ITP: Cheaps: GreenFest, Pee Wee & Dueling Squirt Gun Battles

Another Thursday, another Cheap Thrills column, with all the good bits cut out for family newspaper reading pleasure. Up this weekend: GreenFest, Pee Wee Herman replaces Michael Jackson as a creepy man-child and an all-out Wet Offensive:

EASY BEING GREEN
Boston GreenFest 2009
City Hall Plaza at Government Center
Today from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., all-ages. FREE
Three days of environmental awareness tucked neatly into City Hall Plaza, this year’s GreenFest is a veritable smorgasbord of eco-friendly vendors, exhibits and tours. From the Project Recycle Runway fashion show to lessons on growing organic food and using clean technology, it’s a Mother Earth lovefest. But GreenFest also boasts one heck of a musical lineup. Check out live performances by the Neighborhoods, the Click 5, Mamadou, Corin Ashley, Incus, Watts, Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents, the Dirty Truckers, the Lights Out, the Gentlemen, Midatlantic, AM Stereo, Cassavettes, John Powhida International Airport and a Saturday night headlining gig by Memphis rock n’ twang rebels Lucero. Check the Web site for complete schedule, and go find something to grow on.
Info: bostongreenfest.org

BIG SCREEN ADVENTURE
Johnny Cupcakes presents “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” at Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard St., Brookline; Saturday at midnight, all-ages, $9.75 (two-for-one admission for students)
On the good-news front, Paul Reubens’ timeless character Pee-wee Herman earlier this month announced his official comeback with the stage performance of “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” set to run Nov. 19-29 at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. While everyone’s busy on Orbitz trying to get to Hollywood on the cheap, Pee-wee fans in Boston can whet their appetite Saturday at the Coolidge, when hipster T-shirt mogul Johnny Cupcakes screens the 1985 classic romp about a rebel man-child in search of his missing bike. Score some T-shirts, do the tequila dance and embrace the free air conditioning. Just be sure to tell ’em Large Marge sent ya.
Info: 617-734-2500, coolidge.org

WET OFFENSIVE
Dueling Water Gun Battles
Allston Squirt Gun Day, Saturday at noon at Herrell’s, 155 Brighton Ave.; Bandito Misterioso’s Revolutionary Water Gun Battle, Saturday at 1:30 p.m., location TBA Friday at misterioso.org; both FREE and all-ages
Ever get tickets to a concert, only to find out later that another equally awesome concert is happening the same night? Here comes the water-gun battle equivalent to that conundrum, as two of the city’s finest rites of summer square off against each other. Last year, Banditos Misteriosos (whom we adore here at Cheap Thrills HQ) brought 375 water-gun slingers to the banks of the Charles River, armed with marching armies, fifes and drum corps. This year they’re at it again, with the secret location announced via e-mail blast Friday night. But their agua throwdown falls at the same time as Allston’s own wet battle, where the usually superbusy intersection of Harvard and Brighton avenues is invaded with 15 minutes of walk-signal fury. There’s an after party at nearby Ringer Park with water balloon slingshots, a free-for-all battle on the baseball diamond and even live music. Choose your side wisely.
Info: misterioso.org; myspace.com/allstonsquirtgunday