The final, last-minute deadline for Happenings listings is noon, Aug. 23 for the Aug. 26 issue. Send arts and entertainment listings to [email protected]. Listings with no end date will be run for 3 months, space permitting. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Special Events
Keepin’ Cool at the Arboretum, a Free Fun Friday event sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation, Fri. Aug. 12, 10am-3pm: All-ages scavenger hunt; 10am-2pm: Tours for adults every hour; 11am: Spanish-language tour; 10:30am & 1:30pm: Songs & stories for children with Jackson Gillman, Arnold Arboretum, 125 The Arborway. Info: www.harvard.arboretum.edu.
JP Music Festival, two stages, 20 bands. Sat., Aug. 20, 1-7pm, Pinebank baseball field, Perkins St. & Jamaicaway. After-party show, Midway Café, 3496 Washington St. Info: jpmusicfestival.com.
First Thursday Art Openings, 35 art openings on Centre/South streets, music by Rick Berlin and The Nickel and Dime Band at the First Baptist Church Sep. 1, 6-8pm. Info: jpcentresouthmainstreets.org.
Extreme Esteem Awards, to benefit Self Esteem Boston. Wed. Oct. 12, 6:15pm reception, 7:15pm event. Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Info: 872-2850.
Artist Ball, JP Center/South’s Annual Fundraiser, Oct. 15, 8pm-Midnight, Footlight Club, 7 Eliot St. Info: www.jpcentresouth.org.
OctoberFest Fiesta to benefit the JPNDC. JP food, Sam Adams beer. Wed. Oct. 26, 6-9pm, at the Brewery Complex, 284 Amory St. Info: [email protected].
24th Annual Steppin’ Out for Dimock Gala, back tie benefit to support programs & services of the Dimock Center, with food, dancing, music. Sat. Oct. 29, 8pm, Westin Copley Plaza Hotel. Info: steppinoutfordimock.org.
Music
The Grass Gypsies, Sat., Aug. 13, 2pm, Goddard House, 201 S. Huntington Ave. Info: 676-6312/www.goddardhouse.org.
Boston Pops Ensemble, part of Summer Sundays in the Parks, Sun., Aug. 14, 6pm, Pinebank Promontory, Jamaica Pond. Info: emeraldnecklace.org/movies-in-the-park.
Bella Luna/Milky Way, Third Thursdays, Original Organix. Aug. 18, 9pm,: Krisjin and Feed the Tiger; White Life, $6. First Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm: Jazz Supper with Bill Banfield. First Thursdays, 9pm: Rock Band Karaoke, Bella Luna Restaurant & Milky Way Lounge, 284 Amory St.
August Noise, a series of surprise concerts throughout JP, ending Aug 25. Dates available on website, locations available 24 hours before date, bands will not be announced prior to the shows. Info: www.augustnoise.org.
Theater
UFORGE Gallery, Fri., Aug. 12, 7:30pm: The Femme Show, a revue about queer femme identity that features film, dance, literary readings, burlesque, drag, and performance artists; Fri.-Sat., Aug. 19-20, 8pm: Divine Stage Works stage reading of “Baby With the Bath Water,” UFORGE Gallery, 767 Centre St. Info: www.UFORGEgallery.com.
Literary
Book Discussion for Adults, “Netherlands” by Joseph O’Neill, Mon., Aug. 29, 7pm, Connolly Library, 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.
Exhibits
Promethean Dreams, works by Matt Mckee on display through September, opening reception Sept. 1, 6-8pm, UFORGE Gallery, 767 Centre St. Info: www.UFORGEgallery.com.
Hallway Gallery, groups show with Christopher DiPietro, Jeremy Majewski and Ben Silve, through Aug. 28, The Hallway Gallery, 66a South St. Info: 818-5996.
Film
Throw Back Thursdays, films from the 50s through the early 80s, Thursdays, noon, Egleston Square Branch Library, Egleston Square Branch Library, 2044 Columbus Ave. Info: 445-4340.
Dance
Milky Way Lounge & Bella Luna, Mondays, 8pm: game night with stump trivia. Tuesdays, 7pm: Dirty Water Saloon, country-western & line dancing. Saturdays: Mango’s Latin Dance Night, 10pm, $10. 21+. At the Brewery Complex, 284 Amory St. Info: milkywayjp.com.
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 of JP, Unitarian Universalist, Centre and Eliot Streets. Info: www.lcfd.org/bgfe//512-5554.
Youth/Families
Boston Children’s Festival, performance by Rosalita’s puppets, story telling by Jef Czekaj, face painting, arts and crafts, balloon animals, prize giveaways and a Boston Fire Engine. For children 15 and under, Tues., Aug. 16, 10am-2pm, The Playstead, Franklin Park (enter via Pierpont Rd. near the back entrance of the zoo.) Info: 635-4505.
Connolly Branch Library, Aug. 15, 5:30pm: Countdown to Kindergarten. 6:30pm: Family Movie Night. Tuesdays, 10:30am: Toddler storytime. Wednesdays, 10:30am: Children’s Films. 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.
JP Branch Library, Tuesdays, 10:30am: Toddler/preschool story time. Wednesdays, 10:30am: Baby lapsit. 4pm: “One World, Many Stories.” Ages 5+. 12 Sedgwick St. Info: 524-2053.
Egleston Sq. Library, Sept. 1, 10:30am: Countdown to Kindergarten. Mondays, 10:30am: Preschool films. Tuesdays, 10:30am: preschool storytime, featuring puppets, songs games and fingerplays. Wednesdays, 5pm: Game night. Fridays through Aug. 12, 1:15pm: ReadBoston storymobile. 2044 Columbus Ave. Info: 445-4340.
Art and Culture at the Egleston Sq. YMCA, DJ, dance classes, mural-painting. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6-8pm, 3313 Washington St.
Learn to stiltwalk with Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St. Sundays, noon-2pm, $5. Info: 857-498-2438.
Hyde Square Task Force Programs, Kennedy School Summer Discovery Program, through Aug. 12, 4th & 5th graders. Music Clubhouse Drop-In, ages 10-18, Mon.-Fri., 3-8pm, Info: Aimee, 524-8303 x312; Open Dance Workshops, presented by the Hyde Square Task Force, Ages 10-13: Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm; 14-18: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm. Info: Barbara, 524-8303. Cheverus Building, 365 Centre St.
Toddler Drum Circle, a weekly gathering of toddlers 1-5 and parents to play, dance and drum, coordinated by Cornell “Sugarfoot” Coley, Saturdays, 9:30am-10:30am, Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St., $5 fee. Info: 617/298-1790/[email protected].
After-School Teen Welding and Teen Jewelry Workshops now available from 3-5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays at Stonybrook Fine Arts. Info: stonybrookfinearts.com.
Tours and Talks
Explore Bussey Brook, join the Boston Natural Areas Network for a two-hour, 2.5-mile walk along Bussey Brook from its head in Allandale Woods and through the Arnold Arboretum, Sat. Aug. 13, 10am-noon, from Annunciation Cathedral, 7 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury. Info/Registration: 542-7696/[email protected].
Walking tours of historic Jamaica Plain, tours last approximately one hour, except Jamaica Pond tour, which lasts 90 minutes. Walks start at 11am and are cancelled in case of rain. Aug.13 : Monument Sq., leaves from Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Aug. 20: Sumner Hill, leaves from Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Aug 27: Stony Brook, leaves from Stonybrook T station. July 23, Sept. 10: Green St. Leaves from Southern JP Health Center, 640 Centre St. July 30, Sept. 17: Woodbourne. Leaves from Bethel AME, corner of Walk Hill & Wachusett streets. Sept. 3: Hyde Sq. Leaves from Sorella’s, 388 Centre St. Aug. 6, Sept. 24: Jamaica Pond. Leaves from the bandstand, Pond St. & Jamaicaway. Info: jphs.org.
Meet-Ups
BalletROX Linkup Wednesdays, meet the dancers, choregraphers, directors and friends of BalletROX. Sept. 7, 7pm. Bella Luna, 284 Amory St.
Knitting Group, Thursdays, 6-8pm, JP Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St. Info: 524-2053.
Classes
Pics in the Parks free photography workshops, open to people of all ages and skill levels who have a camera. Tues., Aug. 16, at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse. Info: 961-3051/cityofboston.gov/parks.
Eliot School of the Fine & Applied Arts, classes for youth and adults, fall registration now open. Info: www.eliotschool.org.
Call to Artists
UFORGE Gallery and Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, seek work from 25 artists for the show “Turning the Page: Dewey to Digital,” an exhibit reflecting on the JP Branch’s 100th anniversary. $25 registration fee to benefit the library. Works will be auctioned at an Oct 22 gala, half the proceeds will go to artists and half to the library. Info/Registration: email [email protected] by Aug 31 with “Call to Artists: TURNING THE PAGE: Dewey to Digital” in the subject line.