Moving in Cambridge

This past weekend, I moved in time to bunker down for Hurricane Irene (which proved to be little more than a windy storm for Cambridge, MA). As most of my previous moves have involved primarily storage/shipping, I'm a little late to the game when it comes to knowing how moving works. During my move I learned the following:

• Do not move on September 1 if you can help it. I haven't ever done this myself, but our move was initially scheduled for September 1 and it was difficult even to reserve a UHaul--and this was at the beginning of August. If you have to move September 1, plan early.
• If you can't get a UHaul, try the suburbs. We initially had non-overlapping apartment leases (Aug. 31/Sept. 1) and needed to reserve a truck overnight to store our things. We ended up finding one about an hour outside Cambridge.
• Cambridge issues moving van permits. You can apply for one here but they will cost you money and it may not be honored. I paid $45 for two spots and even though the city put up signs, cars occupied the spots for the duration of my move.
• Wardrobe boxes are brilliant. Wardrobe boxes (available at the UHaul store and other places) allow you to hang your clothing intact onto a built-in bar. They take up a lot of space, though.
• Becoming a minimalist is a good idea. I don't think of myself as someone who likes having a lot of stuff, but apparently I have too many things to move comfortably. I have been making good use of the MIT reuse list, the Planet Aid clothes/shoes donation box at MIT, and the book/item exchanges in my building for giving things away.

From my roommate I also learned some cool things about the car-sharing company Zipcar:

• MIT has a great Zipcar deal where students pay $25 a year.
• If your Zipcard does not work, Zipcar can remotely open the trunk of a Zipcar, where backup cards are waiting. They will be able to remotely activate a new card for you.

I am currently looking forward to the September 1 looting, which occurs when everybody moving out realizes they have too much stuff and begins selling/giving away things. Being a minimalist may limit my options somewhat.

My first aerial acrobatics class!

Sunday I had my first aerial acrobatics class at Aircraft Aerial Arts* with Jill Maio. It was so much fun! The class consisted of three women (including me) who had never been on the equipment (corde lisse, aerial silk, and static trapeze) before. Jill (patiently) taught us basic skills such as how to climb the ropes, how to pose on the silks, how to go upside-down, and how to do seated and standing poses on the trapeze. I was able to do much more than I had expected--and it wasn't scary at all! I signed up for a 7-class introductory series this March through April. Cirque du Soleil, here I come!

* This place is really convenient--it is a 5-minute walk from Inman.

A.R.T.'s Donkey Show

Saturday I went to the American Repertory Theater's Donkey Show, which "tells the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream through the great 70s anthems." My friend Firth accurately describes it as "just kind of a big party." The show takes place at the Oberon, which has a stage in front of a large open dance floor area. There are raised platforms where audience members can rise to dance with glitter-covered "fairies" before the show. The show happens not just on the stage, but on the catwalk around the club and on the raised platforms as the audience dances to retro disco hits such as "We are Family" and "Ring My Bell" around the performance. After the show (at least, the 10:30 show) the DJ keeps the glitter-covered audience dancing for another hour before they kick everyone out. If you go, I recommend dressing 70's disco! (And I definitely recommend going!)

I posted pictures here.

Aircraft launch: aerial acrobatics in Boston

Tonight I went to the Aircraft launch, the opening party for Aircraft Aerial Arts, a new aerial acrobatics school in Somerville*.

The party was (and the studio is) in this cool space in a garage on Webster Ave. in Somerville. There was a silks apparatus, a hoop, and a static trapeze hanging from the ceiling and then space around to watch. Through the course of the night there were various performances, including one performance by owner Jill Maio in the back room with an extra-high silks apparatus. Jill also did this awesome maneuver where she took down the silks apparatus and hung up a cord lisse by climbing up the silks, hooking up the cord lisse, and switching over.

In between the performances people drank wine and hung out. It was an interesting scene--the studio was filled with people from the Boston circus/acrobatics community and other random curious people (like me). I was told that Boston has quite a strong and growing circus/acro community.

Thanks to Ben Reynolds for telling me about this event!

* I am really excited about taking up aerial acrobatics! I signed up for a silks class next weekend. Thanks, Amy Cohen, for telling me about all these cool circus things. :)

BOC presents A Little Night Music

The other day I saw Boston Opera Collective's performance of Sondheim's musical A Little Night Music at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. It was fun--some actors, such as the Stephanie Piraino, who plays Anne Egerman, were quite good. I recommend going, especially if you are a student. (Tickets are $15 for students and $25 for non-students. It is showing again next weekend.)

Naked Comedy Showcase

After attending The Slutcracker, I topped off my night of nudity by going to the Naked Comedy Showcase at the Oberon in Harvard Square. The show was hosted by Boston comedian Andy Ofiesh and featured local comedians including Cameron Moore, Phone Whore, Chris Fleming, and Zach Sherwin* (a.k.a. MC Mr. Napkins). All comedians performed in the buff; some of them made reference to their nudity while others just did their bits. They also took a few people from the audience who came up to the stage told jokes in the nude. There is another show January 8, 2010 at 10:30 pm: consider going!

* A hilarious hip-hop rapper comedian. Top hits include Plush Pig and Sphygmomanometer ("and now in morse code...").

The Slutcracker

The Slutcracker, a "sexy freaky holiday zeitgeist spectacular" burlesque version of The Nutcracker, is playing now in the Somerville Theater*. Starring the wonderfully talented dancer Malice in Wonderland as Clara and based on the slutcracker prince (a pink and glittery personified vibrator) fighting the prude fiance, the show is thrilling and well-choreographed. Dances include the Bacchanalia Harem (featuring dancers with names like Cherry Phosphate, Decolletage, Femme Brulee, and Havana Tormenta) and the Dance of the Reed Pole (featuring Sugar Dish). I recommend catching it while it's still playing**. Read the press here.

* I saw it this past Friday; it's showing today and next weekend (Dec. 17-20).
** Leave the kids at home.