(Harry How/Getty Images)

Haven't you always wanted a police escort? Ride your bike to work tomorrow and you can have one.

I'd join you but I'm having my bike shorts repadded.

[Think your moves can top this guy's?]

It's no secret that dance parties are kind of my thing. (See my bio at the right.) Check out our picks for some local dance spots to keep you moving throughout the week.

If you need further inspiration, this weekend's packed with opportunites for rump shaking and robot walking:

Tomorrow at the Roxy, stop by Latin Fridays, where DJ Lus and DJ Andy Panty start spinning at 10 p.m. Women on the guest list get in free before 11:30 p.m. You can call host Tomas Soto at 617-848-8117 to save yourself a spot - and that's a safer bet than shilling out the $15 cover.

Not keen on crowded clubs? Head to Project MUM: Somerville's Final Frontier, where you'll get the chance to shake your groove thing in the open air, right under the McGrath Highway on Saturday. The party starts at 9 p.m. and there's no cover, but the suggested donation is $10.

Every fourth Tuesday at the Milky Way Lounge in Jamaica Plain, catch ...And Don't the Kids Just Love It, featuring indie pop and power pop. There's no cover. Bonus: Half-price bowling after 9 p.m.

I'm breaking a sweat just writing about it.

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

I was never one of those kids who told the mall Santa, "I want a pony for Christmas". I was too busy wondering if tugging on his beard was going to get me in trouble or not (it did). But ponies still sometimes do have a certain allure, even to someone who can't stand the smell of horse poo. I go out of my way each year to watch the races of the Triple Crown and root for a horse to win, but I'm never right. Ah, but maybe it's because I'm watching those on television - maybe if I were to see the horses up-close-and-personal, I'd have a better sense of which might win.

Yeah, nope. Tried that strategy today when I went to Suffolk Downs to catch a few races. Over the course of five bets on four races, I got exactly zero of them correct. And I tried different tactics for every race. Some friends of mine follow the various circuits closely and gave me tips on what to do if you're only going to go to a track once in a while. My favorite? If you like the name of a horse, bet on it, cause you'll kick yourself if you don't.

My "cool name gets my money" bet went to "Saturday Sin"...who proceeded to get his equine butt kicked. One of my other tips was to look at the horse's history and morning betting odds, and bet on him if those odds had slipped before post time. I picked a horse that won his last three races, and four of his last five. But he didn't win today. Heck, the closest I came to a winning ticket is when I called a friend and told him "pick a number, 1-9, and I'm betting that horse". He picked the favorite, I bet on number 7 to win, and he came in second.

I think the best plan for someone like me visiting the racetrack is to admit right from the start, you're going to lose almost all the money you bring to bet. But that's okay - that's the cost of the entertainment. Go into it knowing you'll come out behind from where you started, and just go with instinct. If four is your lucky number, bet that horse. If the horse has a cool name ("I'm a Dilemma", step forward please), bet him. And every once in a while, send that text message to a buddy asking them to pick a number out of a hat for you. Cause hey, maybe it'll work.

It's not like you could do any worse than I did, anyway.

Hey, big spender: If you plan to be on the Good Cape of Cod on September 4th and have an extra $150 to spare, head to Chatham Bars Inn for a "Gentleman's Smoker" to benefit the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Guys, you'll find an adult Candyland of cigars, cordials, martinis, lobsters, and live jazz at the event. Nautical attire is strongly suggested, so get your seersucker suits to the cleaners, tout de suite.

Ladies, sorry, this soirée is boys-only. May we suggest a dinner at Franklin Café in the South End and a late showing of "Vicky Christina Barcelona" while your boyfriends and husbands are playing Rat Pack in Chatham?

["Tell me Miss Trench, do you play any other games?"]

Fantasy Football players, you don't have to sit in a dark living room eating cold pizza while you pick your teams. Game On! is holding an Ultimate Fantasy Draft Party Thursday night at 7, complete with free wireless Internet access to search for players and stats.

To reserve space for a league, contact Tyler at 617-351-7001 or info@gameonboston.com.

We suggest trying to get this guy:

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

So I've decided that Restaurant Week is my new favorite time of the year. After missing it the last couple of years, this summer I made sure to get out and have a classy, three-course lunch. And today, I felt like donning a beret, toting a long piece of bread under my arm, and riding a bicycle everywhere.

Except, I did none of those things. But I did get some French flavor by taking my Restaurant Week luncheon at Le Petit Robert Bistro on Columbus Ave. That's the one with the model Eiffel Tower outside the door, and the Christmas lights adorning the faux (French!) monument.

I gave a fleeting thought to ordering in French, drawing upon my six year-old classes in high school, but decided that would have been a bad choice. But that didn't stop me from wondering: Does the "Robert" particularly enjoy the characterization "Petit"? I'm not sure I would, if it were me, but hey.

And the food was absolutely brilliant. I had a cold vichysoisse soup, cod almandine, and a helping of the most decadent bread pudding I've ever tasted. As someone who generally doesn't eat real meals (I just eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm not), I packed it away this afternoon. And I'd go back and do it again, honestly. It's a cute little place, where many patrons walk through the kitchen to get to the main dining room, and I imagine the wine list is impressive. I didn't sample any of the grapes, as I had a drive after my lunch, but it's on my agenda if I return.

Stingray Body Art is hosting a fashion show on Friday that will showcase the work of local designers. The models will be posing in the windows and then strutting their stuff on the sidewalk in front of the tattoo shop. The event will be emceed by the fabulous Kendall Bretto, founder and president of Chandler Jewelry, and will feature music, food, & drinks. It starts at 7 p.m. and it's free.

If you're headed out to the Berkshires this fall, we have a gem of a place for you to stay: Howard Johnson's in Williamstown. That's right, we said HoJo's. It's newly remodeled, affordable, available, has a pool, and -- best of all -- you can make your own waffles at the continental breakfast. Who needs a charming B&B when you can have a fresh, fluffy waffle at HoJo's?

[All right, so ours didn't look this good. But we didn't follow the directions.]

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

So, there are some quotas I decided I needed to fill for this project. I think I've more than satisfied the quota for museums, my quota for restaurants, and my quota for excuses to have a beer. But there was one I hadn't quite satisfied: my quota for witnessing cross-dressing. Rocky Horror wasn't enough. I needed to get out there and find me some drag queens!

Luckily, a friend of mine knew just where I should look — Jacque's. He told me Monday nights are a great night to go, cause we'd see Becca D'Bus hosting. I have to say, Becca did not disappoint.

Sadly, the only picture I had of Becca had her facing the wrong direction. So instead of posting a picture of a vibrant green wig floating atop a brilliantly mismatched ensemble (that I'm told Becca sewed herself), I'm going with this better shot of the Jacque's drag stage. Tonight's show featured three queens alternating their performances with a couple of plain-clothes folks doing spoken-word and acoustic music that fit the theme.

Oh, and the bachelorette party. How could I forget the bachelorette party? A group of about ten girls sat very near the stage and got lots of attention from the queens. Becca and Katya (our Iron Curtain drag queen of the evening) frequently visited the corner that the bride-to-be and her friends staked out and then chose a lap or two to sit in. And gyrate in. And collect tips in. Although the crowd was smaller than I expected, I don't think Becca, Katya, and Lotus Blossom suffered for lack of people pushing dollar bills into their false bosoms.

Wow, I just used the word "bosom" during this project. I'm not sure how I feel about it now that I have. But I do know I've seen sufficient cross-dressing for this summer.

Pinching pennies? Chic but cheap? We understand. Here are three free events this week for your going out pleasure.

Tuesday, August 19

- "Best Hikes With Dogs" Discussion @ REI Boston: Oh, how the summer days are dwindling. It'll never be warm again. Shape up, Debbie Downer! Author Jenna Ringelheim will highlight the best places for hiking with your dog in the Boston area. Estabrook Woods or Mount Watatic, perhaps? She's done the research for you — just grab a leash, Rover, and some water and hit the trails. 7 p.m.

Saturday, August 23

- Beer Mess @ the Wine Gallery: Calling all craft brew fans: Clear your calendars this weekend and get thee to the Wine Gallery in Brookline for a free tasting of more than 50 local brews. Smuttynose, Cisco, Allagash, Opa Opa — the gang's all here. Yes, the store might have a misleading name, but the Wine Gallery also sells a variety of indie and unique beers. Consider yourself schooled. 3-6 p.m.

Sunday, August 24

- August Moon Festival @ Quincy Center: OK, so you missed the Boston Chinatown August Moon Festival last weekend (yep, we were at the beach too). Don't fret. You have a second chance to nibble on the dense, filled moon cakes, watch dancing performances, and bring the kids to experience Chinese culture in Quincy. And, bonus: There will be free parking. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

[Bet you can't eat more than one of these duck yolk-filled pastries. I couldn't.]

Want more? How about watching "Grease" at the Hatch Shell? Or, check out all free events this week.

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

It's a good thing I'm no good at HTML coding, because I would totally put the Jeopardy theme song right here. That's right, boys and girls, tonight was trivia night for yours truly. Boston and the immediate suburbs are awesome for pub trivia, with a whole bunch of bars hosting events (almost always free) every night of the week. I took the opportunity to introduce a friend of mine to the fun at CitySide Bar and Grille in Cleveland Circle.

There are a lot of rules to pub trivia — not the least of which being you have to come up with an interesting team name. Being the children of the 90s that we are, my friend and I resorted quickly to Nickelodeon references. The winner? "Dare...Double Dare...PHYSICAL CHALLENGE!" Even the trivia jockey appreciated that one. After that, you've got to pick up on how the game is played. Four rounds, each with four questions. You pick a point value for your question based on the category, and you turn in your answer and assigned point value to the trivia jockey. In between each round is a bonus question — some involve pictures, some involve identifying a celebrity based on progressively obvious clues, and some might involve naming books based on their brief synopses. And then there's the final questions, where you wager points for two questions and hope you don't blow them.

Right here, I want to apologize to a family member who will be upset I got a particular question wrong. Uncle Pat, I blew a question on what dog group a Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to. But "Dare...Double Dare...PHYSICAL CHALLENGE!" did quite well, considering most trivia teams are at least four people. Our two-man team remembered it was Alexander Hamilton who was killed in the duel with Aaron Burr, that the Caucasus mountains separated Europe from Asia, and that Plato was Socrates' student. But we forgot that Ira Glass hosted "This American Life", that Kilgore Trout is featured in Kurt Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions" not "Cat's Cradle," and who starred opposite Shia LaBoeuf in "Transformers." Even still, third place for a two-man team? I'm rather psyched with the results.

No prize for third, sadly. But after my long hiatus from trivia night, I'm glad I got back into it. And for the record, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are in the Hound group.

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

I must say, I was excited for the projectiles.

At most movies, if you talk during the show, a freckly teenager in a bellhop's uniform will come by and tell you to be quiet. Responding to the characters on-screen would probably earn you a second warning. And throwing things at other audience members? Well, that's almost certainly forbidden.

Not so at the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'd seen the movie before, but never the hybrid movie-performance version at Harvard Square's AMC Theater, so I figured I was due. Not to mention, midnight movies are something I really enjoy, and this was near the top of the list. Before you can even enter the theater, there's a whole spiel you've got to listen to about what you can throw, who you can throw it at, and how to make the actors take their clothes off. And then they give you the projectiles. It was all harmless stuff, but I'm still picking grains of rice out of my hair and shoes.

The audience gets a quick warmup, as the cast performs a couple songs and then teaches the main dance number, "Time Warp." You learn to get cozy with the people you're sitting near very quickly, since you could at any time have to grab their hips and, well, "it's the pelvic thrusts that really drive you insane." Once the movie starts playing, it's a constant dialog between the audience and the big silver screen. At our showing, about a half-dozen people in the audience knew the response to every single line in the movie. It was amusing at first, but it wore on me as the movie progressed and I missed more and more of the actual lines.

Plus, of course, there's a live cast acting out the show right on top of you. And that's not an exaggeration — if you're sitting on the aisle, you might have Magenta straddling you at any given point in time. The costumes were a dead-match for the movie's original costumes, something I understand is uncommon in the cult following of this particular movie.

Overall, it was a blast, even if Rocky Horror isn't my first choice for a cult-movie. I wonder if I can drum up any support for a midnight showing of Newsies....hmm....

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

I like to think of myself as a reasonably athletic guy. Or at least, to the point that I wouldn't embarrass myself during a pickup baseball game or soccer kickaround. But that little misconception of mine was exposed and exposed greatly when I encountered the kayak. I lived on the same floor as a rower my freshman year, and I didn't envy the folks she lived with - crew practices are at an insanely early hour. And in a small room with three people? That had to be no fun.

My arms are sore. And I don't think we even went that far down the Charles before doubling back. My friend, who was rather more experienced than I at the art of the kayak (I've never sat in a kayak before today), was in the back seat of the two-man boat, and probably is hurting more than I am, considering just how much compensating for my poor form that she had to do.

All this and more with Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton. For just a Jackson or two, you too can make a complete putz of yourself by repeatedly (albeit unintentionally) turning what should be a straight-shot kayak ride into a zig-zag. You too can steer into lilypads, other canoers, or even big hard-to-miss islands.

And don't forget the best perk - biceps that want to secede from the Union that is your body. Maybe it was just my novice technique, but I probably trailed more water into the boat from my paddles than if I'd just jumped into the grody river. For that, I apologized to my friend repeatedly, since I wasn't sure I was going to be able to stop doing it. And when it comes to driving into other boats? Just try not to hit them at high speed. At least I managed to control that.

Attention wordsmiths: If you like being the center of attention, or simply want to relive your glory days in the school spelling bee, you should volunteer to be a guest speller in the North Shore Music Theatre's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," running through Aug. 31.

Here's how it works, according to PR manager Carol LaRosa:
Each night before the show, two theater staff members walk through the lobby, asking patrons if they'd like to volunteer. About 20-30 people usually sign up per night. They are directed to our "casting director," who asks a few questions to get a feel for their personality ("Where are you from?" "Are you a good speller?" "Are you interested in current events?"), then selects four spellers. They are given basic instructions about being onstage (to ask for a word definition and to have the word used in a sentence). After that, it's totally improvisational. Spellers are NOT told the words ahead of time and are encouraged to spell as well as they can. Spellers stay onstage as long as they spell words correctly.

I saw the show last night, and it's delightful. The guest spellers spend quite a bit of time onstage, depending on how proficient they are, and even get to participate in a musical number.

If you sign up, though, just be sure you know how to take a joke, because you will be made fun of -- and you'll love it.

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

...that's playing the blues on a barge. At least, that's how it was sold to me. The Boston Harbor Hotel has a whole series of summertime entertainment, including Thursday nights with live floating blues music behind the hotel. I knew I was going to get to one of their events, it was just a matter of picking one. As much as I enjoy dancing, I think I would break some part of my body if I attempted to swing dance, so I thought something a little less active was appropriate. And the movies they've got going on may be classics...but I think I'd like to see something that was made while I was alive.

So blues it was.Two friends and I took the trip, hoping to catch some tunes and not some storms. I had a hard time convincing anyone to accompany me since I tried to do so right as the heavens unleashed. But thankfully the clouds parted for the barge, and we arrived just after 8.

Sadly, we didn't stay long, although not because we didn't think it was a cool idea. We gathered that you had to be seated to remain in the audience, and every spot on the stairs was well and truly taken. A Boston Harbor Hotel employee told us we couldn't stand behind the tier of stairs, so we shuffled off to the side to observe for a bit. And after a song or two that we slowly, but rhythmically bobbed our heads to, we took off. Waiting for a table to free up wasn't going to be a productive night.

So here's a tip: if you're going to do something at the Harbor Hotel, don't go halfway through. Go early and stake your claim, or you'll have to find somewhere else to get a drink.

Or at least that's what I'd yelp if I hit a home run in next Saturday's Wiffle Ball Competition at City Hall Plaza. Over 30 teams will compete to be Boston's wiffle ball champions — ultimate bragging rights! Team registration is still open, according to organizers, so round up your friends who actually like to rise and shine before noon on weekends and sign up. Be there or be... sleeping in. We wonder if Menino will throw the first pitch?

["Take me out to the baaalll game" / istockphoto.com]

Interesting side note: I apparently had no clue how wiffle ball works before today. I thought it was played like baseball, where people actually run bases. Nope. Because it was invented (in Fairfield, Conn., of all places) to be played on congested streets or in cramped backyards, the "field" is a triangle. Batters score points based on how far they hit the ball — no running required. Nerds who are interested in this type of thing — like yours truly — please click here.

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

Today was another one of those "walk out the door and see what catches your eye in a particular neighborhood" days. I'd done it once before in Cambridge, and on the recommendation of several friends, I thought I'd give it a try today in Brookline's Coolidge Corner. Not to mention that seeing all the closed storefronts before the hair-band singalong last week made me curious to see just what was behind some of those grates and locks.

It was an entirely different scene from that in Cambridge. While Mass. Ave sported more indie boutiques and clothing stores, Coolidge Corner had several interesting places to eat. And while I would have liked to try more than one, my friend and I chose to stop in the Coolidge Corner arcade at the little cafe there for some homemade sandwiches.

There wasn't really much of a pattern to how we explored the area. It was basically "ooh, that store has an interesting name, what do they have in there?" That strategy isn't always a bad plan — we found this fascinating little Russian bookstore where I tried to find familiar titles with a fading knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet. This came after our stop at the Brookline Booksmith, where I got lost in the used-books section downstairs, finding several hardcovers and paperbacks I wanted to take with me. (Sadly, I left them there. I'm behind on my reading already.)

We also stuck our heads briefly into the New England Comics store, where my travel buddy's eyes glossed over (he's a comics guy), while mine drooped a bit (I'm not a comics guy). I plead for all English teachers to cover their eyes as they read this, but when it comes to superheroes - I'll wait for the movie.

There was a cute little "toy and school supply" shop down the street where I sang the old Slinky song upon seeing the display of the springs. Yeah, I'm not sure the proprietor appreciated that. We also walked by several delis and Asian food places I would have loved to have tried, but alas, my turkey sandwich and Italian soda was all I could handle.

I've got one more of these little neighborhood excursions planned as I approach the final stretch of this project, but I'd love to know if there's somewhere you're just dying for me to take a look at. Send me an email!

T.T. the Bear's, this Stephen Colbert-style tip of the hat/wag of the finger is for you.

OK, mostly it's a tip of the hat. As most people probably know, this Cambridge club is the place to see up-and-coming music acts. It's intimate enough to let you get close to the stage, and big enough to let you feel like you're part of an in-the-know crowd. You can walk in, pay $10, and hear rock bands from around the country -- and there's a bar on each side of the performance area for easy access to middle-of-the-set refreshments.

I was reminded of the club's attributes last night when I was there to see Thao and the Get Down Stay Down -- fronted by the natural-born rock star Thao Nguyen. Nguyen has a confident, passionate stage presence, and the music that flows from her forcefully strummed guitars is a mesmerizing alt-country fusion of rock, pop, and funk overlaid with swirling, Asian-influenced chords. Backed by a very Nordic-looking drummer and bushy-bearded bass player (add about 6 inches of beard to the guy on the far right), Nguyen lit the room on fire with her raw, melodic wails and bouncy, minor-key hoedowns.

Now for the wag of the finger: A women's restroom with one stall? Really? Come on, T.T.'s, can't you least point us to another option? I suppose it's in keeping with the hole-in-the-wall ethos of the place, but when a girl's got to go, she's got to go. It won't keep me from frequenting the club, but it might keep me from visiting the bartender. And that would be a real shame for both of us.

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

...that kind of noodle just soothes the soul! I was really feeling the lunchtime vibe today, and I consulted the list of restaurants I still wanted to visit for the Project. This time, I thought to call ahead and make sure Betty's Wok and Noodle was open before I hoofed it up Huntington Ave.

It was a late lunch for me, about 3 p.m., and the restaurant was all but deserted when I arrived. With the exception of the one guy in the front reading the newspaper, I had the place to myself. No matter — I'm OK entertaining the waiters on my own. And considering the great things I've heard from fellow students and professors alike, an empty dining room sure wasn't going to stop me.

Nice-looking place — kind of a combination of 50s decor and a more modern Asian theme. Which, I suppose, fits in nicely with the concept behind the restaurant. They plug it as Asian-Latino fusion cuisine. But the Frankie Valli-esque soundtrack piped in over the loudspeakers was just a little bit anachronistic. Fits the 50s part, not so much the Asian or Latino parts. But hey, it worked.

My sweet and salty peanut noodles were really good. I could pretend they made the dish special since I was the only one there, but I bet not. I would definitely go back for seconds. And thirds. (Added bonus: The food itself was only about $10 - not bad at all for lunch.)

I'm Adam Sell and I have two months left before I leave Boston. My challenge? Do something in the city every day. Have ideas for my adventure? Send me an email.

I suppose it was bound to happen sometime. I was going to run out of my apartment in a hurry to get somewhere for this project, and I'd leave my camera behind. Naturally, I wouldn't notice until after a 40 minute train ride, by which point there's really nothing I could do about it. Such was the story today, as I made it all the way to the Museum of Science before I realized I'd forgotten one of the most important parts of my operation. Rather than double back and spend another hour and a half on the Green Line, I just picked up a single-use camera there. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to get it developed yet, so if the picture beneath is no longer just of my ticket, it means I've gone and scanned something better.

I suppose that was inevitable, too. For the Boston in 60 Project, I had hoped to avoid the most tourist-heavy or stereotypical destinations. I wanted to get out and see places I didn't know about, or do things that had never occurred to me. But the call of the Museum of Science was something I couldn't avoid, particularly when they've got that Baseball as America exhibit going on. In much the same way I'm a sucker for museums, anything to do with old-school baseball, and I'm there.

It's only appropriate, though, that I once again hit a photography roadblock. No photos were allowed in the exhibit. I'm guessing it was to preserve the really old stuff inside, but I didn't ask. And since I was toting only a crappy single-use camera instead of my slick Canon model, I didn't dare cheat. But the exhibit was pretty cool - I, unlike many of the ragamuffins skittering around with high-pitched voices, was interested in the development of the catcher's mitt, and in the history of baseball in film. They just wanted to see David Ortiz's hat from last season's World Series. I'm sure they got their fix, though, when they made it to the end of the exhibit and got to pitch in front of a radar gun. I'd personally like to know if that radar gun was functioning properly (66 miles per hour? That's it? I thought for sure I threw harder than that).

Lest I focus too much on one exhibit, however, today was the first time I got to explore many parts of the Museum on my own. I like to move through museums at my own pace, stop and check out what interests me and blow right past what doesn't. So the computers exhibit that I've never gotten to take a proper look at (why do I always end up going with kids with short attention spans?) held my interest for a while, while the wildlife of New England did not. Speaking of the computers, though, I only just found out the old Computer Museum next to the Children's Museum closed. And this was almost ten years ago! How is it I missed that? I loved the giant keyboard and trackball!

At any rate, no, I didn't finish my visit with a laser show. No, I didn't get into an Omni movie, and no, I didn't see the lightning exhibit (that one did, in fact, hold the kids' attention when I've been recently). But I did get to take some cool pictures! I just haven't seen them yet.