The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Sept. 12 for the Sept. 15 issue. Send listings to reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. 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: 617-947-0173.
Honk! Festival, save the date: Oct. 6-8. A wide variety of events planned in Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston. Free and open to all.
Annual Connolly Branch Book Sale, Sat. Sept. 16 from 10-4.
MSPCA fee-waived adoptathon, one-day fee-waived adoptathon is on Sat. Aug. 26 at MSPCA shelters in Boston, Methuen and on Cape Cod for challenged cats.
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.
JP Music Festival, held at Pinebank Field at Jamaica Pond on Sat. Sept. 9 from 12-7pm. Featuring musicians, bands, group, or ensemble members who either live or work in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Food vendors available. www.jpmusicfestival.com
Book launch at Papercuts, A Dream Between Two Rivers: Stories of Liminality by KL Pereira from publisher Cutlass Press will be released on Sept. 5 at Papercuts JP.
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: peggyconant@gmail.com.
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: songbeatcircle@gmail.com, 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
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 alliriano@yahoo.com.
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: htsinine@gmail.com.
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.
DREAMS OF CHONTA_ DOCUMENTARY FILM & MUSIC WORKSHOP, Join Colombian filmmaker Monica Cohen and Colombian musicians to learn about their music and the story of Diego Obregon, an
Afro-Colombian undocumented musician who sacrifices everything for
his dreams. This event is sponsored by the Hyde Square Task Force.
Mon. Sept. 18, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
STORY WALK: WELCOME TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD! A BARRIO ABC STORY BY QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES, Walk along Centre Street and read the story in store windows. Pick up a map at the library or at the Blessed Sacrament Church Plaza. Once completed, children can stop by both locations for a prize. This event is co-sponsored by the Connolly Branch Library and the Hyde Square Task Force. Sept. 15 – 29.
GIANT BOOK SALE, Thousands of books for both children and adults will be available for purchase. Sponsored by the Friends of the Connolly Branch Library. Sat. Sept. 16, 10a.m.–4p.m.
LEGO BUILDERS CLUB, Fun building for ages 4 and up.
Monday, September 11, 6 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. Tuesdays, September 5, 12, 19, & 26, 10:30 a.m.
BABY STORY TIME, Stories, songs, and movements for babies up to 18 months old. Fridays, September 8, 15, 22, & 29, 10:30 a.m.
ADULT BOOK DISCUSSION, “Kindred” by Octavia Butler. Mon. Sept. 25, 7 p.m.
CHILDREN’S FILMS, Short, fun films for preschoolers. Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.
HOMEWORK HELP (STARTING SEPTEMBER 18), Boston Public School teacher: Mondays, 4 – 6 p.m. High school mentors for grades K – 8: Mondays – Thursdays, 3:30 -5:30 p.m.
ESL CONVERSATION GROUPS, Mondays, Sept. 11 & 18, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 7, 14, 21, & 28 at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SPANISH-ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXCHANGE / INTERCAMBIO DE IDIOMAS EN INGLÉS Y ESPAÑOL Saturdays / sábados, 12 – 1:45 p.m.
Tours/talks/workshops
Arnold Arboretum Farmhouse, at 1090 Centre St. will be open to the public on Sat. Sept. 16. Guided tours are scheduled at 10am, 10:30am, 11am and 11:30am. Reservations by preferred time are suggested, tours proceed rain or shine. Coffee and light refreshments served. Children welcome; the building is not ADA compliant. Admission free, but voluntary contributions for the restoration will be accepted. Email Arnold.arboretum.committee@gmail.com.
Free Guided Walking Tour of Sumner Hill neighborhood will take place on Saturday, August 26 starting at 11:00am from in front of Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street. Conducted by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
Free Guided Walking Tour of Stony Brook/Brookside neighborhood will take place on Saturday, September 2 starting at 11:00am from in front of Stony Brook MBTA station on the Orange Line. Conducted by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
Free Guided Walking Tour of Hyde Square neighborhood will take place on Saturday, September 9 starting at 11:00am from in front of Brendan Behan Pub, 378 Centre Street. Conducted by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
Stonybrook Fine Arts, teen & adult classes in welding, foundry and mold-making ongoing, 24 Porter St. Info: stonybrookfinearts.com.
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.
Shim Gum Do (Mind Sword Path), zen sword, karate and meditation classes, scholarships available, Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St. Info: 429-8024/mushimgum@gmail.com.
Meet-Ups
Locally Owned End-of-summer meetup, Aug. 28, 7-10pm, Jameson and Thompson. Sponsored by JP Local First and Jameson and Thompson Picture Framers. Info: JP Centre/South Main Streets, 942-2439.
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: mary.sacksteder@gmail.com.
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: narrativesboston@gmail.com.
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/umnunity@gmail.com.