Listen to music by the bands and say you’ll be there by RSVPing on the Facebook event page for Soozapalooza 3. You can buy a ticket in advance for ten bucks or pay $12 at the door. Doors open at 8pm and it’s an 18+ show.

Good Night, States

If you follow me on Twitter and/or we’re friends on Facebook, then you already know how much I LOVE Pittsburgh’s Good Night, States. L-O-V-E. They performed at the first Soozapalooza in 2010 and I’m more than just a little excited that they’re back this year. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. The music below is from the band’s earlier releases. They’ll be performing music from their new, not-yet-released album at Soozapalooza.

The Phil Aiken Army

Phil Aiken released his first EP recently with The Phil Aiken Army and a full-length album is in the works. If you want to hear supercharged pop songs with an all-star cast of players, you definitely need to be at Soozapalooza on Friday to see The Phil Aiken Army. Oh, snap — more A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Somerville Symphony Orkestar

There’s no better way to start a party than with the all-original Eastern European punk funk band from the Slavic heart of Greater Boston — also known as Somerville Symphony Orkestar. The band describes it better than I could: The SSO spectacle is a carnivalized punk show that turns its audiences into equal parts mosh-pit and horah. Complex six-piece arrangements reign in the chaos only to explode in shuddering “fun-gasm” after “fun-gasm.”

Don’t be surprised if Penelope the elephant makes an appearance during Somerville Symphony Orkestar’s performance.

Sooz photography provided event photography services for The Catalyst Awards, Science Club For Girls’ annual award ceremony and fundraising event featuring 2011 honorees Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister (CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center) and Douglas Banks (Publisher, Mass High Tech). Festivities were held at the Broad Institute in Cambridge.

View photos from the event in the photo gallery.

Get to know Science Club For Girls: Twitter • Facebook • Website

About Science Club For Girls:

Now in its seventeenth year, Science Club for Girls (SCFG) has established an excellent reputation as a nonprofit organization with expertise in girls-specific programming in underserved communities. SCFG was recognized with one of six national MetLife AfterSchool Innovator Awards in Fall 2010 for the design and impact of our Science Clubs and CELLS program. We are also the recipient the Nonprofit of the Year award by Cambridge Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

Currently, SCFG provides free, hands-on science and engineering programs to over 1,000 girls in five cities in eastern Massachusetts (Cambridge, Lawrence, Boston, Newton and Fitchburg), and in Pokuase, Ghana.

About the Catalyst Awards:

The Catalyst Awards recognize individuals who are strategic, innovative and effective in promoting diversity in science, technology and engineering; who are skilled and dedicated to effecting change from a systems level down to a personal level to help individuals and groups realize their dreams; and embody those qualities that inspire the best in us: a sense of justice, dedication to excellence, and genuine engagement.

Governor Deval Patrick at NAEP education symposium.

Sooz photography provided event photography services for the National Assessment Governing Board’s symposium on October 24, 2011  at the Westin Waterfront in Boston. View the photo gallery to see more photographs from the event.

About the event:

The NAEP 12th Grade Preparedness Commission is currently hosting a series of symposia across the country to discuss how The Nation’s Report Card can serve as this critical indicator. The Boston symposium, the second of the series, will convene regional leaders in government, education, business, and civil rights to obtain local perspectives on the utility of the NAEP initiative and its relevance for Massachusetts.

Here are a few of my music playlists. If you’re on Spotify, click the subscribe button to save the playlist so you can come back to it later. This is especially handy for playlists that are updated more than once including my Boston Rocks! playlist.

Nostalgia For The Present– new songs I’ve dug up
Boston Rocks! — songs by bands from the Boston area, 5+ hours
The Tragically Hip — my favorite Hip songs spanning their 20+ year career
Lloyd Cole — one of the most talented singer/songwriters of our lifetime
Everything But The Girl — I’m not as into the newer “remixy” music but this band remains a favorite

Photo Slideshow: “Chorus Line” by OldJack with photos from Oktoberfest

I’ve spent the past month (aka my first month after job layoff) rethinking and remodeling my consulting business and my website projects. It’s as if it was Spring cleaning in July/August! Late last night I saw a tweet by Chris Anderson (you know, that long tail guy) that was retweeted 3093030 times. (OK, maybe only 30303.) I don’t think there could have been a better thing to read at that very moment. In fact, I plan to read it every morning before I dig into the day’s work for the foreseeable future.

In crazy times, put your head down & build something cool. Ignore the noise & follow your nose. If it matters to you, it matters.

Yes!

One of the projects I’ve done some rethinking and remodeling for is Solo Boston. It’s an idea that has had a few different project names over the years since 1999. It seems like this name just might stick! If you work on your own in the Boston area as a freelancer, free agent or consultant — join us. The monthly lunch I hosted for many years is coming back to life in September. The motto of Solo Boston is “solo but not alone.” Indeed!

Photo of Pattenburg (Musconetcong) Tunnel by Owls Flight Photography on Flickr.

View the photo gallery to see more event photography from the Hungry Tiger Street Festival.

Last year I tagged along with friends to an event called OUTSPOKEN at Precinct. It was part of Boston’s Queer Women of Color and Friends’ “QWOC Week.” I’ll confess, whenever I heard the words “spoken word” it’s not something I would generally seek out for an event.  But OUTSPOKEN was good, very good. I learned about London Bridgez — and now when someone says “spoken word” I’m not so quick to judge. I happened to have my camera with me last year and shot a bunch of photos.

The 2011 event happened this week. Browse the event photo gallery of OUTSPOKEN 2011 photos I shot on August 4th at Club Choices in Somerville.

Learn more about Queer Women of Color and Friends on their website and at Facebook and Twitter.