing one of the biggest Lego-themed birthday parties you have ever seen. The party, which will take place from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Saturday (May 23, 2015), will feature mini cupcakes and birthday crowns for every guest, a balloon artists, photo opportunities with the Discovery Center’s mascot, a live build by the Discovery Center’s Master Model Builder, and more. For more information on LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston’s First Birthday Celebration and/or to order tickets online, which are highly recommended, please visit the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston website.

Photo credit: Tama Leaver / Foter / CC BY

So You Want to Be a Graphic Designer?

Have you ever looked at a website and thought “wow, I wish I could make something like that?” Well, if you have or you’ve just always had a fascination with digital art and graphics, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of workshops that are designed to help you learn the basic skills you need to create your own website, design your own digital art and graphics, or even your own television broadcast. In fact, there are several workshops this weekend that will teach you the basics of graphic design and media without the enormous cost that typically accompanies a college degree program.

First, if you’ve ever looked at a website and said I could do better than this, this weekend may be the perfect chance for you to test that theory. This is because the General Assembly in Boston is offering a two-day Introduction to HTML and CSS from 12:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday (May 16th and 17th, 2015.) This workshop will teach you how to build a website from scratch and includes information on HTML5 and CSS3, using classes and IDs, settings margins, padding, site navigation, inline vs. block elements, layouts, and more. Best of all, by the end of the weekend, you will have created your very own live website. For more information on the Introduction to HTML + CSS 2-Day Weekend Workshop and/or to register for the event, please visit the General Assembly website.

If, on the other hand, you’d prefer to learn how to actually design the graphics, logos, and illustrations that appear on many websites rather than the website itself, you may want to check out the Introduction to Adobe Illustrator Weekend Workshop. This workshop, which is also offered by the General Assembly in Boston, will teach you the basics of Adobe Illustrator and includes instruction on adding text, brushes, image trace, layers, the pen tool, and more. In fact, by the end of the workshop, you will not only have learned how to use Adobe Illustrator to create your very own vector logo or icon, but you will also have actually created one. For more information on the Adobe Illustrator Weekend Workshop and/or to register for the event, which is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday (May 16, 2015), please visit the General Assembly website.

Finally, if you’re looking for a way to get your children into graphic design, journalism, or media in general, Cambridge Community Television has you covered. This is because Cambridge Community Television is hosting a special event entitled ” Media Maker Day at CCTV” from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 16, 2015.) This event will allow you and your family to learn how a television broadcast is made, learn how video and images can be manipulated and refined with Adobe Photoshop and Vine, make your own images and short videos, watch video from local filmmakers, and more. For more information on Media Maker Day at CCTV, which is completely free and open to the public, please visit the CCTV website.

Photo credit: JoshuaDavisPhotography / Hampton Patio / CC BY-SA

Geek Out This Mother’s Day

Are you a big fan of Star Wars, steampunk, or just all things geeky? Do random people see the costumes you wear and look at you like you’re actually from another world (Tatooine or Naboo, perhaps)? Have you ever tried to explain to someone what your geeky hobby is and why you do it? Well, if the answer to any of these questions is yes and you are a self-proclaimed geek, nerd, fanboy, or fangirl, you’ll be happy to know that there are several events this weekend that will help you show your friends and family what your geekiness is all about. In fact, if you’re a Star Wars fan, a steampunk Fan, or even an exercise geek, this is the perfect weekend to show Mom (or anyone else for that matter), the geeky things that you truly enjoy.

First, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you may want to head over to the Franklin Park Zoo this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting their annual Star Wars Day from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (May 10, 2015.) This event will allow you and your friends and family to see stormtroopers from the 501st Legion, famous characters from the Rebel Legion, participate in a series of Star Wars scavenger hunts, watch animals play with special Star Wars themed enrichment items, and more. Best of all, if you are planning to bring your mother, the zoo is offering free admission to all mothers in honor of Mother’s Day. For more information on Star Wars Day at the Franklin Park Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England Special Events page.

Secondly, if you’re more of a steampunk fan than a Star Wars fan or you love both equally, you’ll probably want to be in Waltham this weekend. This is because the Watch City Steampunk Festival is this Saturday (May 9, 2015) from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on the Common in Waltham, Massachusetts. This festival will give you the opportunity to bring your friends and family into the world of steampunk with artwork, costuming, films, live performances, music, and a whole lot more. However, the thing that will probably truly put a smile on your face is the fact that you won’t have to pay a dime to get in because admission to the festival is free. For more information on the Watch City Steampunk Festival, please visit the Official Watch City Steampunk Festival website.

Finally, if you like to show the world your geekiness by regaling your friends and family with tales of all of the places that you’ve run through and how quickly you ran through them (which is important if you’re trying to avoid imperial stormtroopers or some other nefarious group of villians), you may want to check out the Geek Day Virtual 5K. The Geek Day Virtual 5K is a virtual marathon that runs from now until May 31st. This event will actually allow you to make your own marathon by choosing a 5K route, running it, and then reporting your time (with the appropriate fee of course) to the organizers. You will then receive a Geek Day Medal and a portion of the money from all of the fees collected will go to charity. For more information on the Geek Day Virtual 5K and/or to report your time for the event, please visit the Virtual Run Events website.

Photo credit: Counse / Photo / CC BY

Boston’s Alive with the Sound of Music

You may hear people saying may day today, but there’s no reason to panic. They’re not talking about a potential crash. They’re talking about the age-old celebration of the warm weather and all the things that warmth brings to the world around us. In fact, the only crash you will probably have to worry about this weekend is the crash on your couch after you check out all of the music and merrymaking that’s happening in the Boston area.

First, what do you get when you combine an improvisational comedy troupe in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway” with a Musical? Well, you would probably get something along the lines of Boston’s Unscripted Musical Project. Boston’s Unscripted Musical Project, or B.U.M.P. for short, is an improvisational musical performed at 8:00 P.M. on the first and third Friday of every month at the Catalyst Comedy Club on Melcher Street in Boston. This show will allow you and your fellow audience members to suggest a title for the show that the cast will then use to create a unique set of characters and songs on the fly. There’s no rehearsing, no script, and virtually no rules, so the only guarantee is that most of the audience will be laughing. For more information on B.U.M.P, please visit the Catalyst Comedy Club’s Website.

Secondly, if you’re a big fan of jazz and you’re looking for something that may be a little more rehearsed, you may want to check out all of the festivities surrounding Jazz Week. Jazz Week, which takes place at a number of locations throughout Boston, is a weeklong jazz festival that ends this Sunday. This festival will give you the chance to see over 200 live performances by jazz musicians from around the world, and most of these performances are completely free. For more information on Jazz Week, including where each performance is, please visit Jazz Boston’s Jazz Week page.

Finally, if you’ve always been a fan of 80’s movies and you love the idea of going to a musical, but you’re looking for something a little more scripted than B.U.M.P., you may want to check out the Emerson Colonial Theatre. This is because Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage is playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre from now until May 10, 2015. This show features almost all of the hit songs from the classic movie and a number of special effects that are beyond anything you’ve probably seen in a stage production before. For more information on the show and/or to order tickets, please visit the Broadway in Boston website.

Photo credit: raphaelstrada / Source / CC BY