Here comes some trouble
Local shutterbug John Soares has had the privilege of aiming his lens at everyone from Tony Bennett to J Mascis, and he's exhibiting some of his finest pop-star photography at the Middle East Restaurant. Not only can you see snapshots of rockers such as the lovely Miss Mary (above) and the late Johnny Cash, but at tonight's opening reception, you can also enjoy the sounds of Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes. It runs from 7 to 9:30 and is free.
472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-492-9181.
Land of the lounge lizards
We're not saying DJ Tym Ryan is old, but the man has been spinning vinyl since it moved at 78 revolutions per minute and scratching was done on a Victrola. We kid, of course. Truth be told, Go!'s that live in glass houses shouldn't throw Oil of Olay. Which means that back in our salad days, we grooved late into the night to Ryan's acid house sets at Axis. Tonight, he makes a rare Monday appearance at the uber-swank Middlesex Lounge. Beginning at 9, Ryan promises true down-tempo lounge bliss along the lines of Thievery Corporation or Kruder & Dorfmeister. Think of it as your personal decompression chamber after a diabolic Monday in the office. Even better, there's no cover, so you can spend that hard-earned cabbage on Go!'s favorite finger food -- 10 tiny tacos -- and a smooth mojito.
315 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-868-6739.
Hitting the sauce
As everyone knows, Monday nights are best reserved for plopping on the sofa with a cold box of wine, a warm cat, and season seven of ''Little House on the Prairie" on the DVD player. But instead of simply getting sauced tonight, Go!'s looking to get saucy. In other words, watch out, Orlando Bloom, Go! is hitting the town and shaking it like our girl Katharine Hepburn tonight. Our sauce of preference for getting saucy is mole, the rich, Mexican bittersweet chocolate. Every Monday night in March, Ole Mexican Grill chef Erwin Ramos is cooking a different mole served on special dishes. It's called Mole Mondays, natch. Tonight's varieties are mole negro and coloradito mole, so tasty that perhaps Orlando would care to join us for dinner. No? The dishes are priced a la carte, and don't forget the guacamole.
11 Springfield St., Cambridge, 617-492-4495.
Tea for two (or more)
Liquid tastings in these parts tend to consist of bottles of fancy-pants firewater, accompanied by a few savory nibbles. But the folks at dessert palace Finale have conjured up a tasting for you faint-of-heart teetotalers. Naturally, it's a tea tasting. Tonight from 6:30 to 8, tea expert Mark Mooradian of MEM Tea Imports guides you through the world of loose-leaf teas. No more accidentally brewing pots of oregano after this class, kids. The cost is $19.95 and reservations are recommended.
30 Dunster St., Cambridge, 617-441-9797.
She gets around
A show of hands please for those who wish Old Man Winter would board the last train to Clarksville and take his nogoodnik longtime companion Jack Frost with him. Clearly, we're all sick of winter. Even Go!'s delicate Mini Cooper is threatening to return to England if we get any more storms, although we suspect he started thinking about escaping long before winter began. Here to save us from the winter of our discontent is Susan Orlean. The New Yorker staff writer is at the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library tonight reading from ''My Kind of Place: Travel Stories From a Woman Who Has Been Everywhere." Fingers crossed she reads about somewhere warm, although we'd accept lukewarm or tepid at this point. The event is free.
646 East Broadway, South Boston, 617-268-0180.
The heat's on
The most rockin' Canadian band since Loverboy (and that's really saying a lot, folks), rolls into Axis tonight. Hot Hot Heat may not have Loverboy's snug leather trousers or freshly permed hockey hair, but the band does have something that Loverboy never had, which is groove, and some very tight synthesizer riffs. It's new wave that rocks, or synth pop with a thrash beat. Hustle on down to Landsdowne Street and hear these lads for yourself. The all-ages show starts at 7; Louis XIV and the Information open; $15.
13 Lansdowne St., 617-931-2000.
Events can always be canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call to confirm. Go! can be reached atr go@globe.com or by calling 617-929-8257.
