With ‘Quiet Desperation,’ comedy show, album, it turns out life is a reality sitcom

By Marc Levy

Published: September 30, 2009

Brett McCabe and Robby Roadsteamer in "Quiet Desperation," a reality sitcom.

Brett McCabe and Robby Roadsteamer in "Quiet Desperation," a reality sitcom.  | read this item

Life and art in the local comedy and music scene are chasing around imitating each other in such a tight, fierce circle that you can expect a tornado to tear through town any day now. Alternate Mondays at the Sleepover comedy show, viewings of “Quiet Desperation” online and the excellent Super Time Pilot album and you can become a bit player in a unique experiment in theater in the round.

Ig Nobel awards return, dragging smart people in their wake

By Marc Levy

Published: September 30, 2009

The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony returns Thursday to Harvard’s Sanders Theater, and the free Ig Informal Lectures are Saturday. But before the lectures there’s an even less formal stop on the Ig tour: Nobel and Ig Nobel laureates will be having a 10:30 a.m. breakfast at Toscanini’s Big Table. It’s a good chance to come gawk at the smartest people in the world — and their tablemates, the winners of the Ig Nobels.

R.I.P. Herrell’s Ice Cream: A toast from Toscanini’s

By Gus Rancatore

Published: September 18, 2009

The Harvard Square Herrell's Ice Cream is closing. (Photo: Jeff Breeze, weallscreamforicecream.wordpress.com)

The Harvard Square Herrell's Ice Cream is closing. (Photo: Jeff Breeze, weallscreamforicecream.wordpress.com)  | read this item

Steve Herrell taught me how to make ice cream and taught everyone else how to once again enjoy ice cream. The Herrell’s ice cream store in Harvard Square will close soon, according to today’s Boston Globe.

Five stations to go to for cheap gas

By Marc Levy

Published: September 15, 2009

Hess (Inman Square) Address: 287 Prospect St., Cambridge MA 02139 Phone: (617) 354-9613 Hours: 24 hours, seven days a week Owner: Company At the pumps: Self-service; same price, cash or credit Not just gas: Free air; some snacks; by a 24-hour 7-Eleven Notes: As one of Cambridge’s two 24-hour gas stations (the other being a Shell station on Memorial Drive), Inman’s Hess could be forgiven slightly higher prices — and there are fairly frequent price bounces, so unless you need gas when other stations are closed, be aware you’re gambling. Historically, though, Hess has surprised by matching other lower-price pumps in the area.

Hess (Inman Square) Address: 287 Prospect St., Cambridge MA 02139 Phone: (617) 354-9613 Hours: 24 hours, seven days a week Owner: Company At the pumps: Self-service; same price, cash or credit Not just gas: Free air; some snacks; by a 24-hour 7-Eleven Notes: As one of Cambridge’s two 24-hour gas stations (the other being a Shell station on Memorial Drive), Inman’s Hess could be forgiven slightly higher prices — and there are fairly frequent price bounces, so unless you need gas when other stations are closed, be aware you’re gambling. Historically, though, Hess has surprised by matching other lower-price pumps in the area.   | read this item

Gas prices fluctuate — meaning, in a tank half-empty sense, they rise — even in a recession, and it just makes sense to look for the cheapest stuff around. (Unless you believe cheap gas degrades your car’s engine, in which case you should continue buying at big chain stations.) Here are five places to go [...]