ongoing

 When asked what any particular Cirque du Soleil show is "about," we often hem, haw and basically draw a blank. It's about beauty and splendor and grace and strength and emotion and dazzling feats of acrobatics, all set to a rock/classical/world music score. But there are stories, there, too - although to explain the story, we often have to go back to the press release. We read the press release for "Kooza," before we went to Sept. 5 debut at the Bayside Expo Center, and here's what the Cirque people say. And that's that it "tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world." And "it is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor." Our impressions? We'll get to those after we finish with their description

ongoing

 We have as much ambivalence about Woody Allen as anyone these days, and can't quite let go of that he-took-dirty-pictures-of-and-then-married-his-step-daughter! thing. I mean, really, "the heart wants what it wants." But we also have to say his last three films, "Match Point," "Cassandra's Dream" and now "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." These movies all show Woody getting away from what we've considered typical Woody, and a willingness to take cinematic leaps as he ventures into the twilight of his career. (We guess; he is 72,) "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" concerns itself with the summer getaway trip of Scarlett Johansson (Cristina) and Rebecca Hall (Vicky) and their encounter with romantic (or is he a cad?) painter Javier Bardem (Juan Antonio), acting nothing like the psycho killer of "No Country for Old Men."

ongoing - Sun. Sept. 14

 It's time for Neiman Marcus' annual fall beauty event, which, this year, means the shop's cosmetics department is offering up a signature mock-croc totebag, filled with nine lovely beauty treats. With a minimum cosmetic or fragrance purchase of $100, you get to choose a raspberry, purple or black totebag. Each participating counter has even more give-aways with a qualifying purchase. For more info or makeup consult, call beauty guru Dianne Halle at the number below.

5 Copley Place, 617-536-3660 x2098

Sunday Sept. 7 marks the fifth anniversary of Warren Zevon’s death. To use the cliché, so close, so distant. I wrote something a few years back, and am revising it now to commerorate his life and death. It has nothing to do with going out to see anything. It’s just about someone I admired and respected very much

No contemporary singer-songwriter wrote about death as much as Warren Zevon, from "I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead’’ to "Things to Do In Denver When You’re Dead.’’ (There’s plenty more.) Those songs tended not to be morbid, really; they were more celebratory, as in "Live now, because death awaits you.’’ For years, the emblem he used – on back stage passes, album covers, etc. - was a grinning skull smoking a cigarette.

I once asked him about "Play It All Night Long,’’ a song about a dysfunctional, incestuous family that revels in playing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Sweet Home Alabama’’ – "Play that dead band’s song/Turn the speakers up full blast/Play it all night long.’’ It’s how the broken family copes with its horror. Was it funny?

ongoing - Sept. 28

Luisa Rabbia was last year’s artist-in-residence at the Isabella Gardner Stewart Museum. The Italian-born, Brooklyn-based Rabbia was surrounded, of course, by the paintings, sculptures and arts collected by Gardner, more than a century ago. When it came time to make a video, Rabbia was struck by one of Gardner’s five travel scrapbooks – a photo album of her 1883 journey through China. What Rabbia did in her 26:30 video is stitch together Gardner's photos – people, buildings, walls, nature – and add computer-designed animated video components. It’s called “Travels with Isabella” and its up at the Gardner Museum through Sept. 28. “It’s a journey made with Isabella,” Rabbia told us at the opening in late June. “I was impressed with her photographs. She represented all these human beings and took us on a journey through the sense of loss with the passing of time.”

Mon. Sept. 8

 Roger Miller - the Mission of Burma guitarist and Alloy Orchestra keyboardist - checks in with the Alloys latest instrumental score to an old movie. It's their specialty; no one does it better. "'Chang: A Drama of Wilderness'" says Miller, is "a faux-documentary shot in Thailand in the late '20's.  This directors next film was 'King Kong.' Amazing jungle footage (entirely shot in Thailand), and actual animals are killed in this movie. It was made a long time ago when hunters were hunters and men were buffoons. Our score is not our traditional orchestration: we created an ensemble that is a Westerner's take on 'traditional Thai music.' Miller's cohorts in The Alloy Orchestra, including Terry Donahue (junk, accordion, musical saw, vocals), Ken Winokur (director, junk percussion and clarinet). It takes place Monday Sept. 8 at Brandeis University, outdoors at Chapels Field on the campus. It's free and starts at 8:10 p.m. (The group previously presented the score at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado.) 

Chapels Field, 415 South St., Waltham, 781-736-2270

http://www.brandeis.edu/news/2008/august/SeptFilmScreening.html

Wed. Sept. 10

Eli “Paperboy” Reed might best be considered Boston’s entry into the new wave of blues/R&B/soul-influenced singers that include Amy Winehouse, Duffy and James Hunter. Reed’s been touring all summer but is back in Boston at Café 933 Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. The following is a version of a story I wrote on Reed for the Boston Phoenix this spring ….
    Reed and the True Loves are rehearsing at Q Division Studios in Somerville, picking songs for an upcoming gig. Reed, in his impassioned tenor, is scream-singing, ‘”Come back, I need you!/I love you!/I want you!” The band is ripping through a classic-sounding R&B/soul song. Reed digs it, noting, “It allows me to work the crowd.”
      Does it make the cut?  They vote. Six yeas, one abstention from guitarist Ryan Spraker. “It sounds too much like we’re playing an old song,” he says. Well, it is an old song. It’s a cover of  "Oo Wee Baby I Love You,” cut by R&B singer Roscoe Robinson 42 years ago.

Thurs. Sept. 11

We go upscale, we go downscale. And this is one of the things we love about Boston - and try to represent in this space. It's what Brian Eno once told me about "high" art and "low" art. They both existed in the same realm of enjoyment and edification. And, so we introduce you to what Whiskey Park (in photo, as human-free as you'll ever see it) would say is on the higher end of the nightlife word: "Soul Clap Thursdays," which they call a new late night option for urban professionals.

ongoing

When someone asks you "Whatever Happened to Pluto?" do you first think "Something has happened to the Disney dog?" or do you go, "Yes, I believe it's somehow not a planet anymore. How could that be?" To be honest, both thoughts flooded our head when we heard about the Museum of Science exhibit, but - clever as we are - we deduced this had to be about the planet, not the cartoon dog. We were right, and went to the opening of the exhibit in the Charles Hayden Planetarium in April. Haven't been inside a planetarium since ... um ... childhood. And it was fascinating, both the experience of simply leaning back and looking at the projected sky and the presentation about Pluto.

Sept. 11

Last call! Berklee College of Music and the Institute of Contemporary Arts have once again teamed up, and are making the summer just a bit more pleasant by offering a free series called "HarborWalk Sounds." (Actually, every Thursday is free at the ICA, thanks to Target.) Waterfront atmosphere, cool drinks, cool music ... ah. The action takes place on the waterfront Putnam Investments Plaza and it runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Expect jazz, Latin, world music and more.  Details at the website below.

100 Northern Ave., 617-478-3100 www.icaboston.org

Thurs. Sept. 11

 Yes, you know you're getting older when music from the '80s and '90s is being played in a club under the rubric of "Throwback Thursdays." Of course, we all know today's music is tomorrow's nostalgia, but sometimes your mind plays tricks on you - like that songs sounds so fresh it's like yesterday. At any rate, the Foundation in Kenmore Square has this deal "Throwback Thursday" deal with DJ Breeazy. (He starts at 9; the club's open 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.) The club promises to serve fuzzy navels and kami-kazis.

Fri. Sept. 12

Lowell may not be the center of your universe, but – musically speaking – this is a very good time to pay attention.  That’s because the Lowell Summer Music Series is up and running for the 19th year at Boarding House Park.  Keep in mind, it’s just 35 miles from Boston. We spoke with Peter Aucella, the Series programming director.  “It is a non-for-profit series concert series of blues, folk, rock and roots music that happens in a beautiful outdoor park within a national park in downtown Lowell,” says Aucella. “This is a spectacular venue to see a solo folk performer, anything that’s rootsy. I was the guy in charge of getting this constructed in ’89. I had the privilege of starting the series, with ethnic music and no budget. Over time, we’ve grown.”