Now that we're on this eight days a week kick for doing these picks it seems like it might be time for a new graphic. We'll give you a cookie if you design us a new one. Or maybe a Newcastle next time you catch us at the Middle East. Promise. Monday 8/7 The Roots with Talib Kweli It may not be a Brooklyn block party hosted by Dave Chappelle, but it will be......

Usually we try to wax poetic about some sort of relevant piece of information. This week we're dropping all that fluff and jumping right into this week's set of picks – lots of good shows on tap for this week. Zydeco to classical, hip hop to electronica, and Bon Jovi. Monday 7/24: Wattstax with Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves Allston's Paperboy plays an opening revue for a screening of Wattstax, a film......

In a world where there's nothing to do but watch movies. In a city full of theaters, museums, and libraries. One moviegoer who can be in three places at once. This week's films are full of things Bostonist can't say no to (classic movies with classic martinis), things we couldn't stop if we tried (fate, modern architecture), and the purple chunk of the Venn diagram where those two categories overlap (zombies). Cocktails! Cary Grant! Friday......

The debacle that was Hot Stove, Cool Music last week has made us ready for a week of good music. The debacle in that it poured so hard they had to move the whole thing under the bleachers (inside). The sound quality was poor and James Taylor pulled a rock star move and only made the stage for a single song because he didn't have enough space. This week we're looking forward to cooler......

In a world where there's nothing to do but watch movies. In a city full of theaters, museums, and libraries. One moviegoer who can be in three places at once. Friday 7/14 They Came Back (Les Revenants) The dead return by the thousands, but they're the French dead: their hunger is existential. (American and Italian zombies, with traditional brain-eating values, will return next weekend.) Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium 6 pm, $10 They Came......

Apparently we're supposed to go to work this week. It's the first full week in July. We're not counting last week – there was enough time spent on various roof decks that it can't be called anything but lazy. This week the grind is back, but the music isn't taking a break. An eclectic mix make up this week's picks from indie rock to Elvis Costello to the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, they're not playing......

The gap week between the celebrations of America's Independence Day and upcoming France's Bastille Day, this is the perfect time to dabble in some French and American wine tasting history. Ever since the ground-breaking Paris Tasting in 1976 where in a blind tasting France's top wine tasting experts (to everyone's shock) picked American wine over their French counterparts as the best, America's reputation in wine has been on a steady rise. Specifically it was California's......

All we can say is at least it's not raining. The humidity, not so much the heat, has got everyone running on a pretty sluggish pace today. Perhaps after another TurboIce things will pick up. Or some sweet nerdy action in the way of the IT Band Bash – you know the guy sitting in the cube across from you who's a rocker at night? Oh, you don't, well he might be. If you're......

You don’t need to book a flight to California for a Sideways-style adventure the moment you start to feel your mid- (or more quarter-) life crises creeping up. Recently, Bostonist was delightfully surprised to learn there are over a dozen wineries (with actual vineyards!) right in Boston’s backyard. This whole realization came about last weekend when Bostonist was on our way to Singing Beach. While driving through Topsfield, saw a sign for Alfalfa Farm. The......

Let Bostonist assure you that no one can ever accuse The Streets of being a bad host. Last night The Streets played at the Avalon with Lady Sovereign opening, but it really felt more like a massive house party and Mike Skinner was the host with the most. They came out on stage with full force revving up the crowd with songs from the latest album (opening the set with the album opener), with some......

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea for us to claim that all shows should be played outside over the summer. Lucky for us no one listens to our suggestions on venue – so we're heading back inside where the temperature with the AC on is only about five degrees cooler than it is outside. A welcome five degrees, with a tiny bit lower humidity. This week's list hits a variety of shows, something......

In a world where there's nothing to do but watch movies. In a city full of theaters, museums, and libraries. One moviegoer who can be in three places at once. Thursday 6/15 Jane: An Abortion Service With no formal medical training and no legal ground to stand on, an underground clinic performed thousands of safe abortions between 1969 and 1973. Jane: An Abortion Service tells their story with archival footage, recreations, and interviews with the......

Memorial Day has come and gone, and despite the torrential rains, in a few weeks it will be officially summer. This naturally implies two things: It’s safe to start adding white back into your palette of wardrobe colors… and If you’ve ever been (even affectionately) referred to as “butter fingers” – it may be time to shelve the red wine for a few months (at least till Labor Day) and save the stains on your......

In a world where there's nothing to do but watch movies. In a city full of theaters, museums, and libraries. One moviegoer who can be in three places at once. Opening Friday 6/9 Clean Maggie Cheung, still inexplicably less popular than Ziyi Zhang in this country, kicks her drug habit in Paris. Kendall Square Cinema Showing through next week, $7-$9.25 IMDB | web site | trailers Sketches of Frank Gehry Sidney Pollack's film documents the......

Wednesday kicks off the 4th annual Boston International Film Festival (BIFF). BIFF offers 8 consecutive days of 110 films from over 27 countries with movie genres ranging from animation to comedy to political documentary. All films are being screened at AMC Loews Theatre Boston Common with additional screenings at Mass Art. The BIFF was created to spotlight independently produced films all across the world on stages here in the Hub. A juried festival of......

Preparing for a wine and cheese party in Boston can be a very fun prelude to the evening. Instead of getting everything at the super-market, discover the smaller, specialized shops around town that not only will have a much larger selection, but will also answer your questions and concerns (wine and cheese related of course) and help you with pairing. First thing you’ll want to get is the cheese- but don’t go crazy with numerous......

Bostonist doesn’t need you to become as knowledgeable as the city’s finest sommelier, but getting a little more familiar with wine can make a world of a difference at your next dinner, your next party, or your next date. A good place to start is to understand the basics of pairing wine with food. Although there are no rigid rules, there are some useful guidelines that can help you decide on what to drink. Your......