THEATER
“OR”
There’s still time to catch this sassy vision of 17th century writer Aphra Behn, England’s first professional playwright and, as the play opens, now former spy. Apparently there’s a hit out on her, but she’s also found herself caught between two celebrity lovers: the current queen of the stage and the actual King of England. Hey, at least she won’t be bored!
Through Sept. 23, Chelsea Theater Works, 189 Winnisimmet St., Chelsea, $25, ortheplay.com
“Exit the King”
Actors’ Shakespeare Project dusts off this 1962 comedy by Eugene Ionesco, about a once powerful but now incompetent ruler who’s made a wreck of his country, and the court trying to break through his denial and make him understand he’s dying. Any resemblance to certain stubborn, delusional, currently living heads of state is entirely your interpretation.
Through Oct. 8, Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Boston, $25-$50, actorsshakespeareproject.org
MOVIES
Boston Film Festival
Highlights of this year’s Boston Film Festival include “In the Name of Peace,” a documentary on Irish activist John Hume, “American Satan,” a thriller about a rock band that lands a deal with the Devil, “Dabka,” the true story of an American journalist embedded with Somali pirates and the documentary “The Bullish Farmer,” about a Wall Street hot shot who became a farmer.
Sept. 21- 24, AMC Lowes Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., Boston, $5-$400, bostonfilmfestival.org
DRINK
Braille and Brew
Beer tastings are a dime a dozen these days, so when one comes along with a little twist it tends to stand out. This benefit for the National Braille Press, a non-profit that’s been helping the blind read for 90 years, throws blindfolds into the mix. Who knows, you might just find that color preference was stopping you from finding your favorite beer.
Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m., Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St., Somerville, $35, 21+, aeronautbrewing.com
Dorchester Brewing Company Oktoberfest
Yes, it’s that time of year. Whether you’re German or not, Oktoberfest is a great excuse to drink a bit more beer than usual. Dorchester Brewing Company made a unique beer just for their Oktoberfest party, and they’ll be serving it in appropriately big steins. There’s music from the Mad Bavarian Brass Band, beer-filled pretzels and donuts and others delights.
Sept. 23, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Dorchester, free, 21+, dorchesterbrewing.com
COMEDY
Starstruck: Close Encounters of the Awkward Kind
Famous people: when we see one, we all want to act cool and let them go about their day, except that that’s almost impossible. So we bug them and embarrass ourselves. In this sideshow of the Boston Comedy Festival, comics Bethany Van Delft and Nick Chambers regular folks share their unfortunate encounters with not-so-regular folks: cringe, laugh, repeat.
Sept. 21, 7 p.m., The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Boston, $12, 21+, bostoncomedyfest.com
MUSEUMS
College Night at the Museum of Science
College students get into the Museum of Science free on Friday. If you grew up in much of New England you probably took a field trip here at some point, which means you can show your friends from California and Minnesota how cool the musical stairs are, and the Theater of Electricity and Live Animal shows will be free as well.
Sept. 22, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, free w/ student ID, mos.org
MUSIC
Bearstronaut
The local dance band Bearstronaut turns 10 this year, and while they’re definitely a local institution, national recognition has been a tough—though not hopeless—battle. Just a month ago, in fact, they appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Perhaps soon America will finally learn to love their slick, romantic fusion of EDM and indie dance-pop.
Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m., Middle East Upstairs, 472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, $10, 18+, mideastclub.com
Seu Jorge Presents: The Life Aquatic, a Tribute to David Bowie
Despite the fact that David Bowie died well over a year ago, this concert is billed as being “in commemoration of David Bowie’s recent passing.” A little odd, maybe, but you don’t really need an excuse to enjoy Brazilian singer Seu Jorge’s beautiful nylon-stringed Bowie renditions, which masterfully dredge the emotional depths of an artist known for his enthusiastic embrace of rock’s superficial trappings.
Sept. 24, 7 p.m., Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, $52-$102, bso.og
FESTIVALS
What the Fluff?
Boston area locals, bored to tears with all that touristy colonial crap, naturally fixate on lesser-known bits of their region’s history. Case in point: this annual festival commemorating the invention of Marshmallow Fluff in Somerville in 1917—important? You better believe it. And this year’s the 100th anniversary, so it’s going to be a major blowout—excuse us, Fluff-out.
Sept. 23, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Union Square Plaza, 90 Union Sq., Somerville, free, flufffestival.com
Village Fest
Everett’s Village Fest would be just another local community festival, except for the fact that its headlining musical guest is George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Not sure how or why this came about but it’s a rare chance have a close encounter with the Mothership for free, and a pretty legit way to ring out the Summer.
Sept. 23, 3 p.m.- 9 p.m., Santilli Highway, Everett, free, cityofeverett.com/633/Village-Fest-2017
FOOD
Phantom Gourmet Food Festival
Those familiar with the tastes of the Phantom Gourmet’s Andelman brothers know what sort of delicious smorgasbord awaits those who enter pass over their purple threshold: chowder, pizza, General Gau’s Chicken, pulled pork, burgers, mac and cheese, oh my… There’s some healthier stuff as well, like tabbouleh and kale salad, but we all know what you’re here for.
Sept. 23, noon- 4 p.m., entrance near Game On, 82 Lansdowne St., Boston, $40-$100, 21+, phantomgourmetfoodfestival.com
