ADD YOUR OWN PHOTOS: Lantern Parade

Did you get some nice snaps of this year's Lantern Parade? Share them with your neighbors here.

The Lantern Parade is one of JP's signature events. If you have some shots from this year's evening amble around Jamaica Pond, upload them here to share with the rest of JP. The parade takes place on two nights, Saturday and Sunday, with both events starting at 6 p.m. And if you like to share photos, the JP Patch Community Gallery is always open for uploads. Every week I showcase some of the most interesting shots.

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JP Music: Vinyl and More at the JP Rocks and Rolls Fair

The second annual gathering of arts vendors features music products for both listeners and players

Jenn Hickey was noticing all sorts of annual Jamaica Plain events going on, from the Music Festival to this weekend's Open Studios. So the JP native decided to create one of her own. That goal led to last year’s JP Rocks and Rolls Record and Art Fair, which brought together a variety of arts-related vendors in one place. A longtime music lover – who happens to work at the Midway, often running the sound – Hickey hoped to have lots of used record dealers at last year’s fair. Part of the reason was because she believed that element would attract lots of people. Part was because she’s always looking to build up her own record collection. “We had 30 vendors last year,” she said. “There were people selling stuffed animals and stationery and …

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Spontaneous Celebrations Leads in Readers' Choice 'Best Nonprofit' Poll

This summer's "Best of Patch Readers' Choice" contests include "Best Nonprofit." So far, Spontaneous Celebrations has a slim lead over JP's other great nonprofits.

ADD YOUR OWN PHOTOS: Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade

Did you snap some shots at this year's Lantern Parade? Please share them.

One of JP's signature events, the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade, took place Saturday and Sunday nights. Here are photos from JP Patch editor Chris Helms and readers. Please add yours! The parade is put on by JP's Spontaneous Celebrations, a nonprofit community arts organization.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Jamaica Plain Revels in Wake Up The Earth

A little rain didn't dampen spirits at the signature JP festival.

Wake Up The Earth was started by local neighbors in 1979 to protest the Interstate 95 expansion into Jamaica Plain. This year's festival wasn't hampered by the passing rain showers. Here are some photos.

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Wake Up The Earth Festival is A Go For Saturday

Despite forecasts that call for thunderstorms, one of Jamaica Plain's signature festivals will take place.

Organizers of one of Jamaica Plain's signature events, the Wake Up the Earth Festival, say the massive celebration is a go for Saturday, despite a forecast that calls for possible thunderstorms. Spontaneous Celebrations, the nonprofit group that puts on the festival, announced on its Web site this afternoon that the festival is a go. "There are some scattered showers, but we are undeterred," says an upbeat message on the machine at Spontaneous Celebrations. The colorful, joyous event starts with a parade at the Monument at 11 a.m. The rest of the festival takes place along the Southwest Corridor Park, across from Stony Brook T, between noon and  5 p.m. One of the special events at this year's Wake Up The Earth is the planting of a seedling…

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Rira

1:43 pm on Saturday, May 7, 2011

I agree, this day is about mother earth, NOT about petty divisiveness and hijacking - I sure hope it is not hijacked by either side. If one side does hijack, that will show what they are about - opportunism -like Trump. Not civility, like Obama. Let's see ..... Which side if either will be creeeepy, like Trump - and which will "do better" like Obama?   more ›

As Mayor Floats New Anti-Violence Plan, Some in Jamaica Plain Say the Solution is Jobs

Three JP youth organizations and two youth comment on what's going on in violence prevention and what else needs to be done in addition to a new plan from the mayor.

As the mayor announced a new anti-violence initiative, some Jamaica Plain youths say it’s all about jobs. Two youth of Jamaica Plain, Luis Tejada, 18, and Eric Robertson, 23, stopped by JP’s Community Caring Institute and talked briefly about their perspective on the issue.  With basketball in hand, the two answered that playing basketball helped keep them and their friends out of violence. However, they are not immune to violence.  Tejada stated that he had been a victim of youth violence, but did not really know of any specific programs or support groups.  “I wish I would have had more information about them,” he said. They said jobs are important to violence prevention.  Robertson emphasized that criminal records, sometimes for minor …

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Viewfinder

Tropical Fiesta

Spontaneous Celebrations' annual dance and party brings warmth to the Boston winter.

Every year, Spontaneous Celebrations hosts "Tropical Fiesta" as a way to bring some warmth to the waning winter season. JP photographer Courtney Sacco brought back these images of the fun.

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Patch Picks

Jamaica Plain's Five Best Nonprofits

Okay, so the headline is a little provocative. Still, these five are among the very best of the 200-plus nonprofits headquartered in our neighborhood.

Jamaica Plain is rich with venerable, hard-working non-profit organizations and charities. Here are five you should consider giving to. Hyde Square Task Force Why: There's a lot of talk about developing the talents of young people in JP and Roxbury. For my money, no one in JP does that better than Hyde Square Task Force. The peer leaders who come out of this organization tutor younger kids and make a real impact in our neighborhood — like fighting for better sex ed and keeping the former Blessed Sacrament campus mostly affordable housing. Donate to the Hyde Square Task Force via this link. Community Servings Why: The availability of local, healthy food is important to a lot of JP residents. Every day, Community Servings delivers 750 meals …

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