Library to open in local park, bar

By David Taber August 29, 2010

Courtesy Photo Sara Wingate Gray, the “itinerant poetry librarian,” at the Footlight Club at 7 Eliot St. Aug. 28.

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For four years, Sara Wingate Gray has been traveling the globe, carrying a library of “lost and forgotten poetry” with her wherever she goes, and this week she is bringing the books to Jamaica Plain.

Through a character known as “the itinerant poetry librarian,” she has devoted most of her days to finding bars, parks, pizza parlors and coffee shops in diverse locales—Romania, Washington DC, the Czech Republic, San Francisco—where she can set up shop.

District 6 special election date set

By David Taber August 13, 2010

Primary, Oct 19; Election, Nov. 16

The special election to fill the district 6 Boston City Council seat recently vacated by John Tobin will take place Nov. 16, city election department officials told the Gazette last week.

So far three candidates—Jamaica Plain residents Matt O’Malley and Sean Ryan and West Roxbury resident Jim Hennigan—have officially requested papers to begin the signature-gathering process to get their names on the ballot. All three had previously told the Gazette they were running for the seat, which serves most of Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury and a small part of Mission Hill.

New eatery will feature outdoor seating

By Rebeca Oliveira August 13, 2010

CANARY SQ.— A new restaurant due to open at 435 S. Huntington Ave., asked the Jamaica Pond Association (JPA) for a favorable recommendation in its application for a permanent seasonal patio permit at the JPA’s August 2 meeting. The motion passed unopposed.

First Thursday brings art, community to businesses

June 25, 2010

Courtesy Photo Fresh from Los Angeles, singer/songwriter Deirdre Moncy will perform at First Thursday on July 1.

JP CENTER—Now in its sixth year, First Thursday, the art stroll, has grown exponentially since its start. This summer, 35 businesses along Centre and South streets will participate, transforming themselves into arts venues featuring works by local artists and live music the first Thursday of every month. Group and solo receptions at each location from 6 to 8 p.m. offer the community a chance to meet artists, enjoy refreshments and experience JP’s businesses in an entirely new light.

Arts and music venues are marked with sandwich boards and orange balloons along the way.

‘On Green’ exhibition to feature 20 artists

By Jean Mineo and Joy Cochran June 11, 2010

Courtesy Photo This print by Rob Festa will be in the "On Green" exhibition.

The Jamaica Plain Arts Council will present “On Green”,” an exhibition with 20 artists exploring the concept of what “green” means in the context of Jamaica Plain, from June 19 to July 12. The exhibit at the Maliotis Cultural Center at Hellenic College was juried by Randi Hopkins, associate curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

Local filmmaker tackles family issues, drug addiction, US border policy

By David Taber June 8, 2010

Recalling audience response to her debut documentary, “Animas Perdidas (Lost Souls),” JP filmmaker Monika Navarro relates two comments.

Roslindale writer, JP students publish books

By David Taber May 28, 2010

Roslindale Neighbors

Gazette Photo by David Taber Roslindale resident Daniel Johnson, director of the 826 Boston writing program in Egleston Square, poses with his new book of poetry, "How to Catch a Falling Knife" in 826 Boston's novelty shop storefront, The Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute.

Getting his first book published, designing a multi-media performance piece, and shepherding two student publications is just how Roslindale poet and educator Daniel Johnson wants to be spending his time.

“Right now it seems to me that where I am at is a great moment. What I am doing today and my ambitions are in great confluence,” the director of the 826 Boston writing program said during a Gazette visit to 826’s Egleston Square headquarters last week.

JP gets new media studio/venue

By David Taber May 28, 2010

Gazette Photo By David Taber Temple Sound and Stage proprietors (left to right) Brendan Killian, T.J. Wenzl and Tanner Musick-Slater talk shop at the new recording studio/performance space at 670 Centre St.

JP CENTER—Two twenty-something sound engineers from Washington state officially opened a 36,000-square-foot, $170,000 multi-media recording studio, performance space and art gallery on Centre Street this month.

Temple Sound and Stage, on the top floor at 670 Centre St., in the same building as City Feed and Supply, has been booking live shows throughout the spring. It is set up for recording sessions and live recordings with audiences, and that it is “video-capable”—meaning they have video editing software but no cameras.

Dark fantasy ‘The Pillowman’ at Footlight Club in June

By Kristin MacDougall May 28, 2010

The Footlight Club will close its 133rd season with “The Pillowman,” a controversial and award-winning black comedy by Martin McDonagh, showing June 4-12. Part fairy tale, part horror story and part parable, “The Pillowman” is an ode to storytelling that promises to shock and inspire.

Franklin Park art installation threatened

By David Taber April 30, 2010

‘Research Outpost’ has been up for over a year

A man of mystery to some, a petition-worthy cause to others, a public nuisance to the city Parks Department, JP-based installation artist Brandon Nastanski is a self-described “artist playing researcher” and “amateur naturalist.”