This Week in Geek June 1-June 6: Celebrating Mars, the Arts, and Mobile Grilled Cheese

Welcome to June! It's Potty Training Awareness Month, National Turkey Lovers' Month, and National Bathroom Reading Month.

This first week of June celebrates none of those, which is probably a good choice; instead, it embraces the off-beat with interactive arts, cult films and gorey illustrations. Animal House, Black Shampoo and The Room are all having midnight showings, and Aussie musical-comedian Tim Minchin will be preforming at the Wilbur. But for something more family-friendly, there are two arts festivals, a food festival and a science fair. And if last week's relentless heat and humidity deterred you from any outdoors celebrations then, fear not: this week's forecast will be reasonably cool for the plethora of outside events we have aggregated.

Wednesday 6.1

[author] Eli Pariser on The Filter Bubble @ The Harvard Book Store 7pm
In his new book, Eli Pariser warns the plugged-in public to beware of "filter bubbles," the digital blocks in knowledge that come from filtered, user-customized search-engines.

Thursday 6.2

[trivia] Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz @ Joshua Tree, Somerville 8pm
The next round of the nationwide pub quiz phenomenon takes place on Thursday night at Joshua Tree. Brush up on your Simpsons references and 80s pop trivia, because the competition will be fierce.

[art] Flash Forward Photography Festival @ Fairmont Battery Wharf Thurs-Sun, 12pm.
This one goes out to all the photography nerds out there, from beginners to seasoned experts. The best of the up-and-coming from the US, UK and Canada  will be gathered to showcase their talent. Tickets are $7 for the general public.

Friday 6.3

[spontaneous fun] Flash Mob 8 Year Anniversary - 7pm, Downtown Boston (Location TBA)
Earlier this year they brought Butlers to the Red Line. This Friday, they're going back to basics: a good ol' fashioned flashmob through the city streets. It's all to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the first Flash Mob in New York. The location of the event will be announced on the Society of Spontaneity's website 24 hours before the event, so check back for more information.

[author + film]  Mike White reads Impossibly Funky @ Brookline Booksmith 7pm + Black Shampoo @ Coolidge Corner 11:59pm
Mike White's Impossibly Funky is a collection of articles from Cashiers du Cinemart, the famed Detroit-based independent film ‘zine. White will discuss the ‘zine's best features since its launch in the mid-90s, which the books itself highlights. Afterwards, White will introduce Black Shampoo, an underground cult-classic that Cashiers du Cinemart called one of the best films of all time.

[chug chug chug] Animal House @ Somerville Theatre 11:59
Vicariously relive your college days--or what you secretly wished your college days were while you spent endless hours cooped up in the library--at the Somerville Theater this Friday and/or Saturday night with National Lampoon's Animal House.

Saturday 6.4

[illustration] Last chance to see "Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey"@ Boston Athenaeum
Edward Gorey's illustrations are quaintly dark, whimsical and gothic, the stuff of light-hearted nightmares. This 20th-century illustrator wrote books for children, and books about children that were not for children at all. This is the last day that the works of this local artist will be on display.

[food] Fabulous Food Truck Festival in Plymouth, MA 11am - 7pm
Bon Me, Kick Ass Cupcakes, Grilled Cheese Nation and many more will convene in the Pinehills Village Green. The food truck trend started in LA, but has spread to Boston with local legends like the Clover Truck or Cupcakory. This weekend, some of the best from the area will gather in a celebration of mobile deliciousness.

[arts] Cambridge River Festival @ Memorial Drive 12pm - 6pm
This annual celebration spans the Charles on the Cambridge side. It features the best of local crafts, theater and poetry. For anyone more musically-inclined, there will be separate stages for hometown jazz and folk acts.

[musical comedy] Tim Minchin @ Wilbur Theatre 7pm
Australian musician, comedian and musical-comedian became internet-famous last year with his song about prejudice. He now brings his musical stylings from Down Under to Boston in an engagement at the Wilbur Theater.

[tearing me apart, lisa] The Room @ Coolidge Corner Theatre 11:59
The Coolidge has the first of three summer showings of The Room this weekend. Simultaneously the best and worst film ever made, The Room has a cult following comparable to classics such as Troll 2 in its enthusiasm and vigor. It's a movie to be experienced, not just seen, and this midnight screening provides the perfect opportunity.

[science] Mars Weekend @ Museum of Science Sat + Sun, 10am
This weekend the MoS celebrates the study of Mars with NASA scientists and university speakers. There will interactive exhibits like model Mars rovers and virtual terrains. The event is perfect for families, and is free with Exhibit Hall pass.

[creativity] FIGMENT Boston @ Rose Kennedy Greenway Sat + Sun, 11am
FIGMENT is an annual event that takes place in New York, Detroit, Jackson and Boston. It celebrates art, culture and creativity exhibits and events that are fully interactive. Come and experience local new art in the most hands-on way possible.