The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. Feb. 21 for the Feb. 24 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.
Special events
My Furry Valentine: A South Street Event, Focus Real Estate, Monumental Cupcakes, and Polkadog Bakery are teaming up Feb. 2 from 4:30-7:30pm as a one block stop to shop for your favorite furry face. Focus Real Estate: 34 South St: Meet local JP artist Andrea Tamkin to discuss commissioning a custom portrait of your pet, Monumental Cupcakes, 36 South St: offering 20% off their animal tote bags. Polkadog Bakery, 42 South St: 20% off the entire store.
Frederick Law Olmsted’s 195th Birthday, April 26, 6-8pm. First Church Unitarian Universalist Jamaica Plain, Eliot and Centre Streets. Wheelchair accessible. Call for action to protect and preserve parks and open spaces. Info: www.olmsted2022.org, 524-7070, [email protected].
Music/art
Libreria Donceles, bilingual interactive art installation/music poetry and art series. Feb. 17 homage to Puerto Rican poet Julia Burgos; Feb. 20 Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Fernandito Ferrerin performance. Info: 983-1007 or www.urbanoproject.org.
Local authors Mindy Fried (Caring for Red) and Caroline Heller (Reading Claudius) will read from and discuss their memoirs of family at La Rana Rossa (154 Green St) at 7pm. Tickets $5 in-store or online at papercutsjp.com/events.
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.
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.
The Mousetrap, on stage at the Footlight Club this February 10, 11, 17, and 18. Discover the twists and turns that take place at the snowed-in Monkswell Manor guesthouse, where nothing is quite as it seems and there is a murderer among the guests. Tickets $21. Visit www.footlight.org.
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
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.
Youth/Families
Hansel and Gretel with Boston Lyric Opera, 2 professional singers, a pianist, and a teaching artist will engage audiences in this interactive introduction to opera through a one-hour retelling of the Brothers Grimm classic fairytale. Ideal for youth ages 6-12. Younger children are welcome with supervision. Tues. Feb. 21, 2pm, Egleston Square Branch Library.
Club Girls Rock Campaign Boston, for girls grades 7-12. Workshops, instrument instruction, jam sessions, and more. Wednesdays 3:30-6:30pm at Spontaneous Celebrations Jan-May. Info: girlsrockboston.org/programs/club-grcb.
BNBL Pee-Wee Basketball, boys and girls ages 6-10, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Franklin Park. Info: franklinparkcoalition.org.
Connolly Branch Library. High school mentors for grades K-8 Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm. Homework Help with Boston Public School teacher, Mondays 4-6pm; Children’s films, Wednesdays, 10:30am.
Special Events at Connolly Branch: Valentine craft night for all ages on Mon. Feb. 13 at 6pm. Little Voices, Big Changes: Social Justice Story Time with Wee the People, kids ages 4-7 will explore activism and social justice movements using books, puppetry, games, music, and art on Sat. Feb. 18 10am-12pm. The Pineapple Project for Ages 3-8: Come see a play about gender, creativity, and the freedom to be you on Thurs. Feb. 23, 10:30 am. Bilingual Story Time / Hora del Cuento Bilingüe: Join us for stories and songs in English and Spanish, for children 2-4, with an adult / Acompáñanos para cuentos y canciones en inglés y español. Para niños/as de 2 – 4, con un adulto: on Tues. Feb. 14, 10:30 am. / Martes, 14 de febrero, 10:30 a.m.
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. Baby/Toddler music time, Fridays, 11:15am, for ages 0-2 and their caregivers.
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/talks
*The Revolution Where You Live, Local power in the age of Trump. Thurs. Feb. 16 7-9pm. First Church JP 6 Eliot Street. Sarah van Gelder will tell stories and show photographs from her road trip and from her reporting trips to Standing Rock. [email protected].
*The Contributions of Women’s Clubs in Boston, Tues. Mar. 28 and Tues. April 4, both at 6:30pm, programs are identical. Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Free and open to the public.
Stonybrook Fine Arts, teen & 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
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].