August can be a frustratingly slow time to get things done and find things to do with so many people on vacation and the suspension of many community activities and meetings. However, South Enders who are working or planning a stay-cation will have plenty of interesting happenings to choose from courtesy of local non-profits, the Mayor's Office, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD) the Boston Police Department (BPD). The events listed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
The non-profit Trustees of Reservations, which oversee Boston's community gardens as well as open spaces across Massachusetts, kicked off an exciting schedule of art and literature events that will run through August with last week's Toast and Tea in the Garden on Thursday, July 30, which brought a late-afternoon poetry reading and artisanal cheese and tea tasting to the Worcester Street Community Garden. Fallon O'Brien, artist, writer and host of the social-media based vlog, Fallon's Daily Toast, emceed the event with Jason McCool, artistic director of Irish culture group Solas Nua in Boston, who provided poetry by Solas Nua members. Throughout August, the Trustees present art and literature classes including Art in the Gardens: Poetry Writing and Performance at Rutland Washington Community Garden on Washington Street on Wednesday, August 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6:00-8:00 PM. The cost of the class is $140 for Trustees members and $180 for non-members. On Thursdays, August 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 9:30-11:30 AM, the Rutland Haven Community Garden at Rutland and Haven Streets will be the venue for Art in the Gardens: Botanical Drawing in Colored Pencil. The fee for this class is $35.00 non-members and $45.00 for non-members. Art in the Gardens: Watercolor Painting en Plein Air commences on Friday, August 7 from 9:30 AM until 12:00 noon at the Rutland Washington Community Garden and continues on Monday, August 10, Monday, August 17 and Friday, August 21. The class costs $45 for members and $55 for non-members. For further information on these classes, call 617/470-0217 or e-mail jlynngarrett72@gmail.com.
Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday, August 12 from 9:00 AM-10:00 AMgives residents a chance to meet with BPD District 4 community service officer Sgt. Lucas Taxter at Jaho Coffee and Tea, 1651 Washington Street. Come armed with your questions, concerns and suggestions.
BPRD's Park Arts program presents Rosalita's Marionettes on Thursday, August 13 at 11:00 AM at Ringgold Park. Ringgold Park will also be the site of BPRD's Artist in Residence Workshops with arts and crafts projects for children ages 3-10 at 11:00 AM on Thursdays, August 6 and 13.
On Wednesday, August 13 from 4:00-6:00 PM, join the South End Community Health Center (SECHC) for the First Annual Health and Wellness Fair in Blackstone Square. The fair promises opportunities to gather information, get some basic health checks and have fun in a scenic outdoor gathering spot. According to development and marketing officer Lynn McCann of SECHC, over 25 companies, non-profits and other group will offer blood pressure and glucose screenings, rapid HIV testing, a bike safety and helmet fitting station, soccer, group fitness, a kid's obstacle course, and a Cooking Matters At the Store Pop-Up Tour. Just for fun, there will be music, face painting, arts and crafts and soccer with giant Bubble Me balls starting at 5:00. McCann commented via e-mail, "Our hope is that the fair will bring together diverse South End and Lower Roxbury residents, and encourage them to have fun, learn about new resources, and take charge of their health."
Acoustic on Main, which made a well-received debut during Small Business Week in May, returns to fill South End streets with music at participating businesses. This time around, city-sponsored festival runs from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM every day from Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 23. Businesses can sign up to host an outdoor musical performance with up to five acoustic performers for free by visiting https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BRUuABqQmJ5fz2NvViCaHMJbfT020E09amfcKxSSuVg/viewform. Musicians may register to perform at https://docs.google.com/a/boston.gov/forms/d/1HfJPDDiK6JFEzhQjiIwHSVWTYHw69t5kJv78AYG045w/viewform?c=0&w=1. For further information, contact Abby Furey at 617/635-0313 or at abby.furey@boston.gov.
On August 17, the Mayor's Movie Nights series comes to Ramsay Park at with a free, outdoor screening of "Big Hero 6" at dusk.
All of this is in addition to the continuance of the South End Branch Library's Summer Family Jazz Concerts on Tuesdays, August 4, 11 and 18 at 6:30 PM and the Titus Sparrow Park Summer Concert Series on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM through September 2, and the Titus Sparrow Park's Children's Concerts which end on Tuesday, August 11 at 10:00 AM with Wayne Potash and his band.
Have fun and don't forget the sunscreen!