The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. July 24 for the July 27 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Arts, music, and culture
Park Arts Children’s Workshops, Fridays July 13, 20, 27
Mozart Street Playground, Jamaica Plain.
Sharon Berke, “Rearrangements: Paintings and Collages”
at Fresh Hair, 62 South St. July 10- Sept 22
FREE SUMMER ART WORKSHOP SERIES: The Power of our Stories – Making Puppets with Paper Maché with teaching artist Dey Hernández on July 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7 (field trip August 14) from 6 – 8 pm with light supper at 6 pm provided FREE OF CHARGE by Jamaica Plain-based Families Creating Together at Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South St., Jamaica Plain. Learn the art forms of paper maché, puppet-making and storytelling. Design and create your own puppet! 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 in Jamaica Plain. To register and for more information call 617-522-4832 or 617-372-3022 or email [email protected]. SPACE IS LIMITED so register today! Additional information at www.familiescreatingtogether.org.
Alone Together, Together Alone by Nora Valdez, and Still We Rise by Urbano Youth Artists. Valdez presents a series of figurative sculptures and drawings honoring the heart, emotions, the home, immigration, and confronting difficult situations in the search for happiness. These themes originate in her personal and cultural identity. During her residency, she worked with Urbano Youth Artists to explore the themes of resilience and sustainability to realize that falling is only temporary, we can always rise again.The exhibition is accompanied by an original composition by composer Alexander Barsov and Urbano Youth Artist, Vinny Alves. The exhibitions will be up until August 16th, 2018.
JESUS DRINKS FREE! 1950s-70s country, gospel, soul and RnB spun by 2 atheists (and guests) @Jeanie Johnston 9pm-Close FREE
SOUL music & COUNTRY music. Foundational sounds of the American experience spun monthly with love, admiration, and a deep want to create fun. Throw in a non-believer’s true lust for spinning GOSPEL music and you have JESUS DRINKS FREE. The music comes from the 1950s thru the 1970s. We’re @ The Jeanie Johnston Pub every 1st Thursday night of every month. Good times in Jamaica Plain.”
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.
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 Weekly events include; Irish Sessions every Sunday at 5pm. Off the Wall Mondays with DJ J-Wall at 6PM, 50% of wings with Stump Trivia to follow at 8PM. Teacher Tuesdays plus Dirty Water Saloon Line Dancing for queer folks and allies at 7PM. Live jazz every Wednesday from at 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Visit www.milkywayjp.com for more late night events ever Thu-Sat.
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 and comedy
Zumba with a Cop, every Thursday 6:30pm-7:30pm, June 21-Aug. 2 at Southwest Corridor behind English High, 144 McBride St. Water and light refreshments provided. Contact E-13 police officers for more information. 343-5623.
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.
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.
LEGO Builders Club Fun building for ages 4 and up. Monday, July 2, 6 – 7 p.m.
Yoga Storytelling, Stories, yoga, and movements for children ages 3 and up and their caregivers. Fridays, July 6 & 13 and Saturday, July 21, 10:30 a.m.
Hora de Bebés: Spanish-Language Playgroup for Babies, Acompáñanos para canciones, juegos y cuentos en español con tiempo al final para jugar libremente. Para bebés de 0–12 meses, con un adulto. Monday, July 9, 3 p.m. / Lunes, 9 de Julio, 3 p.m.
Bilingual Story Time & Craft / Hora de Cuentos Bilingües y Manualidades, Join us for stories and songs in English & Spanish. For children ages 2–4, with an adult.
Acompáñanos para cuentos y canciones en inglés y español. Para niños/as de 2–4, con un adulto. Tuesdays, July 10, 17, & 24, 10:30 a.m. / Martes, 10, 17, & 24 de Julio, 10:30 a.m.
Pizza & Game Night, Fun games for all ages! Monday, July 16, 6 p.m.
ReadBoston Storymobile, Come hear a different storyteller each week, and receive a free book to take home. For ages 5 and up. Thursdays, July 12 – August 2, 11:15 a.m.
Historic New England Presents “The Magic of Music: Melba’s Triumph”, Learn about the life and music of jazz trombonist Melba Liston and create a musical instrument. For ages 5 & up. Tuesday, July 31, 10:30 a.m.
Book Discussion for Adults, Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, Monday, July 23, 7 p.m.
Children’s Films, Short, fun films for preschoolers
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Boston Reads One Million Minutes: Read-In Sessions
Tuesdays, July 10 – August 14, 11:30 a.m.
ESL Conversation Groups: Mondays, July 2, 16, 23, & 30, 6:30 p.m.; Thursdays, July 5, 19, & 26 at 10:30 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Spanish-English Language Exchange / Intercambio de Idiomas en Inglés y Español, Saturdays / sábados, 12 – 1:45 p.m.
Egleston Square Branch Library
Youth Programs
Preschool Storytime & Craft
Tuesdays, July 10 & 17, and ongoing, 10:30-11:30am
Join the children’s librarian for stories, songs, activities, and a craft related to a different theme every week. For children ages 3-5, accompanied by a caregiver.
Magic Show and Summer Kickoff Party
Wednesday, July 11, 6pm
Debbie O’Carroll performs an interactive, comedic magic show for all ages. Refreshments will be served.
Family Hip-Hop Dance Class
Wednesdays, July 18 & 25, 2pm
Express yourself through movement with Boston Mobile Dance Studio. For youth ages 8 and up and their families. Advance sign-up is encouraged.
Baby/Toddler Music Time
Friday, July 6, 10:30am
Sing, bounce, read, and play in this interactive musical storytime, followed by a play group. For children ages 6-24 months and their caregivers.
ReadBoston Storymobile
Fridays, July 13 & 20, and ongoing, 10am
Enjoy weekly performances from professional storytellers. All children in attendance receive a new, high-quality book. For ages 3–8.
Adult Programs
ESL Conversation Group
Saturdays, July 7 & 14, and ongoing, 10-11:30am
Practice speaking English with other adult ESL learners and new English speakers in an informal and friendly group setting. Groups are led by a native English speaker. If you have questions about these groups, please call 617.859.2446 or email [email protected].
Tours/talks/workshops
Jamaica Plain Garden Tour, Saturday, July 14 | 10AM-2PM, J.P. Licks, 659 Centre Street, JP. Come enjoy unique access to over twenty private gardens in the Sumner Hill and Central neighborhoods of JP, an area full of charming historical homes and lush perennial gardens. Sites along the route range from creative urban spaces to formal gardens in the English style, to rambling woodland landscapes. Many are hidden gems which you might never otherwise see, featuring beautiful stonework, water elements, and rare specimen plants. Our gratitude goes to the garden owners for opening up these magical spaces in support of the Trustees’ 56 community gardens and parks citywide. Interested in volunteering as a garden sitter for the tour? Contact Annie Wolf at [email protected] or 617.542.7696 x2127 or sign up here.
Garden Pest & Disease Walk & Talk, Saturday, July 21 | 10-11:30AM, Minton Stable Community Garden | 100 Williams Street, JP, Learn from UMass professor of plant biology Jim Stark how to identify common garden pests and diseases, and how to address them with methods including resistant cultivars, sanitation, and more. FREE & open to all.
Stonybrook Fine Arts, Make Your Own Wedding Rings workshop and 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/[email protected].
Meet-Ups
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].
Networking Group, local chapter of BNI, meets on Wednesdays at the Farnsworth House at 7am. Consists of 30 members of different professions. Through development and trust and relationships amongst the members, objective is to promote each other’s businesses. Members may live outside of JP, but common tie is either living in or servicing the JP area. Info: President of chapter Katelyn Atwater, info: 431-0929.