ongoing 

 April was  called Earth Month. Ok, I guess that's good. When Earth Day was first created I thought, "Shouldn't every day be earth day?" and now, I guess I'm thinking, "Shouldn't every month be earth month?" But the idea I guess is to hone focus in an ever-fractured world, to look up from your Gameboys and X-Boxes and sniff the fresh air, take a walk in the woods and wonder what life might be like without those sorts of pleasantries we've all taken for granted for too long,

ongoing - Sun. Aug. 31

We've been reading a lot about war lately. Yes, of course, about the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also the World Wars. They've been an endless source of fascination and horror (and yes heroism) for years. First learning about WWI - it had no numeral back when it started; who could imagine it'd be one of two wars Germany decided to embark upon? - we were struck with the unimaginable cruelty. The musturd gas, the air attacks, the stench, the mud and blood and guts. The very low return rate of soldiers, especially European ones. And, didn't we just hear that the last known US soldier from WWI recently died, ending, sort of a long chapter in history?

Tues. July 29

We met Jeanie Flynn when she was an event planner for Cam Neely's Foundation, and again when she moved into the world of publicity. It wasn't until not long ago that we discovered Jeanie, sister of comic Jackie Flynn, had a whole 'nother side: Lounge singer. And she's a good one. She and her band, the Strays, play the Foundation Lounge every Tuesday night from 8 to 11:30. Says Flynn, of the music:  "It's a cross between old standards, rhythm and blues and old blues."

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.

ongoing

 A while back, we attended a party at Liberty Hotel with Live Nation announcing its summer series of shows at the Comcast Center, the Bank of America Pavilion and the TD Banknorth Garden. The primary booker, Dave Marsden, said they had put tickets on sale earlier this year - as well as announcing the full (or close to it) slate of concerts. This, he added, allowed people to make choices on what may - for many - be a more limited budget. It's very busy concert season, with many of the superstar acts on tour, and 12 of the Tweeter shows had sold out already. They would surpass the 375,000 tickets they sold all last year later this week. Recession? "The recession is bad economic news," said Marsden. "At some point, you do hit the wall." But that clearly hasn't happened as the season gets underway. The Boston-based shows and the Comcast shows are up on site, sans commentary, if you hit "read more." Of note: The Pavilion now has permanent, and more plush, seating. .

Wednesdays: July 30 -into August

We love residency shows here in Boston. An artist or band sets up shop at the same club on the same night for a month or so. Meaning: You can catch 'em all if you're a big fans or just mark down the night - in this case Wednesday from July 30 into August. This club is the Lizard Lounge and this case is The Giant Kings, who you may not know, but you do likely know the name of the guitarist, Duke Levine. Levine's resume includes stints with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Peter Wolf and Dennis Brennan (and many many others). He joins with Kevin Barry on guitar and lap steel, Marty Ballou on bass, Andy Plaisted on drums, Paul Ahlstrand on tenor sax, Mark Early on baritone sax and the amazing Chris Cote (Upper Crust) on vocals, to rip through classic R&B, soul and country soul from the '50's and '60's. The Giant Kings are replacing the Dennis Brennan Band who will return to this slot in September. It starts at 9:30 and the cover is but $5.

1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-1228 www.lizardloungeclub.com www.myspace.com/dukelevine

Thurs. July 31 

Welcome back, my friends, to the tour that never ends. The Police - singer-bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland - will be among us once again, after circling back to TD Banknorth Garden last autumn, that after two summer shows at Fenway Park. This summer, they're at the Tweeter Center Thurs. July 31 at 7:30 with - and here's the really good part - Elvis Costello & The Imposters. Ticket prices range from $40 (somewhere out on the lawn) to $225 (up close and personal). We saw one of the Fenway shows, and it rather rocked. And here's a little story from my encounter with Sting the day before the show ...

Thurs. July 31

Miki (Jeet) Singh has hung with the Rolling Stones, dined with Roger Waters, and had his life threatened when he played a show two months ago in Kashmir, a joint effort with the Pakistani rock band Junoon. Signh, 45, is the singer-songwriter-guitarist for the band that bears his surname, the Singhs. Singh, guitarist Peter Parcek and a tabla player and a sitar player, played this "unity" concert for 6000 people – the idea being that people from India and Pakistan could get along. Yes, Singh said, he had some fear, but the security “was in lockdown.” It went off without a hitch and he had a blast. He should not have fears when the Singhs play Church Thursday July 31, for their record release party.

ongoing

 There's something to be said for hip, new and trendy; and there's something to be said for an institution that maintains its high standards. That was the case recently when we spent a luxurious evening at the Oak Room - no one is hurried here - starting with a martini in the front room, with a jazz pianist playing. We entered the main room and had a sumptuous meal - steak, au gratin potatoes and spinach for me, swordfish and lobster ravioli for my fiance and we both were in heaven. The 30-foot high ceilings, Waterford chadaliers, the architecture, the ambience. All a world away from the chilly one we left in Copley Square.

ongoing

 Between you and me, I think the Monster seats at Fenway are a tad over-rated and certainly over-priced. Being a traditionalist, I also miss the plain old screen. And the day when the wall wasn't tattooed with placards. But don't get me started ... Back to seats in the lyric little bandbox. I share in a season ticket/night game plan that has me in the second row grandstand between home and third. Been there for years. Will be there until I leave this mortal coil. Think the view is fab and the price, though high, is not as heinous as everywhere else in the park.

Fri. Aug. 1 - Sun. Aug. 3   

Watching golf. There was a time in our life when we would have made the "watching paint dry" comparison and let it go at that. This despite, having been a golfer since age 12. (We're essentially a bogey-man - still.) We love to play the game but watching on TV or traipsing around a course to watch others play never had much appeal. But we have to admit our interest is piqued by the female "Legends" competition at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy  Why? Well, we've played the pricey place a couple of times and it is truly a gem of a course, carved out of the old quarry, constructed with Big Dig landfill. Challenging? Oh yeah. Now, the idea of seeing how Nancy Lopez (in photo) Patty Sheehan, Nancy Scranton and Christa Johnson et al tackle it has some appeal. Whenever I know that I've parred a hole that one of them bogeyed I will feel smug and superior. (It's kind of like that cruel feeling I used to get considering Ted Williams in his declining years. Sure, he was the greatest hitter in baseball ever - but what about now, Ted? Surely, the 22-year-old me could hit better than the wheelchair-bound kid. Truly awful thoughts, I know.) But anyway, if you're in the mood for a nice walk and want to watch some good golf - and get a great view of Boston - check in at the Quarry Friday Aug. 1 through Sunday Aug. 3. Tickets are $10, free to BJ's Club members, kids under 17 and members of the US Armed Forces.

100 Quarry Hills Dr., Quincy, 617-689-1900 www.granitelinksgolfclub.com

  Sat. Aug. 2 

We covered Portugal. The Man for the Boston Phoenix a year ago, and as they’re back in the area and still touring behind "Church Mouth," we thought we'd reprint the gist of what we took away from a Middle East Upstairs show. This time, they're at Harpers Ferry in Allston Aug. 2.  And so ... As if this Alaska-via-Oregon band’s moniker isn’t confusing enough, consider the mind-scramble of their music: metal, prog, thrash, gospel, soul, and off-kilter Zappa-esque skronk topped with high-pitched vocals (and sometimes lefty politics) from singer-guitarist John Gourley. At the show we caught , he directed all of his attention stage, never looking the audience directly in the eye. Odd tactic.