Irish Music – Salem Happenings

Rock Out at Somerville PorchFest 2016

My friend Bill’s birthday is tomorrow, and Bill, much like myself, has an eclectic taste in music. In fact, I have to admit that you would be hard-pressed to find a list of songs that Bill and I didn’t like (there are definitely some out there, but they are few and far between.) As a result, I’m sure if Bill was still living on the East Coast, he would definitely be up for checking out a music festival in the area this weekend, and if you’re looking for a way to get outside and enjoy a wide assortment of different music yourself, PorchFest may be the event for you. This is because PorchFest, which is scheduled to take place from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 21, 2016), is an annual event sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council that features a collection of independent musicians and bands playing from porches throughout the City of Somerville. This event will feature virtually every kind of music, including alternative, Americana, blues, bluegrass, classical, country, dance, disco, folk, funk, gospel, jazz, hip hop, metal, pop, punk, rap, reggae, rock, show tunes, ska, techno, traditional music from around the world, and pretty much every other type of music you can think of. Best of all, the event is completely free and open to everyone, so you can hear a ton of good music without breaking the bank. For more information on PorchFest 2016, including a map detailing where to find each band, please visit the Somerville Arts Council’s website.

Photo via VisualHunt

South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Saint Patrick’s Day may have been yesterday, but if you were one of the unlucky souls that got stuck working late, don’t worry. The luck of the Irish may still be with you. In fact, it just so happens that the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day parade is scheduled to take place this Sunday (March 20, 2016) at 1:00 P.M. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the holiday a little late, heading to South Boston could definitely be a good call.

The parade, which will start at the Broadway T station on West Broadway and head east until it loops around to end on Dorchester Street right next to Dorchester Avenue and the Andrew T stop, will feature just about everything, including bagpipes, duck boats, drums, minutemen, Stormtroopers, and a whole lot more. Best of all, the event is completely free (unless your kids talk you into buying them all of that magnificent green swag.) For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day parade, please visit the South Boston Parade website.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Finding the Luck of the Irish

There’s really no doubt that it’s been a tough winter, and if you’re like most people, you probably would like spring to get here a little faster and put an end to all of this frozen water. In fact, if you fell on the ice skating rink that was once your driveway, you lost all four of your car’s tires in the world’s largest pothole, lost all ten of your fingers to frostbite while you were shoveling snow with a wind chill of 30 below, or your roof just caved in from the weight of the melting ice and snow, you may be in need of some luck. Fortunately, Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and all of the festivities and hopefully some of that luck that you’re looking for, can actually be found this weekend.

First, if you’ve always loved a good parade and/or you’re looking for a way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a huge crowd of people, there’s no better place to be than South Boston this weekend. This is because the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which starts on West Broadway Street near the Broadway T stop and ends on East Broadway Street near Farragut Road, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This parade will allow you and family, friends, and/or acquaintances to listen to Irish music and marching bands, see everything from professional athletes to stormtroopers, and maybe even get some cool Saint Patrick’s Day swag. For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, please visit the Official South Boston Parade website.

Secondly, if you’re not really a big fan of parades or you just prefer animals to humans, you may want to check out the Franklin Park Zoo or the Stone Zoo this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are hosting their annual Saint Patrick’s Day Animal Enrichment Celebration from 10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the Franklin the Park Zoo and 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Stone Zoo on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This celebration will let you see a bunch of the animals playing with special green-themed toys and/or eating special green food in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. For more information on the Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England website.

Photo credit: bongo vongo / Foter / CC BY-SA

Saint Patrick’s Day Revisited

If you read last week’s post and decided to attend the activities that I mentioned, there’s a pretty good chance that you spent your Saint Patrick’s Day weekend with your kids. Now, of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending a weekend with your kids, but Saint Patrick’s Day is often a time for adults (both young and not-so-young) to relax and unwind. As a result, if you were really dying to go out and enjoy your Saint Patrick’s Day by yourself or with other adults, it can be pretty disappointing when you just can’t find the time to actually do it. However, if you missed out on the celebrations last weekend, there’s really no reason to stay home and pine over times gone by because the party isn’t over yet.

In fact, if you’re looking for an Irish-themed activity this weekend, you may want to head on over to Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington, MA on Sunday (March 23, 2014.) This is because the Cary Memorial Hall is hosting the final Massachusetts performance of the Irish Rovers, a talented group of Irish performers who have been performing classic Irish songs for over 50 years. This means that if you have always been a fan or Irish music, you always wanted to see the Irish Rovers perform, and/or you just want to be able to say that you saw one of their last performances, this is a show that you really cannot miss. For more information on the Irish Rovers Farewell Tour and/or to order tickets for the show, please visit the Cary Memorial Hall website or visit the Irish Rovers Tour page.

If, on the other hand, you’re really not into Irish music (say, it isn’t so) or you really just prefer music when it’s in the background of a film, the Somerville Theatre may have a festival that’s more up your alley. This is because the Somerville Theatre, in partnership with Boston Irish Film Festival Productions, is hosting the 14h Annual Irish Film Festival. This festival, which runs until Sunday at 6:00 P.M., will feature a number of films from Irish filmmakers as well as awards for Best Documentary, Best Film, Best Short Fiction/Animation, Director’s Choice, and more. For more information on the 14th Annual Irish Film Festival and/or to purchase tickets (including the all access pass for the entire festival), please visit the Irish Film Festival, Boston website.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk / Foter / CC BY

A Family Friendly Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day has always been a time for those of Irish descent to celebrate their heritage. However, like most celebrations, there’s always a few people that tend to overdo things and take the festivities to a whole new level. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a year that doesn’t have some headline, rumor, or story about a group of people who delved into their green drinks a little too quickly and found themselves in far more trouble than they had ever expected. As a result, locating a family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday without the mischief can be a little more difficult than it should be. Fortunately, if you are looking for a way to enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day with your family, there are a number of family-friendly events this weekend.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your children to learn more about their Irish heritage or you’re just looking for a party without the alcohol, you may want to check out Old Sturbridge Village. Old Sturbridge Village is hosting a “Celtic Celebration” this Saturday and Sunday (March 15th and 16th) from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. This old-fashioned Irish party will allow you and your family to enjoy traditional Irish dancing, food, music, and stories while you learn all about the Irish immigrants that made their way to the United States during the 1800’s. Best of all, Old Sturbridge Village has a special deal right now that children under the age of 17 can get in free as long as they are with an adult that is paying the normal admission price. This means that getting in may be a whole lot cheaper than it normally would be. For more information on the Celtic Celebration at Old Sturbridge Village, please visit the Old Sturbridge Village website.

Secondly, if you’re not Irish or you’re really just looking for something to keep your kids busy for a couple of hours, Wit and Whimsy may have exactly what you’re looking for. Wit and Whimsy, which is a children’s bookstore located in Marblehead, MA, is hosting a Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. today (March 14, 2014.) This event will allow your children to hear the story of Cinderella told by some of the Boston Ballet dancers who are actually performing the ballet-version of Cinderella at the Boston Opera House. In fact, these ballet dancers will not just read the story, but will also teach your children some of the dance steps from the actual ballet. For more information on the Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet, please visit the Wit and Whimsy Event page.

Finally, if the Cinderella Storytime sounds awesome, but you just can’t make it today, you may want to head over to the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library next Friday (March 21, 2014.) This is because the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, which is also known as the Gloucester Public Library, is hosting Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. For more information and/or to reserve a spot, please visit the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library’s Event Calendar.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk / Foter / CC BY

Friday Fun: A Little Bit of Culture (Sci-fi or Otherwise)

The first tropical storm of the year, tropical storm Andrea, has made its way up the east coast, and while it isn’t bringing that much wind to the Northeast, it is dumping buckets and buckets of rain in every direction you look. In fact, as I sit here typing this, there is a squirrel sitting on the fence outside my window attempting to use his (or perhaps her) tail as an umbrella. As you might guess, this had led me to the conclusion that things outside are more than a little wet as even the squirrels are having trouble finding somewhere dry. Fortunately, if you are looking for somewhere to spend your weekend without using your bag, briefcase, or other accessory as an umbrella (since you presumably don’t have a tail), there are a number of events in the Boston area that are occurring after the storm is over this weekend.

First, if you’re a big fan of Star Trek and you’ve been looking for a way to prove your undying adoration for the show or the movies, you may want to head on over to the Hynes Convention Center tomorrow or Sunday. The Hynes Convention Center is hosting the Official Star Trek Convention – Boston on Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 10:00 a.m. on. This convention will feature special guest appearances from William Shatner (Captain Kirk), George Takai (Sulu), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), Brent Spiner (Data), Michael Dorn (Worf), Nana Visitor (Major Kira), and a slew of other actors and actresses from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The convention will also feature Star Trek auctions, costumes, contests, merchandise, music videos, and everything else a true fan could possibly want. If this all sounds like a blast to you, check out the convention’s website.

If, on the other hand, Star Trek isn’t really your thing or you’re just looking for something that is cultural without the sci-fi culture, you may want to check out the Boston Irish Festival or the Boston Dragon Boat Festival. The Boston Irish Festival, which is the largest Irish Festival on the East Coast, features Irish dancing, food, games, music, and a whole lot more. The Festival runs from today (although a lot of the major events have been rescheduled due to the storm) through Sunday, and if you would like more information on the Festival, you can find it all on the Boston Irish Festival Website.

The Boston Dragon Boat Festival is not only the longest running Dragon Boat Festival in North America, but is also one of the largest celebrations of all things Asian in the Northeast. In fact, you can expect to see arts and crafts, Chinese and Japanese drumming, martial arts demonstrations, traditional dances from India and Korea, a wide assortment of different foods, and, most importantly, dragon boats racing down the Charles. Most of the Dragon Boat Festival will take place on Sunday, but the time trials for the dragon boat races will take place on Saturday. For more information on the Dragon Boat Festival, please visit the Boston Dragon Boat Festival website.