The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Dec. 20 for the Dec. 23 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Special events
6th Annual JP Rocks and Rolls record and art fair, Dec. 11. Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St.
Breakfast and Visit with Santa Claus, treats for children, Sat. Dec. 17, 8:30am breakfast seating, 9:30-10:30 open visit with Santa for all. 154 Green St. 524-5373. Call ahead for seating reservations, space is limited.
2016 Egleston Winter Festival, an evening of art and celebration, Dec. 10. Tree lighting ceremony and live music performances. Starts at 4:30pm at JP Auto Plaza. Info: 983-1007 or [email protected].
Roslindale’s First Holiday Market, Thurs. Dec. 15, 4-8pm. Birch St. between Corinth and South Streets will be closed down for a European-style outdoor event with local vendors, live music, and food and drinks. Free.
A Christmas Story and pizza specials, Mon. Dec. 12, 6:30pm, 154 Green St. La Rana Rossa. 524-5373.
Music/art
“If I Were A Bell…” a free concert of JP Jubilee, Sat. Dec. 10, 2-3pm, Hope Central Church, 82 Seaverns Ave., JP. Music includes Simon and Garfunkle, Everly Brothers, Fleet Foxes, Guys and Dolls, William Byrd, and audience sing-alongs. Parking lot across the street from the church. Voluntary donations are gratefully accepted to keep this voice class for elders free.
Holiday event: Annual Story and Music Celebration of the Winter Solstice at the Loring-Greenough House. Fri. Dec. 16 & Sat. Dec. 17 at 8pm. Tickets $25 for full evening event including traditional refreshments.
Boston City Singers performing holiday songs from around the world at their annual “Winter Stars” holiday concert Sat. Dec. 17. Featuring musical performances by children aged 4 to 18. Participants include Boston City Singers’ Kodaly Singing Classes, Training and Cantare Choruses, and BCS Fellas. Admission is free, donation suggested. 11:00 AM. Location: Hope Central Church, 85 Seaverns Ave.,
Ladies of Autumn, Women of Winter, a triple bill with three local singer-songwriters: Haley Hewitt, Molly Pinto Madigan, and Janna Maria Frohlich. Showtime is 7:30pm on Fri. Dec. 9 in the Parish Hall at First Church in JP, UU, 6 Eliot St.
Music as a Second Language (MSL), free bi-weekly workshop series that explores various elements of music through collaborative improvisational games. Whether you’re an experienced musician looking to refresh your perspective, or you’ve always wanted to play but never knew where to start, MSL could be for you! Join the conversation every 2nd and 4th Sunday 1-3pm until Dec. 11 at CityPOP Egleston, 3195 Washington Street. Email [email protected] for registration and more information. Walk-ins welcome.
Midway Café, all shows 21+, doors 8pm, 3496 Washington St, 524-9038. Wednesdays: Coffeehouse Wednesdays, acoustic acts, 6-8:15pm, free; Thursdays: Queeraoke lesbian night; Fridays, 6-8:30pm: Hippie Hour, free; Sundays 9pm-2am.
Old time music, Southern/roots music, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7.30pm, back room at Doyle’s Cafe, 3484 Washington St. Info: [email protected].
First Fridays Youth Open Mic with renowned feature artists, first Friday of every month, 7pm at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St. Free for performers and those under 25, $10 suggested donation for those 25 and over.
SongBeat Circle, a song & drum circle hosted monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30p.m. in the Parish Hall at First Church in Jamaica Plain. Facilitated by a board-certified music therapist, SongBeat provides the community surrounding JP a place to sing and drum together. Participants will hopefully gain a sense of connection with others, experience the healing of live music-making, and find some joy in their busy lives. All ages welcome. Donation of $5 to $10 is encouraged. No musical experience or talent required. Info: [email protected], 524-1634 or 775-7602.
Dance
West African dance classes, taught by Zucan, a principal dancer with the Drum and Spirit of African Society. Mondays, 7:30-9pm, English High School, 144 McBride St. Info: 359-1552.
Gender-Free/English Country Dance, beginners welcome and encouraged. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays (5th Tuesdays: experienced) of the month, 7:30-11:30pm, First Church, 6 Eliot St. Info: www.lcfd.org/bgfe/512-5554.
BalletRox dance classes at Spontaneous Celebrations, for students grades K-12. Saturdays 8am-12noon; Mondays and Wednesdays, 3-7pm, September 12 to late May. Affordable, on a sliding fee scale. Ballet, tap, hip hop, street jazz, Caribbean Soca, modern fusion. Info: www.balletrox.info; 224-7386.
Youth/Families
Roberto Clemente 21 Sports Program, now accepting applications for the 2016-2017 season. Boys and girls ages 7-17. Free with a five dollar gym membership. Hennigan Community Center, 200 Heath St. Info: Alfredo Liriano at 828-9524.
BNBL Pee-Wee Basketball, boys and girls ages 6-10, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Franklin Park. Info: franklinparkcoalition.org.
Connolly Branch Library. High school mentors for grades K-8 Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm. Homework Help with Boston Public School teacher, Mondays 4-6pm; Children’s films, Wednesdays, 10:30am.
Egleston Square Branch Library, 2044 Columbus Ave., 445-4340. Mon.-Thurs., 3:30pm-5:30pm: homework help. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30am, preschool storytime. Fridays, 10:30am: baby/toddler music time. Baby/Toddler music time, Fridays, 11:15am, for ages 0-2 and their caregivers.
Tiny Tots World Music and Movement, music classes for kids age 2-5 by Helder Tsinine, Mondays 11-11:45am; Saturdays, 10-10:45am, $17 per class or $90 for 6 weeks, Egleston YMCA, 3134 Washington St. Info: [email protected].
Family art class, wheelchair accessible, Tuesdays 10:30am-11:30am, ages 3-5. Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5+. Family Resource Center, 1542 Columbus Ave. Info: 522-1018.
Learn to stiltwalk with Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St. Sundays, 11am-1pm, $5. Info: 857-498-2438.
Classes/talks
Local authors Jennifer Haigh, author of Heat & Light, and Lindsay Hatton, author of Monterey Bay, will read from and discuss their renowned novels at La Rana Rossa (154 Green Street) at 7:00 pm on Dec. 12. Tickets $5, available at papercutsjp.com/events
Chapter and Verse Literary Reading Series, a special program by the Writer’s Room of Boston. Fri. Dec. 9, 7:30pm, Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St.
Stonybrook Fine Arts, teen & adult classes in welding, foundry and mold-making ongoing, 24 Porter St. Info: stonybrookfinearts.com.
Community Arts Music Program for Seniors, Curtis Hall, 20 South St., Fridays 10:30-noon. Info: 983-3638.
History of Moxie, Sun. Dec. 11, 2pm. From 1928 to 1953 Moxie was bottled at 74 Heath Street in Jamaica Plain. At the peak of Moxie’s popularity, it outsold Coke. Hear Merrill Lewis, President of the New England Moxie Congress speak about this early soft drink once considered a “nerve food”. The event will be held at JP Co-Housing, 65 Cornwall St. Free and open to the public.
Meet-Ups
Support For Vegetarian/Vegan Lifestyles, 2nd and 4th Fridays at Spontaneous Celebrations 6:30-8, see movies, enjoy potlucks, discuss scientific research, swap recipes and discuss challenges. Info: [email protected].
Narratives Boston, queer activist-writers group open to LGBTQ-identified adults interested in creative expression and social justice, first and third Wednesday evenings of the month, 7-9pm, Haymarket People’s Fund, 42 Seaverns Ave. Info: [email protected].
Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St., 522-1960. Spanish/English language exchange, Saturdays, noon-1:45pm. ESL conversation groups, Mondays 6:30pm, Thursdays, 2:30pm.
Party for the Helping Hand Fund, hosted by Haymarket People’s Fund, every 3rd Friday of the month, 5:30-8pm, 42 Seaverns Ave. Info: 522-3349/[email protected].