5 Things To Do This Weekend, Nov. 9-11: Comic-Cons, bike races and Bond, James Bond.

1. Man oh Manischevitz, what a week! Big elections, the first snow, and an utterly heartbreaking episode of “The Walking Dead.” Last night I went to Portland and saw Louis CK at the Merrill Auditorium. Monday night we made chili. Could there possibly be more? Answer: YES. In Bangor, there’s songstress Trisha Mason on Friday night, and swingin’ melodic duo The London Boys on Saturday, both at Nocturnem Drafthaus. Friday night at the Phoenix Pub it’s Bizzy Gruntry, Friday at the Bear Brew in Orono there’s an electronic music night with an array of local DJs; Paddy Murphy’s has got the Blood Orange Martinis on Friday and Ranura on Saturday; Ipanema hosts Live Wire on Saturday night. You could check out weekend two of Ten Bucks Theatre’s “Rabbit Hole,” set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eddington Civic Center. Or, you could brave the elements and participate in the Black Ribbons Bicycle Crew’s third annual Alleycat Bike Race, set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday; bring your bikes, your knowledge of landmarks in Bangor, and be prepared to visit a series of checkpoints as fast as you can, in order to win. The race starts at the Hannibal Hamlin statue downtown, and it’s free and open to all ages.

2. Bayside Bowl in Portland is a hoot, and this weekend, there’s two awesome bands playing while you bowl the night away; the legendary King Memphis on Friday, and Bangor’s own When Particles Collide (with Worried Well and the Rationales) on Saturday. Meanwhile, at Empire on Friday there’s a hip hop show featuring the CD release for Pallaso and fellow MCs Kodak and Reign, Big Ceezer and others, and on Saturday the CD release for Portland power pop one man industry Kurt Baker and his new album. The Brew and Sophistafunk play at Port City Music Hall on Friday night, and Richard James and the Name Changers, Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket and Lost Between Sound are set for Saturday. Andi Fawcett and Doubting Gravity with Anna & the Diggs and Stunt Double Sam are at the Big Easy on Friday, and on Saturday at Flask Lounge there’s a night of delicious electronic music from the likes of The Other Bones (pictured), Mr. Dereloid, Jamie O’Sullivan, Popgirl23 and others. Finally, the State Theatre hosts G. Love & Special Sauce and Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad on Saturday night.

3. I know I personally am looking forward to this weekend’s Maine Harvest Festival, a two-day celebration of Maine food that’s open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Bangor Auditorium. Farmer’s Market season is over, but you’ve got one last chance to stock up on tasty, organic, local treats before it’s all good. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to do some early holiday shopping for your food-centric friends and family. Goat cheese, fresh greens, eggs, salsas, hot sauce, bread, jams, candy, preserves, wine, beer and more delicious local meat than you can shake a stick at. Admission is $5.

4. It’s Coast City Comic-Con weekend in Portland, which means there’s a wide array of hilariously fun and gloriously nerdy events in several locations in town. Friday night, there’s the Nerd Rave at Geno’s, featuring Math the Band, Covered in Bees and the Sidescrollers; it’s 21 plus, it’s $8, and it starts at 8. Saturday, the fun starts in earnest at the Holiday Inn By the Bay, with the convention open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; there are panels featuring writers and illustrators, designers and producers, and countless others. There’s a Mexican  Luchadore wrestling match. There’s a celebrity draw-off. There’s a costume contest. There’s appearances from folks from Mystery Science Theater 3000, Dr. Who, Star Trek, Marvel Comics and much more. There’s Super Mario Bros, Starfox, and Street Fighter tournaments. In short, it’s going to be super, super awesome. A one-day pass is $25 and a full weekend pass is $40. Yeah, you don’t want to miss this one.

5. Bah-da, bah-da, bah-da-da, ba-da-da-da, da da! If you have no idea, that’s the James Bond theme, spelled out phoenetically. “Skyfall” opens this weekend, the first new Bond film in four years, and I for one am extremely excited. Javier Bardem as the villain! Daniel Craig looking all chiseled and stuff! Hooray! Also opening this weekend is “The Man With the Iron Fists,” starring Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu and directed by RZA (of the Wu-Tang Clan!), a kung fu flick for all you action lovers. It’s produced by Quentin Tarantino, so if that sounds like a good thing to you, then you’re probably going to see it, right? Right.

 

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.