… I feel a little like it’s 1990, but it also tips me off that it’s Friday. Unemployment/freelancing has turned every day into a Tuesday. Or two days before a deadline. Or something. This Sunday marks the start of May and holy balls, there are a lot of events this weekend. Been tweetin’ all week about these but I figured I’d write them down just to keep my head straight.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Boston Bacon & Beer Festival @ Royale 1:30-4PM… I know I just blogged about it being sold out but @EatBoston saw some tix up on Craigslist today. Get on it! Bacon + beer + all proceeds going to charity = actual winning.

Dash for a Difference @ all over Boston! 9AM… I also just mentioned Dash during my #charityTuesday post… but if you’re walking around Boston and you see a group of folks running around confused, but they seem like they’re good intentioned, those will be the dashers. They’ll be following clues to find different agencies and volunteering at 8-10 sites throughout the day to win some fab prizes.  

SUNDAY, MAY 1

May Fair @ several locations around Harvard Square 12-6PM… Music, dance, beer gardens, hot air balloon rides, and a charity haircut-a-thon… those Cambridge folk clearly know how to party. All that’s missing is a chocolate fountain… hmmm… chocolate fountain. (At the end of this post, you decide.. who wins at events? Cambridge or Somerville?)

Meat Meet @ Metro Pedal Power 12-2PM…  Pop up food mart with Stillman’s (head to their website for your meaty needs), NorthStar Farm (salads, kale, Narragansett yogurt, frozen local strawberries & carrots), Vianne Chocolat (@VianneChocolat), Backyard Birds (@backyardbirds - eggs, eggs, eggs from pasture raised hens that are fed certified organic grain), Sherman Market (@shermanmarket), Alex’s Ugly Sauce (@alexsuglysauce - bring on the hot sauce… well, not me, but for other people), and The Farm School (sign up for a CSA or check out their summer programs for kids). I heard about this through the Cuisine En Locale (@EnLocale) newsletter. Their catering is super delicious, plus they have a shared food program (food delivered weekly… sign up for regular delivery or occasional)! Chef JJ Gonson is, clearly, all about the local love (food and otherwise). 

SoWa Open Market (@SoWaOpenMarket) @ 460 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 10-4PM… An indie market dream with every kind of gift you can imagine… clothes, jewelry, photography, sculpture… everything! If shopping leaves you famished, there’s also a farmers market and lotsa food trucks just a hop, skip, and a jump away. 

Walk for Hunger (@WalkforHunger) @ all over Boston… It’s always good to know when 40,000 people might be strolling round your neighborhood all day. But at least this walk is raising lotsa money for our hungry neighbors. Check out street closures here. 

SATURDAY + SUNDAY

Free Sailing @ Boston Sailing Center (Lewis Wharf) 1-5PM… Free sailing around Boston Harbor plus discounts on courses & memberships. I’ve actually never been and hear there’s usually a long line, so just bring a picnic (or someone entertaining) while you wait. :) 

Cambridge Naturals 37th Anniversary @ Cambridge Naturals… Tastings, teas, gelato, & gifts with purchase. Seems like a monumental anniversary considering this plaza in Porter Square is always changing. Show em love! 

Open Studios in Brookline, Somerville, West Medford. So much local art, so little time! Although if you’re swinging by Somerville, Taza Chocolate & EH Chocolatier will be holding their own open house (JUST Sunday 11-3PM). Oh, they’re on the Twitters too: @TazaChocolate and @EHchocolatier… heh

ONGOING

Cambridge Science Festival (@CSFtweets) 4/30-5/8 @ various locations… Lectures, exhibitions, workshops, music, movies, and my favorite words: some free events. :) 

Independent Film Festival Boston (@IFFBoston) now - 5/4 @ various locations… I won tickets on Monday to see Being Elmo (thanks @yelpboston!), the opening night movie. FANFREAKINGTASTIC. haha The movie follows Kevin Clash, the man behind the furry red puppet. It’s a well done doc and I always appreciate the message to follow your dream no matter how crazy/what people say (wee Kevin made his first puppet out of the fur lining in his dad’s coat). My cheeks hurt from smiling and my throat hurt from laughing so much. After the movie, there was a Q&A with some of the crew, Kevin Clash, and Elmo. Also, quite hilarious (I ASKED ELMO A QUESTION)… I’d pay to see Kevin and Elmo do a standup tour. Definitely catch a festival movie if you can, the folks at IFF (an entirely volunteer run organization) worked super hard this year and there are tons of movies to choose from. There’s even an iPhone app to help ya out!

Sooooo have a happy weekend everyone… I’ll be tweeting (@trishofthetrade) up a storm about where I’ll be. Hope to see you at an event! :) 

“What’s uh… what’s going on over there… sharks?” (Pix taken by me. :-D)