June 15, 2009

Another week - another list of freebies

But you never know, you might just love this Monday. This week you've got two great reasons.

If you can make it through at least half the workday, your prize will be outdoor music in Deering Oaks park. It's the second annual Bridge Music Festival put on by Joe Farrell and Matt Fogg. Plan on catching 26 acts - some student musicians, some popular professionals - until 8:30 tonight. There will be two stages and plenty of rockin'. Best thing about it - it's free. Great way to start the week. Get more info at www.mattfogg.com.

And if music doesn't do it for you (and if it doesn't you may need to find a therapist), head on up to Brunswick for the eve and be in the crowd for the Pecha Kucha at Frontier Cafe, Cinema & Gallery. The night's being put on by Five Rivers Arts Alliance, which brings 10 artists in to make presentations about design, art and innovation. It'll be done Pecha Kucha style: 20 PowerPoint slides viewed for exactly 20 seconds each. Reservations are encouraged at info@fiveriversartsalliance.org and it costs just a fiver to get in.

Tuesday's gonna be a day of variety. At 7 pm you can show up at Nonesuch Books in SoPo for the book signing for "The Inspired Garden" by writer Judy Paolini and photographer Nance Trueworthy. What's interesting about this book is that it includes the work of many Maine artists. It's definitely a looker.

Also at 7 pm, those Port Veritas folks will be doing the spoken word thing at North Star Music Cafe. It's all night open mic for the spoken word set are you can donate between $2-$5 to get in on the action.

Rather chill with some good tunes? Try the jazz series at One Longfellow at 8 pm. This week's act is the Portland Jazz Orchestra and they'll play for you for just $5.

Of course if nujazz is more your thing you can join Marcus Caine for his house music/chillout set at Una Wine Bar at 9:30 tonight. The music's free and it's an all-night happy hour Tuesday.

What is there to do on a Wednesday, you ask. Oh my people do we have ideas for you.

It very well could be a thirsty Wednesday, and if that's the case the Old Port Wine Merchants can hook you up. How about doing some tasting from 4-7:30 pm at there new digs at 223 Commercial St. in Portland. Selections from South Portland Wine Company will be poured.

Your second option is Port City Music Hall's unplugged evening with Jacob Johnson. Never heard of him? That might be cause he hails from South Carolina, where they love their neo-acoustic, folk/funk. If you're 21+ you can get into the Front Lounge at 8 pm and listen for free.

And for option three, just head up the street to Empire Dine & Dance, where the carnival of arts is in the house. The fun begins at 9 pm and the free event will offer up music, poetry, films and plenty more for your entertainment. I don't believe there will be elephants.

Praise Jebus! We made it to another Thursday.

First off, a little education. There's an interesting freebie at Maine Med (East Tower Conf. Rm 2) tonight at 6:30 pm. "Creating a Non-Toxic Home" may not exactly be entertaining, but it is something we should all be striving for. You can register for the talk at 866-609-5183.

And now for the less educational stuff.

First, more drinking. Tonight you can do it in Falmouth at Leavitt & Sons from 4:30-6:30 pm.

If you'd like to check out some art tonight, there's a perfect Pide week exhibit on display at MECA's main building. "Future of the Past: Reviving the Queer Archives" is a photo exhibit of Annette Dragon's works from the 1980s and '90s. There will be refreshments while you check out the art at 5 pm and a panel discussion in Rm 305 at 6. For more about the show go to the Future of the Past blog.

After the art, how about some writing. You can find it at two places tonight, starting with a freebie at Longfellow Books at 7 pm. Dads should be on everyone's minds as we work our way up to Father's Day and "Finding Father" is the work of four poets who will offer up their words in celebrating and suffering their fathers. The poets are locals Michael Macklin, Betsy Sholl, Martin Steingesser and Judy Tierney.

Over at SPACE, you'll be asked for a $5 donation but it will be well worth it to take part in the Telling Room event. Eight writers and one radio producer will share their work and talk about the struggles to create it and take it to the public. Sharing their views will be wordsmiths Mike Paterniti, Susan Conley, Andrew McNabb, Ari Meil, Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Genevieve Morgan, Patty Hagge and Heather Davis, and recent Salt radio grad Suzi Piker. Doors open at 7 and the event starts at 7:30.