Good, Clean Fun

And just like that, it's springtime in Boston. And yesterday was the perfect day for a pillow fight.

March 22nd was International Pillow Fight Day, and thanks to urban playground group Banditos Misteriosos, an estimated 500 Bostonians gathered in Copley Square at 2pm and whacked each other with pillows. The rules were as follows: Before the fight begins, act natural. Bring a soft pillow. Don't wear glasses. Don't hit the folks with cameras. Go all out.

After getting walloped a bunch of times by some overenthusiastic college boys, I got out alive (and with only a slight headache) after 7 straight minutes of earnest pillow-fighting. (The fight went on about 20 minutes.) I have to say, this was one of the best (and geekiest) times I've had in Boston so far. (It's a tie with the Buffy Sing-Along, which sadly is no more.) Hopefully it was the first of many experiences with the Banditos and with Boston's Improv Everywhere spinoff, the Boston Society of Spontaneity. It was such pure, simple fun. Every single participant, no matter what age, was laughing, smiling, and playing. With total strangers. How often does this happen in Boston, the city where we stare off into space on the subway and celebrate important sports victories with full-on riots? A modest proposal: the next time the Sox win the series, free pillows all around!

If you're wondering what it was like to be there, someone in the center of the action posted this great video on YouTube. Hope to see you at the next pillow fight!