Union Square Happenings: Arts Union 2013 Winter Series Schedule

Arts Union's winter series includes things to see, hear and taste in Union Square. Events range from a "ginger explosion" eating event to storytelling, tango and art made from trash.

Below is the lineup of the Arts Union winter series, sent by Arts Union:

Ginger Explosion, Monday, Jan. 28, 6:30-8:30pm, $13, PA’s Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave.
In celebration of our favorite tuber, we present Ginger Explosion 4, a fundraiser for the Somerville Arts Council’s ArtsUnion project. Following up on last year’s tuber spectacular, Ginger Explosion 4 will feature delicious ginger-themed dishes from 3 of Boston’s best food trucks Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Mei Mei Street Food and Staff Meal, along with Union Square’s Indian Fusion restaurant Dosa’N’Curry (formerly Dosa Temple). Attendees will also receive a complimentary ginger cocktail courtesy of Domaine de Canton. You be the judge of which ginger dish is best! Produced by
Aaron Cohen/Eat Boston. Last year’s event sold out so buy tickets soon! To buy
tickets: http://wheretoeat.in/calendar/63/31-Ginger-Explosion-4/

Session Planetaria, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2-5pm & Sunday, Mar. 3, 2-5pm, Sally O’Briens, 335 Somerville Ave
Session Planetaria is a new open jam improv concept that began in 2012 at Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant. Poetry, words, rhythms and rhymes evolve in a round robin style improv jam on a theme. The session is led by a core group of experienced improv musicians. Everything created is completely unique. Musicians, Poets, MCs and Storytellers all ages and styles welcome. The session will be recorded for future podcast and/or youtube airing. Sign up begins at 1:30pm. Advance sign up possible, contact Jenn Bliss at moonshipmail@gmail.com. Come down and get your groove on! 2/3 theme: Soul Food

Constant Tango, Thursday, Feb. 21, 6-10pm & Saturday, Feb. 23, 6-10pm, Cafe Tango, 16 Bow St
Video Installations by Amanda Brown and a live performance/installation called Constant Tango transforms Café Tango into an interactive gallery of movement and moving image for two days. Projected onto walls and objects, the video installations introduce you to the intimate world of tango and dance. There will also be a small stage featuring local dancers throughout the night. Enjoy a menu of empanadas and other Argentine specialties and a free Tango lesson at 8pm each night! 

Traveling Troubadours: A Very Special Evening of Film & Music, Thursday, Feb. 28, 7-9:30pm, SCATV, 90 Union Square
The evening’s entertainment will feature a 35 minute preview of filmmaker Tom Weber’s documentary, “Troubadour Blues”. The film is an exploration of touring and performing songwriters in the 21st century. A brief Q & A with the director by noted music journalist Daniel Gewertz, will be followed by a performance from Somerville’s Thea Hopkins, whose music is inspired by the ‘60’s and ‘70’s singer-songwriter tradition of the traveling troubadour, encompassing Americana
and narrative storytelling.
For more info: www.troubadour-blues.com www.theahopkins.com

Circus Sock Hop, Saturday, Mar. 16, 8-11pm, AirCraft Aerial Arts, 14 Tyler St
Break out the poodle skirts and hair pomade. AirCraft Aerial Arts is opening its 1960’s era gymnasium for an old-fashioned sock hop with a cirque twist. AirCraft will bring the circus, DJ Funke will bring the tunes, and you bring the boogie. During breaks, dancers will be entertained by aerial and acrobatic performances. The night will culminate with a dance contest – just for fun – judged by a panel of Somerville luminaries.

Storied Nights in Somerville, Saturday, Mar. 23, 7-9pm & Saturday, Apr. 6, 7-9pm, Bloc 11, 11 Bow St
A series of two spoken word shows, hosted by Daniel Gerwetz, that brings together some of the area’s finest prose writers and storytellers, two breeds of wordsmiths not usually seen on the same stage. Local novelists Stephen McCauley and Elizabeth Searle, memoirists Daniel Gewertz and Ethan Gilsdorf, playwright/performer Michael Mack and storytellers Katie Liesener and Ben Cunningham are among the talents, and the town of Somerville is bound to be a topic in several of the tales.

Trash Bash! A Recycled Art Competition, Sunday, Apr. 7, 12-6pm, $5, Uniun Warehouse, 3 Sanborn Ct
Want to know how you can celebrate the eARTth? Now’s your chance! Calling all artists, crafters, recyclers, and upcyclers to submit your creation to the Trash Bash: Somerville’s First Recycled Art Competition! Prizes for winning entries for youth and adults. Featuring live music, the competition will be open to the public and the winners will be announced by 5 PM on Sunday, April 7. Food and craft beer will be available for sale. For more information, contact trashbash@gmail.com. A 3 Graces Production.