September 2015 – Salem Happenings

Can’t Stop the Serenity

“You can’t stop the signal, Mal.” Truer words have never been spoken because almost every show has some diehard fans, but there are very few shows that have the cult-like following of Firefly. In fact, Firefly fans are so dedicated that there is actually a widely accepted and recognized term for fans of the show, Browncoats, which of course comes from the show itself. However, these fans are not your typical television followers because they are not only interested in preserving the memory of a beloved show that was cut short before its time but also interested in trying to use their beloved show as an excuse to help others. I know using a show to help others may sound sort of strange if you’re not familiar with the event that I’m talking about, but if you’re a Firefly fan, someone that just wants to see what everyone else is so excited about, or someone that just wants to help a good cause, I highly recommend that you check out the 10th anniversary screening of Serenity at the Can’t Stop the Serenity Charity event.

Can’t Stop the Serenity is an annual charity event organized by Firefly fans that allows people to purchase tickets to see the Firefly movie, Serenity, as it was meant to be seen – on the big screen. All of the profits from these screenings, which take place all over the world, are donated to Equality Now. The charitable work of the Browncoats does not end there, however, because in addition to the $1,000,000 they have raised for Equality Now over the last 10 years, they have also collected a variety of donations for local food banks and other charities. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to have some fun while helping people this weekend, please think about attending the 10th Anniversary Screening of Serenity at the Coolidge Corner Theatre tomorrow, Saturday 26, 2015 at 11:59 P.M. For more information on Can’t Stop the Serenity and/or to order tickets, please visit the Can’t Stop the Serenity website, the Can’t Stop the Serenity Boston Facebook page, or the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Photo credit: W10002 / Foter / CC BY-SA

International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2015

Arr ye mateys! To’morrow be a fine day indeed. For that magical occasion in which every lad and lass can speak like a scurvy dog is finally upon us! Now, what be this magical time I speak of? Well, it be International Talk Like A Pirate Day of course, which means if ye seek to go on account (or, in plainer speak, seek to become a pirate) fer a day, thar be no better day than this day. However, in th’ interest ‘o not scaring off them who not appreciate th’ tongue of less reputable men and women, th’ remainder ‘o ‘tis missive will be in a more common tongue (or, in other words, standard English.)

Now, the first thing that every pirate needs to know is how to use a sword, but what do you do if sword fighting is not in your skillset? Well, fear not, for if your sword skills could use some work, the Boston Fencing Club has the perfect way for you to sharpen your abilities. This is because the Boston Fencing Club is offering free fencing sessions from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, September 19, 2015.) These sessions will teach you the basics of Olympic fencing, including how to thrust and parry. For more information on the Free Fencing Sessions at the Boston Fencing Club, please visit the Boston Fencing Club website, e-mail info@bostonfencingclub.org, or call 781-891-0119.

Once your sword skills are in order, you can then move on to speaking like a pirate. However, if you’re not quite sure how to talk like a scurvy dog or you are in need of some new pirate phases, here are five websites that you should definitely check out:

1. The International Talk Like A Pirate Day Website is filled with information about how to be a better pirate, including an explanation of why it is important to talk like a pirate and how you can actually do it.

2. The Pirate Translator on the Post Like a Pirate website is an excellent tool if you’re trying to figure out the pirate equivalent of everyday words.

3. Google and Facebook both have features that will allow you to change some of their menus into pirate speak. This can be an excellent way to get your brain into a pirate-talking mindset, and you can do it simply by going to the language settings in Google or Facebook and choosing the “pirate” option.

4. Another great option if you’re looking for a pirate translator is the Online Pirate Translator on Pirate Monkeyness. This translator is very similar to the pirate translator on the Post Like a Pirate website, but it has a much larger vocabulary.

5. If you’re really trying to get your pirate speak just right, you should definitely check out the How to Talk Like a Pirate Guide on WikiHow. This step-by-step guide will teach you a series of tricks that you can use to make sure that you’re talking like a real pirate in no time.

Photo credit: Dr Stephen Dann / Foter / CC BY-SA

Game On This Weekend!

My brother’s birthday is actually this weekend, so I decided that this week’s post should be about something that he truly enjoys. In fact, if you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet my brother, you probably wouldn’t have a lot of trouble figuring out what today’s post is about. However, since there’s a pretty good chance that you haven’t actually met him, I should probably just say that today’s post is about gaming. And, if you’re looking for an opportunity to indulge in some video games, board games, and card games this weekend, there are a couple of events in the Boston area that you will definitely want to check out.

First, if you’re a Minecraft fan or you really want to learn the basics of creating video game mods in Java, the Minecraft Modding Workshop at Parts and Crafts in Somerville may be the event for you. This is because the Minecraft Modding Workshop, which is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. every Saturday for the next four weeks is designed to teach you how to use Java to program your very own Minecraft mod. This four-week series will teach you to how to write and rewrite Java source code to create mods with new blocks, items, recipes, and more. For more information on the Minecraft Modding Workshop and/or to register for the event, which is $80 for the entire four-week series, please visit the Parts and Crafts website or the Parts and Crafts Registration Page.

Please Note: You do not need to know Java to take part in the Minecraft Modding Workshop, but some knowledge of computer programming and the ability to read and type are required.

Secondly, if you’re looking for the next great game that no one’s ever heard of, you should definitely head over to the MIT Johnson Athletic Center tomorrow. This is because the MIT Johnson Athletic Center is hosting the Fourth Annual Boston Festival of Indie Games from 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 12, 2015. This event will give you the opportunity to see and/or try out over 45 new tabletop games and over 55 new video games all from independent developers. The festival will also give you the opportunity to see a live musical performance by the Videri String Quartet (who are known for their video game-oriented musical arrangements), a keynote speech by Susan Gold (creator of the Global Game Jam), and an awards ceremony. For more information on the Boston Festival of Indie Games or Boston FIG for short, please visit the Boston FIG website.

Photo credit: blakespot / Foter / CC BY

Labor Day Weekend in Boston 2015

Another summer has come and gone, and the time to wish the warmer weather and your kid’s vacation a fond farewell is upon us again. In fact, I don’t know about you, but it seems like this summer went by at a scorching pace (both fast and hot.) As a result, it’s even more important to find a way to make this weekend, the unofficial end of summer, a memorable one because it’s your last chance to take advantage of all the things that the summertime has to offer. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to make this Labor Day Weekend memorable, you don’t have to look very far because these events are sure to help.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your kids to have some fun and beat the heat one last time before they go back to school (if they haven’t already), you’ll definitely want to check out the Watergun Wars. Cortège Fitness, a group dedicated to promoting exercise through social activities, is hosting an event entitled the Watergun Wars at the Water Fountain in front of the Christian Science Center in Boston from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (September 6, 2015.) This event will allow kids of all ages (regardless of how adult-like they may look on the outside) to grab their squirt guns and join the biggest water battle you have probably ever seen. For more information on the Watergun Wars and/or to RSVP for the event, which is absolutely free and open to the public, please visit the Cortège Fitness website.

Please Note: The Watergun Wars are a bring-your-own watergun event, so the event is free, but you will have to supply your own squirt gun. It is also important to note that for the purposes of safety, you should bring a squirt gun that does not resemble a real weapon in any way, shape, or form.

Secondly, if you’re looking for an event that will let you end the summer with a bang, you may want to head over to Boston Harbor on Saturday. This is because the 3rd Annual Labor Day Weekend Fireworks are scheduled to take place at approximately 9:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 5, 2015. This event will allow you to listen to music as you watch two barges loaded with fireworks duel in the sky to see which barge can light up the skyline in a more impressive fashion. For more information on the 3rd Annual Labor Day Weekend Fireworks, including the best locations to watch the fireworks from, please visit the Boston Harbor Association’s Summer on the Waterfront website.

Photo credit: Graham S Dean Photography / Foter / CC BY