The final, last-minute deadline for Sights and Sounds listings is noon, Sept. 6 for the Sept. 9 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
First Thursday art openings, 35 art openings on Centre/South streets. Sept. 1, 6-8pm. Info: jpcentresouthmainstreets.org.
Jamaica Plain Open Studios, annual celebration of the arts in Jamaica Plain featuring over 220 artists in 50 locations all over JP. September 24-25. Info: jpopenstudios.com.
9th Annual Artist Ball to benefit JP Centre/South Main Streets, featuring music, a silent art auction and live auction and fancy costumes. Sat., Oct. 15, 8pm-Midnight, $15. The ball will be chaired by board members, Richard Downey and Mary Hannon. Info: www.jpcentresouth.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.
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.
Classes
ParkARTS Landscape watercolor painting workshop, includes instruction, all materials, and discount coupons provided by Blick Art Materials. Sat. Sept. 10, noon-2pm, Jamaica Pond Boathouse. Info: 961-3051.
Culinary
“Catch A Fire” Caribbean Grill, featuring buffet dinner and live roots reggae from Jah-N-I band. Tues., Aug. 30, 6-9pm, $30 prix fixe, at Bella Luna, 284 Amory St. Opentable.com for reservations, note “Catch A Fire” in the notes.
Cupcake Club fund-raiser, to benefit the Footlight Club. Cupcake competitions in taste, presentation and alternative (allergen-free, savory, etc.). Sat. Sept. 10, 1-3pm, Eliot Hall, 7a Eliot St. Info/registration: [email protected].
Brew at the Zoo, beer tasting featuring Berkshire Brewing Company, Blue Hills Brewery, Clown Shoes Beer, John Harvard’s Brew House, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Long Trail Brewing Company, Narragansett, Peak Organic Brewing Company, Samuel Adams and Watch City Brewing Co., with food by John Harvard’s. Proceeds will support Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Rd. Sat. Oct. 1, 5-9pm, 21+. $40 ahead, $50 at the door. Info: 989-2012/ franklinparkzoo.org.
Music
The Whiskey Boys, contemporary folk duo, with The Michael Warren Trio at The Hallway Gallery, 66a South St., Fri. Aug. 26, 8pm. Info: [email protected].
JP Concerts: Robert Bekker, Dutch virtuoso guitarist, playing Bach, Bellini, Brouwer, Cesti, Mangore, Scarlatti and Walton. Thurs. Sept. 1, 8pm. Nadin Kulberg and Ivan Tan, performing Franz Schubert’s song cycle “Die schöne Müllerin.” All performances $10, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1 Roanoke Ave.
Music at Taylor House: Sun. Aug. 28, 7pm: Zefiro, an ensemble of eight singers devoted to performing vocal music of the 14th-21st centuries. $10, 50 Burroughs St. Info: 983-9334.
Exhibits
James Mustin III’s “Chromatics,” color etchings at The Hallway Gallery, 66a South St. Opening reception Thurs. Sept. 1, 6-9pm, on exhibit through Sept. 25. Info: thehallwayjp.com.
“Turning the Page: Dewey to Digital” reception at the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, Thurs., Oct. 6, 6-8pm. 12 Sedgwick St. Info: 524-2053.
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: lcfd.org/bgfe /512-5554.
Youth/Families
Connolly Branch Library: Wednesdays, 10:30am: Children’s Films. 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.
JP Branch Library: Sept. 8, 6:30pm: Pajama Storytime with Matilda and Maxwell.12 Sedgwick St. Info: 524-2053.
Egleston Sq. Library: Sept. 1, 10:30am: Countdown to Kindergarten. Tuesdays, 10:30am: preschool storytime, featuring puppets, songs games and fingerplays. Wednesdays, 5pm: Game night. Thursdays, noon: Throw Back Thursdays, showing films from the 50s through the early 80s. 2044 Columbus Ave. Info: 445-4340.
Swim League, Boston Center For Youth & Families seeks youth participants ages 6-17 for a competitive swim league. Experience not necessary, but participants must be able to swim one length of the swimming pool, Hennigan Community Center, 200 Heath Street. Info: Bladimil Pujols, 635-5198/[email protected].
Art, Woodworking and Sewing, Bookbinding and more at the Eliot School, classes start throughout the year. Days, evenings, weekends. The Eliot School of fine and Applied Arts, 24 Eliot St. info/course listings: eliotschool.org.
Learn to stiltwalk with Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St. Sundays, noon-2pm, $5. Info: 857-498-2438.
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.
The Peace Drum Project, offering teens 14-19 after-school arts programming and leadership training. Teens must be enrolled in a Boston Public high school to apply. Participants receive a stipend at the end of the project and are eligible for additional leadership awards. Info: Susan Porter at 524-6378/ tribal-rhythms.org/teen_application.html.
Tours and Talks
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 27: Stony Brook, leaves from Stonybrook T station. Sept. 10: Green St. Leaves from Southern JP Health Center, 640 Centre St. Sept. 17: Woodbourne. Leaves from Bethel AME, corner of Walk Hill & Wachusett streets. Sept. 3: Hyde Sq. Leaves from Sorella’s, 388 Centre St. Sept. 24: Jamaica Pond. Leaves from the bandstand, Pond St. & Jamaicaway. Info: jphs.org.
Meet-Ups
BalletROX Linkup Wednesdays, meet the dancers, choreographers, 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.
Call to Artists
UFORGE Gallery and Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in celebration of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library’s 100th Birthday, would like to invite 25 artists to portray the vast resources and events during the Library’s history and beyond. The theme for this exhibit is: Turning the Page: Dewey to Digital. Submissions should be no larger than 24 x 36 inches. All submissions will be part of a live auction event during the Gala Celebration on Sat., Oct. 22. Info: [email protected] with “Call to Artists: TURNING THE PAGE: Dewey to Digital” in the subject line.
Urban Nutcracker 2011 youth cast auditions, seeking experienced young dancers ages 8-16. Advanced ballet students, ages 16-18, with strong technique required should attend the adult audition at 11 a.m. Ages 8-11, 1:30pm; ages 12-16, 3pm. Tony Williams Dance Center, The Brewery, 1st Floor, 284 Amory St. Info: 524-3066/ balletrox.org.