Cheaps: Making out, MTV casting & the Bruins

It's Thursday, so it's time for another of my Cheap Thrills columns in the Boston Herald, and this week we'll be making out, auditioning for the Real World and growing a beard for Bruins hockey, all on the free.



OPEN-MOUTH MARATHON
Boston Babydolls French Kiss-a-Thon in Harvard Square
Saturday at 5 p.m., Winthrop Park in front of UpStairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop St., Cambridge; 5 p.m., 18-plus, FREE
According to the Boston Babydolls burlesque troupe, the world record for the longest-running kiss between two individuals clocks in at 32 hours, 7 minutes and 14 seconds. That’s more tongue than you can find in a Jewish deli. Though the Babydolls don’t expect records to be set this weekend, they are asking everyone to pucker up and give some juicy wet lip service to their significant other. The Babydolls’ French Kiss-a-Thon on Saturday in Harvard Square is a clever promo for their “French Kiss” show April 25 and 26 at the nearby Oberon (2 Arrow St.; $15-$40, cluboberon.com). It’s free and open to all couples ages 18 and up, and prizes include Oberon tickets and gifts from Peet’s Coffee, Lush Cosmetics and Eastern Standard. All contestants will receive a thank-you gift.
Info: bostonbabydolls.net, 617-869-2000

REAL OPPORTUNITY
“Real World” open casting call in Allston
Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Sunset Grill and Tap and Big City, 138 Brighton Ave. in Allston; all-ages, FREE
“Jersey Shore” may have supplanted “The Real World” as MTV’s must-watch smutty reality show, but all it takes is one loose cannon to vault the show back into the gossip sites. And where can “Real World” casting directors find such low-brow gold? Allston Rock City, of course. MTV is hosting an open casting call for the 25th season of the legendary reality show series in the heart of Allston Village all day Saturday at Sunset Grill and Big City on Brighton Avenue. Candidates are asked to bring a picture of themselves - which shouldn’t be a problem for those wishing to be a reality star - and a photo ID. The casting is only open to those ages 18 to 24, but the people-watching is open to all ages.
Info: bunim-murray.com

READY FOR BATTLE
Boston Bruins viewing party and Beard-a-Thon launch
Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe, 22-24 Clinton St.; all-ages, FREE
Long before hipsters from Brooklyn to Jamaica Plain annexed the beard and made it the accessory of trendy indie-rock dudes, the beard was synonymous with two things: your creepy Uncle Angelo and the NHL playoffs. With the Bruins in Buffalo, N.Y., to begin their on-ice quest for the Stanley Cup, the hockey organization has invited fans to catch Game 2 on Saturday on the big screens of the Hard Rock Cafe. The Bruins Ice Girls and Blades the mascot will be hanging out, and prizes include upcoming playoff tickets and signed memorabilia by goalie Tuuka Rask and Patrice Bergeron. But the start of the playoffs has also launched the B’s Beard-a-Thon, an annual fund-raiser where last year almost 1,200 fans grew out their facial hair and raised about $100,000 for the Bruins Foundation. Shaggy supporters can track their beards at beardathon.com, which also highlights a Beard of the Day and updates a beard leaderboard.
Info: beardathon.com, bostonbruins.com, 617-424-2675