Three Things to Do This Weekend: Cool Off, Rock On

Did I ever tell you the funniest response to someone being asked what three things they like to do in Belmont over a summer weekend? "Leave by car, leave by bus and leave by bike."

(A variation of that answer is "Leave to the north, east and west.")

Well, summer is almost over and school starts this week so many residents are taking off for that final long week on the Cape or Maine, or will be driving their children off to college – I thankfully did that earlier in the week as Washington DC is going to be a nut house this weekend with Tea Party rabble, Rev. Sharpton and Glenn Beck rallying a mile from George Washington. No thank you!

So what is there to do here?

Cool Off

First off, the best hot weather venue will be closing early this week (Tuesday, Aug. 31) and since it will hit 90 degrees Sunday and beyond, take one last dip – or maybe it will be your first this season – in the Underwood Pool. Historic and quirky, the pool is kid friendly (lots of young lifeguards) and quite communal. It has lots of shady spots to spend a few hours out of the heat. You can obtain a day pass for $10 if you're an adult and $5 for the kids or just use your season pass one last time.

Underwood Pool

Cottage and Concord

Open House at the Temple

The Membership Committee invites the public to attend an Open House at Beth El Temple Center.

Come meet with Rabbi Jonathan Kraus – 17 years and counting as the rabbi – Cantor Geoffrey Fine, the educators and some of the congregants in an informal setting. Learn about the Temple's programs and activities, schmooze with others, and enjoy some delicious refreshments! Childcare available.  

Beth El Temple Center

2 Concord Ave. (it greets travelers entering Belmont from west Cambridge)

617-484-6668

The Isle of Wight 40th Anniversary: Rock On

I know many Belmont homeowners like to talk about the good old days of rock and roll, before the GaGa's and hip hoppers took over the airways. When a concert meant tens, no, hundreds of thousands of young people sitting down right in the mud and trying to listen to the music from incredibly bad speakers. Now is your chance to get your freak flag out one last time and relive those days of yore. The Regent Theatre in neighboring Arlington is holding the 40^th Anniversary Isle of Wight Film Festival. And some of these performances are pretty cool: a young lanky Ian Anderson with Jethro Tull, Jimi, Miles Davis and Leonard Cohen when he was a rocker. The schedule includes:

Saturday, Aug. 28

• 5 p.m.: "Jethro Tull: Nothing is Easy"
• 7:30 p.m.: "Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival"
• 10 p.m.: "Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live at The Isle of Wight"

Sunday, Aug. 29

• 2 p.m.: "Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival"

• 7 p.m.: "Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue "

• 9 p.m.: "Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle Of Wight"

The Regent Theatre

7 Medford St.

Arlington, MA

781-646-4849