ongoing

Charles Darwin, as we all know, proposed that nutty theory of evolution, in effect denying that God made the world in 7 days and plopped all the species down on the planet all revved up and ready to go. Well no. But there are some folks that still believe that, strange as it may seem. We live in Boston, surrounded by a fair amount of educational heft, and not too many of us take that part of the Bible literally. So, we don't expect the Museum of Science's "Darwin" to have the controversy of, say, the "Bodyworks," which it recently had up. Charles Darwin (1809-82) took a four-year voyage on the HMS Beagle and it was during that journey that he pieced together the puzzle of life's origns. The Museum of Science has what it says is the "broadest collection ever assembled of specimens, artifacts, original manuscripts and memorabilia" related to Darwin. It's in the Nichols Gallery. Related: "Galapagos," a large format film in the Mugar Omni Theater, with follows marine biologist Carole Baldwin as she explores the volcanic archipelagoand dives deep into unexplored waters to investigate oceanic life. The museum is open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Film is at noon, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets: $16.

Science Park, 617-589-1100 mos.org

Tues. June 5

 Alan Dershowitz, a shy, retiring lawyer from Cambridge ... No, really, we just wanted to link those words as we're in doubt as they've ever been strung together in such a way. The Dersh - as he's sometimes called in these parts - has defended everyone from John Lennon to Claus von Bulow to O.J. and is, arguably, the best-known attorney in the country. He takes to controversy like a shark to a latex-clad surfer. He often makes us apoplectic - this, even when we agree with him. Which we do here in "Blasphemy: How the Religious Right Is Hijacking the Declaration of Independence." Dersh considers school prayer, faith-based programs, the attempt to bring Church and State closer together - all that stuff. Dershowitz looks at our history and the declaration itself, penned by that Thomas Jefferson fella, and notes there is no relation between "Nature's God" as reffered to in the Declaration and traditional Christian God of Testaments Old and New. Says Sam Harris, author of "The End of Faith": "'Blasphemy' proves that many Christians are as deliberately bewildered about the history of our nation as they are about the evolution of life on this planet. Dershowitz has done a great service in rescuing Jefferson, Adams and other Founding Fathers from the religious delusions of the Christian Right." Dershowitz ambles over from Harvard University, where he is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, to Harvard Book Store Tuesday June 5 at 7 for a discussion and signing. Discussion means you get to speak, too.

1400 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-499-2000 thecoop.com

Tues. June 5

It's a gentle sort of night Tuesday June 5 at the Middle East Upstairs. the Canadian trio Great Lake Swimmers, led by singer-guitarist Tony Dekker. It's lo-fi, atmospheric folk-rock, sometimes dubbed "ambient folk." Themes such as self-revelation and self-realization, the cycle of life and the environment surface from this gentle-sounding group. (There's acoustic guitar, banjo, glockenspiel, percussion.) Before the GLS, Eleni Mandell (in photo) and her backing trio play. Mandell has written a lot about love gone bad, but twists the scenarios somewhat on her latest disc, "Miracle of Five."It's not so interesting to me to be treated badly anymore," she says. "For me, that's what stands out the most - that the songs aren't so self-pitying." Expect a sultry, wistful evening from a singer-songwriter enamored of Cole Porter-like pop. Opening at 9 is Drew O'Doherty. Tickets: $9

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-3278 mideastclub.com

Sun. June 3

 JSink doesn't have a hard and fast policy on the F-bomb - it's the Internet so we know there are no rules - but we've kept it un-effing for a while, so we'll bow to that self-made rule and recommend The F------ Champs, a trio comprised of Trans Am guitarist Phil Manley and Nation of Ulysses guitarist Tim Green from and founding Champ Tim Soete on synths, drums and guitar. Hmm, no bass, no vocals. Don't fret. There's lots of fretwork. (That was lame, sorry.) There are a number of rockin' peaks and valleys (like Trans Am); you'll be riding shotgun in the Champs car, negotiating hairpin turns and flooring it on the straightaways. (There's even a little early Pink Floyd noodling in there.) We've always heard instrumental rock was for speciality tastes. We differ. If you like smart rock, you'll enjoy the musicality and not miss the singer who you probably can't understand anyway. They're at Great Scott Sunday June 3. Opening: Red Fang and Birds of Avalon. Starts at 9:30. Tickets: $10.
1196 Commonwealth Ave. Allston, 617-566-9014 greatscottboston.com

Sun. June 3 

You can't always judge an artist by the label he or she is on, but sometimes it can give you a good clue. We're remember Stiff Records in the mid-'70s. If it was on Stiff, you bought it. (Elvis Costello, Wreckless Eric, Lene Lovich etc.) We also consider Bloodshot to be a modern-day rival to Stiff. The quality control for Americana-esque rock is pretty high. As it turns out, they've got Paul Burch, who is right up there, too. He's a folkie and and alt-rocker with, as ace critic Chet Flippo says, "a bit of Buddy Holly grafted onto Jimmie Rodgers and Ralph Stanley" in him.  He's touring to support last fall's CD, "East to West," and he's at Club Passim Sunday June 3. We particularly like "John Peel," a song about the late great English DJ, who, no surprise, heard Burch's music and played it. Oh, Burch has great creds, too, having played with Lambchop and Pine Valley Cosmonauts. His music is both modern and old-timey. The show's at Club Passim at 8 p.m on Sunday June 3. Tickets: $13.
47 Palmer St., Cambridge, 617-492-7679 clubpassim.org