Thursday, Aug. 1
Black Business Month Kickoff Networking Event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Dx@Dunster, 33 Dunster St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. Open to all business owners and entrepreneurs interested in connecting with and supporting Black-owned businesses in Cambridge. Hosted by the Cambridge Community Development Department. Information is here.
Summer Concert Series: Niké Vopalecká from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Palmer and John F. Kennedy streets, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The singer-songwriter from the Czech Republic performs jazz-influenced soul-pop. Co-sponsored by Club Passim and the Berklee College of Music. Information is here.
Animal and Ice Cream Social from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register. Meet a live “animal ambassador,” learn about the adaptations that help them survive and grab some ice cream before an evening stroll in the park to discover local wildlife. Information is here.
Tour the Old Powder House from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nathan Tufts/Powderhouse Park, College Avenue and Broadway, Somerville (and various dates through October). Free. A docent opens and gives tours of the old stone building from which the British removed gunpowder 250 years ago this year, resulting in the Powder Alarm. Information is here.
Black Flag’s “The First Four Years” Tour at 6:30 p.m. at Sonia, 10 Brookline St., Central Square, Cambridge. $35 and all ages. Formed in 1976, the punk band plays songs from “The First Four Years” album and a greatest hits set, too. Information is here.
Groovement movement class from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (and every Thursday through Aug. 15). $5 to $30, pay what you can and all ages. Find a sense of comfort and groove at this all-levels structured dance class that’s Afrocentric and QTBipoc-friendly. Information is here.
“Daddy Mode: A Dramedy on Black Fatherhood” staged reading from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Free and all ages, but RSVP. Foley Ellis Ibidapo’s script for a TV pilot being filmed in the fall centers around Tundè, a widower, and his sharp-witted 7-year-old son who dive into redefining their lives in a new city (Boston). Information is here.
Hyeseung Song reads from “Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The first-generation Korean American writer and painter chronicles subverting the model minority myth she had internalized while young, contending with mental illness and finding her self-worth by looking within. Joanna Rakoff, author of “My Salinger Year” and “A Fortunate Age,” joins. Information is here.
Three Stand-up Guys from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Massachusetts Ave., near Central Square, Cambridge. $20. Comedians Corey Rodrigues, Andrew Della Volpe and James Lindberg joke around while a portion of the proceeds benefit St. Vincent de Paul Community Development Organization in Kibera, Kenya. Information is here.
Friday, Aug. 2
Deep Dive Tour: Poetry Experience from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge. Free. Park rangers explore some of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s best works in the home that inspired him. Information is here.
Pan in the Park Jamboree from 4 to 8 p.m. at Magazine Beach Park Nature Center, 668 Memorial Drive at the river end of Magazine Street, Cambridgeport. Free, but register. Listen and dance to steel pan bands Tempo and Cambridge Youth Steel Orchestra during the first of three events celebrating Caribbean American culture. Food and craft making, too. Information is here.
James Baldwin Centennial film series at 4:30 and 7 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing Aug. 3 and 4). $12.50 to $14.50. On the day James Baldwin would have turned 100, watch a new 4K restoration of 1982’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” that chronicles the writer’s travels to important civil rights sites in the South. The series also screens “I Am Not Your Negro,” Raoul Peck’s 2017 documentary and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of Baldwin’s 1974 novel. Information is here.
Live Music Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. at Assembly Row, 355 Artisan Way, Assembly Square, Somerville (and continuing every other Friday through Sept. 13). Free. The Franklin Underground from Boston performs a mix of rock, funk, blues and indie-alternative at this outdoor concert. Information is here.
Movie night: “My Neighbor Totoro” from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kendall/MIT Open Space at 292 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. Free popcorn under the stars at this family-friendly outdoor screening of the 1988 film from legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. Information is here.
Bachata dance class and celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Meet and relax at One Reason Garden Bar, then follow Inna and Aris from Cambridge’s Moves & Vibes Studio to the hotel’s upper courtyard for a bachata performance and lesson at 7 p.m. followed by an hour of dancing. Information is here.
Openair Circus’ “Wild Discoveries” at 6:30 p.m. at Prospect Hill Park, 68 Munroe St., Somerville (and continuing through Sunday). Free, but donations are welcome. Circus arts students show off skills such as stilting, juggling and yoga-acrobatics learned in summer classes. Bringing blankets and folding chairs is encouraged. Information is here.
Jupiter and Okwess perform at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $28 to $35. Dynamic frontman Jupiter Bokondji Ilola and his band Okwess mix “exhilarating Congolese soukous with healthy doses of funk, soul and rock.” Information is here.
Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $45 to $50. Two instrumental masters who’ve collaborated with many leading artists: Landreth on slide guitar with a trademark bottle-neck style and Cashdollar on steel guitar and dobro. Information is here.
Feet Keep the Beat Festival from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville (and continuing Aug. 4). $35. The second annual festival of multicultural percussive dance held over four days wraps up this weekend with a premiere of a commissioned work created by eight local dance artists and a musical director plus workshops and an Aug. 4 dance-off. Information is here.
Gordon Webster Band performs for Boston Swing Central from 8 to 11:45 p.m. at Q Ballroom, 26 New St., Fresh Pond, Cambridge. $20 to $35. Jazz pianist Gordon Webster – a favorite with swing dancers around the country – returns to this social partner dance the evening before playing at the Roaring Twenties Lawn Party in Ipswich. Includes a lesson for beginners in the first hour, and no partner required. Information is here.
Dioniso and De-Zero perform at 10 p.m. at The Plough & Stars, 912 Massachusetts Ave., Riverside, Cambridge. $5 and 21-plus. Boston area bands team up for an evening of original, high-energy Spanish and Latin rock music. Information is here.
Saturday, Aug. 3
The Hidden Colors of Nature: Weaving with yarns from solar dyeing from 10 a.m. to noon at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville (rain date: Aug. 10). Free and all ages. Learn to weave a friendship bracelet or simple basket using yarns dyed with plants (and the sun). Yarns and ribbons provided; if you attended in July, bring your yarn to show and to weave. Information is here.
Adults with Hobbies: Cooking local and actually using the vegetables you buy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $15 to $35. Try out a different hobby each week in a series with educator and activist Nicole Hicks and friends. Information is here.
Discover Mount Auburn walking tour from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge. $10, but register. A history-infused 1.5-mile walking tour of this National Historic Landmark, which is the final resting place of nearly 100,000 people – including many famous ones – along with being home to 700 animal species and varieties of trees, beautiful sculpture and gloriously gloomy tombs and mausoleums. Information is here.
Dancing on the Charles Day for Pat Fontes from 1 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Marsh Post 442, 5 Greenough Blvd., West Cambridge. $5.50 to $45.70 and 21-plus after 7 p.m. This fundraiser party on the banks of the Charles honors the late DJ Pat Fontes and benefits local ALS chapters. Rain or shine, dance to Caseroc & Paulinnate, Mike Swells, JackPot, Renegade Masters, Brianna Paon & Trip Report, Walt Zink and DJ Melee. Kids okay from 1 to 7 p.m. No large backpacks and no dogs. Information is here.
Fresh herbal tea workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Bring a mug and learn about the uses, flavors and energies of different tea herbs. Information is here.
Intro to Jewelry workshop: repairing bracelet jewelry from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $35. The fourth of four workshops by Zangar Freeman of ZMakesBeads. All required materials and tools are provided. Information is here.
Openair Circus’ “Wild Discoveries” (continued) at 2:30 p.m. at Prospect Hill Park, 68 Munroe St., Somerville (and continuing through Sunday). Free, but donations are welcome. Information is here.
James Baldwin Centennial film series (continued) at 2:30, 5 and 7 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $12.50 to $14.50. Information is here.
Boston Community Chamber Music open mic from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Somerville Music Spaces, 1060 Broadway, Suite C101B, Somerville. Free but donations appreciated. Classical and acoustic musicians of all levels, plus singers, guitarists, etc. perform within 10-minute slots. Information is here.
Meet the beekeeper from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register. Beekeeper Mel Gadd shows bees in an active hive and explains the importance of honeybees and other pollinators and some honeybee-keeping basics. Information is here.
Lidia Mikhaylova’s “Hope Grows” art exhibition reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at the café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free. Meet the Russian-born local artist and view her colorful artworks on view through Aug. 26. Information is here.
OnStage 360° dance performances at 5 and 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $15 to $20. This year, 14 dancers or dance companies participate in OnStage Dance Company’s fourth annual performance in the round, which allows for a unique audience viewing experience and exciting experimentation by the various choreographers and artists. Information is here.
Movement, performance and time-based artists networking night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gallery 263, 263 Pearl St., Cambridgeport. $15. Meet others in the arts community through a combination of casual movement, fun and free-form networking. Snacks provided. Information is here.
Boston Tap Party at 7 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $37.50. This fourth annual celebration of the art of tap dancing includes all-levels classes taught by guest artists from across the country, a showcase of faculty from Deborah Mason Performing Arts Center and a tap jam with a live band. Information is here.
The Story Collider from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Gambrill Center of The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $5 to $15. Hear personal stories that connect science learning to life from microrobotics researcher Elio Challita, science journalist Cara Giaimo, musical improv coach Jared Todd Littlejohn, computer engineer Beatriz Perez and software developer Don Picard. Hosted by Collider co-producers Ari Daniel and Katherine Wu. Information is here.
Sarika, Simon Davis and Allie Sandt perform from 10 p.m. to midnight at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15. Three young singer-songwriters use varying lures to get you hooked, whether it’s catchy melodies, humor, ’70s-inspired sound, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, introspection or even dissonance. Information is here.
Sunday, Aug. 4
Somerville Flea from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 56 Holland St., Davis Square, Somerville (and every Sunday through October). Free. This vintage and artisan flea market includes a farm stand. Information is here.
Lindy Hopcats Practice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cambridge Community Center for the Arts, 41 Second St. (enter from the side-street patio), East Cambridge. $5 (cash or Venmo). Semi-structured practice sessions for motivated dancers at all levels. No partner required. Information is here.
Black Businesses Pop-up Market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Palmer Street between Brattle and Church Streets, Harvard Square, Cambridge (and every Sunday through Oct. 27). Free. Support local Black-owned businesses by shopping for fashion, vegan treats, fine art, bags, jewelry, artisan soaps, sauces, dog treats and accessories. Information is here.
Puzzle Day from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. $30 per team (six-people maximum) and 21-plus. Teams compete to finish a 500-piece puzzle with a $100 Aeronaut gift card as the prize. Also includes a puzzle swap. Information is here.
Art and healing workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. Free, but register. View and discuss the solo exhibit “Ode to Relationships” with its Boston artist and designer Ayana Mack, explore how art (through color, texture and portraiture) can be a tool for healing and create a collage inspired by the conversation. Information is here.
SomerStreets: Strike up the Bands from 2 to 6 p.m. on Highland Avenue between Central and Lowell streets, Somerville. Free. This themed take on the international Open Streets concept, which closes busy city streets to cars for other activities, includes parkour demos, the Esh Circus, a bouncy house, arts and crafts vendors, food, games and music from Grand Choice Records, Bethel Adekogbe, Laura Suárez, FM Collective, Trio Let’s Vamos and The New Grown-Ups. Information is here.
James Baldwin Centennial film series (continued) at 2:15 and 4:15 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $12.50 to $14.50. Information is here.
Openair Circus’ “Wild Discoveries” (continued) at 2:30 p.m. at Prospect Hill Park, 68 Munroe St., Somerville. Free, but donations are welcome. Information is here.
Deep Dive Tour: Queer History at 2:30 p.m. at Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge (and every Sunday through Oct. 28). Free. A weekly tour about the queer past through three generations of Longfellows and changing cultural understandings of queer relationships and identities. Information is here.
André Bois performs at 3 p.m. on the east lawn of Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge. Free. This Boston folk-rock songwriter inspired by roots music and the natural world sings covers and originals as part of Berklee’s Summer Concerts series. Information is here.
Nature Poetry Readings from 3 to 5 p.m. at Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free. Poems that explore our relationship with the natural world, including the current climate threat. Information is here.
Feet Keep the Beat Festival (continued) from 3 to 6 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free but RSVP. Information is here.
National Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. at Trum Field, 541 Broadway, Magoun Square, Somerville. Free and all ages. The annual event promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make safer, more caring places to live. Food, music, prizes, entertainment and more. Information is here.
Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli Group from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15. The singer and pianist perform originals and jazz standards along with Phil Grenadier (trumpet), Bruce Gertz (bass) and Gary Fieldman (drums). Information is here.
Monday, Aug. 5
Deep Dive Tour: Washington Reexamined at 12:30 p.m. at Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge (and every Monday through Oct. 28). Free. This weekly tour explores George Washington’s legacy and the lives of enslaved and free people at his headquarters. Information is here.
Mindful Yoga Care in the Garden with Jenn from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. An hour of mindful movement practice. Information is here.
Water treatment plant tour from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Water Department facility at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, in West Cambridge at Fresh Pond, Cambridge (and on the first Monday of every month through November). Free. Get to know where your water comes from, chat with water treatment staff and see the equipment in action, including the water-quality lab. Information is here.
Evening yoga in the park from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at Magazine Beach Park Nature Center, 668 Memorial Drive at the river end of Magazine Street, Cambridgeport (repeats Wednesday). Free, but register. Enjoy nature while emphasizing breath and body. Information is here.
A/V Comedy Club from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, but not kid-friendly (material runs PG-13 to R). Drop in to watch interactive stand-up bits with PowerPoint slides and musical comedy. Information is here.
Growing Center book group from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville (continuing Aug. 19 and Sept. 16 and 30). Free. Four discussions during August and September on “The Last Fire Season” by Manjula Martin. Information is here.
Picture + Panel: Seriously Funny with Emma Hunsinger and Caitlin Cass from 7 to 8 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free to $15 and 21-plus. The monthly confab of graphic-novel creators sponsored by Aeronaut, Porter Square Books and the Boston Comic Arts Foundation this time explores the role humor plays in reflection and understanding with two artists whose works have appeared in The New Yorker. Boston Globe columnist Meredith Goldstein moderates. Information is here.
“Be Seriously Scared”: A Hiroshima Day commemoration from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free. A nuclear disarmament presentation with director Michael Dwyer screening his 20-minute film about Hiroshima survivor Tomiko Morimoto West; co-writer and producer Larry Jay Tish discussing his upcoming film about the crew of the Japanese fishing boat Lucky Dragon #5 who experienced direct fallout from U.S. nuclear tests in 1954 at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands; and reflections from nuclear abolitionist Ira Helfand. Information is here.
Chess night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill (and continuing monthly). Free. Players of all skill levels are welcome, and chess sets are provided. Information is here.
Sambalolo performs from 10 p.m. to midnight at The Jungle, 6 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville. Free and 21-plus. Griot singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter and storyteller Boubacar Diabate from Bamako, Mali, performs with band members Arone Ndiaye (keyboard) and Mateja Miljacki (producer) the full spectrum of traditional to contemporary Malian music combined with blues, reggae and bluegrass. Information is here.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Summer Concert Series: Mrs. Wilberforce performs at noon at Harvard’s Science Center Plaza between Harvard Yard at Kirkland and Oxford streets, near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Kyra Davies and Sean Smith play Celtic chamber music rooted in tradition yet inspired by contemporary folk. Co-sponsored with Club Passim. Information is here.
Summer nights paddling from 4:45 to 8 p.m. at the Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register and 12-plus. This guided ecotour by kayak welcomes paddlers of all abilities. Gear is provided, and the program begins with beginner paddler instruction. Information is here.
Summer in the City Concert Series: Luana Brazzán from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. The drummer and percussionist from Peru “fuses great melodies and interesting harmonies with spoken word and dissonant vocals.” Co-sponsored with the Berklee School of Music. Information is here.
Title Boxing Club outdoor workshop at 6 p.m. at Assembly Row, 355 Artisan Way, Assembly Square, Somerville (and continuing every other Tuesday through Sept. 17). Free, but register and ages 13-plus. An authentic shadow boxing class for all levels followed by a post-workout cold plunge from SweatHouz. Bring a mat, water and wear workout clothes. Information is here.
Summer Concert Series: Casey Murray and Molly Tucker from 6 to 8 p.m. at Danehy Park, just behind the entrance at 99 Sherman St., in Neighborhood 9 just east of Fresh Pond, Cambridge. Free. The Boston folk duo plays originals and traditional tunes in Celtic, New England and Old Time styles with fiddle, cello, guitar and banjo. Co-sponsored with Club Passim. Information is here.
“Book Moot” discusses “Batman: The Court of Owls Saga” a DC compact comic by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo at 6:30 p.m. at Pandemonium Books & Games, 4 Pleasant St., Central Square, Cambridge. $10 with the book, and registration required. Buy and talk about this epic tale published in a new size by one of the most critically acclaimed scribes in all of comics and a bestselling illustrator. Information is here.
Abigail Miles reads from “The Building That Wasn’t” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The debut novelist discusses her twisty sci-fi fable about belonging and curiosity. CamCat Books associate editor Elana Gibson joins. Information is here.
Outdoor pub sing from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Anyone is welcome to lead in drinking songs, sea chanteys and anything with a singable chorus. There will be a propane fire pit and marshmallows to toast; other snacks are welcome. Information is here.
Super Party Bros.’ Pop-up Arcade from 7 to 11 p.m. at Warehouse XI, 11 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville. $5. Retro game lounge with arcade cabinets and console gaming, plus special cosplay guest Candycoloredcorpse. Cosplay is welcomed! Information is here.
Smut Slam from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville (and the first Tuesday of every month). $10 suggested donation. An open mic invites participants to tell five-minute, real-life dirty stories. The top three slammers win sexy swag from Good Vibrations. Kat Sistare hosts. Information is here.
Super American performs at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $20 to $24. Multi-instrumentalists Pat Feeley and Matt Cox “swirl ’90s melodicism, new-millennium pop-punk energy and heartfelt emo into a wry, smirking rock sound.” Also playing: Sydney Sprague and Summerbruise. Information is here.
Rainbow Girls perform at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $23 to $25. The eclectic folk trio hails from just north of California’s Bay Area and combines their “beautiful sonic tapestry” of voices with acoustic and slide guitar, keys, upright bass and harmonica, singing of hopeful love, self-reflection and pursuits of social justice. Information is here.
Wednesday, Aug. 7
Charles River eco run from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register. An easy-paced jog by the Charles River with frequent stops to observe the beauty, learn about the river’s history and do stretches. Information is here.
Midday Music: Plant Biodata from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kendall/MIT Open Space at 292 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Cambridge sound designer and artist Skooby Laposky plays the plants and trees in the space, reading their biodata and turning the measurements into a composition of dreamy, ambient music. Information is here.
Lunchtime Concert Series: Marquis Lavoie at noon at the Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Greg Marquis brings aggressive, impassioned vocals to the post-hardcore band Actor Observer, but “wilting vocals tinged with … harmonic tenderness” to his indie-folk side project. “ Co-sponsored with Club Passim. Information is here.
Gallery Talk: “A Sea of Tulips” from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free, but check in at Visitor Services to join the talk. In conjunction with the exhibition “Imagine Me and You: Dutch and Flemish Encounters with the Islamic World, 1450-1750,” curatorial associate Susan Anderson discusses the tulip trade, the Dutch tulip craze of the 1630s and the role tulips played in Habsburg-Ottoman diplomacy. Information is here.
The Twilight of an Empire: The Russo-Ukrainian War in the Eyes of a Historian from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Center for Government and International Studies, 1737 Cambridge St., Baldwin neighborhood near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Harvard’s Serhii Plokhii offers a definitive account of this conflict, its origins, course and the already apparent and possible future consequences. (This event was originally scheduled for July 3.) Information is here.
Boudreau Movie Night: “Kiki’s Delivery Service” from 6 to 7:40 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave., Observatory Hill in Neighborhood 9. Free. Watch the classic Studio Ghibli film from 1989 written, produced and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Light snacks provided. Information is here.
Authors Neema Avashia, Sejal Shah and Rahul Mehta at 7 p.m. at Narrative, 387 Highland Ave., Davis Square, Somerville. Free, but RSVP. A panel discussion with the respective authors of “Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place,” “How To Make Your Mother Cry” and “Feeding the Ghosts: Poems.” Information is here.
Ángela Varo Moreno performs from 6 to 8 p.m. at One Reason Garden Bar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The Boston violinist and composer from Andalusia, Spain, fuses jazz, Romani and flamenco. Co-sponsored by Berklee College of Music. Information is here.
Evening yoga in the park (continued) from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at Magazine Beach Park Nature Center, 668 Memorial Drive at the river end of Magazine Street, Cambridgeport. Free, but register. Information is here.
Jessica Anthony reads from “The Most” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. The New England Book Award finalist (“Enter the Aardvark”) discusses her tale about a 1950s American housewife who one day skips church with the hubby and kids and decides instead to get into the pool in her family’s apartment complex – then won’t come out. Nina MacLaughlin, author of “Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung,” joins. Information is here.
Bill Roorbach reads from “Beep” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. In this inventive new novel by the bestselling author of “Writing Life Stories,” “Lucky Turtle” and “The Remedy for Love,” a personable squirrel monkey who’s brought to Manhattan by a kindly American teen ultimately reveals “the divisions among us, our alien cities, our strange practices, our folly as well as our beauty and promise, unfulfilled.” Information is here.
Screen on the Green: “Trolls Band Together” from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. at Raymond Park, 106 Raymond St., Neighborhood 9, Cambridge (rain site: Russell Youth Center, 680 Huron Ave.) Free. Bring a picnic blanket and snacks for a second chance to see this 2023 animated film from Dreamworks. Information is here.
Bert Seager’s Heart of Hearing performs from 7 to 8 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $10 to $15. The jazz quartet of piano, tenor-saxophone, upright-bass and drums brings listeners into improvised jazz. Information is here.
Screening of short films about climate change from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Outdoor screenings followed by discussion. Information is here.
Thursday, Aug. 8
Summer Concert Series: Maggie Mackenzie from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Palmer and John F. Kennedy streets, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The singer-songwriter and composer of folk-pop music performs vivid, personal songs. Co-sponsored by Club Passim and the Berklee College of Music. Information is here.
Kayaking for Young Adults from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. $43. This guided ecotour by kayak welcomes adult paddlers of all abilities. Gear is provided, and the program begins with beginner paddler instruction. Information is here.
Tour the Prospect Hill Tower from 6 to 8 p.m. at 68 Munroe St., near Union Square, Somerville (and various dates through October). Free. A costumed docent provides information and a guided tour of the Revolutionary War site and this stone structure built in 1904. Information is here.
After Dark: Color from 6 to 9 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $20 and 21-plus. Investigate the dazzling effects of structural color in animals and plants, check out polarized light mosaics and make your own stained-glass window (minus the glass) to take home. Dumplings from Mei Mei and local brews from Aeronaut are available for purchase. Information is here.
Groovement movement class (continued) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $5 to $30, pay what you can and all ages. Information is here.
Ellen Ruppel Shell reads from “Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. The BU journalism professor emeritus and science writer tells the fascinating story of eels and why they’re so mysterious and highly coveted. WBUR’s Barbara Moran joins. Information is here.
Spirit 47 and Clay Pigeons at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $15 to $20 and all ages. New England bands bring folk, roots, honky-tonk, bluegrass and country blues to Davis Square. Information is here.
Marjan Kamali reads from “The Lion Women of Tehran” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The bestselling author of “The Stationary Shop” discusses her novel about two childhood friends in Tehran in the 1950s who come of age, separately, during political turmoil. “A deeply nuanced story of family, sacrifice and the unbreakable bond of true friendship” (says author Sadeqa Johnson). Information is here.
Ian Ethan Case and the Open Land Trio from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $20. Case “fuses the rich, intricate sound of his acoustic double-neck guitar with the expertise of two of Boston’s premier improvisers: drummer Tyson D. Jackson and saxophonist Jonathan Suazo.” Information is here.
Movie Night: “The Imitation Game” from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kendall/MIT Open Space at 292 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. Free popcorn under the stars comes with this outdoor screening of the Alan Turing biographical thriller. Come early to talk to researchers from the NSF Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions about how combining AI and physics can deepen understanding of the universe. Information is here.
Black Lamb Trio from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15 to $18. Free jazz with Andrew Lamb (tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, woodwinds), Joe Fonda (bass) and Luther Gray (drums). The musicians perform as part of Boston’s Creative Music Series, which showcases the work of adventurous jazz musicians. Information is here.
BT ALC Big Band performs at 7:30 at Sally O’Brien’s, 335 Somerville Ave., Union Square, Somerville (and every second Thursday). Free. Make some space for this 18-piece original funk, soul, hip-hop, jazz big band. Information is here.
Emily Mure, Caroline Cotter and Dave Richardson at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Three singer-songwriters perform their respective styles of heartfelt folk music. $23 to $24. Information is here.
Revive retro music experience from 9 to 1 a.m. at ZuZu, 474 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and the second Thursday of every month). Free and 21-plus. Distortions of electro-swing from DJ Dekichan followed by pop remixes from DJ Catalyst. Information is here.
Houseboi – Leo Season dancing and drag from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at ManRay, 40 Prospect St., Central Square, Cambridge (and every second Thursday). $13 and 19-plus (Leos get in free before 11 p.m.). A genderqueer dance party featuring drag shows with Wilhelmina LaDessé and Pristine Christine. Hosted by Sham Payne. Information is here.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.