The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Dec. 19 for the Dec. 22 issue. Send listings to reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Special events
Light Up Hyde Jackson. Celebrate the merchant window decorating season in Hyde & Jackson Squares with a kick off party at Gondres Bakery with food, music, camaraderie, and of course lights. Friday, December 8, 7pm. 333 Centre Street. Free. Info at hydejacksonsquare.org or 617-522-3694.
Pizza Party PopUp at the Blue Frog Bakery December 8, @ 5pm-8pm at The Blue Frog Bakery, 3 Green St.
Holiday Window Stroll and Judging. Annual Holiday Stroll along Centre Street from Jackson Square to Canary Square. View and rate your favorite merchant windows, drink hot chocolate, and sample food from MOOYAH. Meet at MOOYAH, 225 Centre Street at 6pm on Thursday, December 14. Online balloting for best windows will follow one day later. Info at hydejacksonsquare.org or 617-522-6394.
Arts, music, and culture
TORTILLA SOCIAL, the visual art exhibition and documentary screening by JP artist Salvador Jimenez-Flores at Urbano Project in Jamaica Plain. The reception is free and open to the public, from 6-9pm on Fri. Dec. 8. The exhibition is the culmination of community workshops held in JP where folks were invited to make their own art prints (on a tortilla press!), join in discussion, and enjoy Mexican food — as a way to bring community together and connect with fellow neighbors.
Book Talk, Local Jamaica Plain authors Amy Hoffman and Michelle Gabow discuss their works; Hoffman, known for her nonfiction writing, will read from The Off Season, her first novel, and Gabow, a playwright and actor, reads from God is a Dog, a collection of short stories. Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Jamaica Plain Branch at 30 South Street.
Boston City Singers will celebrate the holidays with community concerts on Sat. Dec. 16, in Jamaica Plain, and Sun. Dec. 17, in Dorchester. The organization’s annual Winter Stars concerts will feature songs of hope and joy from around the world, performed by children aged 4 to 18 from Boston City Singers’ Jamaica Plain and Dorchester programs. The Jamaica Plain concert will be held at 11:00 a.m., Dec. 16, at Hope Central Church, 85 Seaverns Ave., and showcase the musical talents of Boston City Singers’ preschool and elementary school-aged singers, along with those of its newest teen choir, Harmony. Admission is free. Free-will donations to Boston City Singers’ Scholarship Fund will be accepted at the door.
Screening of “The Wedding Plan” at Nehar Shalom, 43 Lochstead Avenue JP, Sat. Dec. 9, 7:30pm. Followed by discussion by Prof. Joel Rosenberg. Cost: $5/adult. More information at www.neharshalom.org
Chapter and Verse Literary Reading Series, Fri. Dec. 8, 7:30pm, Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Suggested donation $5. Info: Jamaicapondpoets.com or email dorothy.derifield@gmail.com
Arnold Arboretum Lilac Sunday T-shirt Competition, inviting artists of all ages to submit logo designs for the Lilac Sunday 2018 T-shirt. Lilac themed t-shirts have been a tradition for many years, and continue to be a highly anticipated and popular memento of this event. Design must include Lilac Sunday 2018, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, No more than 4 colors. Email arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu. Submissions due Dec. 15. Include name, address, and phone number with submission.
Collage Night with Cris Nelson at Loring Greenough House, Dec. 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Join Jamaica Plain artist Cris Nelson for a mixed-media collage workshop at the LGH on Tuesday, December 12! Please bring: - scissors - Swatches of paper to use in your collage, such as copies of photographs, scraps of wrapping paper, magazine, book, or catalog illustrations and text. - If desired, 3-D objects, like buttons or large beads A small board, brushes, and acrylic medium will be provided. Reserve your spot online! Participation is limited to 10, so register early! Cost: suggested donation $10, but pay what you can. You can see more of Cris’s work here: boxologymixedmedia.com
JESUS Drinks FREE! 1950s-70s country, gospel, soul and RnB
@ the Jeanie Johnston pub. 144 South St. FREE, 21+. 9pm-1am. First Thursday of every month. The Jeanie Johnston is dedicating at least one night a month to classic country, gospel, and soul music. JP DJs Dan Shea and Sam P will be picking the licks n riffs from all over the map and from simpler times – the 50s through the 70s. Part drunken hoedown, part spiritual revival we welcome you to circle the wagons and let out your demons with a shot and a pint down at the local watering hole.
The Haven, HOOTENANNY – JP’s OPEN MIC EVERY WEDNESDAY, hosted by Tom Dowd. Sign up is 9.30pm and we have prizes every Wednesday for the most interesting acts. All times 9.30 – 12pm. THURSDAY IS JAZZ NIGHT,
All times 9.30 – 12pm.
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.
Jeanie Johnston Pub, 144 South St. Open Mic hosted by Tony Bluze, Sundays at 8pm. More events at jeaniejohnstonpub.com.
Bella Luna & The Milky Way, Off the Wall Mondays, every Monday from 6-8pm listen to DJ J-Wall and enjoy sliders and fries for $8. Stump trivia to follow at 8pm. Jazz Wednesdays, every week 6:30-9:30 live jazz. Cielo Lounge every 4th Friday, salsa & reggae dance party, $5 cover, 21+, live music starts before 10pm.
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
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.
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.
Egleston Square Branch library
Connolly Branch Library
433 Centre St., 522-1960, www.bpl.org.
SPANISH-ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXCHANGE / INTERCAMBIO DE IDIOMAS EN INGLÉS Y ESPAÑOL Saturdays / sábados, 12 – 1:45 p.m.
Tours/talks/workshops
Winter Bird Walk, Sun. Dec. 10, 9am, free, Olmsted Park Daisy Field Parking Lot. 90 minute walk led by local birding expert. Info: Bob Mayer, 617-983-3330 or rgmayer@comcast.net.
Christmas traditions in Boston, talk at the Forest Hills Cemetery Forsyth Chapel, 95 Forest Hills Ave. $10 advance, $12 at door. Sun. Dec. 10 at 2pm, hosted by Forest Hills Cemetery and Forest Hills Educational Trust.
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
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.
Chanukah party at Nehar Shalom, 43 Lochstead Avenue JP. Saturday December 16th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. More information at www.neharshalom.org