By Emily Huizenga, News Staff
Featured Event:
Viva la révolution underground. On its website, The Boston Underground Film Festival (BUFF) is called a “celebration of the bizarre and insane,” an “uncompromising and unflinching film and video showcase,” and, perhaps most notably, “hazardous to your health.” Held in Cambridge’s Brattle Theater, the four-day festival highlights new, experimental and groundbreaking films. It kicks off tonight with “John Dies at the End,” based off the novel by Cracked.com editor David Wong, followed by an opening night party. Each day of the festival features four to six films, plus some sort of opening, karaoke or closing night party. Tickets are $10 for each individual film, or $75 for a festival pass that includes admission to all 16 screenings, priority seating and admission to the parties. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge; 8 p.m.; $10 – $75; bostonunderground.org.
Thursday, March 29
March 20 marks the International Day of Francophonie, honoring the community of people who speak French across the globe. For those whose extent of French language consists of creme brulee and faux pas, the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) presents “A French Affair: Food and Conversation,” a chance to not only learn key words and phrases, but also cook French culinary classics. Attendees will be able to cook a French dinner and describe it. The French are known for their language and food – this class presents the chance to learn both. 122 Arglington St.; 6 – 9 p.m.; $42; www.bcae.org.
Friday, March 30
ArtsEmerson hosts an Ex Machina production of Robert Lepage’s musical comedy “The Andersen Project,” a musical comedy about a Canadian rock ’n’ roll writer who is unexpectedly commissioned by the Opera Garnier in Paris to write a libretto for a children’s opera. Lepage is best known as the creator of the Metropolitan Opera’s controversial new production of “Ring Cycle,” but he also has a long list of credentials with his multi-disciplinary troupe Ex Machina. In the off-the-wall play, inspired by fables written by Hans Christian Andersen, the would-be composer arrives in Paris to find that things are not as he expected, as he encounters questions of sexuality, career, and fame. Cutler Majestic Theater, 219 Tremont St.; 8 p.m.; $25 to $85; artsemerson.org.
Saturday, March 31
Northeastern sororities and fraternities join together for Step Fest 2012: Stepping Without Borders. The Iota Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. hosts the event for the 38th year, which is held to unite Greek life on campus through performance. The event is a competition; sororities against sororities, fraternities against fraternities. Each year Alpha Kappa Alpha tries to make the event more outstanding and intriguing for the audience, and this year’s show features special performances by DJ Funkmaster Flex, a DJ from one of New York’s hottest radio stations, Hot 97.1, as well as several community groups. Doors open at 11 a.m. Matthews Arena; show starts at noon; NU undergrad $7; [email protected].
Plane tickets aren’t cheap, but you can pretend you’re getting out of Boston this weekend for the 15th annual International Student and Scholar Institute’s (ISSI) International Gala Night, an annual event featuring performances inspired from countries across the globe. The show will include a colorful spectrum of song, dance and fashion from countries like India, Chile, China, Ghana, Turkey, Italy, Peru, Trinidad and the Philippines. Students, staff and community members contribute artistry and talent to the globally-inspired performances. Blackman Auditorium, Ell Hall; 7 -9 p.m.; free; www.northeastern.edu/issi.
Sunday, April 1
The Sigma Kappa Psi Chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority are co-sponsoring a futsal tournament to benefit the Gavrieli School in Haifa, Israel. And no, that’s not a typo. Futsal is a variant of soccer played between two teams of five players on a hard indoor court with a smaller ball. The tournament itself will consist of five-on-five games. One substitute is required and there is a maximum of three subs per team. The first team to score eight goals or the leading team after 10 minutes will be the winner, though finals may be extended if time allows. There will be prizes for the top three teams. The games will take place in the Marino Center. All money raised will go toward the purchase of sporting equipment for students at the school, which will be delivered in person by members of the Northeastern Jewish community this summer. Marino Center; 10 a.m.; $5 per team to participate; www.facebook.com/#!/events/198682196900114.
Monday, April 2
Academy Award nominee and cult animator Don Hertzfeldt (“Rejected,” “Everything Will Be OK”) is coming to Coolidge Corner Theatre to for a one-night only event. A selection of Hertzfeldt’s classic animated shorts will grace the big screen, followed by an exclusive Boston-area premiere of his newest film, “It’s Such a Beautiful Day,” the third and final chapter in a trilogy about a mysterious man named Bill. Chapter one, “Everything Will Be OK,” won the Sundance Film Festival’s Jury Award in Short Filmmaking. Chapter two, “I Am So Proud Of You,” received 27 awards. “It’s Such a Beautiful Day” is Hertzfelt’s longest and most ambitious piece to date. A live Q&A session will follow the show. 290 Harvard St., Brookline; 7 p.m.; $12; www.coolidge.org.
Tuesday, April 3
The Beehive bar and restaurant on Tremont Street will host an evening dedicated to jazz legend Miles Davis with special cuisine, drinking and live entertainment. Some of Boston’s most powerful and seasoned musicians will honor Davis with everything from bebop tunes to cool blues. A band consisting of Phil Grenadier on trumpet, George Garzone on the saxophone, Tim Rays on the piano keys, John Lockwood on the bass and Luther Grey on the drums will take the stage at 8 p.m. to honor the legend. Executive Chef Rebecca Newell will provide culinary contributions with a full dinner, or guests can choose from The Beehive’s collection of cocktails and snacks at the bar. Davis, a composer and bandleader, is regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in 20th century jazz. His album “Kind of Blue” is the best-selling album in the history of jazz music and his work garnered eight Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. 541 Tremont St.; 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.; free; www.beehiveboston.com.
Wednesday, April 4
Everyone knows the drill: Shoes off, belt off, all possessions under the scanner. Though these stay the same, the omnipresent metal detectors in airports are more and more being replaced by X-ray backscatter and millimeter-wave scanners, which produce images of travelers and reveal concealed man-made objects. Some, like Assistant Professor Jose Martinez of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, say this technology is a modern improvement over older conventional sensing science, and is safer, less embarrassing and more effective than most people imagine. Martinez will explain how the scanners work and why passengers should not fear the waving wand. Lunch will be served. Alumni Center, 716 Columbus Ave., 6th Floor; 12 – 2 p.m.; $16; www.alumni.northeastern.edu.
Have an event coming up? E-mail the details to [email protected].
Events may be canceled or rescheduled. Call ahead to confirm.
