Cheaps: Fluff, college parties & free Chipotle

Thursday bring a slew of weekend Cheap Thrills, courtesy of my weekly column in the Boston Herald. On tap this week: Somerville's What the Fluff fest, dueling college bashes and free Chipotle for the kiddies on Sunday. Yom Kippur? More like YUM KIPPUR AMIRITE?!?!

COLLEGIATE MATCHUP
College Night at the Museum [trailer] of Fine Arts and College Fest: Back to School Party
Tonight at the MFA, 7 p.m. to midnight, FREE; Saturday , noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., at Hynes Convention Center, $10. All events require college ID.
Not like we need reminders that school is back in session, but any weekend slate of events that round up a bunch of college students and get them out of our way for a few hours is well worth a Cheap Thrills mention. And it doesn’t hurt when the events are solid, and make college life seem cool again despite the efforts of pop doofus Asher Roth and his inane “I Love College” song. Tonight, the Museum of Fine Arts (where students are always admitted free) kicks things off with its fifth annual College Night, featuring gallery exhibits and performances by the funk-rock party band Love In Stockholm, coffeehouse-circuit singer/songwriter Liz Longley and the electro-hop styling of DJ Ghostdad. Then College Fest takes over Hynes Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday with a motherlode of appearances (from actor Woody Harrelson to the Red Sox [team stats] World Series trophies), as well as live do-ups from singer Jeremih (“Birthday Sex”), emo-poppers Hellogoodbye, intellectual alt-hip-hop artist Talib Kweli and local rising rockers Lansdowne. Peep the link below for the schedules at both events.
Info: mfa.org, collegefest.com

FLUFFORAMA
What the Fluff Festival
Union Square, Somerville; Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m., FREE
As it turns out, something magical was invented in Somerville’s bustling Union Square, and we’re not talking about unicorns, wookies or the false promise of an MBTA rail station. No, way back in 1917 Archibald Query whipped up gooey edible goodness called Marshmallow Fluff, and in 2006 the insatiably hungry folks in the ’Ville decided to honor the man with a celebration of all things Fluff. Presented by Union Square Main Streets, the annual What the Fluff festival is perhaps the only safe-for-work WTF acronym , offering up live performances by Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints, Rex Complex and Los Sugar Kings as well as cooking contests, games and prizes. Last year there was a fierce tug-of-war, and the losing side got pulled into a giant kiddie pool of Fluff. Maybe the college parties listed above should take note on how the adults roll. Bring a towel and your appetite, Fluffers.
Info: unionsquaremain.org, 617-955-0080

CHEAP EATS
Free Food for Kids at Chipotle
Every Sunday through Oct. 11 at all 18 Boston-area Chipotle locations
There’s a burrito chain war brewing in Beantown. Between Boloco, Anna’s Taqueria, Qdoba, Boca Grande and a host of others popping up like guacamole, the potential destinations are as plentiful as the contents wrapped tightly inside a warm, soft tortilla. Now Chipotle is vying for your attention with its Free Food for Kids Sunday program that runs weekly through Oct. 11. To participate, purchase a burrito, salad or burrito bowl for yourself and the tot in tow gets to chow down on a kid’s meal, taco or quesadilla for free. The little lads select their own ingredients, preparing them for life’s great choices, such as where to go for lunch.
Info: chipotle.com