THEATER
Fish Food
Avenue Stage premieres this comedy by Michael O’Halloran, set in Boston in 1990. Our hero, Joe Bacon, just buried his father, but he’s also found a new job answering phones at the run-down Plaza Court Hotel. His boss, an infamous business mogul trying to revamp the property, may be named Avery Grand, but he sounds a heck of a lot like Donald Trump.
July 20 through 23, Boston Playwrights’ Theater, 949 Comm. Ave., Boston, $10-$20, avenuestage.org
ART
FIGMENT
This unique art festival features all kinds of interactive installations to explore, stretching up the Greenway from Dewey Square like an unfurling multiverse of sensory wonderment. Kids, ever-bored in stuffy old museums, should get a kick out of “art you can play with.” There’s also a special “After Dark” program on Saturday night, with music, dancing and special nighttime installations.
July 22 and 23, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston, free, boston.figmentproject.org
MUSIC
DAWN
Singer-songwriter Dawn Richard got her start in pop music 2004 as a member of the girl group Danity Kane, but in the years since their breakup she’s established herself as a distinctive and ambitious purveyor of dance pop and R&B, showcasing her astonishing vocal range and flamboyant style. This past November, she released her third solo album, “REDEMPTION.”
July 20, 9:30 p.m., Great Scott, 1222 Comm. Ave., Boston, $10-$12, 18+, greatscottboston.com
Aisha Burns
Indie folk singer Aisha Burns has played in a few different project over the last decade and change, but she didn’t go solo until 2013, with “Life in the Midwater,” a record fueled by a mystical energy and marked by Burns’ lamenting violins and her high, clear voice, cutting through the fog of life like a bright, unflagging light.
July 22, 8 p.m., Homestead Bakery and Café, 1448 Dorchester Ave., Boston, $10, aishaburns.com
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s career is such a behemoth at this point that it’s not surprising he gave his latest record the elegant title “Damn.” He’s that rare artist who achieves major league success while retaining his “socially conscious” cred. Maybe it’s his sheer charisma—many would call him the best rapper in the game right now—but it’s a good sign regardless.
July 22, 7:30 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, $114-$600, ticketmaster.com
MOVIES
The NeverEnding Story
The bizarre creatures and landscapes in the bonkers 1984 kids’ fantasy “The NeverEnding Story” are only more amazing to behold in the CGI era. Yeah, those ape movies look real good, but they don’t look Luck Dragon good—that is, completely terrifying. It’s nearly as creepy as “The Dark Crystal,” but much sillier, which makes it all the more fun to re-watch.
July 20, 7 p.m., 290 Harvard St., Brookline, $10-$13, coolidge.org
COMEDY
Unsportsmanlike Comedy with Rob Gronkowski
Patriots star Rob Gronkowski has a funny way of staying busy outside the gridiron—a search on YouTube finds him pranking unsuspecting Lyft riders, appearing in a 3LAU music video, roasting David Ortiz and even crashing a Sean Spicer press conference. And on Friday, Gronk’s your host at this comedy showcase featuring Juston McKinney, Finesse Mitchell, Jay Larson, John Caparulo and Lenny Clarke.
July 21, 8 p.m., Showcase Live, 23 Patriot Pl., Foxboro, $29-$34, tickets.showcaselive.com
The World Series of Comedy
40 comedians from across the U.S. compete in this five-day joke-off to win spot at the finals in Las Vegas, competing with the winners in various other cities. The audience gets to put in their two cents, so choose wisely—you may be helping make a career.
Through July 22, Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $20, laughboston.com
GOING OUT
Culture Club (Part 1)
No, it’s not a performance by Boy George’s band, but it’s pretty dang cool: a combination outdoor art show and dance night, with DJs Gucci Vuitton and Riobamba spinning tunes and such attractions as Pat Falco’s electronics trash yard, William Chambers’ mobile embroidery unit and more from illustrator Matthew Zaremba and new media artist Sam Okerstrom-Lang. Part 2 happens in August.
July 21, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Institute of Contemporary Art, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston, $15, icaboston.com
DRINK
Dorchester Brewing Company 1st Anniversary Bash
It’s tough for any new business to make it to the one year mark, but Dorchester Brewing has even more to celebrate considering they’re in the crowded craft beer game. They’re celebrating all day Saturday with a pig roast, live music and a fresh beer release—all in a space double the size of their normal events, thanks to a special permit.
July 22, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Mass. Ave., Boston, free, 21+, dorchesterbrewing.com
Sunday Funday at GrandTen Distilling
So you’d like to go out to drink, but you also want to game with your gaming friends? We’ve got a good place for you. On Sundays GrandTen Distilling has a gaming day, with classic board games like “Risk” and even the good old 8-bit NES, plus a special cocktail menu to see you through these lengthy excursions.
Every Sunday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., GrandTen Distilling, 383 Dorchester Ave., Boston, no cover, grandten.com
LAWN GAMES
BSSC Cornhole Classic
Cornhole, the sport of kings. What—no one calls it that? Well, that needs to change. The gloves come off at the Lawn on D this Saturday at the premiere cornhole tournament of the season. The winner gets a cool $500. Registration is closed, but you can still come down and watch, because this is going to get heated.
July 23, 1 p.m., Lawn on D, 420 D Street, Boston, free, bssc.com
