Whiskey, Wine, and Beer Events This Week in Boston

Before the Broadway production of “Hedwig & the Angry Inch” with Neil Patrick Harris won all the Tonys, it was a movie starring writer/director John Cameron Mitchell. Even before that it was a musical, but only off-Broadway so you can totally pretend the film version screening at the Coolidge on Monday is the original source material. The story follows a fictional rock band fronted by a transgendered East German rock goddess. (7 p.m., $10, 18+)

Anytime you can legally get drunk at a T stop, I’m going to let you know about it. Part of Boston Idea Week, The Future of Boston’s Startup Culturee takes over the Courthouse MBTA station for a night of panel discussions with startup leaders from Karmaloop, Uber and PayPal, then brings out a DJ and cash bar to accompany some “festive networking,” otherwise known as “drunkenly talking to people who could maybe help you get money.” (6 p.m., FREE, 21+)

The Boston Athenaeum hosts this wine tasting and discussion on the genre of wine books, ranging from the notes of a professional taster, the claims of a physician that the beverage cures all known ills, and even a wine coloring book for children. “Can’t you even color within the lines, kid? You color like a drunk person! Wait, you are drunk? How did you learn to get drunk? From this wine coloring book? OK, you got me there.” (6 p.m., $25, 21+)

Manny Gonzales, beverage director at Davis Square faux-speakeasy Saloon, will guide attendees through this tasting and class that focuses on the craft of whiskey blends, especially Scotch whisky. Fun fact: Whiskey drops the “e” when it’s from Scotland, Japan, or Canada. Also: “i” before “e” except after “c” and after “Old McDonald had a farm.” (7 p.m., $35, 21+)

The Jamaica Plain brewery hosts the third annual one-day release of its Brewlywed Ale, a traditional Belgian bridal beer. Only 200 cases will be for sale, and the first 50 people in line get a bottle signed by Jim Koch. Also, the first 20 people to show up in bridal attire get to cut the line, but I’m not sure what that entails because I’ve been to weddings where dudes show up in cargo pants or dad jeans, and those people certainly don’t need to be encouraged. There will be private brewery tours, food samplings and pairing suggestions, and a justice of the peace on hand to perform wedding ceremonies. You still need a marriage license, though, and getting up the justice of the peace’s face and yelling “No justice! No peace!” will not help things. (9 a.m., $15/bottle, 21+)

Performers from Cirque du Soleil take to the streets of Harvard Square for a free show Wednesday, rescheduled from last week due to weather. The Canadian performance art group’s current show at Boston Marine Industrial Park, “Amaluna,” was written and directed by American Repertory Theatre artistic director Diane Paulus, and Harvard Square is known for its wealth of street buskers, ranging from that one guy who sings Dylan to that other guy who sings Dylan. Cirque probably won’t bring along a sad, mangy dog to drum up sympathy like those three or four crusty punk kids still trying to pretend that the “pit” is still a thing and Harvard Square isn’t a shopping mall. (12 p.m., FREE, all ages)

One time I was at Goodwill hunting for a come-up and an older gentleman asked if I could teach him how to tie a necktie, because he had a job interview coming up. So I hooked him up with a sweet four-in-hand and reflected on how I learned to tie a tie, which is the traditional way most people learn: from Alec Baldwin in that one scene in Farrelly Brothers stoner comedy “Outside Providence.” I only mention this because it’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever done for anyone, and also because Community Work Services is collecting ties for job interviews at their annual Ties & Taps benefit at District Hall. It’s $35 but you get $35 worth of gift certificates from Anthem and Fogo de Chao, plus food and craft beer at the event. (6 p.m., $35, 21+)

Art wants to be free, and not just the art of a perfectly dimpled tie knot like I taught that man to tie FOR FREE. In this free artist’s talk at the ICA, Jim Hodges and museum director Jill Medvedow will discuss Hodges’ career and his new exhibition at the ICA, “Give More Than You Take.” Free tickets are required and available two hours before the 7 p.m. talk, so 5 p.m. — which just happens to be when the ICA stops charging admission on free Thursdays! (7 p.m., FREE, all ages)

Photo credit: Andrea Levers/Creative Commons

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