1. Chapter & Verse Where:  The Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Price:  $5 donation Why go:  The first reading of the season by the Jamaica Pond Poets (JPP) takes place tonight featuring Sandra Kohler, Jonathan Russell Clark and Jim LaFond-Lewis, a frequent contributor here at  JP Patch.  The event is followed by a reception with refreshments and an opportunity to meet the authors.  Incidentally, the JPP recently donated a collection of contemporary local poetry books to the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.  Check it out. 2. Fall into Health Where: Arnold Arboretum…

1. Go Green Weekend at JP Knit and Stitch Where:  JP Knit & Stitch, 461 Centre Street When:  Starting on Friday at 6 p.m. and continuing on Saturday & Sunday Price:  Most events are free Why go:  In association with the Greater Boston Yarn Crawl, JP Knit & Stitch is having a three-day “Go Green” weekend with discounts, free gifts and a variety of activities The events kick-off on Friday at 6 p.m. when there will be a wine and cheese reception with Ann Weaver, a local JP knitwear designer and author, and Adrian Bromley, a local handdyer and handspinner who will demonstrate her craft.  On …

1. Open Studios Kick-Off Breakfast Where: Cheverus Building, 365 Centre Street When: Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Price: $10 adults, $5 for children under 10 Why go:  Early risers will want to kick start this artful weekend by starting off at the Hyde Square Task Force’s breakfast launch for this weekend's Open Studios with pastries, fruit, and coffee from Canto 6 and Ula Cafe.  There will be a live youth art performance at 10:30 a.m. 2. Jamaica Plain Open Studios Where:  Throughout the neighborhood When:  Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  By now fully fortified and…

1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Where: The Footlight Club, 7 Eliot Street When:  Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m. (Also Sept. 23, 24, 30, and Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.) Price:  $16-$21, Buy Tickets Why go:  The Footlight Club launches its new season with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which premieres tonight for its three-weekend run at the community theatre.  Tom Stoppard’s tragicomedy is a modern existential adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  2. Revolutionary War Reenactment Day Where: The Loring-Greenough House, 12 South Street When:  Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  The…

1. Festival de Salud y Recursos Where: Mozart Playground, 312 Centre Street When:  Friday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Fortunately, it looks like this week’s rainy weather will end in time for the “Festival de Salud y Recursos para la Comunidad Latina.”  Sponsored by the Dominican Development Center, this event is a fair of health and other resources for the Latino community.  Attendees at the free family festival can learn about recreational and educational programs, as well as enjoy foods and entertainment. 2. Tar Sands Action: A Report Back Where: First Church In Jamaica Plain …

1. Violet the Clown Where: BOING!, 667 Centre St. When:  Friday, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Under new management, BOING! now offers free, fun children’s activities. Violet the Clown visits JP’s toy shop where she will be painting faces, reading stories, making balloon sculptures and more. 2. Queen For A Day Where: Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington St. When:  Friday, 9 p.m. Price:  $8 Why go:  What fun!  Gunpowder Gelatine, an all-women Queen tribute band, perform tonight at the Midway. We haven't caught their act yet but are dying to know if there will be an appearance by Fredericka …

1. Bike Fridays Where: Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South Street When:  Friday, 7 a.m. Price:  Free Why go: This is the last of the “Bike Fridays” series of rides that began in the spring.  Bike to City Hall in a bike convoy with a police escort.  At City Hall, a free breakfast will be served and there will be a bike expo.  You can join the bike convoy at approximately 7 a.m. at Curtis Hall, or at approximately 7:10 a.m. in Hyde Square.  Please visit the event website to register. 2. Energy Improvements Workshop for Landlords   Where: Anna Mae Cole Community Center, 10 Lamartine Extension…

1. Boston GreenFest Where: Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, When:  Friday, 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Organized by the Foundation for a Green Future, Inc., the Boston GreenFest is the area's biggest multicultural environmental festival.  The three-day celebration, which began on Thursday, continues this weekend, and features food, performances, vendors, and exhibitors.  For a complete schedule of events, please see the Boston GreenFest website. 2. You Are My Sunshine Where:  Axiom Gallery, 141 Green Street When:  Friday, 6 p.m. Price:  Free Why…

1. Free Fun Friday at the Arnold Arboretum Where: Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway When:  Friday, Starting at 10 a.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Free Fun Fridays is a summer-long program by the Highland Street Foundation that provides free admission to many of the area’s cultural institutions.  Though admission to the Arboretum is always free, today there are many planned special events including and an “All Ages Scavenger Hunt” at 10 a.m., hourly tours in English from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., a tour in Spanish at 11 a.m., and two children’s programs, “Songs and Stories with Jackson Gillman” at 10:30 a.m…

1. Free Beer Tastings Where: City Feed and Supply, 672 Centre Street When:  Friday, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Do you need a better reason than free beer?  This evening Burke Distributors will be at City Feed's Centre Street Store with free tastings of their beers including Sam Adams, Wolaver's Organic Ales, Narragansett Lager, and Ipswich Ale. 2. Summer Show at Urbano Project Where: 284 Amory Street (The Brewery Complex)) When:  Friday, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  If you haven’t yet been to one of Urbano’s events or their inspiring space at the Brewery, prepare yourself …

1. Shark Cart Where: Jamaica Plain Public Library, 12 Sedgwick Street When: Friday, 10:30 a.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Don't let the headline scare you.  Sharks haven't been spotted in Jamaica Pond.  Today the New England Aquarium visits the JP Library.  Children ages 6-12 will learn about shark facts and fiction through a series of hands-on activities.  Kids can touch real shark jaws and skin, and learn all about these fascinating creatures of the deep.  Why drive to the Cape?  2. Jamaica Plain/Egleston Neighbors Night Out 2011 Where: 3134 Washington Street (YMCA Parking Lot) When:  Friday, 5 …

1. Free Fun Friday at the Franklin Park Zoo Where: Franklin Park, Glen Lane & Circuit Drive When:  Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Thanks to the Free Fun Fridays program of the Highland Street Foundation, admission to the Franklin Park Zoo is free today. Explore the Zoo’s many exhibit areas including the Australian outback, a tropical rainforest, and an African savannah. 2. 45th Annual Puerto Rican Festival & Parade Where: Franklin Park, Glen Lane & Circuit Drive When:  Friday, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday, 12 noon – 11 p.m.  and Sunday, 12 noon-10:30 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  …

1. Free Fun Friday at the Museum of Science Where: 1 Science Park, Boston When:  Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Price:  Free Why go: Brief as the summer may be, the days can sometimes seem long when there's little for the kids to do.  Thanks to the Free Fun Fridays program of the Highland Street Foundation, admission to the Museum of Science is free today.  2. “Primary” Opening Reception at UFORGE Where: UFORGE Gallery, 767 Centre Street When:  Saturday, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  Shades of Piet Mondrian!  Tonight at the always fun and friendly gallery, you can see how artists get down to…

1. JP Shopping Spree / JP Compra Aqui Where:  Centre/South Streets, Hyde, Jackson & Egleston Squares When:  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, All Day (Hours vary by merchant) Price:  Window shopping is free Why go:  The five-day event continues this weekend.  Over 23 local markets, bodegas, grocery stores, and neighborhood shops are participating in the second JP Shopping Spree/JP Compra Aqui event.  Support neighborhood businesses, and download a passport that you can use while shopping to be entered in a raffle.  2.  Go Local Week Where: City Feed & Supply, 672 Centre Street When:  Friday, …

1. Free Fun Friday at the Museum of Fine Arts Where: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 When:  Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. Price:  Free Why go: Thanks to the Free Fun Fridays program of the Highland Street Foundation, admission to the Museum of Fine Arts is free today.  Some of the special exhibitions currently on view at the MFA include Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass, Violet Isle:  A Photographic Portrait of Cuba, and Modernist Photography 1910-1950. 2. Community Bike Ride Where: Ferris Wheels Bike Shop, 66 South Street When:  Saturday, 8:30 a.m. Price:  Free Why go: Ferris Wheels Bike…

1. In the Groves: A Summer Solstice Journey Where: Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway When: Friday & Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Price: $20, Buy Tickets Why go: Discover your inner pagan.  Storyteller Diane Edgecomb and Celtic harpist Margot Chamberlain entertain with stories and songs on a walk through the woods at twilight.  Please register in advance. 2. Family Drop-In Activities Where: Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway (Outside the Hunnewell Building) When: Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  The Arboretum holds its monthly “Family Drop-In Activities.”  These may include crafts, guided …

1. Bike Fridays Where: Curtis Hall Community Center (Currently closed for renovations), 20 South Street When:  Friday, 7 a.m. Price:  Free Why go: If you missed last month’s Bike Friday, here’s another chance to have a police escort without ending up in the slammer. Today you can ride in an escorted bike convoy to City Hall, where you’ll be served a free breakfast. There’s also a bike expo. Join the bike convoy at approximately 7 a.m. at Curtis Hall, or at approximately 7:10 a.m. in Hyde Square. Visit the event website to register. 2. Walk Jamaica Pond with Frederic Law Olmstead Where: …

1. "A Sense of Place" Where: Taylor House Bed and Breakfast, 50 Burroughs Street When:  Friday, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  An opening reception will be held tonight for local landscape artist Mardi Reed's show "A Sense of Place.”  There will be refreshments and a musical performance by Kate Finn and the Finn-tones.  (The exhibition will be on view through July 31.) 2. Pride Party Where: Midway Cafe, 3496 Washington Street When:  Friday, Doors open at 8 p.m. Price:  $10 Why go:  Say it LOUD!  Pride weekend kicks off tonight with a bang at the Original Plumbing Party at the …

1. Peace Drum Project Award Ceremony Where: 76 Atherton Street, (AAMARP Studios, Third Floor) When: Friday, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Price: Free Why go: The Peace Drum Project is an inspired arts and community service project that brings teens and seniors together to create visual stories about their lives.  Tonight, the Peace Drum Project holds its annual end of the year ceremony with an exhibit, reception, and stories. 2. The Footlight Club Presents Dearly Departed: A Drop Dead Funny Play Where: The Footlight Club, 7 Eliot Street When:  Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Price: $16-$21, Buy Tickets Why go…

1.  Finesse Friday at The Milky Way Where: Bella Luna Restaurant and Milky Way Lounge, 284 Amory Street When:  Friday, 10 p.m. Price:  $10                Why go:  Do you have a spring case of cabin fever?  Like the ad says, “Start the weekend with finesse.”  Sounds like a good idea to me.  Tonight at the Milky Way, DJ DRAMAStatus spins Reggae, Hip-Hop, and Top Forty hits. 2. Family Drop-In Activities at the Arboretum Where: Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway (Outside the Hunnewell Building) When:  Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Price:  Free Why go:  On the last Saturday of the month, the Arnold …