Dig Boston Mar. 11th, 2015 by DigBoston

DIGBOSTON.COM 3.11.15 - 3.18.15

NEWS A WISH LIST FOR

GOVERNOR

BAKER

SPRING PREVIEW ARTS, THEATER, FILM+FOOD TO LOOK FORWARD TO

HONEST PINT

SPRING RELEASES FROM

LOCAL BREWERIES TO DRINK NOW!

FEATURE WHO IS

VERMIN SUPREME?

DOCUMENTARY ON THE PERFORMANCE ARTIST MAKES HUB DEBUT AT PARAMOUNT THEATRE

DIGBOSTON.C0M

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NEWS TO US FEATURE DEPT. OF COMMERCE

VOL 17 + ISSUE 10

MARCH 11, 2015 - MARCH 18, 2015

EDITOR Dan McCarthy NEWS, FEATURES + MEDIA FARM EDITOR Chris Faraone ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR Martín Caballero ASSOCIATE A+E EDITOR Spencer Shannon CONTRIBUTORS Lizzie Havoc, Boston Bastard, Nina Corcoran, Emily Hopkins, Micaela Kimball, Tony McMillen, Jake Mulligan, Scott Murry, Jonathan Riley, Cady Vishniac, Dave Wedge INTERNS Paige Chaplin, Jasmine Ferrell

DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tak Toyoshima DESIGNER Brittany Grabowski INTERNS Elise Cameron, Alek Glasrud, Michael Zaia COMICS Tim Chamberlain Brian Connolly Pat Falco Patt Kelley

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Nate Andrews Jesse Weiss FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION sales@digpublishing.com

BUSINESS PUBLISHER Jeff Lawrence ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Marc Shepard

DEAR READER Forty degrees outside at the time of this writing, and signs of life are beginning to emerge around the commonwealth. The streets are becoming walkable again. The sight of guys wearing mesh shorts as they walk among the gaping potholes and salt-stained streets is becoming more regular (especially in Southie). The glacial piles of blackened snow are receding somewhat, revealing what was frozen beneath. Sometimes that’s just more snow. Sometimes it’s a Honda. Sometimes it’s a cheery DigBoston box (and if you’re reading this, it means you found one with papers in it, so kudos to you). With all this spring-ness in the air, we thought it time to devote an issue to all that said seasonal change is bringing with it this year. From a documentary focusing on perennial presidential candidate and local performance artist Vermin Supreme, to the bar and restaurant openings slated for the next couple of months, right down to the film festivals, theater performances, and live music shows you should have on your radar through spring, this is the issue you’ll want to keep on your coffee table between now and the summer solstice. If nothing else, the fact that we have a feature about a documentary premiere centered around a well-bearded gentleman-slash-internet meme with a penchant for donning a rubber boot for a hat will likely be a conversation starter the next time a house-guest flips through the issue. Guys with boots on their head who glitter-bomb anti-gay dingbats during serious speeches do that. So happy spring from your pals at DigBoston, and as always, thanks for reading.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

EDITORIAL

BY DAN MCCARTHY @ACUTALPROOF

OFFICE MANAGER John Loftus ADVISOR Joseph B. Darby III DigBoston, 242 East Berkeley St. 5th Floor Boston, MA 02118 Fax 617.849.5990 Phone 617.426.8942 digboston.com

ON THE COVER

You can just feel it in the air. It’s coming. As the snow from hell recedes take a moment to look ahead and check out all the cool stuff coming to town!

DIGTIONARY

DEVALUABLE

deˈvaly(əw)əb(ə)l/ adjective 1. The worth of a former Massachusetts governor to an Olympics committee that is attempting to dupe the people of Boston. 2. Worthlessness of a former Massachusetts governor after the Olympics bid that he so shamelessly shilled for inevitably sinks in 2018.

OH, CRUEL WORLD

©2015 DIGBOSTON IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY DIG PUBLISHING LLC. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION CAN BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT. DIG PUBLISHING LLC CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. ONE COPY OF DIGBOSTON IS AVAILABLE FREE TO MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS EACH WEEK. ANYONE REMOVING PAPERS IN BULK WILL BE PROSECUTED ON THEFT CHARGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

As a small woman with limited upper body strength, I make it a point to not pack too big of a carry-on so that I don’t have to look like a damsel in distress in asking some jock boy to hoist it into the compartment for me. Not you though. Nope, you selfishly brought more than twice the allotted amount of luggage, which I don’t even get since you had a tube top on under your winter coat, then looked for the biggest piece of man meat around to stuff it in the hole for you. I guess it wasn’t such a new routine for you after all.

ILLUSTRATION BY ELISE CAMERON

Dear Stow Bag,

NEWS US

PRAYER FOR THE COMMON WEALTH NEWS TO US

A wish list for Governor Baker BY DIG STAFF @DIGBOSTON

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Mass. Legal Assistance Corp. | MLAC.org Support civil legal aid. Cutting back on civil legal aid is the working definition of penny wise, pound foolish. Successful representation of people living in poverty improperly denied federal benefits brought $8.6 million into Massachusetts last year. Other benefits related to fighting illegal foreclosure and evictions, and winning child support and unemployment insurance awards, totaled $11.5 million. All told, civil legal aid generated $33.7 million in benefits. Access to justice should not be dependent on your ability to pay for legal representation. PRAYER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH continued on pg. 6

PHOTO BY

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We might lose some progressive readers for suggesting this, but Governor Charlie Baker is apparently doing an impressive job in the driver’s seat. Not only because he looked appropriately gubernatorial at those mid-blizzard press conferences, which he did, but rather because he doesn’t appear to be targeting the weakest and poorest among us. That’s more or less what we expect from politicians these days, especially Republicans, and so it’s somewhat refreshing to see Baker handle deficits and trim spending relatively delicately. It’s regrettable that his proposed $38.1 billion budget includes harsh cuts for critical health care programs that serve disabled and poor individuals, but Baker appears to be addressing poverty elsewhere, like by looking for creative ways to boost tax credits for low-income families. What we’re saying is that this guy may be capable of doing the right thing. At least in some cases; on elementary education, for an example of his inevitably foul side, the future holds an onslaught of charter school subterfuge. Nevertheless, since every politician needs a nudge from time to time, we asked nonprofits and activist groups that are important to Dig readers what they would like to see from a Baker administration. A few made specific requests, referencing newly pitched legislation, while others asked for larger sweeping changes. And while we won’t attempt to speak for them all, it seems that many share our cautious optimism. Of course, we did ask them to write these blurbs before the Baker budget was proposed, but if we know anything about our do-gooder friends, it’s that while services get cut all the time, their resolve remains intact.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

PRAYER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH continued from pg. 4

ARTS & EDUCATION

CIVIL LIBERTIES & PUBLIC SAFETY

MASSCreative | mass-creative.org You want to create jobs? Close the achievement gap? Deal with drug addiction? Then marry your urban agenda to the arts. Downtown development in cities like Pittsfield and Lowell would have failed without art, which generates $2.1 billion in economic activity each year. Art is critical to reducing youth violence and helping people recover from substance use. No governor has ever tapped the full power of the cultural sector. Do this and you’ll make history.

LGBT Aging Project | lgbtagingproject.org Improve services for LGBT elders. Many LGBT elders are reluctant to come out to caregivers and go without help rather than turn to service providers such as home care aides. Many return to the closet when they enter assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Support the “Cultural Competency Training for Service Providers for LGBT Elders” bill which would require the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to develop training for caregivers on how to appropriately deliver services to LGBT older adults.

Press Pass TV | presspasstv.org Restructure the Mass Film Tax Credit to increase the benefit to working-class communities and youth in Massachusetts. Incentivize creating job opportunities on sets for youth in media training programs and vocational schools. Increase benefit for dollars spent in locally owned small businesses, women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by People of Color. For the price tag, we need to demand more tangible benefits for our communities.

AIDS Action | AAC.org Take action to reduce transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis. Maintain funding for outreach, prevention, and testing of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, both of which remain major threats to public health. Gay men make up nearly half of all new HIV infections; Black and Hispanic people are diagnosed 10 and seven times that of white people, respectively. Young people age 15-24 are most vulnerable to viral hepatitis due to shared use of injection drug equipment. If we don’t hold the line, we will lose the fight.

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) | aclum.org We hope Governor Baker will support three things. Massachusetts needs legislation to prohibit racial profiling, and to require the collection and sharing of information about every police stop. We need privacy legislation to regulate the use of automatic license plate readers, and to prevent bosses from demanding access to employees’ private social media accounts. And we need to reform our public records law, which hasn’t been updated since 1973, to streamline access to public information.

Digital 4th | warrantless.org We would like Governor Baker to bring police acquisition of military equipment under municipal control (HD430), mandate police bodycams with strong data controls (SD1546), and rein in Massachusetts’ out-of-control fusion centers (SD1492).

ATHLETICS

HOUSING

Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) | phenomonline.org Help us invest in public higher education to make it possible for all of our young people to attend and graduate from college, and become productive citizens without the burden of massive debt. It is clear that investing in public higher education pays off. College educated people have higher incomes, pay more in taxes, demand fewer social services, and create more businesses. Ensure access for all by making two years of college free to residents of the commonwealth.

PUBLIC HEALTH & LGBT SERVICES

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Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center | sidneyborum.org Improve services for LGBT youth. LGBT youth need safe options for emergency shelter apart from adults where they can be out. They need access to comprehensive sexuality education to reduce their risk of pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections. Support the bill to add gender identity to the state’s public accommodations law so transgender youth will be safer in public spaces. Make use of the bully pulpit to reinforce that LGBT people of all ages deserve the same rights as everyone else.

Boston Homeless Solidarity Committee facebook.com/bostonhomelesssolidaritycommittee BHSC seeks Governor Baker’s leadership to: 1) Declare a State of Emergency to address the related crises of homelessness and substance abuse, bringing together affected people and agencies to help forge solutions. Supplement and upgrade shelters to meet state sanitary codes. Replace motels with “Housing First” programs and rental vouchers. 2) Immediately restore Long Island’s residential recovery programs utilizing ferries and ambulance boats. Utilize $20 million provided by the legislature for the substance abuse epidemic to expand detox services statewide.

Project Place | projectplace.org It will take more than affordable housing to reduce homelessness. People who are homeless need access to resources such as: workforce development skills training; substance use treatment programs; and assistance with reintegrating into society upon release from prison. Formerly homeless men and women also benefit from long-term follow-up after securing housing to stay connected with these resources, and increase the likelihood that they will stabilize their lives and remained housed for the long term.

Boston Youth Wrestling | bostonwrestling.org Our wish is to see Governor Charlie Baker’s administration commit to making youth sports an option for every middle school student across the state, no matter whether they live in an affluent or underserved community. Sportsbased youth development (SBYD) opportunities are demonstrated to reduce the risky behaviors of adolescents, improve grades and motivation in school, and promote healthier lifestyles. All students in Massachusetts deserve these opportunities.

No Boston Olympics | nobostonolympics.org Governor Baker: You are a numbers guy, and you need only scratch the surface of Boston 2024’s bid to see their numbers don’t add up. Please break out the green eyeshades and force the boosters to prove to you that taxpayers will not be on the hook for their three-week bash. Los Angeles refused to provide the IOC a publicfunding guarantee in 1984—you should only allow Boston 2024’s bid to advance on the same terms.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

MEDIA FARM

TRIAL BY WIRE

The 5 kinds of Tsarnaev media coverage BY MEDIA FARM @MEDIAFARM So the media’s a week into this ordeal and approximately 50,000 featherweight articles on an inevitable crash course toward information overload. We weren’t expecting too much respectable coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing trial; there’s a fine line between truther conspiracy theorizing and responsibly acknowledging that the agencies investigating and prosecuting the case are full of shit, and there aren’t many journos with the chops to tread that gap. There’s some good and even great material out there too, sure, including in the silos that are unscientifically parsed herein; nevertheless, most of what we’re finding falls among these categories …

THAT MONSTER IS AN EVEN BIGGER MONSTER THAN YOU THOUGHT

Before you get all Boston Tough on us, we should be clear: Dzhokhar is a menace, and an admitted murderer at this point, and we’re down to see him get either the cell or the needle. At the same time, the red meat-flinging faction of the press can’t help but fuel the rage. It’s a pathetic sight, kind of like when moderately popular teenagers fan the aggressive whims of their queen and king bees. Whatever they’re doing, it isn’t journalism, it’s cheerleading, and it’s shameless unless used inside a larger context. Exhibit A: “Feds: Tsarnaev ‘decided to place his bomb right behind a row of children’” (Boston Herald)

LET’S PANDER TO THOSE WHO HAVEN’T PAID ANY ATTENTION

There are lots of ignoramuses, starting with a mass of dolts here in Boston, whose knowledge of what’s happened since the bombing is limited to thinking the Red Sox somehow won the World Series because we’re a resilient people, whatever the piss that means. For them, and presumably for Us magazine subscribers and others goons of comparably wretched ilk, mainstream outlets have been simply rehashing former developments. We’re aggravated with the aggregation, as the public should be able to expect much more from those with ample resources. Exhibit B: “Tsarnaev trial: Timeline of the bombings, manhunt and aftermath” (CNN)

HEY, CHECK OUT OUR LIVE BLOG AND TWITTER FEED

Nothing new to see here. Just a bunch of lame-ass Twitter feeds, sometimes pulled onto a homepage, we assume for people who are unaware that they can get much more robust social media commentary by actually going on Twitter, or Facebook, or anywhere beside some network news site from the ‘90s where the blurbs are strangely floating in a box off to the right. No doubt lots of television anchors will receive awards from their sad little trade organizations for their new-media prowess, but that doesn’t make this garbage look any less desperate. Exhibit C: The national ABC live blog, which appears to be a cheap compendium of tweets by hacks from their local affiliate.

IT SEEMS YOU ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO BE TREATED LIKE AN ADULT

Sadly, there haven’t been too many thoughtful articles, clever indictments of the prosecution, or points about the role of Dzhokhar’s faith beyond the tabloid insults that excite racists. Given, legitimate analysis takes time, and there are hopefully several learned accounts coming along. For now though, huge props to The Intercept for darts such as “Prosecutor Says Tsarnaev Was ‘Holy Warrior’” by Murtaza Hussain. WARNING: Only for those who can simultaneously process disparate thoughts. Exhibit D: “The Tsarnaev Trial and the Blind Spots in ‘Countering Violent Extremism’” (The Intercept)

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Sort of like the first category, but even more offensive when done poorly and/or purely for web traffic. It’s important to cover the suffering and plight of survivors, and certainly there’s been a lot of testimony in that regard up to this point. But for outlets that are barely even following the trial, this kind of bandwagoning is downright pathetic. We hate to quote Rush Limbaugh, but it’s kind of like his definition of the so-called Drive-By Media: “They arrive on the scene of major breaking news and they stir up emotions to a frenzied fever pitch.” Exhibit E: “Boston bombing trial: ‘You’re on fire,’ witness recalls after blast” (Toronto Sun via Reuters)

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEK GLASRUD

THIS IS EVEN SADDER AND MORE TRAGIC THAN YOU REALIZED

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

BLUNT TRUTH

HIGH SOCIETY

Of course that’s what we titled an article about the Cannabis Society of Massachusetts BY MIKE CANN @MIKECANNBOSTON The Cannabis Society of Massachusetts was founded in 2013, and incorporated with the commonwealth as a 501(c) nonprofit organization the following year by President Michael Latulippe, Vice President Frank Shaw, and Secretary Jeremiah MacKinnon. In short: They’re “dedicated to creating events around marijuana’s medical and recreational values,” just like we are at DigBoston, so naturally I had a few questions for our kindred spirits, which I pitched to MacKinnon. How did the Cannabis Society get its start? [Latulippe] is the founder of Bay Area Software Engineers, BASE. He produces tech meetups, so he has some experience in creating educational and networking events for tech professionals. And cannabis needed something similar? Yes. How did you get involved in the society? I attended a meetup event last summer, “Get a Doctor Day” at MCR Labs, and have been active ever since. Tell us about the latest event held at the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center. Yes, “Shades of Green” at the Microsoft Center in Kendall Square primarily focused on how cannabis is transforming the genetics and testing industries with panelists like MCR Labs President Michael Kahn and Christopher Hudalla of ProVerde Labs, and Kevin McKernan, founder of Medicinal Genomics. Laws Twentyfour of Sensational Kind Buds also spoke about growing, breeding, and genetics. How many members do you have right now? Six-hundred on Meetup, 120 official members, 600 on Facebook, 1700 on Instagram. How many events have you already done? Around 15; typically we hold an event every month. What’s the longer-term goal for the organization, post-legalization? The goal for the Cannabis Society is that it lives on post-legalization, preserving the culture. What are the details on your next event? The next event is back at The Microsoft Center in Cambridge, on Friday April 10th: “The Ripple Effect, Minorities and Marijuana: How cannabis laws negatively impact those of color disproportionately, even after legalization.” We’ve invited a representative from NAACP Boston to speak and have confirmed Shaleen Title of THC Consulting and Dr. Keith Saunders.

FREE RADICAL

OLYMPIC RECORDS

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A few weeks before the announcement that Boston was chosen to represent the United States Olympic Committee in its bid for the 2024 Games, I filed a public records request for emails that had been sent to or by Mayor Marty Walsh that contained certain relevant keywords. I followed up on the request through muckrock. com in December, at one point talking on the phone with a City Hall paralegal who promised that a convenient package, full of several Olympics-related documents, would soon be sent to parties that had filed such requests. When said documents arrived, the emails that I asked for were missing. I then continued to check up with no response from the mayor’s office, until late last week when I finally received an email with an attachment titled, “Boston2024 emails,” which the administration claimed had been erroneously left out of their earlier message. The 45-page document appears to be missing several pertinent exchanges; overall it’s also oddly positive, containing a draft of Walsh’s speech to the USOC, and an exchange with a woman who kissed municipal ass for months to get a taste of some Olympics details. Fast-forward to earlier this week, when Walsh called on Boston 2024 to release salary information for its staff and consultants, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick among them. Organizers complied within hours, but the hundreds of thousands of dollars being paid to people trying to bring the Olympics to Boston is no surprise. Considering the response, or lack thereof, to my request, the release of salary info seems like the bare minimum, not a commitment to some alleged standard of transparency. The news was similar to all those public meetings lately: great for lip service, and little else.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEK GLASRUD

BY EMILY HOPKINS @GENDERPIZZA

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

AMONG THE POSITIONS ON VERMIN SUPREME’S PLATFORM: FREE PONIES FOR ALL, MANDATORY TOOTHBRUSHING, ZOMBIE PREPAREDNESS

SUPREME CLIENTELE FEATURE

Steve Onderick documents the man, the myth, the meme for 2016

DIGBOSTON.C0M

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If you’ve read this far, then you probably agree that the twin concepts of “Republican” and “Democrat” are sillier than decaf coffee. Staring down the barrel of a Clinton vs. Bush race to the bottom, maybe you decided to stop voting, or came to realize politics are rotten. If that is even close to your predicament, then I beg you to consume Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey by first-time director Steve Onderick. It’s enough motivation to move apathetic asses off the couch and into action, and perhaps to even spur some disenchanted voters toward the polls. I’m not not just flanking Vermin because he is a longtime hero of mine, or because I am an interview subject in Onderick’s documentary, which has its Hub premier next Tuesday at the Paramount Center in Downtown Crossing. He’s on the cover of DigBoston this week because Vermin, a perennial protester and presidential candidate who’s earned major memetic status from his public antics and the boot atop his head, is by a mile the most palatable White House hopeful for 2016. And like all serious contenders, the commonwealth native now has the story of his life on display for admiration, scrutiny, and inspiration. It’s Supreme’s answer to The Audacity of Hope, the book that President Barack Obama rode to Washington, tagline and all; his informal rebuttal to No Apologies, as two-time loser Mitt Romney branded the account of his tribulations. Onderick first encountered Vermin in the same way that a lot of people discovered him: “I had seen his big speech that went viral,” the director tells the Dig, “and I thought he was doing something damn interesting there.” He’s referring to a clip from December 2011, when Supreme glitter-bombed an anti-gay wingnut during a fringe candidate debate in New Hampshire. Vermin sprinkled fairy dust on the jackass, gleefully explaining that Jesus wanted him to make his primary opponent gay, and in the process wound up winning the hearts of countless “freaks,” which is what he proudly labels his constituents. “We met right when people were really starting to notice him,” says Onderick, who shot initial footage for An Outsider Odyssey during the May 2012 demonstrations outside NATO in Chicago, and followed Vermin through the second inauguration of Obama the following January. As shown in the film, Supreme may be the country’s foremost facilitator of peace in protest zones. Onderick continues: “I was really impressed with what he was doing there—it was a scary situation, and I realized nobody had done a documentary on him … Certainly the NATO stuff has a gravitas that isn’t often associated with Vermin. He changed the course of events in a way that prevented people from getting hurt.” Having filmed Occupy protests in his native Minneapolis and St. Paul toward the end of 2012, Onderick had seen unruly protesters and their bat-wielding oppressors in action. He hadn’t, however, seen a showperson like Vermin, who calls himself a “friendly fascist” and who wowed the new director with his gallant service on the frontlines of domestic revolution. Onderick hadn’t shot a feature up to that point, but knew enough to realize that he had a subject worth pursuing. First though, he had to convince Vermin, who challenged his then-future video biographer to find him in a place so liberating, so colorful, so absolutely strange that even Supreme doesn’t stand out. “It was a foreign landscape,” the director says of the annual Rainbow Gathering in Tennessee. Vermin has attended the weeklong ritual in the Cherokee National Forest for 25 years, and so Onderick cashed in his savings bonds and drove from Minneapolis to meet Supreme in his natural habitat. He continues: “At first I asked a few hippies, and they were like, ‘Vermin Supreme, I don’t know what that is.’ After about two days though, I finally found

him, and that’s where we shot the video for the Kickstarter that made the movie possible … From that point I just sort of jumped into it, and [the movie] ended up being the thing that I devoted most of my life to for the next year or so.” With crowd-funded seed money, plus an investor and executive producer in an uncle, Onderick squared off with his underlying challenge: to engage a question that no journalist, myself included, has ever really answered: Who the hell is Vermin Supreme? “I wasn’t really trying to make an expose,” says Onderick, whose mission was to document a candidate turned international meme more than 40 years in the making. “Not that there weren’t breakthroughs—he let me interview his mother, for one, and after she enjoyed being interviewed by me, I got to meet some of his older friends from Baltimore … It was also especially interesting to see how he’s living now—in the woods, in a small old house. You kind of realize that he’s pretty much the real deal—off the grid, in a place you can’t really even see on Google Maps.” In addition to hilarious and candid footage from the funhouse compound on the North Shore that he calls home, Onderick lifts the boot to show us a younger Vermin who religiously wore a top hat and tails to high school in the ‘70s. We also slink back to his days in Maryland, when the Vermin character was first fully realized, in his longshot race to become mayor of Baltimore. He had a knack for talking cops down off their riot horses, though at the time he mostly used the skill to get his roommates out of trouble for partying. Eventually, Vermin in his political persona ran for mayor of the United States of America, a position he invented, and then for president. He’s since become a fixture during the New Hampshire primaries, where Supreme has famously trolled everyone from John King to John Edwards, and over time developed rivalries with chumps like John McCain and Newt Gingrich. “Going in I didn’t quite understand what his process was with the election cycle,” says Onderick. The director tailed Vermin from obscure campaign stops all along the East Coast to the last Republican and Democratic national conventions in Tampa and Charlotte, respectfully, as well as to a presidential debate on Long Island. Back up north, some of the most memorable clips come from New York City, specifically the Occupy Wall Street uprising, where Vermin linked with Boston comic and musician Rob Potylo to romantically serenade police. “He can pull off any given situation,” says Onderick of Supreme, who at one point in An Outsider’s Odyssey demands the immediate surrender of storm troopers, telling cops, “Come out with your pants down. We have you surrounded by love.” Adds Onderick: “A lot of protesters will just back out or yell at the police. Not Vermin … And then you get Rob Potylo involved as well, add these wild characters to the mix, and it’s just totally surreal.” Vermin’s track record considered, I asked his documentarian how things are shaping up for 2016. “It’s hard to say for certain,” Onderick says, “but I think the political attitude has shifted in a way that’s good for Vermin—more people are pissed at the two parties.” For an even better gauge of things, Onderick recommended that I look to Jimmy McMillan, the founder of The Rent Is Too Damn High Party. Supreme’s running mate in 2012, McMillan appears several times in the film to explain how Vermin represents democracy itself … “Because you run for public office, you got to wear a suit and a tie? … Put the red tie on for Republican? You got to put the blue tie on for a Democrat? … The question is that, is anyone listening? “Will they listen to a man with a boot on his head?”

>> BRIGHT LIGHTS: WHO IS VERMIN SUPREME? AN OUTSIDER ODYSSEY. TUES 3.17. PARAMOUNT CENTER, 559 WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON. 7PM/ALL AGES. WEB.EMERSON.EDU/BRIGHTLIGHTS

PHOTOS BY STEVE ONDERICK

BY CHRIS FARAONE @FARA1

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

As the esteemed late 20th century poet, philosopher, and Black Flag-er Henry Rollins once said:

“In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move.” So now that life has just begun to squeak its way out from the cracks between the ice and snow, keep this issue around for planning your springtime fun times. You've earned them.

SHOW TIME THEATER PREVIEW

BY SPENCER SHANNON @SUSPENCEY

You know the old saying: “When Boston has a historic winter with neverending snow and then the melting begins, people want to catch live theater.” Okay, that’s our saying, but whatever. Check out these shows and get ready for a great theater experience in town all through spring.

The Last Two People on Earth: An Apocalyptic Vaudeville

May 9 – May 31 In this world premiere starring Mandy Patinkin (perhaps better known as that beloved Spanish fencer Inigo Montoya) and Taylor Mac, Waiting for Godot meets The Three Stooges meets…R.E.M.? When a biblically epic flood washes the world away, just two people are left alive. These men believe that they have nothing in common—until they discover a shared language in song and dance. Performed in the traditional vaudeville fashion that characterized American performance in the early 20th century, An Apocalyptic Vaudeville combines music, movement, and comedy in a unique production that manages to be simultaneously surreal and slapstick. The great thing about vaudeville is that it’s synonymous with variety—song choices will range from Sondheim to Queen—so there’s sure to be something for everyone in this performance. Loeb Drama Center. 64 Brattle St., Cambridge. For showtimes and tickets, visit americanrepertorytheater.org

Diary of a Jewish Identity Crisis

April 11 – 12 Living as a woman is hard—the unrealistic standards of beauty, the battle for equality, and the sometimes impossible balance of work and family are enough to wear anyone down. When all of the above is coupled with the complicated history and expectations of her religion and culture, the protagonist of Maiden Phoenix’s one-woman show finds herself completely lost. Written and performed by Jenna Grossman and directed by Alyce Householter, this intimate exploration of the multifaceted contemporary Jewish experience follows Jenna as she seeks personal peace and wholeness in a world that sometimes can feel totally devoid of balance. Proceeds will benefit DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended), an organization based in Quincy. Venue TBA. For updates and announcements, maidenphoenix.org

Strange Days

March 20 – April 5 This collection of five short works from writer James Wilkinson and director Teri Incampo capture the mysterious, the weird, and the beguiling encounters that add color—or sometimes darkness—to our everyday lives. The pieces range from mildly unsettling to morbidly deep: The arrival of a mysterious package sends its unwitting recipient on a quest for an explanation of its origins, a good Samaritan offers a ride to a sick stranger only to find the trip’s outcome holds much more than he bargained for, and when a woman disappears, her sister and her boyfriend are unable to let her go. These tales dig into the daily strangeness of human life while exposing the inevitable mortality that makes it so beautiful. Green Street Studios. 185 Green St., Cambridge. For showtimes and tickets, visit exiledtheatre.com

Crossing

May 29 – June 6 In one of the most exciting crossovers of the upcoming spring season, rockstar artistic director Diane Paulus teams up with literal rock stars (well, string orchestra stars) in an operatic dramatization of a narrative pulled from the pages of Walt Whitman’s diary. While many of us know Uncle Walt as a poet, he also traveled with the wounded as a Civil War nurse in the early 1860s. Through the moving music of 25-year-old composer Matthew Aucoin, Crossing examines the affecting experiences of soldiers and the brutality of war. This original opera presents contemporary classical music’s next generation of voices in a world premiere where old meets new and a dynamic, fresh form is created. Citi Schubert Theatre. 265 Tremont St., Boston. For showtimes and tickets, visit americanrepertorytheater.org

LEFTY LULZ

Laughing Liberally this spring with Matt Filipowicz and more BY DIG STAFF

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There’s a reason people still go to comedy clubs despite being able to stay home drinking beer and glued to YouTube. The experience of howling alongside like-minded jackasses can be utterly intoxicating, a real-world validation of your worldview and philosophy. Take, for example, how rapey college boys swarm ’round misogynistic jesters with recycled dick jokes. But while the cliché is that the wide world of humor is overwhelmingly liberal, and that

most humorists are political southpaws, in reality the stand-up landscape can be lonely for lefties—both from behind the microphone and in the crowd. Not just because of comedy’s stale male population, though that’s there, but rather because funny people tend to have no greater purpose than to boost their own careers. Which is what makes Laughing Liberally Boston so sexy; Matthew Filipowicz and his posse of progressive friends don’t claim to save the world through

punchlines, but they at least throw punches at the villains who deliberately do the opposite. For this latest Boston installment of Laughing Liberally, a longstanding national series, Filipowicz is bringing along an elite roster of antielitists, one-percenters in the niche of far-left Hub hilarity including Emily Ruskowski, Nick Ortolani, Jiayong Li, Stirling Smith, and Jay Johnson. If that’s not a drastic enough change of pace for a comedy show, the bill also features a live interview with Robin Jacks of NoBoston2024. Because really, the idea of building a titanic Olympic volleyball stadium in the middle of beautiful Boston Common is nothing short of a massive, hilarious joke.

>> LAUGHING LIBERALLY. SAT 3.28. RIOT THEATER, 146A SOUTH ST., JAMAICA PLAIN. 8PM/$8. LAUGHINGLIBERALLYBOSTON.TUMBLR.COM

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

RESTAURANT OPENINGS

SPRING OPEN

FILM FEST-ING FILM PREVIEW

BY JASMINE FERRELL

A spattering of notable film screenings, showcases, and festivals to keep you entertained and inspired throughout spring. Don’t forget the butter on the popcorn. BY JAKE MULLIGAN @_JAKEMULLIGAN

With this winter being especially harsh on local bars and restaurants, it’s important you go out and support them by eating and drinking. It’s also important you know where to find the best new spots for wining and dining. Here’s a selection of a few of the new establishments coming your way along with the warm spring winds.

SELECT OYSTER BAR

Back Bay Mid-March Chef Michael Serpa, previously at the famed Neptune Oyster in the North End, may be sourcing the seafood fresh and local, but his inspiration for his very own forthcoming oyster bar is completely global. Think: Catalonian nut-free romesco with roasted peppers, tomatoes, and cuttlefish ink. 50 Gloucester St., Boston. selectoyster.com

TASTING COUNTER

Growing Up Baumbach: A Tribute to Noah Baumbach’s 20 Years in Film

Ben Rivers’ Horror Show

Boston Underground Film Festival 2015

April 10 – May 11 Two Has films played Boston last year as part of a series programmed by Martin Scorsese. One, The Saragossa Manuscript, may have been the best film this writer saw in 2014. Now the HFA has his complete works. Make no mistake, Bostonians: This is the film event of the year. Harvard Film Archive. 24 Quincy St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. $7-9. For showtimes.and tickets visit hcl.harvard.edu/hfa

March 18 – 19 Noah Baumbach will be presenting his latest film, While We’re Young, in person on the 19th. Check the Brattle’s website for information regarding the free passes—they’ll be scarce—but if you can’t make it, the three Baumbach films playing the prior day (among them the sublimely screwball Frances Ha) should be a suitable substitution. Brattle Theatre. 40 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. For showtimes and tickets visit brattlefilm.org

March 25 – 29 This may not be Boston’s biggest film festival, but it’s the most eclectic. Dedicated to the disreputable genre fare that most fests wouldn’t touch with a samurai sword, and sporting programming that looks far beyond domestic shores, BUFF is among the city’s singular film events. Brattle Theatre. 40 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. For showtimes and tickets visit bostonunderground.org

Monday Evenings at the Coolidge Corner Theatre

March 30 – June 15 On Monday nights, the Coolidge dedicates its main auditorium— which is on the very short list of best places to see a movie in Boston—to repertory screenings. The program banners may alternate by design (for instance: Cinema Jukebox brings you Singin’ in the Rain in May, Big Screen Classics answers with Grey Gardens in June) but the selection never falters. Coolidge Corner. 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7pm/$9.25-11.25, coolidge.org

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

April 10 – May 30 Experimental filmmaker Ben Rivers, a Harvard fellow, will be programming deep cuts direct from the University’s archives for late shows throughout April and May. Re-Animator, Messiah of Evil, and The Beyond are among the films tentatively scheduled—and by nature of the series, you won’t be able to see these particular prints anywhere else. Harvard Film Archive. 24 Quincy St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. $7-9. For showtimes and tickets visit hcl.harvard.edu/hfa

The Films of Wojciech Jerzy Has

Southern Phantoms: Three Films by Charles B. Pierce

April 10 – April 25 Even within the grindhouse scene of the 1970s, Pierce was a maverick—shooting horror films in Arkansas and seasoning them with his knowledge of local legends and myths. Three of his films—including the seminal Town That Dreaded Sundown— will splatter across screens this April, courtesy the Coolidge’s midnight program. Coolidge Corner. 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 11:59pm/$9.25-11.25. coolidge.org

Muppet Madness

The Boston Cinema Census

April 2 Local Boston filmmakers get their opportunity to present work on a big screen at the annual Cinema Census. Submissions are past due already, but come to see the scene, or to figure out if you belong in it. Somerville Theatre. 55 Davis Sq., Somerville. 7pm/$10. bostoncinemacensus.com

April 17 – 20 The Brattle’s annual tribute to all things Henson brings together Muppets old (the original film) and new (the reboot), alongside commissioned works (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and dreamy, disconcerting originals (Labyrinth). And to top it off: a Sing-along screening. Brattle Theatre. 40 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. For showtimes and tickets visit brattlefilm.org

The Boston LGBT Film Festival

Independent Film Festival Boston 2015

April 2 – 12 Our city’s specialty film festivals provide a venue for innumerable movies that would otherwise go unreleased, and very few do so as comprehensibly as the annual LGBT fest. Even films like last year’s centerpiece, Tom at the Farm, are rarely afforded another run on Boston screens—you have to see them here. Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. For showtimes and tickets visit bostonlgbtfilmfest.net

April 22 – 29 The filmmakers come into town for premieres and parties during this eight-day fest, which presents nothing less than the best films of the year-to-come. (Among hundreds of other movies, the organizers unveiled Boyhood to local audiences last year.) If our film culture has a center—a beating heart—it’s the IFFB. Various Locations TBD. For showtimes and tickets visit iffboston.org

Somerville April Aeronaut Brewing Company just got better. Once completed, Tasting Counter will become your go-to spot for when you feel like splurging or impressing outof-towners. It’s a complete multi-course dining experience with only 20 seats and a view of the kitchen where the chefs prepare each meal with locally sourced ingredients. When you do decide to go, buy a ticket. Reservations don’t exist at a place like this. Inside Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler St. Somerville. 617.987.4236. thediningalternative.com/tastingcounter

VILLA MEXICO CAFE

Financial District Spring Gas stations are great for a lot of things: gas, dirty bathrooms, and Villa Mexico Cafe. As of this spring though, the gas station that previously held Villa Mexico is sans restaurant as the owners are opening their first brick and mortar location. It’ll be everything that was good about your favorite burrito spot, only less gas-station-y. 121 Water St., Boston. 617.957.0725. villamexicocafe.us

JOSEPHINE

Kenmore Late March/ Early April Samuel Gosselin will be popping his restaurantowning cherry in what used to be Petit Robert Bistro. Josephine will still be French, but with a less traditional and more contemporary twist. In the atmosphere alone, Gosselin is trying to create the love child of chill San Francisco, edgy New York City and, of course, modern Paris. Because it’s hard to eat in the Paris of the past. Unless you’re in Midnight in Paris. 468 Comm Ave., Boston. 484.995.2797. josephineboston.com SPRING OPEN continued on pg. 18

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

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NEWS TO US

SPRING OPEN continued from pg. 16

COPPERSMITH HALL

SPRING A-BREW HONEST PINT SPONSORED BY SUNSET GRILL & TAP

Raise a glass and a middle finger to the snow with these spring releases from local breweries BY KAREN CINPINSKI @CATSINPJS

It’s tough to even think about springtime releases when large swaths of the region resemble Winterfell. But the warm season is almost here, and you’ll want to plan accordingly. After all, the joy of drinking at this transitional time of year is that everything is fair game. You’ve got inky stouts, early IPAs, and bubbly saisons. The lack of a distinct identity of springtime brews means greater variety in the beers ready for release (or just out now). So when winter finally breaks the hateful vice grip in which it holds Hub’s throat, you’ll want your fridge stocked with these six new local springtime releases.

SLUMBREW SEASONALE CREEP

SMUTTYNOSE HAYSEED

OTTER CREEK CITRA MANTRA

That seasonal disconnect between what’s outside your window and what’s inside your glass is the cause of utter dismay among beer drinkers. Slumbrew gets you. They purposely whipped up a new galaxy-hopped saison dubbed “Creep,” cleverly branded as the “greedy little troll” who deprives us of our precious time, demanding we move on too fast.

This light country table beer bearing the name of the New Hampshire brewery’s new farmhouse restaurant is fresh to Smutty’s seasonal rotation. A quintessential warm weather saison, Hayseed will pair well with any impending spring day. Or any day. Look for it in six- and 12-packs.

The new India Pils Lager from Vermont’s Otter Creek is brewed with 100-percent positive vibrations, single-hopped with Citra hops, and finished with a crisp, bready foundation from German malts. This is liquid spring.

RELEASE DATE: Now

South Boston April One rooftop garden. Two indoor food trucks. One repurposed machine shop. This is Coppersmith Hall, the brainchild of John Childs and Jerry Curtains, and it’s poised to become a mecca for the Boston farm-to-table movement. A regular menu will boast comfort food made with local goods (occasionally sourced from a mere stairwell away), then to top that off, the two food trucks will feature rotating menus of global street fare. This restaurant is pretty much a city in itself. 40 W. Third St., Boston. facebook.com/ coppersmithbos

HOJOKO

Fenway Spring Sure you have your favorite Irish pub, and maybe another old standby with American fare, but what if that’s not enough? What’s missing from your life is traditional Japanese izakaya. And inside the Verb Hotel is the incoming Hojoko, a high-energy karaoke joint that’ll make you enjoy karaoke again. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have O Ya’s team Cushman behind it either. 1271 Boylston St., Boston. 855.695.6678. verbhotel.com

BABBO PIZZERIA E ENOTECA

Innovation District Mid- to Late March Ever heard of Mario Batali? Well you should’ve, for reasons like his 20 or so restaurants (including Eataly) and his multiple TV appearances (and those damn Crocs he always sports). And you should know that after much rumormongering, he’s opening his first Boston (and greencertified) restaurant. There’ll be woodfired pizzas and pasta excellence with three separate bars for alcohol, pizza, and antipasti. There will be a patio in the summer too, which is ideal for warmweather pizza-ing. 11 Fan Pier Blvd., Boston. facebook.com/babboboston

THE KITCHEN AT CLUB PASSIM

Harvard Square Late March Club Passim isn’t going anywhere, but the venue’s food provider, Veggie Planet, unfortunately did. That’s alright though, because plans for the new kitchen are more than promising. Open for lunch and dinner before performances, it’ll serve new American cuisine with global flair, like butter-poached lobster and Southern fried chicken. With chef Brandon Arms (Garden at the Cellar, Cilo) behind it all, you know it’s going to be good. 47 Palmer St., Cambridge. 617.492.7679. clubpassim.org

PEAK ORGANIC NITRO STOUT

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03 11 15 – 03 18 15

RELEASE DATE: Now

NIGHT SHIFT LANCELOT

RELEASE DATE: March 31

CAMBRIDGE BREWING MORNING DEW

Known for its line of drinkable, hopsforward, full-flavored beers, Maine’s Peak Organic is filling out its lineup of malt-forward brews with this delicious new release: the light and creamy Nitro Stout. You’ll want this dark, heady stout for cold nights.

Debuting at Night Shift’s third-year party on March 31, along with two other new brews—Guinevere and Mordred— is the Mass-based suds innovator’s Lancelot, a tart Berliner Weisse aged with blood oranges. The complex sour ale packs plenty of tartness and bright citrus flavor, basically telling this ungodly winter to piss off.

We know this spring release Morning Dew as a brewpub favorite. Now the elderflower-flavored, dry-hopped saison is making its way into bottles for the first time. Reacquaint yourself. Limited release 22-ounce bottles will be coming at you this month.

RELEASE DATE: March 30

GRIDDLER’S BURGERS AND DOGS

Boston Common Now open You know Griddler’s from the Cambridge Street location, but with the new flagship opening on Boylston things are going to a little different. You can still find tasty and creative burgers and dogs (like the OG Griddler with special sauce), but the look and menu have been revamped for the better. There’s a greater focus on sourcing locally and regionally, and when that means Grillo’s Pickles, everyone’s a winner twice over. 134 Boylston St., Boston. 617.973.0480. griddlersburgers.com

NEWS TO US

WEDNESDAYS MARCH 4TH- 25TH 5-11pm SMALL PLATES JAMAICAN PEPPER SHRIMP: Spicy shrimp crusty bread

BAHAMIAN CONCH FRITTERS: Spiced citrus aioli dipping sauce

EMPANADA:

Pastry stuffed with seasoned pork / mango habanero dipping sauce

REAL FOOD every night TILL ' CLOSE

FRESH SEAFOOD CEVICHE:

Marinated in citrus / onion / red pepper / Fresh cilantro

BBQ JERK CHICKEN:

Wood smoked split chicken with traditional jerk seasonings

SPICY GOAT STEW:

Vegetable coconut curry broth

CARIBBEAN TILAPIA:

Wrapped in banana leaf / roasted mango butter

SIDES

Rice & beans / Mac & cheese / Grilled avocado / Rum glazed plantains

PAIN KILLER COCKTAIL:

Pusserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rum / fresh squeezed OJ /cream of coconut / pineapple juice / nutmeg

@MAGOUNSSALOON OLDEMAGOUNSSALOON

130 Brighton Avenue Allston, MA

518 Medford St Somerville

magounssaloon.com|617 - 7 76 - 2 6 0 0

9 2 H A MP S HIR E S T, CA MB R ID G E , M A | 6 1 7-2 5 0 - 8 4 5 4 | L O R D H O B O.C O M

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

CARIBBEAN DREAMING

TUESDAY MARCH 10TH

ANDY MCKEE ACOUSTIC GUITAR PHENOM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11TH BOSTON JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS

SUSAN MCKEOWN & LORIN SKLAMBERG CELTIC & KLEZMER

THURSDAY MARCH 12TH WORLD MUSIC/CRASH ARTS PRESENTS

WE BANJO 3 BLUEGRASS

FRIDAY MARCH 13TH 7:30PM

HONKY TONK KNIGHTS ROCKABILLY

FRIDAY MARCH 13TH 10PM

ROOTS OF CREATION PLUS KUF KNOTZ REGGAE / HIP-HOP

SATURDAY MARCH 14TH 7PM

ERIN HARPE & THE DELTA SWINGERS BLUES ROCK

SATURDAY MARCH 14TH 10PM

JOSHUA TREE U2 TRIBUTE BAND

NEW RELEASE

Local sneaker wizards New Balance update Fresh Foam line with the Zante BY SCOTT MURRY @HOTDOGTACO In the middle of the kind of winter we’ve had, the idea of running brings up feelings of blind rage and pure contempt. However, Boston is a running mecca, a city invested in health and wellness, and badass hometown shoe innovators like New Balance have been monitoring our stride since 1906, when founder William Riley cited chicken feet (with their three-clawed footsies), as means of perfect balance. I fell in love with NB when the company introduced its Minimus line. Those lightweight, barefoot-style shoes feel lean and natural without asinine toe fingers or awful colors. And they cater to my wide, Hobbit-esque foot. Now that I log longer miles however, I crave a smoother ride on some pavement-rich days. Thankfully, NB isn’t a brand to rest on its running laurels. The company is updating its Fresh Foam line, introducing the Zante, which is being released March 19, and the smooth ride is already melting away my running woes. JF Fullum, Director of Design in the NB Innovation Studio, said these bright green kicks are “designed to give runners a faster feeling and align well with runners with more of a mid-foot to forefront strike.” And how. The Zante shoe is the result of nearly 18 months of data collection and extensive testing. It has a six mm drop from heel to toe, and

“no-sew support” in the forefoot, which means the shoe quite literally keeps you moving forward during your stride. They felt so smooth to run in that I felt I was literally traversing the pavement on butter. Okay, not literally. Still. Smooth. “Color is a powerful design tool,” says Fullum. “The final product needs to look and feel fast. I don’t think a beige running shoe would give you the same feeling.” True—no one ever feels good about shoes boasting a frumpy palate (or anything approaching Seinfeld white-on-white veneers). When prodded about the forthcoming Boston variation, also coming in spring, Fullum kept mum. “I cannot give too much,” he says. “The Limited Edition Boston shoe speaks to that go-fast attitude and history of running in this city.” New Balance will be unveiling that shoe April 6. So between both these two spring releases, better start stretching for the road ahead.

17 Holland St., Davis Sq. Somerville (617) 776-2004 Directly on T Red Line at Davis

RACE ELATION Friday March 27th 10PM We Dig Free Friday presents

SEGUE

plus ROLLING NECTAR Rock / Jam-Funk

Friday April 3rd 10PM We Dig Free Fridays presents

LYNGUISTIC CIVILIANS plus FUNK WAGON Hip-Hop / Funk

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

Friday April 24th 10PM

AMERICAN SYMPHONY OF SOUL Funk / Soul

17 Holland St., Davis Sq. Somerville (617) 776-2004 Directly on T Red Line at Davis

Now that you’ve got a tip on your next great pair of road runners, here are a selection of great races in the area (and one in New Hampshire) to put them to the test throughout spring. For good measure, some involve craft beer, dancing, and partying afterwards. Because running.

Ras na hEireann 5K in Davis Square

WGBH 5K: Run for Public Media

Named for a cherished event in Ireland, the Ras na hEireann carves a path through the (snowy) tree-lined streets of Teele and Ball Squares, finishing in Davis Square. Post-race parties at spots like The Burren, Sligo Pub, Joshua Tree, and Five Horses Tavern.

The inaugural race for WGBH, this is a USATF-certified course covering DCR’s Artesani Park in Brighton and weaves around the Charles River. No, entering doesn’t mean a guest spot on Beat The Press.

First ever of a race that totals 26.2 miles, moving through Nashua, NH. Involves Main Street and Mine Falls Park, with five loops through a spread of neighborhoods and mostly flat terrain. You got this.

Missed BAA? Well, this is your run, and it’s a 5k half-marathon that works its way through downtown Boston, all in the name of remembering fallen heroes and soldiers. Kicks off from the Seaport World Trade Center.

Hot on the heels of summer, this is an East Cambridge run ending at Canal Park. Awaiting you there: a post-race party, free food, craft beer, music, and a costume contestslash-dance party. Naturally.

baevents.com/ rasnaheireann

wgbh.org/events

gcsmarathon.com

bostonsrunto remember.com

cambridge5k.com/ freedom

March 15

April 11

Gate City Marathon

May 17

Boston’s Run To Remember May 23-24

Freedom Run 5K in East Cambridge June 7

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

ARTS ENTERTAINMENT

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

THURS 3.12

FRI 3.13

SAT 3.14

TUES 3.17

Jean-Michel Othoniel: Secret Flower Sculptures

Silent Rage: Heroin/e (Keep Us Quiet) + Dutchman

Stephen Kurkjian

Discover Roxbury 5th Annual Black & White Party

New England Expression Session

Break The Chains

a rose is a rose is a rose

double bill

boston’s greatest unsolved mystery

dress up for a cause

cowabunga

come as you are

A new exhibit opens today from Jean-Michel Othoniel, an artist “obsessed with the hidden meaning of flowers,” who has captured their delicate beauty in sculpture, drawing, and photography. Crazy? Maybe. But Othoniel also won a bid to create the first permanent contemporary art installation in the Palace of Versailles gardens, so now is a great opportunity to see him before he gets, like, uber-art-world-famous, thereby preserving your hipster cred.

The back-to-back plays in Silent Rage are anything but. Semi-autobiographic Heroin/e toes the line between sanity and insanity as it follows the stories of two women, while Dutchman, first performed in 1968, depicts the incendiary rage that sparks from what starts as an innocent flirtation between a white girl and a black boy. Whether you decide to experience one or both, it’s shaping up to be an intense night out at the theater.

Speaking of the Gardner, remember when two guys walked in one night and stole $500 million worth of art, never to be caught? In his new book Master Thieves, investigative reporter Stephen Kurkjian reveals information gleaned over his 20+ years on the case. He’ll be spending the evening discussing his extensive knowledge, so if you’re interested in one day winning the museum’s $5 million information reward, he’d be the guy to talk to.

As you may have guessed from the name, this masquerade bash is completely devoid of color—from the décor to attire to the food. The highlight of the evening is the showcase of black and white art from local creators that will be up for sale over the course of the evening—this annual event directly funds Roxbury’s artistic community. Don your monochrome threads and mingle with some of Boston’s art lovers, designers, and tastemakers.

Get totally stoked for an evening of surf art, short film screenings, music, and booze to benefit the Surfrider Foundation and the preservation of our beautiful New England beaches. Local rockers Squirrelly Bird will be playing a set, and the work of over 20 Boston-area artists will be up for silent auction. If anything, it’s sure to be a sunny respite from the frozen tundra outside.

It’s that time again! Everyone’s favorite allages, all-gender, all-genre liberation dance party returns, featuring nationally touring queer and trans performers, and inclusive to every denomination of person under the sun (or moon, if that’s what you’re into). This month’s headliners include punk rockers Defiance, Ohio and radical queer singersongwriter Evan Greer.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. 25 Evans Way, Boston. For museum hours and admission info, visit gardnermuseum.org

Zero Church Street. 0 Church St., Cambridge. 7:30pm/FREE, but ticketed. americanrepertorytheater. org

Harvard Book Store. 1256 Mass Ave., Cambridge. 7pm/FREE. harvard.com

MassArt Pozen Center. 14 Tetlow St., Boston. 6:30pm/$30. discoverroxbury.org

Arts at the Armory. 191 Highland Ave., Suite 1-C, Somerville. 7pm/FREE. massachusetts.surfrider.org

Spontaneous Celebrations. 45 Danforth St., Jamaica Plain. 7:30pm/FREE.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL ZAIA

SEE THAT? THE ONLY ICE IN THIS PHOTO IS IN THE ICED COFFEE. BRING THE SPRING!

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

MUSIC

SPRING PREVIEW

READY TO RUMBLE

Annual competition announces 24-band roster

BY MARTÍN CABALLERO @_EL_CABALLERO AND PAIGE CHAPLIN @PAIGECHAPLIN

BY MARTÍN CABALLERO @_EL_CABALLERO It’s that time again. There’s no Mel Gibson (nice) or fighting to the death on flying harnesses (a shame, for sure), but Boston’s guitar-fueled version of Thunderdome—the Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble—is back again for its 36th year. Twenty-four bands enter. One band leaves … you get the idea. In the role of “Auntie Entity” is organizer Anngelle Wood, who announced the roster on her show Boston Emissions on 100.7 WZLX on Sunday evening. With the Rumble kicking off preliminary rounds on April 12 at TT the Bear’s Place, it’s time to get familiar with the hopefuls looking to score a spot in the finals on May 1. The roster is as follows: Yale, Massachusetts, Soft Pyramids, Drab, The Rare Occasions, Mercury on Mars, Duck & Cover, The Warning Shots, Murcielago, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, The Static Dynamic, Band Without Hands, Protean Collective, Le Roxy Pro, Mister Vertigo, Dan Webb and the Spiders, New Look Ghost, Dirty Bangs, Nate Leavitt Band, Nemes, Eternals, Salita, and Raw Blow. You’ll be learning much more about these bands as the Rumble gets underway, but here’s a few points of reference to get you started.

CLOCKWISE: PORCHFEST, THE PIXIES, ST. NOTHING, NEW ENGLAND FOLK FESTVAL

DRAB

Spring’s arrival signals rebirth, rejuvenation, not-that-out-of-place shorts-wearing around town. And, it means there’s plenty of music festivals and events to get excited for. Here’s a few to get on your radar, if they weren’t already. Happy fest-ing.

BOSTON CALLING

Friday 5.22 – Sunday 5.24 You didn’t think we were going to leave this one out, did you? Now in its third year, this festival’s gone from plucky upstart to a new civic institution, and it isn’t slowing down: May’s eclectic lineup features the likes Run the Jewels, Chet Faker, Ben Harper, Tame Impala, ILOVEMAKKONEN, Tove Lo, and My Morning Jacket, but also shines a bit of extra spotlight on homegrown acts like Krill and The Ballroom Thieves, both on the rise and the firmly established (The Pixies). City Hall Plaza, Boston. $75-375. bostoncalling.com

ST. NOTHING + OUTER SPACES + RAWHUNNY

Saturday 3.14 We’re here to make the local music scene easier for you to navigate, but not too easy. As in, when we come across a show on the DL featuring the ridiculously talented St. Nothing, Baltimore punk crew Outer Spaces, and dream pop purveyors Rawhunny, we tell you about it. And when said show is hosted at an Allston house dubbed “The Womb,” we leave out the address just to make it interesting (and avoid getting the organizers in trouble). Just eavesdrop at the Silhouette or ask those guys sitting on their stoop where it is. If it’s meant to be, you’ll find it. Ask for “The Womb.”

The noisy Boston-via-Northampton three-piece are reissuing a remastered version of their first LP next week, in case you need some research material ahead of their Rumble showing.

NEW ENGLAND FOLK FESTIVAL

Friday 4.24 - Sunday 4.26 Here’s where we give you a really good reason to stretch your legs and frolic outside of the city in the name of springtime. The New England Folk Festival has kept its musical flame burning for over 70 years and this year, it’s down in Mansfield. Consider this the perfect opportunity to rent that weekend Zipcar you’ve been considering. Peruse the local shops and vendors, indulge in ethnic food, and tune in to musicians from all different strands of folk music. You can also learn how to contra dance, square dance, and swing dance—because why the hell not? 250 East St., Mansfield. 617-299-1590. For tickets and pricing visit neffa.org

ZIP-TIE HANDCUFFS

The trio talked to us about their brand of “stoner-punk” last November; their style, which “makes you zone out and think at the same time,” promises to help get your buzz going.

BAND WITHOUT HANDS

The Somerville-based hybrid electro-rock crew were finalists in last fall’s Full Scene Ahead Rompetition, meaning they’ll be eagerly gunning for the top spot here.

MISTER VERTIGO

PORCHFEST

Expect the eclectic band to break out some tracks from their forthcoming new 11-song LP Dreaming on the Left Side.

Saturday 5.16 There’s only one day of the year that Somerville’s porches transform into stages, and that’s the day of PorchFest. Kudos to Somerville Arts Council for delivering unto you a “decentralized music festival” complete with 100-percent free live outdoor music in your own neighborhoods. Music is meant to be accessible to everybody, and to be honest, there’s no better way to watch an Americana banjo band than on an old wraparound porch at dusk. And if that’s not your thing, just keep walking. With no genre restrictions, you’re bound to stumble upon a stage that satisfies you, be it a porch full of punks or a string quartet. Or maybe both. All over Somerville. 617-625-6600. somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest

PSYCHIC DOG

A few important points from the band’s bio. “We are people who enjoy playing music.” Cool, got it. “We’re not that brave and we’re not that stupid.” Nobody said you were stupid, but OK. “We once stole our lunch from a Seagull.” OK, now we’re interested. >> ROCK N ROLL RUMBLE. STARTS SUN 4.12. TT THE BEAR’S, 10 BROOKLINE ST., CAMBRIDGE. 617-492-2327. 8PM/18+/$8. FACEBOOK.COM/RACKANDROLLRUMBLE

MUSIC EVENTS

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

THU 3.12

SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON DROPKICK MURPHYS + MAHONES + BLOOD OR WHISKEY

[House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston. 6pm/all ages/$40-70. houseofblues.com]

SAT 3.14

SOUL-SEARING FOLK PETER BRADLEY ADAMS

[Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge. 9pm/all ages/$22. passim.org]

SUN 3.15

POPPY ROCK HAVE MERCY + WEATHERBOX + YOU, ME, AND EVERYONE WE KNOW

[Middle East Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave., Cambridge. 6:30pm/all ages/$12. mideastclub.com]

SLEEPY GARAGE ROCK CRAFT SPELLS + THE BILINDA BUTCHERS + FUNERAL ADVANTAGE [Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave., Allston. 9pm/18+/ $10. greatscottboston.com]

TUE 3.17

WED 3.18

[Lizard Lounge, 1667 Mass Ave., Cambridge. 8:30pm/21+/$12. lizardloungeclub.com]

[The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 8pm/all ages/$65150. thewilbur.com]

SINGER-SONGWRITER LORI MCKENNA

ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE LAURYN HILL

NEWS TO US FEATURE DEPT. OF COMMERCE

mideastclub.com | zuzubar.com (617) 864-EAST | ticketweb.com

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

CENTRAL SQ. CAMBRIDGE, MA

- DOWNSTAIRS WED 3/11 - PROJECT DROP:

ILL.GATES, ELM THURS 3/12 EN CONCIERTO! FRI 3/13

PADDY SAUL

TALLAHASSEE, ANDREA GILLIS BAND

SAT 3/14 - FREE ICELAND NATURALLY PRESENTS:

REYKJAVIK CALLING - UPSTAIRS THURS 3/12 - 6:30PM THURS 3/12 - 10:30PM

FRI 3/13 - CRUSH PRESENTS:

BUKU

SAT 3/14 - ROCK ON! PRESENTS:

THE DWARVES ATOM AGE SUN 3/15 - BOWERY BOSTON PRESENTS:

WEATHER BOX /mideastclub /zuzubar @mideastclub @zuzubar

FILM

VISAGE OF TIME

Liam Neeson’s Bronsonian vigilantism is still around, for now BY JAKE MULLIGAN @_JAKEMULLIGAN

“GOD DAMN TRAIN DELAYS. LAST TIME WE FILM IN BOSTON!” Liam Neeson has become the ghost of action stars long past. In a cinematic era dominated by righteous superheroes, he leans towards playing drunks, divorced dads, derelicts … flawed failures, all of them, to one degree or another. It’s a nod to the morally murky vigilantes of ’70s cinema (see: Eastwood and Bronson) in which, as in noir, heroes failed by design. Neeson’s weathered face, weary walk, and history of personal tragedy have rendered him a living shortcut. He’s code for regret. “I’ve done terrible things.” That’s his first line in Run All Night, the latest film to play off his iconic visage for instant pathos. Neeson is Jimmy the gravedigger, a retired hitman who left his family years ago. Now he hangs out in bars, killing time and waiting to die. He slumps in the corners of compositions like he’s going to crash out of frame. He walks like a tree with a damaged trunk. Most often he just hangs around his old boss (Ed Harris) waiting for handouts. He’s a tired, old dog. A lesser Neeson film like Taken is just a character and a concept (daughter is abducted, dad kills abductors) but Run All Night earns the word “narrative.” Over the course of the first act, a series of unexpected coincidences split the character’s allegiances, pitting Neeson and his son (Joel Kinnaman) against Harris and his crew. The impending payment of debts long past due looms over each scene. This is an action film of course, with enough gunshots and knife fights to satisfy John Woo, but a sadness courses throughout in spite of that. When the camera pauses on Neeson, it’s for a last look at his tragically disheveled face. Taken, this is not. Director Jaume Collet-Serra derives deep enjoyment from each death. When Neeson shoots people, we enter slow-motion of brain matter explosions everywhere and a general Taxi Driver spirit emerges. There’s only one idealistic person in Run All Night—Kinnaman, Neeson’s failed pro-boxer son—and the film treats his decency as weakness, one demanding to be shattered. By the end, he’s firing bullets too, and at a local screening there was wild applause from the crowd viewing the final kill. There’s a deep melancholy here, but the bloodshed isn’t causing it. “All the old places look different now,” Harris’ boss complains, taking a look around his newly cleaned-up local pub, surrounded by newly gentrified boroughs. That’s the source of Run All Night’s sadness. The passing of the guard, and the passage of time, subs in for the tired “sins of the father” trope. Symbols of the past pervade constantly, with panning shots revealing family photos of happier times. But when Neeson grabs a gun for the final showdown, it’s an old pump-action rifle, suggesting everything here has an expiration date, especially the Old-World, drinkfirst-then-shoot-then-ask-questions-later mold of masculinity. Run All Night laments that we have but one Liam Neeson. And that we won’t have men like him much longer. >> RUN ALL NIGHT. RATED R. OPENS LOCALLY THURSDAY MARCH 12. 114MIN.

FILM EVENTS GET DEALS EMAILED DAILY!

FRI 3.13

“I SAW A ROHMER FILM ONCE ...” A TALE OF WINTER

[Brattle Theatre. 40 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. Fri 3.13 - Mon 3.16. 4:30pm, 7pm/NR/$9-11. brattlefilm.org]

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

@FTER MIDNIGHT GOD TOLD ME TO

[Coolidge Corner. 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Fri. 3.13 + Sat. 3.14 midnight/R/$11.25. coolidge.org]

SAT 3.14

TWO BY SHIRLEY CLARKE PORTRAIT OF JASON + THE CONNECTION

[Harvard Film Archive. 24 Quincy St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. 7pm + 9pm respectively/NR/$7-9 each. hcl.harvard.edu/hfa]

NEW LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA FESTIVAL THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE

[Museum of Fine Arts. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Sat. 3.14 1pm + Wed. 3.18 7:30pm/NR/$911. mfa.org]

MON 3.16

SCIENCE ON SCREEN PRESENTS ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

[Coolidge Corner. 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7pm/NR/$11.25. coolidge.org]

WED 3.18

NOAH BAUMBACH TRIPLE FEATURE KICKING AND SCREAMING, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, + FRANCES HA

[Brattle Theatre. 40 Brattle St., Harvard Sq., Cambridge. 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm respectively/R/$8-20. brattlefilm.org]

NEWS TO US

THEATER

FEATURE

SHOCKHEADED PETER

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

Steam-crunk meets Brothers Grimm in Company One’s show BY SPENCER SHANNON @SUSPENCEY

Weds MARCH 11 - 8:30pm

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

VINYL SOCIAL

DJs: Bearstronaut (featured band), Hilary Clare (host) No Cover | Downstairs | 18+

Thurs MARCH 12 - 10pm

MOHAWK

NIGHT

I HAD A DREAM LIKE THIS ONCE AND WOKE UP NAKED IN A TREE It’s not often that one experiences a production so expertly written, cast, and executed that it’s a a struggle to write a review that doesn’t come across as straightup paid promotion. And truth be told, Shockheaded Peter is perhaps not for everyone. If you’re looking for a proper night out at the theatre—dinner and drinks in your suit and tie, polite conversation, and seated applause—then this isn’t the performance you’re looking for. But if you’re intrigued by something a little bit sinister and a little bit sexy that’ll have you clapping and stomping and singing along, in a venue where you might just bump elbows with the likes of Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, then Shockheaded Peter absolutely delivers—and just may be a top contender for the most entertaining production to hit a Boston stage this season. The dark magic of Peter grips like an out-of-control carnival ride that doesn’t let go until the very last line is spoken (or sung). The performance is inspired by the twisted tales of Heinrich Hoffmann’s Der Struwwelpeter, written in 1845 to scare children into behaving. Peter pairs delightfully disturbing vignettes of naughty children with the musical accompaniment of Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys (arguably the only group in town who were born to pull this show off). Sickert’s deep, gritty voice sets a perfectly sinister cast over the mayhem going on onstage, while his band’s comedic timing punctuates the action with commendable precision. These songs go far beyond simple show tunes. Pieces like “Snip Snip (Sucka-Thumb)” fill up the entire room with wild zeal, almost pulling audience members up out of their seats with the desire to join the revelry and sing along. The cast makes excellent use of the Modern Theatre’s compact space, with a rotating box of a set that spins around to display different backgrounds, as well as opening up to reveal characters waiting inside. The effect is immersive and magical; suddenly, the Modern’s tiny stage becomes a Pandora’s box of possibility where an infinite number of mysterious creatures pop out from under floors and behind closed Victorian doors. While the stories in Shockheaded Peter feature children, the performance is most assuredly more suitable for those who are kids only at heart. Grotesque caricatures are wickedly rendered thanks to the lurid imaginations of prop designer Seth Shaw and puppeteer Eric Bornstein. Giant cats, gun-slinging rabbits, and sharp-toothed dogs are brought vividly to life onstage, while the ensemble cast of Jacob Athyal, Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, Lisa Dempsey, Jade Guerra, Amelia Lumpkin, Tom Martin, and Brooks Reeves manages to seamlessly transition through an onslaught of nefarious and zany ne’er-do-wells with tireless energy. Alexandria King shines, maniacally gleeful, as the show’s MC, drawing laughter from the audience at times with just a lift of an eyebrow and a naughty gleam in her eyes. Shockheaded Peter, with all of its colorful nonsense and pure visual cacophony, embodies everything that makes theatre so purely fun. In a world that seems to grow more frightening with each passing day, where freedom of expression and creativity can result in violence, Peter reminds us of the reality that, yes, danger can lurk around every corner—but if you can’t escape it, why not laugh about it? There is both light and darkness housed within all of us, and in order to make it, all we have to do is embrace it. Peter calls out to the naughty child that lives inside each of us, who sat in the corner during time out and plotted exquisite revenge. It invites audiences to relive those lost years of imagination and wonder, to abandon proper social expectations and get lost in the night, in the stories, in the sound. >> COMPANY ONE PRESENTS: SHOCKHEADED PETER. THE MODERN THEATRE AT SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY, 525 WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON. THROUGH APRIL 4. 12+/$25-38, $15 STUDENTS, PAY WHAT YOU CAN MARCH 15 $6 MINIMUM. FOR MORE INFO, COMPANYONE.ORG

DJs: Ryan Packer, DJ COA Genres: Punk, Hardcore, Alt Rock, Metal No Cover | Downstairs | 21+ Fri MARCH 13 - 7pm

AIDS WALK & 5K RUN FUNDRAISER DJs: DJ Frank White Genres: Fundraiser // Hip-hop, Party Jams $20 Donation Fri MARCH 13 - 10pm

PVRPLE DJs: Cory Mo, J. Fresco, Knife, Amadeezy Genres: Trap, Trill, Crunk, Chopped & Screwed $5 before 11pm, $10 after | Downstairs | 21+ Sat MARCH 14 - 10pm

THE BLADERUNNERS

DJs: The Bladerunners (7L & Braun Dapper), Brek.One Genres: Hip Hop, Reggae, Party Jams $5 before 11pm, $10 | Upstairs & Downstairs | 21+ Tues MARCH 17 - 6pm

ST. PATRICKS

DAY CELEBRATION

Join us as we celebrate the luck of the Irish with live Irish music from Fresh Haggis and a DJ set from DJ Evaredy!!

A NEW ROAST EACH WEEK!

SUNDAY

ROAST With all fixings & trimmings 5PM TILL GONE

OLDEMAGOUNSSALOON.COM 518 MEDFORD ST. SOMERVILLE

617-776-2600

ARTS

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW Warming weather = time to get out and see some art BY SPENCER SHANNON @SUSPENCEY

Boston’s Best Irish Pub

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TUESDAYS

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Weekly Gaming Night: The same

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guys who bring you Game Night every week at Good Life bar are now also running a special Sunday night. 21+, NO

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WEDNESDAYS

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Weekly Dance Party, House, Disco, Techno, Local & International DJ’s

15+ Years of Resident Drum & Bass Bringing some of the worlds biggest DnB DJ’s to Cambridge

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1/2 PRICED APPS DAILY 5 - 7PM SHOWING THE 6 NATIONS RUGBY TOURNAMENT LIVE STARTING FEB 6

WATCH EVERY SOCCER GAME!

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

LIVE OPENING 7:30am

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Saturdays & Sundays Every Game shown live in HD on 12 Massive TV’s. We Show All European Soccer including Champions League, Europa League, German, French, Italian & Spanish Leagues. NFL SUNDAY SPECIAL $4 Drafts, Wing Specials, Happy Hour Priced menu!

CLOCKWISE: IN THE WAKE, SPY MATTHIAS, SPEK

Blast Fest 8

March 20 – March 27 It’s an independent record label; it’s a house venue; it’s an artist collective. All three descriptions encompass the dynamic space that makes up the Whitehaus Family Record, but above all it’s an incredibly unique and important asset to the Boston DIY music scene. What started as tiny gatherings in a JP apartment has grown into a solid community of diverse, open, and inclusive art makers who strive to explore the boundaries of artistic experience and showcase local artists, poets, and musicians with “anarcho-open mic hootenannies”—or just hoots, for short. The Whitehaus celebrates its eighth birthday with an eight-day marathon of local performers. You’ll want to check out the Facebook page to keep up with the evolving roster. Whitehaus Family Record. 10 Seaverns Ave., Jamaica Plain. All ages/FREE. whitehausfamilyrecord.com

The Misadventures of Spy Matthias

March 13 – April 4 Matty Olchak, the protagonist of this new comedy from playwright Joe Byers, is kind of a weird dude—he’s both an artist and a voyeur, in what appears to be the literal sense (he carries a camera with a comically large zoom lens). But when everyone he cares about starts to disappear, Olchak is forced to learn the hard way about what happens when you mix your art and your fetishes. Described as a “smart and sexy comic book for adults,” Spy Matthias is shaping up to be a unique hypervisual performance. If we’ve learned anything from the success of last summer’s Astro Boy and the God of Comics, it’s that audiences are hungry for more genre-bending innovation in theatre. Charlestown Working Theater. 442 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown. All ages/$10. theatreonfire.org

Spek

April 3 In 2008, the Dig broke a fascinating story on the elusive and troubled graffiti artist Spek, captured by police after more than 10 years of evasion during which he managed to leave a trademark trail of tags from Boston to Salem. Soon, it came to light that he was responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage, and the reach of his art made it as far out as New Jersey and Rhode Island. Today, seven years after his unfortunate arrest, Adam Brandt—the man behind the tag—has transformed into a loving father and fine artist. His art will grace the walls (legally, this time) of a Somerville gallery alongside other emerging New England artists. We think that’s a success story we can all get behind. The Uniun. 11 Sandborn Ct., Somerville, 7-11pm. facebook.com/theuniun

In the Wake: Japanese Photographers Respond to 3/11

April 5 – July 12 On March 11, 2011, a triple disaster irrevocably affected Japan. An earthquake off of the Pacific coast triggered an incredible tsunami that swept through virtually defenseless towns across the country’s northeast region, obliterating all that stood in its path. The damages were immense, including the terrifying destruction of three of the Fukushima power plant’s six reactors—the biggest nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl. In this new exhibit—the first of its kind—Japan’s most celebrated artists, as well as emerging talents, bring together stunning photos that capture the terrible beauty found within tragedy, and display the enduring strength and dignity of a nation rising up despite disaster. Museum of Fine Arts. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. For hours and ticket prices, visit mfa.org

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US

SECRET ASIAN MAN BY TAK TOYOSHIMA @TAKTOYOSHIMA

THE STRANGERER BY PAT FALCO ILLFALCO.COM

WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST BY PATT KELLEY WHATS4BREAKFAST.COM

OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS BY TIM CHAMBERLAIN OURVC.NET

SAVAGE LOVE

TRUTH BE TOLD BY DAN SAVAGE @FAKEDANSAVAGE

DIGBOSTON.C0M

03 11 15 – 03 18 15

When I was 15, I had a three-month-long sexual relationship with a 32-year-old woman. She was a friend of the family, and my parents were going through a divorce. I stayed with her for the summer, and she initiated a sexual relationship. Looking back, I can see that she had been grooming me. We used to have conversations online and via e-mail that were very inappropriate considering our age difference. The relationship ended when I went home, but she remained flirty. As a 15-year-old, I had a hard time sorting out my feelings for her, but we remained in contact. Soon after, I met a girl my own age and we started dating. Twenty years later, we are happily married and have two wonderful children. Our sex life is active and fulfilling. The only problem is my wife is very proud of the fact that we were each other’s “first and only” sex partners. When we first slept together at 16, I couldn’t admit that she wasn’t my first, and I didn’t want to get the older woman in trouble. I don’t want to hurt my wife by revealing the truth. Can I keep this secret to myself? This Revelation Undermines Total Harmony Like you, TRUTH, I lost my virginity to an older woman at age 15. My first was closer to me in age (20s, not 30s) than your first—the

woman who preyed on you—and I never felt like she took advantage of me. If anything, I was taking advantage of her, as our sexual relationship helped me sort out my shit. (I could get through sex with a girl, yes, but I had to think about guys the whole time. I resolved to cut out the middlewoman and have sex with guys instead.) Over the years, well-meaning people have tried to convince me that I was damaged by this experience, but I never felt that way. Based on your letter, TRUTH, it doesn’t sound like you were damaged or traumatized by this relationship. You quickly figured out that what she had done to/with you was squicky and inappropriate; the fact that she didn’t leave you damaged or traumatized doesn’t make what she did okay. But it sounds like your only issue—it’s the only issue you raise—is whether you can continue to allow your wife to think she was your “first and only.” You can. Unless you need to unburden yourself to the wife for your own sanity, TRUTH, don’t let one marital ideal—you should be able to tell each other everything—obscure an equally important if less obviously virtuous marital ideal: You don’t have to tell each other everything. Protecting your spouse from the truth, allowing your spouse to have their illusions, is often the more loving choice. While there are deceptions that aren’t okay—crushing student-loan debt, a second family hidden in another city, you are Dinesh D’Souza— some deceptions are harmless. Allowing your wife to continue to believe that she was your “first and only” falls squarely into the harmless camp.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

DEPT. OF COMMERCE

FEATURE

NEWS TO US