Improper Bostonians
You're not supposed to know about it just yet, but in the name of hard-hitting investigative journalism, Go! has unearthed details about tonight's Banned in Boston event. By investigative journalism, we mean we whined and begged the organizers for a little sneak preview. Check it out: Imagine it's the day of Prince Charles's big wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, with the queen (Elizabeth, not Latifah) smiling sweetly in the distance. Now imagine Mayor Menino as Charles, Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton as the blushing bride, and Harvard's the Rev. Peter Gomes as Her Majesty. Throw in quixotic playwright Anna Deavere Smith (no relation to Anna Nicole) as a shop clerk and Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley as Fergie, and you've got the opening skit of tonight's event. Banned in Boston, the musical comedy revue entering its 10th year, is an annual benefit for Urban Improv, a violence-prevention program for youth. Tonight's merrymaking features a who's who of local celebrities, including politicos (Menino, sundry US representatives), chefs (Jasper White and Gordon Hamersley), talking heads (Channel 5's Natalie Jacobson), hometown royalty (Red Sox owners Stacey and Larry Lucchino), and many others. Tonight's show at Avalon is at 6, and tickets are a lofty $150, and $75 for those under 40. But then, how often do you get to see the mayor marry a member of Aerosmith?
15 Lansdowne St., 617-524-7049.
KONKED OUT The Konks, Boston's premier cats of primitive garage rock played on ''cheap guitars and just two lousy drums," are celebrating the release of their self-titled debut album. Tonight they join the Tampoffs and Andy G. and the Roller Kings at the Abbey Lounge. The show revs up at 9 p.m. Tickets $7. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, 617-441-9631.
RELIEF FROM THAT FEVER All right, dab those misty eyes already. So you weren't invited to Wednesday's star-studded premiere of ''Fever Pitch." Neither was Go!, but we suspect our invitation was merely lost in the mail, along with the invite to Britney Spears's pending baby shower (don't pretend, Brits). There was probably an entire flock of sad sacks loitering in front of Avalon, wondering if and when the Strokes would fire up with drummer Fabrizio Moretti's gal pal, Drew Barrymore, on vocals. Alas, all the brouhaha has led us to today's nationwide opening of ''Fever Pitch." And believe us, we couldn't be happier. All this hubbub hasn't given us a fever, but instead a headache. Regardless of the reviews, nothing would stop the locals from seeing it. Expect sold-out screenings, long ticket lines, and a sea of baseball caps and T-shirts punning on A-Rod's unfortunate name.Various theaters and showtimes.
EXHIBITION, A NOUN It sounds like an event straight out of Go!'s wildest dreams -- an entire exhibit devoted to art inspired by the New Century Dictionary of the English Language. That's exactly what the Brickbottom Gallery is doing with the Dictionary Project. The idea was simple. Somerville artist Annie Silverman found a discarded copy of the dictionary (copyright 1957) in the trash last winter. She then sent pages from it to various artists and writers, asking them to create something original based on their pages. In some cases, artists created their work on the pages, while a few even requested specific words. Be it printmaking, collage, stitching, or blueprints, these artists have created stunning salutes to the relationship between word and image, including Silverman's ''Sometimes a Seed Vessel." Of the 60-plus contributors, many of them are from Massachusetts, but others come from as far away as Cuba, Japan, and Denmark. Ages range from 21 to 85. The exhibit runs through May 14, with an opening reception on Sunday (3 to 5 p.m.). Today's gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Free. 1 Fitchburg St., Somerville,617-776-3410.
SATURDAY
WEIRD SCIENCE ''If you're one of the thousands of New Englanders who suffer from sinus problems and also like twangy folk music, then the Plough & Stars is the place to be on Saturday, April 9." So writes Steve Mardon in a press release about his next gig. Mardon has the intriguing distinction of being a health writer by day and a fledgling folk musician by night. He's released an album, ''Critic's Darling," full of singer-songwriter tales about falling in love at the Kendall Cafe while bonding over Commander Cody. Along with his band, the Egregious Typos, Mardon plays at the Plough & Stars today at 5 p.m. to celebrate the release of the book ''The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses," which Mardon cowrote with Harvard professor Ralph B. Metson. At 7:30 p.m. a party commences, and Metson will be signing copies of the book. Sometimes you can't make this stuff up, really. 912 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-441-3455.
SUNDAY
KNOW WHEN TO FOLD 'EM We can think of at least a few good candidates for a celebrity poker match. In this corner we have a prim Shelley Long bluffing as a cocky Marla Gibbs eyes the cards of nearby Erik Estrada. Thankfully, the Face of an Angel Foundation has found a more impressive lineup for its
Events can always be canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call to confirm. Go! can be reached at go@globe.com or by calling 617-929-8257.
