The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. May 10 for the May 13 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Special events
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council neighborhood election, Sat. Apr. 30 10am-5:00pm at JP Licks on Centre Street, Stop & Shop near Jackson Square, and Harvest Co-op Markets in Forest Hills. All JP residents (16 years and older) are encouraged to vote. Info: www.jpnc.org.
National Cohousing Day, 45 min. tour of Jamaica Plain Cohousing. Refreshments available. Sat. Apr. 30, 1-4pm, 65 Cornwall St. Info: www.jpcohousing.org.
Lilac Sunday, tours of the lilacs and other special collections, family activities, and food vendors. Arboretum, Bussey Hill Road. Sun. May 8, 10am-3pm, free.
Independent Bookstore Day at Papercuts JP, morning mimosas, cupcakes from Monumental Cupcakes, and author events for Nathalia Holt and Jesse Andrews. Sat. Apr. 30., 5 Green St. Info: facebook.com/papercutsjp.
Burgerslam 2016, at Spontaneous Celebrations, Sat. May 14. Local chefs battle it out for the 2016 Best Burger Award. 6:30-10:30 guests try each burger then cast their vote. $40, includes one mini burger from each participating restaurant and one free drink, funds also help support a strong curriculum at JP Manning Elementary School. Tickets: www.burgerslam.org.
Spring Perennial Divide, celebrate the start of the growing season with fellow gardeners. Bring perennials to share and containers to take home new plants. Share your favorite plants and discover new ones for this year’s garden. Free. Sun. May 15, 10am-2pm. Info: [email protected].
Music
Midway Café, all shows 21+, doors 8pm, 3496 Washington St, 524-9038. Wednesdays: Coffeehouse Wednesdays, acoustic acts, 6-8:15pm, free; Thursdays: Queeraoke lesbian night; Fridays, 6-8:30pm: Hippie Hour, free; Sundays 9pm-2am, Open Mic; Irish Sessions, every Sunday live traditional Irish music while you enjoy dinner, every Sunday in April in May.
Old time music, Southern/roots music, 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7.30pm, back room at Doyle’s Cafe, 3484 Washington St. Info: [email protected].
JCA Orchestra with special guests Strings Theory Trio at the Footlight Club, Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot St. Fri. Apr. 29, 8pm. Advance tix: $15, Seniors/students: $10.
Halalisa Goes Broadway: Songs from Stage and Screen, a choral ensemble concert, Sun. May 1, 4pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1 Roanoke Ave. $15/adults, $12/student and seniors. www.brownpapertickets.com. Info: www.halalisa.org.
A Musical Afternoon to Sustain Hungry Ukrainian Jews, Action for Post-Soviet Jewry (APSJ) presents acclaimed classical and jazz guitarist Jogn Muratore in a benefit concert for Jewish communities in Ukraine. Sun. May 1, 3pm, Jamaica Towers, 111 Perkins Street. Tickets $35 per person, $50 per couple, are available through [email protected] or 781-893-2331.
Capoeira Gerais Boston’s Fundraiser Concert, feat. Forro Zabumbeca playing forro music. Sat. May 7, 9pm, 21+, $12 advance, $15 doors. Bella Luna & the Milky Way, 284 Amory St. www.milkywayjp.com.
Neighborhood Rocks presents River of Dreams, Sun. May 22, 4pm. Multigenerational pop/folk/world choir concert. Family friendly. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1 Roanoke Ave. $10 adults, $5 kids over 3. www.neighborhoodrocks.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.
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.
BalletRox dance classes at Spontaneous Celebration for students grades K-12. Saturdays, 8am-12noon, Mondays and Wednesdays 4-7pm. Affordable, on a sliding fee scale. Ballet, tap, hip hop, street jazz, modern fusion. Info: www.balletrox.info; 224-7386.
Line dancing with Mz. Rhythm, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Franklin Park, hill across from Golf Clubhouse. Info: franklinparkcoalition.org.
Art/literary
Jamaica Pond Poets will be presenting “LOL: Poetry That’s Funny,” a reading with open mic, as one of the many, many events at the MA Poetry Festival in Salem, Saturday April 30, 2-3 pm. Come ready to laugh, and bring a funny poem (your own or someone else’s) to share! Poets include JP residents Carolyn Holmes Gregory, Audrey Henderson, Susanna Kittredge, Alan Smith Soto and Sandra Storey. More info: http://www.masspoetry.org/festival2016/.
Hispanic Writer’s Week, opening night at Connolly Branch Library on Mon. May 2, 5:30-7:30pm; Youth Reading Night at Hennigan School, Fri. May 6, 5:30-7:30pm. Info: Tito Lugo Velez, 864-236-9795.
On the Periphery—the Edge of Sight, an exhibition of talented regional artists will be on display at Uforge Gallery, 767 Centre St., May 5-9 with a reception on Thurs. May 5, 6-9pm. Free and open to the public. Info: [email protected].
Chapter and Verse Literary Reading Series, Meredith Bergmann, Sharon Dunn, and Danielle Legros-Georges, Fri. May 13, 7:30pm, Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Info: jamaicapondpoets.com or [email protected].
TimeLine(s): Drawing Nature, exhibition in the Hunnewell Visitor Center, opening reception Sat. Apr. 30, 2-4pm, On view Apr. 29 – Jul. 3.
Tidal Life, works by JP resident Jenine Shereos, ongoing, The Haven, 2 Perkins St. Info: 524-2836/thehavenjp.com.
Youth/Families
BNBL Pee-Wee Basketball, boys and girls ages 6-10, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Franklin Park. Info: franklinparkcoalition.org.
Connolly Branch Library. Homework Help with Boston Public School teacher, Mondays 4-6pm, Homework help with high school mentor grades K-8, Mondays-Thursdays 3:30-5:30pm; Children’s films, Wednesdays, 10:30am. Bilingual Story time for babies up to 18 months, Fridays at 10:30am. 433 Centre St. Info: www.bpl.org.
Egleston Square Branch Library, 2044 Columbus Ave., 445-4340. Mon.-Thurs., 3:30pm-5:30pm: homework help. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30am, preschool storytime. Fridays, 10:30am: baby/toddler music time.
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: [email protected].
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.
Classes
Stonybrook Fine Arts, adult classes in welding, foundry and mold-making ongoing, 24 Porter St. Info: stonybrookfinearts.com.
Community Arts Music Program for Seniors, Curtis Hall, 20 South St., Fridays 10:30-noon. Info: 983-3638.
Meet-Ups
District E-13 Police Department Neighborhood Advisory Council. This is a collaboration between the police and the community to help create good, responsive Neighborhood Policing. In the past, the Neighborhood Advisory Council had groups of residents and police working together on Problem Properties, Quality of Life, Traffic & Parking, Neighborhood Watch Groups, Youth Violence Prevention, and JP/Egleston Business Districts. The next conversation will be Tuesday, 5/10, 6:30 pm at the District E-13 Police Station.
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: [email protected].
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].
Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St., 522-1960. Spanish/English language exchange, Saturdays, noon-1:45pm. ESL conversation groups, Mondays 6:30pm, Thursdays, 2:30pm.
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].