Clubs and Music

Clubs and Music: Light Recreation!
Some interesting MIT clubs you might want to know about…
Science Fiction Society (MITSFS)
MITSFS runs a science fiction library in the Student Center; they are probably your cheapest and easiest source of fiction novels to keep you sane at MIT.  Despite their name, they carry a surprising range of books either donated by members or bought new.  As well as the inevitable Asimov and Tolkeinesque collections you will find Terry Pratchett, Michael Crichton and Buffy the Vampire Slayer amongst the historic books and bananas.
Anyone is welcome to enter the library (W20, 4th floor, next to "The Tech" offices), sit on their comfy chairs and read a book during opening hours (most evenings – posted on the door and on their website http://web.mit.edu/mitsfs).  If you want to take books out you need to join MITSFS for a small fee (around $12, but it changes). The librarians are very friendly and will help you find anything you're looking for.
Like any MIT student society MITSFS also has its own unique style, best summarised by the phrase "geek kitsch", but don't knock it - it's an experience you would never have had before.  For people who get more into the social side of the library there are weekly meetings, dinner trips and a picnic in the summer.
Assassin's Guild
"To Err is Human...
To Forgive is not our Policy."
So, what does an Assassin’s Guild do? Three important things: they blow up stuff, kill people and eat. Well … no, not exactly. MIT Assassins eat pizza, play Patrol and design/play LARP games.
Patrol is best thought of as step aerobics with guns - it's the best way to start getting involved and meeting some of the Assassins.  Teams of players hunt each other with dart guns (no, the darts don't hurt) in the corridors of Building 36 every Saturday night, if you die you run upstairs, magically reincarnate and avenge your self with a manic laugh.
Want to run the illuminati? Be a hero? Or stab your best friend in the back? Then LARP games are for you.  Longer and more immersive than Patrol, assassins improvise the roles in a battle or spy-based scenario to see who's right and who's dead at the end.
On the whole MIT Assassins are friendly, quirky people, mostly from East Campus or Senior House. Joining is a good way to meet a lot of new friends and learn your way around the interesting parts of campus quickly.  Either talk to them at the Activities Midway or check their website http://www.mit.edu:8001/activities/assassin/home.html for more information.
Live Music in Boston
Lots of good live music reaches Boston, and is often cheap to watch too because many of these bands are trying to break into the American market. In the first year that CMI-ers have been here, people have seen The Strokes, Starsailor, Basement Jaxx, Bob Dylan and Travis, to name but a few.
To find out what is on, check: www.nextticketing.com
This lists gigs at various venues: most good ones are at “Avalon” or “The Paradise Rock Club”.
Also useful is: www.ticketmaster.com
This tends to be more corporate, but often has good gigs, and is also a good place to start looking for sports tickets, etc.
Sports Matches in Boton
American sports matches need to be seen to be believed. The rules are obscure, the side shows entertaining and food abundant. While at a Red Sox game in September, they even had us all sing “New York, New York” in support of the victims of September 11.
Boston is the home of The Celtics (Basketball), The Red Sox (Baseball), The Patriots (winners of last year’s Superbowl) and The Bruins (Ice Hockey).
The Red Sox play at Fenway Park and the Celtics and Bruins play their home matches at the Fleet Center in Boston. Watching live matches in these 3 sports is relatively easy. Tickets for the Fleet Center can be ordered through “Ticketmaster” (Tel:617-931-2000) and they tend to have student nights which cost about $10. Red Sox tickets can be purchased at the gate.