A week of events in Cambridge, Somerville: Hari Kondabolu, Opera Bites, podcasts, more
Monday
Lisa Brennan-Jobs reads from “Small Fry: A Memoir” from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square. Free. Born on a farm and named in a field, Brennan-Jobs later spent more time with her father in a world of mansions, vacations and private schools. His attention was thrilling, but he could also be cold, critical and unpredictable – he was, after all, Apple genius Steve Jobs. Information is here.
Tuesday
“Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know” podcast recording at 7 to 9:30 p.m. at The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Tickets are $22 plus fees. This show delves into the murky world of everything from cults to lost cosmonauts, applying critical thinking to conspiracy theories and, more often than not, discovering disturbing grains of truth hidden in the heart of paranoia. Information is here.
Wednesday
Neiel Israel reads at the Boston Poetry Slam, which takes place 7:15 p.m. to midnight at The Cantab Lounge, 738 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. There’s a $5 cover for this 18-plus show. Israel, who has published the chapbook “The Dead Sing Better than You” with poems in memory of Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Prince and other greats, is featured after an hour of open mic starting at 8 p.m. Information is here.
“The Allusionist” podcast recording at 8 p.m. at at The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Tickets are $26 in advance (or $28.34 with fees) or $29 at the door. What is this, podcast week? Host Helen Zaltzman brings music and visuals to her live version of a show about language and how and why we humans use it the way we do. Information is here.
GoreFest XVI from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Central Square. The second week of a new original Halloween musical (and local tradition continuing through Oct. 31) with plenty of spurting blood. General admission is $25 (and ponchos are a separate $4 online or $5 at the door). Information is here.
Thursday
Ghoulish Ghust GrownUp StoryTime from 7 to 8 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free, but $5 donations are requested. All things spooky and scary, whether real or not, is the theme of this event – like storytime before bed, except this replaces a loved one with a weird stranger, warm milk with craft brews and your bedroom with Aeronaut’s tap room. Short fact, fiction and other material written by the community is handed to performers to see what happens. Information is here.
International Comedy Night with Hari Kondabolu from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square. Free. Kondabolu is a comedian, writer and podcaster based in Brooklyn, New York, described by The New York Times as “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today.” Since challenging the stereotyped character Apu from “The Simpsons” in “The Problem with Apu” (2017), he released a Netflix special “Warn Your Relatives” and was named one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch. Information is here.
“The Chalk Cycle” at 8 to 9:30 p.m. (and with three more showings this weekend) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s W97 Theater, 345 Vassar St., Area II. Tickets are $5. Claire Conceison draws on a 13th century Chinese drama, a 20th century Brecht play and a 21st century legal custody battle to present three versions of the chalk circle story told for centuries across cultures. Information is here.
Cirque of the Dead from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Harvard Square (with performances through Oct. 31). Tickets are $30 to $50. This year the Cirque is a live choose-your-own-adventure with zombies, vampires and other creatures portrayed with aerial acts, acrobatics and other theatrical skills, made sexy, funny and gory – and for adults only. Come dressed for Halloween. Information is here.
“Chicago” from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (and continuing on weekend days through Oct. 27) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. General admission is $12. The Kander/Ebb musical about greed, corruption, violence, jazz, fame and the American way in 1920s Chicago. Information is here.
“The Van Helsing Chronicles” radio-style play from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Boston Brunch Church, 204 Elm St., near Davis Square, Somerville (through Oct 26). General admission is $15 (or $16.52 with fees). Monster hunter Professor Abra Van Helsing hosts, narrates and plays a role in the Post-Meridian Radio Players’ adaptations of tales of gothic horror: Richard Marsh’s “The Beetle” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” Information is here.
GoreFest XVI from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Central Square. General admission is $25 (and ponchos are a separate $4 online or $5 at the door). Information is here.
Friday
Park Sounds VIII from 6 to 10 p.m. at Winthrop Park in Harvard Square. Free. There are free lawn games and bands – Box of Birds; Paper Citizen; and Nick Pope at this final event for 2018 – along with a beer garden from Otter Creek Brewing and parkside barbecue for sale by Grendel’s Den and Charlie’s Kitchen. Information is here.
The Dark Garden outdoor party from 7 to 11 p.m. at Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Free. Celebrate Halloween with music by Background Orcs, Los Goutos and the Misfits cover band Sin Real Good in an eerily lit and decorated courtyard surrounded by businesses, eateries and Remnant Brewery, all open late. Costumes are welcome! Information is here.
Opera Bites: A Feast of 10-Minute Operas at 8 p.m. (and repeating Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.) at the Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall at Longy School of Music of Bard College, 27 Garden St., Harvard Square. General admission is $25. Seven small operas – six new commissions and world premieres and one U.S premiere are presented cabaret-style with food and drink, in English (with supertitles) and accompanied by small ensemble in this fourth annual season opener for the Boston Opera Collaborative. Information is here.
“Chicago” from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (and continuing on weekend days through Oct. 27) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. General admission is $12. The Kander/Ebb musical about greed, corruption, violence, jazz, fame and the American way in 1920s Chicago. Information is here.
“The Chalk Cycle” at 8 to 9:30 p.m. (and with two more showings this weekend) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s W97 Theater, 345 Vassar St., Area II. Tickets are $5. Information is here.
Routes/Roots dance from 8 to 9 p.m. (with two more shows this weekend) at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. General admission is $21. Three evenings gathering dancers and choreographers from throughout New England and New York on one stage (formerly called Route 95 Dances). Tonight is Dance the Yard, the Sean Fielder/Boston Tap Co., Jean Appolon Expressions, Soumaya MaRose and Ellen Oliver. Information is here.
Cirque of the Dead from 7 to 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Harvard Square (with performances through Oct. 31). Tickets are $30 to $50. Information is here.
GoreFest XVI from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Central Square. General admission is $25 (and ponchos are a separate $4 online or $5 at the door). Information is here.
“The Van Helsing Chronicles” radio-style play from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Boston Brunch Church, 204 Elm St., near Davis Square, Somerville (with five more performances through Oct 26). General admission is $15 (or $16.52 with fees). Information is here.
Saturday
Opera on Tap Halloween Brunch from noon to 2 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Free. The Opera on Tap singers brings this most highfalutin’ music of music down to the local level. Don your own costumes to hear Erin Anderson; Kyle Bejnerowicz; Alexandra Dietrich; Wes Hunter; Kathryn McKellar and Patricia Au. Information is here.
Taza Chocolates’ eighth annual Day of the Dead Celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Taza Chocolate, 561 Windsor St., between Inman and Union squares, Somerville. Free. The Taza chocolate factory offers free samples, tacos, tamales and elotes from local eateries, along with local beers and entertainment from DJs, musicians and other performers as well as live painting by Acoma Art. Information is here.
Hey, Boo! Kids Halloween Fest from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Harvard Coop, 1400 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square. Free, but registration is strongly required. Costumes are encouraged for a trick or treat trail for all ages, chalk wall art and other fun, with free fall treats while supplies last. Information is here.
Porter Square Speakeasy from 8 p.m. to midnight participants must check in by 10:30 p.m.) at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square. Tickets are $55, with proceeds going to support The Porter Square Books Foundation and the Miranda’s Hearth arts community. Porter Square Books After Hours goes back to the 1920s (costumes of the era are encouraged) with signature cocktails, snacks, period card and parlor games, period readings, art activities, live music with Amy Kucharik, a blues dance demonstration, and more. Snacks and drinks are included in the ticket price; purchases at the bookstore register are 20 percent off during the event. Guests include Jennifer S. Brown, author of “Modern Girls” and Harvard’s Lisa McGirr. author of “The War on Alcohol” and a history of the new right, “Suburban Warriors.” Information is here.
“Chicago” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. General admission is $12. The Kander/Ebb musical about greed, corruption, violence, jazz, fame and the American way in 1920s Chicago. Information is here.
Cirque of the Dead from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Harvard Square (with performances through Oct. 31). Tickets are $30 to $50. Information is here.
GoreFest XVI at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Central Square. General admission is $25 (and ponchos are a separate $4 online or $5 at the door). Information is here.
Routes/Roots dance from 8 to 9 p.m. (with two more shows this weekend) at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. General admission is $21. Three evenings gathering dancers and choreographers from throughout New England and New York on one stage (formerly called Route 95 Dances). Tonight is Hollis Bartlett & Nattie Trogden, Connections Dance Theater, Dance the Yard and Sean Fielder/Boston Tap Co. Information is here.
“The Chalk Cycle” at 8 to 9:30 p.m. (and with another showing Sunday) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s W97 Theater, 345 Vassar St., Area II. Tickets are $5. Information is here.
“The Van Helsing Chronicles” radio-style play from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Boston Brunch Church, 204 Elm St., near Davis Square, Somerville (with five more performances through Oct 26). General admission is $15 (or $16.52 with fees). Information is here.
Sunday
Black Market Flea from noon to 6 p.m. at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., Riverside. Admission is $1. The Boston Hassle and Ignore Rock’n’Roll Heroes present their one-day flea market featuring handmade artwork, prints, patches, records, tees, pins, ceramics, jewelry, zines, body care, tea, fiber art, vintage clothing, accessories, books as well as tarot readings, haircuts, live drawings and more. Information is here.
Having the Last Word: Epitaphs at Mount Auburn from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt Auburn St., West Cambridge. Tickets are $12. Mount Auburn’s Corinne Elicone guides a walking tour of her favorite epitaphs at the cemetery – some poetic, some ironic, all saying things about people’s values, interests, careers and grieving. Join. Information is here.
Monster Mash Halloween Bash from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at First Parish Cambridge Unitarian Universalist, 3 Church St./1446 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square. General admission is $10. A costume contest (and swap), Halloween-themed crafts and seasonal treats are part of this event organized by the Voices Rising inclusive women’s chorus. Information is here.
“The Chalk Cycle” at 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s W97 Theater, 345 Vassar St., Area II. Tickets are $5. Information is here.
Routes/Roots dance from 7 to 8 p.m. (with two more shows this weekend) at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. General admission is $21. Three evenings gathering dancers and choreographers from throughout New England and New York on one stage (formerly called Route 95 Dances). Tonight is Hollis Bartlett & Nattie Trogden, Connections Dance Theater, Jean Appolon Expressions and Soumaya MaRose, with a free (reservations recommended) pre-performance discussion with the artists from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Information is here.
GoreFest XVI at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Central Square. General admission is $25 (and ponchos are a separate $4 online or $5 at the door). Information is here.
