The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Aug. 22 for the Aug. 25 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Special events
22nd Annual Taste of Jamaica Plain Enjoy a spectacular evening with friends and neighbors. Sample food and beverages from Boston’s best. Live music by Dozer and Homewreckers. Tour the Tropical Forest Pavilion. Silent Auction. Cash Bar – Beer and Wine. Thurs. Sept. 14, 6-9pm. Franklin Park Zoo, Tropical Forest Pavilion.
Multi-Family Yard Sale, Wayburn Road (Bourne area): furniture, kitchenware, household items, plants, and lots more. Sat. Aug. 26 10-3 (rain date Sun. Aug. 27). Info: 947-0173.
Movies in the Park, Secret Life of Pets to play at Franklin Park on Sat. Aug. 12 behind the Valley Gates Parking Lot, across from Schoolmaster Hill. All movies begin at dusk. Free.
JP Music Festival Fundraiser, Tues. Aug. 15, 6-11pm. Held at Tres Gatos. Ten percent of all restaurant, bar, and record and bookstore sales will go directly to the Music Fest, and there will be a donation jar. Special performance from American Echoes at 9:30pm. The music fest will be Sept. 9.
Free Fun Friday at Franklin Park Zoo, Fri. Aug. 11, 10am-4pm. Franklin Park Zoo will be offering free admission. Zoo will close one hour early at 4:00pm, with the last admission at 3:30pm. Valet parking $10/car.
Honk! Festival, save the date: Oct. 6-8. A wide variety of events planned in Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston. Free and open to all.
Arts and culture
The Evolution of an Urban Landscape: Recent Paintings of Forest Hills by Andrew Haines. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Hunnewell Building, 125 Arborway. Through Oct. 8. Artist Talk on Sat. Sept. 16, 1-2pm. www.arboretum.harvard.edu.
Midway Café, All shows 21+, doors 8pm, 3496 Washington St, 524-9038. Thursdays are Queeraoke lesbian night; Fridays 6-8:30pm are Hippie Hour, free; Sundays 9pm-2am are open mic.
Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, author of THE FACT OF A BODY + Melissa Febos, author of ABANDON ME will read and discuss their memoirs at 7 pm at Papercuts J.P., 5 Green Street in Boston MA. Aug. 30. Tickets are $5 at papercutsjp.com/events.
Celebrate the launch of THE PASSION OF WOO & ISOLDE & Other Stories, the newest chapbook from local poet Jennifer Tseng and winner of Rose Metal Press’s 11th Annual Chapbook Contest judged by Amelia Gray. This event is free and open to the public. Aug. 31 at Papercuts – 5 Green Street, Boston MA at 7 pm.
Jeanie Johnston Pub, 144 South St. Open Mic hosted by Tony Bluze, Suns at 8pm. More events at jeaniejohnstonpub.com.
Old time music, Southern/roots music, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7.30pm, back room at Doyle’s Cafe, 3484 Washington St. Info: [email protected].
The Evolution of an Urban Landscape: Recent Paintings of Forest Hills by Andrew Haines, thru Oct. 15. Artists talk Sat. Sept. 16 1-2pm. Hunnewell building. Free, no registration required.
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.
PAINT SOMETHING THAT MATTERS summer workshops Aug. 17 5:30 – 7:30 pm with light supper at Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South St. With teaching artist Rob Peters (Wampanoag), bring or find a 3-dimensional object you care about, tell us about your item, and paint it to express why it’s important to you. Learn and reflect on storytelling traditions of different cultures; share the story of your artistically-transformed item. Workshops provided FREE OF CHARGE by Families Creating Together for children (ages 5 – 13 with and without disabilities), parents, grandparents and friends welcome. Presented in English, Spanish. Wheelchair accessible. FCT is a program of Community Service Care/Tree of Life Coalition. To register call 522-4832 or email [email protected]. SPACE IS LIMITED – register today! Info: www.familiescreatingtogether.org.
CREATING CREATURES WITH CERAMIC AND TEXTILE ART summer workshop series on Aug. 14 and 21, 5:30 – 7:30 pm with light supper provided at Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, 10 Putnam St., Roxbury. With talented teaching artist Kristen Belton-Willis, use fabric and clay to create sculptures of animals, people, creatures from your imagination. Learn and reflect on storytelling traditions of different cultures; create and share your creature’s story. Workshops provided FREE OF CHARGE by Jamaica Plain-based FAMILIES CREATING TOGETHER for children (ages 5 – 13 with and without disabilities), parents, grandparents and friends welcome. Presented in English, Spanish and American Sign Language upon request. Wheelchair accessible. FCT is a program of Community Service Care/Tree of Life Coalition. To register call 522-4832 or email [email protected]. SPACE IS LIMITED – register today! www.familiescreatingtogether.org.
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
Line Dancing with Mz. Rhythm, Weds. 6:30-8pm. On Refectory Hill in Franklin Park – up the hill from the golf clubhouse overlooking Blue Hill Ave. All ages welcome!
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.
Youth/Families
MSPCA Angell Teddy Bear Clinic, Sat. Aug. 12, 12pm-2pm. No appointments necessary: kids of all ages can bring their bears (or stuffed pals of any variety) for a free examination by an Angell doctor, who’ll listen carefully to any concerns before treating these much loved patients. Fortunately, most teddy bears leave the clinic with only a band aid or a wayward limb wrapped in gauze (to their owners’ relief). Dozens of kids and their parents are expected, with at least as many teddy bear patients.
Roberto Clemente 21 Sports Program, accepting applications for the 2017 Little League Baseball Season. For boys & girls ages 5-18 years old. Info: Contact Alfredo Liriano at 828-9524 or [email protected].
BNBL Pee-Wee Basketball, boys and girls ages 6-10, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Franklin Park. Info: franklinparkcoalition.org.
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.
Connolly Branch Library
433 Centre St., 522-1960, www.bpl.org.
Homework Help Programs, Boston Public School teacher: Mondays, 4 – 6 p.m.
High school mentors for grades K – 8: Mondays – Thursdays, 3:30 –
5:30 p.m.
Spanish-English Language Exchange / Intercambio de Idiomas en Inglés y Español, Saturdays / sábados, 12 – 1:45 p.m.
CHILDREN’S FILMS, Short, fun films for preschoolers. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
ESL CONVERSATION GROUPS, Mondays, Aug. 14, & 28, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, August 17, 24, & 31, 3 p.m.
FAMILY PIZZA & GAME NIGHT, Join us for board games and other fun activities. All ages are welcome. Mon. Aug. 14, 6 pm.
KINDERGARTEN DAY CELEBRATION, Come to a party for children and families entering K1 and K2 this fall. Mon. Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m.
BILINGUAL STORY TIME / HORA DE CUENTOS BILINGÜE
Stories, songs, rhymes, and other activities for children ages 2 – 4,
with an adult. Please register. Cuentos, canciones, rimas, y otras actividades para niños 2 – 4, con un adulto. Por favor, registrarse. Tues. Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m.
BABY STORY TIME, Stories, songs, and movements for babies up to 18 months old. Fridays, Aug. 11 & 18, 10:30 a.m.
CHILDREN’S FILMS, Short, fun films for preschoolers. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Tours/talks/workshops
Stonybrook Fine Arts, teen & adult classes in welding, foundry and mold-making ongoing, 24 Porter St. Info: stonybrookfinearts.com.
A Victorian Summer: good friends, tasty food, and a cold beer. Sun. Aug. 20 at 2pm. Walking tour, lasts up to 90 minutes. Meet at Visitor’s Circle just inside the main gate. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water. Forest Hills Cemetery 95 Forest Hills Ave. $10 for advance tickets, $12 at door.
Native Plant Series: Natives for Every Landscape, Sat. Aug. 19 10-11:30AM Minton Stable Community Garden 110 Williams Street. Ever look at a spot in the landscape and think “nothing will grow here”? Come join Dan Jaffe at Minton Stable Garden in JP to discuss native species that will grow in any landscape. From dry, acidic shade, to dry, sandy, full sun spots, we’ll cover plants that could help to fill your problem areas. You name the nasty spot and we’ll give you a list of plants that will not only grow there but will play an active role in the ecosystem (as well as being beautiful to behold!)
Woodworking, sewing, art classes, fiber arts, photography, book arts. Children, teens, adults, year round. Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, 24 Eliot St. Info: eliotschool.org or 524-3313.
Free Guided Walking Tour of Jamaica Pond will take place on Saturday, August 12 starting at 11:00am from in front of the Bandstand, Pond Street and Jamaicaway. Conducted by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
Free Guided Walking Tour of Monument Square neighborhood will take place on Saturday, August 19 starting at 11:00am from in front of the Loring Greenough House, 12 South Street. Conducted by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
Shim Gum Do (Mind Sword Path), zen sword, karate and meditation classes, scholarships available, Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St. Info: 429-8024/[email protected].
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].
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].