Tonight at the Wild Colonial,

Drinking Liberally teams up with Marriage Equality RI (MERI) for a great night of connecting, getting involved, and talking politics over a beer.

8pm to 10pm, Wednesday, Drinking Liberally, Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water Street

Host (and candidate for Representative of RI House District Two) Chris Blazejewski invites everyone to another episode of Drinking Liberally.

On Wednesday, July 7 Drinking Liberally will host the fourth part of its ‘Countdown to Election Day 2010′ series for the First Congressional District with special guest host Anthony Gemma.

Yes folks, despite the fact that we have a dog in this race, we support Mr. Blazejewski in his efforts to generate a more vibrant political scene (and holding these events in a location that doesn’t make it seem like a chore). We all benefit from a well-informed and engaged electorate, and you can have a beer and meet interesting people. So learn about all the candidates. . . make up your own mind. . . and then vote for Dave.

Tonight’s hosts will be Chris Blazejewski, Meghan Grady, Matt Jerzyk, Ami Gada, Jenna Lafayette, and Johnathan Berard. More info at FB.

Free, 8pm, Wednesday, Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water Street, air conditioning

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is another idiosyncratic night at The 201.  It’s candidates for Attorney General and Treasurer:

In an effort to encourage a dialogue between Democratic candidates for statewide offices and young voters, the Rhode Island Young Democrats will host a two candidate forums in June.

Tuesday, June 22 will feature General Treasurer candidate Gina Raimondo, as well as attorney general candidates Joe Fernandez, Rob Rainville, Peter Kilmartin, and Stephen Archambault.

This is the second event of a summer long series. The program will start promptly at 7:00pm.

7:00pm Councilman Stephen Archambault
7:20pm Joe Fernandez
7:40pm Rob Rainville
8:00pm Gina Raimondo
8:30pm Rep. Peter Kilmartin

Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions beforehand that will be addressed by the candidates. Questions can be e-mailed to RIyoungdems@gmail.com

This event is FREE and open to Democrats of all ages!

Tonight and again on June 27th, the 2010 BarPlays Festival will take place at the Trinity Brewhouse.

7pm, Sunday, Trinity Brewhouse, 186 Fountain Street

Three pieces also on the schedule right around the corner at AS220.

7pm, Sunday, AS220, 115 Empire Street

Perfect weather for Nick-A-Nee’s, with or without the plays. Head over tonight for more about Belly Buttons, How to Become a Lesbian in Ten Days of Less, and Improv. More info at 2010 BarPlays Festival.

7pm, Saturday, Nick-A-Nee’s, 75 South Street

“Don’t choose between a night at the theater and a night at the bar.” This is the mandate from the 2010 BarPlays Festival. On the schedule for tonight are two pieces — Belly Buttons and Tipping. Some last minute changes may be possible, but that sounds interesting. To say that the E & O is an intimate venue would be putting it mildly. This should be good.(The E & O Tap is the venue next Friday, June 25th as well.)

Free, 7pm, Friday, E & O Tap, 289 Knight Street

Everyman Bistro is the BarPlays venue tonight, and next Wednesday the 23rd. On tap tonight (but subject to change) are works by Bill McDonnell, Charlotte Meehan, a special visit from Rory Raven, and something called Gorilla Punch improvisationalism. The first night has been reviewed by Channing Gray in ProJo.

7pm to 8:30pm, free admission (hat is passed after show), Everyman Bistro, 555 Valley Street, 751.3630

Tonight, and again next Tuesday on June 22nd, the BarPlays Festival will be held at the Fez. Tonight’s writers are David Eliet, Adara Meyers and Bit Players. [I have edited this list for accuracy. Thank you commenter.]

Adara Meyers’ “Omen Experts” was written for the Red Fez on Peck Street, and is designed to take advantage of the space, which, by the way, won’t have a stage.

More at ProJo.

Free, 7pm to 8:30pm, Tuesday, the Red Fez, 49 Peck Street

I know more about bars than plays, although I have been known to perform the occasional totally unscripted ’scene’ — reviews were mixed. This is not what David Higgins of the Words Progress Administration has in mind. The WPA will be performing original short pieces in bars around town over the next two weeks starting Monday June 14. Speaking to The Providence Journal Higgins reassures us,

. . .this won’t be a case of “guerilla theatre,” where unsuspecting folks are assaulted by actors. A host each night will explain what’s going on for those caught unawares.

THANK YOU. The locations are: Abe’s, the E & O, Everyman, Nick-A-Nees. the Red Fez, Trinity Brewhouse, the Wild Colonial, and AS220. All the plays take place in bars — actors may be seated at the bar and might even be the person behind the bar. The performances are timed for earlier in the evening, thus not interfering or competing with the later, more boisterous drinky-type crowd.

Mondays (June 14 and 21st), 7pm to 8:30pm-ish, AS220, 115 Empire Street

For more info go to BarPlays. (Complete schedule for next two weeks.)

This marker stands at the corner of Planet and South Main Streets. This weekend is Gaspee Days, about a 15 minute drive out of the city. Friday night is fireworks, Saturday is the parade, and Sunday the Gaspee burns again (info and schedule). I like that the committee has fashioned Gaspee Days as ‘Rhode Island’s First Water Fire’. Bryan Rourke has a nice piece about Pawtuxet Village and the festivities in the ProJo. Click here for a short history of those momentous events in June of 1772. The building housing the old Sabin Tavern was demolished in 1889, but the room in which the plotting occurred may still exist at 209 Williams Street. I hope that’s true. It’s complicated.

more »

Get Ready! Sunday is Pub Quiz at the Wild Colonial. The quiz-masters will ask questions on topics such as current events, the Transcendentalists, particle physics, arcade games, disappointing television series finales, etymology. You never know what they’ll come up with, and you can never really prepare. There is always a visual hand-out and the final music category will consist of 12 audio bites. Teams are up to four people, and it’s explained as you go along. Except for the occasional stray dart it’s a real good time. First prize this week — tickets to the Providence Roller Derby. Good beer is on tap and there is a mirror in the ladies’ room.

8pm, Sunday, Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water Street, 621.5644, plenty of parking, wheelchair accessible

There might even be the occasional tie-in to the holiday — Mothers of Invention, Ma Barker, Mother Jones, and such like. The quiz-masters will ask six questions in each of a variety of categories like art history, who’s-running-for-what-office, condiments, classic cars, marsupials. There is always a visual hand-out and the final music category will consist of 12 audio bites. Teams are up to four people, and it’s explained as you go along. Cool prizes, good beer on tap, and there is a mirror in the ladies’ room.

8pm, Sunday, Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water Street, 621.5644, plenty of parking, wheelchair accessible

Join other smart alecks, weisenheimers, and know-it-alls Sunday night at the world famous Wild Colonial Tavern pub quiz. Form a team of one to four people — get a few friends together and just show up. Categories of six questions each cover topics like current events, quantum mechanics, breakfast cereals, world religions, Charles Bronson and such like. It always ends with a 12-snippet audio music category. Rules are explained as you go along. Cool prizes for win, place and show.

8pm, Sunday, Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water Street, 621.5644

From the DL team:

The NCAA tournament may have rolled in and out of Providence last weekend, but it’s the politics in Rhode Island that’s bringing the madness to March.

2010 is turning out to be a banner year. We all knew there would be open seats for Governor, Treasurer, and Attorney General, but who knew we’d also have the First Congressional District and the Mayor of Providence up for grabs too? Plus a new Speaker of the RI House?

It may only be March, but like our weather this weekend, politics in Rhody are already heating up.

And to all that, a historic vote on health care reform last Sunday, and there’s a whole lot to discuss.

So stop by, share the latest news and gossip, and enjoy a drink with your local progressive social club this WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 starting at 8PM at The Wild Colonial.

Drinking Liberally: March Madness in RI
Wednesday, March 24 starting at 8pm
The Wild Colonial
250 South Water Street
Providence, Rhode Island
Hosts: Chris Blazejewski, Meghan Grady, Matt Jerzyk, Jenna Lafayette, Johnathan Berard, Ami Gada
providence@drinkingliberally.org

Yup, that’s right:  Go and get wasted (responsibly) on a Wednesday night for the 24th time in the last two years, tomorrow night.

What a difference two years make! Drinking Liberally is celebrating its second anniversary this month, and look how far we’ve come.

In 2009, DL hit the political scene is a big way. We brought you Providence Mayor David Cicilline in March, U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee in October, General Treasurer Frank Caprio in November, and Attorney General Patrick Lynch in December. And every month, we offered a place for like-minded, left-leaning individuals to gather, exchange ideas, and get involved.

DL also became a media event in 2009. We were prominently featured on several occasions in pieces by the Providence Journal, RIFuture.org, Providence Daily Dose, WRNI, WBRU, and a number of other publications and media outlets. We even became talk radio fodder!

[Venue Change: DL has decided to join up with Organizing for America tonight at McFadden's on Pine Street, so everyone can get together and watch President Obama's 'State of the Union' address on all the awesome television screens. Discounted food and drink. See post above for details. DL will return to the Wild Colonial next meeting.]

Wednesday, 7:30pm to 11pm, McFadden’s, 52 Pine Street

Tonight is the Pub Quiz at the Wild Colonial.  The quiz-masters will ask six questions in each of a variety of categories like current events, The Road to Vancouver, celebrity rehab, evolutionary anthropology, the Old Testament. . . you never know and you can never really prepare.  There is always a visual hand-out and the final music category will consist of 12 audio bites.  Teams are up to four people, and it’s explained as you go along. Except for the occasional stray dart it’s a real good time.  Cool prizes, good beer on tap, and there is a mirror in the ladies’ room.

8:00pm, Sunday, Wild Colonial Tavern, 250 South Water Street, 621.5644, plenty of parking, wheelchair accessible