Thursday, Aug. 15
Rollerama DJ Nights from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rollerama at Kendall Common, Broadway and Third Street, Kendall Square, Cambridge (continues on select Thursdays and Fridays through September). Free. Dance or skate for free to weekly DJ sets from DJ Collective Spin The Bottle; tonight features AL-B and Radjoy. Information is here.
Froca Fitness workout from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. at Henri A. Termeer Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Groove with Froca Fitness founder Sylver Rochelin Randrianantenaina, dancer from Madagascar. Information is here.
Summer Concert Series: Analise performs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Palmer and John F. Kennedy streets, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. An alternative-indie artist. Co-sponsored by Club Passim and the Berklee College of Music. Information is here.
Dog Days of Summer Yappy Hour from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the lower courtyard of The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing Aug. 22 and 29). Free, but register. Furry friends enjoy special treats and activities while you enjoy wines, local beers, frozen drinks and food from Taqueria El Barrio for purchase. Plus, free giveaway drawings with rotating prizes. Information is here.
CX Summer Nights concert from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Common at Cambridge Crossing, 320 Morgan Ave., Cambridge (rain date: Aug. 21). Free. This month’s outdoor big-stage concert features Boston’s Hill House and Carolina funk from Boulevards. Food trucks, lawn games and drink pours benefiting the East Cambridge Business Association. The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House is the community spotlight nonprofit. Information is here.
Dancing Outdoors: Haitian Folkloric Dance from 6 to 7 p.m. at Greene-Rose Heritage Park, 155 Harvard St., The Port, Cambridge. Free. Dance to the beat with instructor Velouse Joseph of Jean Appolon Expressions as part of a series of summer park events sponsored by The Dance Complex and the City of Cambridge. Information is here.
Soul Sessions open mic night from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (and every third Thursday). $5 and all ages. DJ Nomadik presents and co-hosts (with Essex) an open mic inviting all forms of talent. Sign up at the event (space is limited). Music will be provided, or perform a cappella – or just enjoy the show. Information is here.
Flower Power: Collage Experience from 6 to 8 p.m. at Yamba Joint, 19 Pearl St., Central Square, Cambridge. $20 and 21-plus. Hosted by Queer in Cannabis and Lavender Education, a workshop on collage for all skill levels to create and take home their own artwork. Plus, participants learn about the queer histories of flowers and cannabis. Information is here.
Groovement movement class 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. Find a sense of comfort and groove at this all-levels structured dance class that’s Afrocentric and QTBipoc-friendly. Information is here.
David Daley reads from “Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right’s 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The journalist and author of the bestseller “Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn’t Count” traces the legal scheme by Chief Justice John Roberts that gutted the Voting Rights Act and links it to the well-funded, highly coordinated right-wing effort to erode the power of minority voters at the ballot box and to fringe conservative theories about U.S. elections. Information is here.
Lee McColgan reads from “A House Restored” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. This woodworker’s meditation on how he repaired his historic home built in 1703, using period materials and methods, examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit. Information is here.
Jon Auer performs from 7 to 10 p.m. at Q Division Recording Studios, 171 Rindge Ave., North Cambridge. $25 to $30. The cofounder of The Posies plays songs and tells stories from every era of his career. The Shellye Valauskas Experience opens. Information is here.
Atomic Comedy from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free, but register and donations appreciated. A monthly show with three comedy acts featuring new and veteran local talent. Information is here.
Third Thursdays jazz with Dave Bryant and Friends at 8 p.m. at Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, 1555 Massachusetts Ave., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. $10. This month, graphic novelist Matthew Brown, author of “Ornette Speaks: A Cartoon Grammar,” creates art in real time accompanied by keyboardist and composer Bryant, saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra, bassist Jacob William and drummer Miki Matsuki, with Daniel Kurganov performing Ornette Coleman’s “Trinity,” a piece for solo violin. Information is here.
Festival of One-Act Plays at 8 p.m. at Theatre@First, Unity Somerville, 6 William St., Somerville (continuing through Aug. 17). $20 to $25. Ten original short plays by local playwrights explore the theme of love, whether it be romantic, within families, among friends, for oneself or something beyond. Information is here.
Garrison Starr and Jay Nash at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $23 to $25. The acclaimed singer, songwriter and Grammy-nominated record producer’s album “Garrison Starr and The Gospel Truth” chronicles her recovery from an Evangelical Christian upbringing, joined by singer-songwriter Nash. Information is here.
Philip-Michael Scales at 8 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $15 and all ages. B.B. King, a family friend, called him “nephew” and watched with quiet encouragement as Scales developed into an indie music guitarist. Eventually Scales discovered his true sound: “Dive Bar Soul,” a coupling of indie-rock storytelling with the passion of the blues. Information is here.
Indie Bohemia: Artists of Berklee from 8 to 11 p.m. at Massasoit Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Drive, Central Square, Cambridge. $5 to $10. Four cutting-edge indie acts from the Berklee College community (Echos of Duat, Lily Jinx, Yurrn and Simon Davis) are showcased. Information is here.
Latin Dance Social from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Dante Alighieri Society Center, 41 Hampshire St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $20, cash preferred. A pre-party before the Boston Salsa Festival in Waltham on Saturday. Salsa, bachata, merengue and cha-cha-cha performances begin at 11 p.m. Information is here.
Ruby Grove from 9 to 11 p.m. at The Turing Tavern, 1281 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. Free. The local indie rock, soul and trip-hop band plays a full band set while home in the middle of their Northeast tour. Information is here.
Friday, Aug. 16
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.
Discover Here Concert Series: Debo Ray outdoor concert from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Henri A. Termeer Square, 675 W. Kendall St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. The charismatic Grammy-nominated vocalist whose stage appearances include Carnegie Hall, Monterey Jazz, Kennedy Center and Newport performs original contemporary R&B, neo-soul and pop from her forthcoming album, plus some covers with her world-class band. 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 Oct. 11). Free. Energetic Boston band Hope for Rain performs alternative rock at this outdoor concert. Information is here.
Somer Breeze poetry open mic from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gilman Pop-up Park, 350 Medford St., Gilman Square, Somerville. Free. Sign up to read poetry or just listen to others during this evening hosted by poets Leticia Priebe Rocha and Gregory Glenn. Information is here.
The Harvard Milonga: Summer Edition from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Harvard University’s Barker Center, 12 Quincy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $15 to $25. Dance on a pristine hardwood floor surrounded by a rotunda with high windows. Host: Thomas Patrick. DJ: Toshi. Information is here.
Sabrina Fedel reads from “All Roads Lead to Rome” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. The former attorney and graduate of Lesley University’s MFA in creative writing discusses her “appealing, younger teen-friendly homage to Roman Holiday” (says Kirkus Reviews). Cynthia Platt, author of the young adult novel “Postcards from Summer,” joins. Information is here.
Contra Dance: Spark in the Dark from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $5 to $20. During August, the Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates move their twice-monthly dances from the Masonic temple in Porter Square to the Armory (for the air-conditioning). Information is here.
Hole Show presents “Underwater Level” at 8 p.m. at Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. $25 and 21-plus. This queer art and dance party with vendors features a lineup of drag performers – four kings from other parts of the country and four top-tier locals – hosted by Sherman, plus music by DJs L’Duke and Caloric and visuals by The Dregs Liquid Lights Show. Information is here.
Festival of One-Act Plays (continued) at 8 p.m. at Theatre@First, Unity Somerville, 6 William St., Somerville. $20 to $25. Information is here.
Show Me Your Bits stand-up and sketch show from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at the Café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $10. Jonathan Anderson and friends do stand-up, characters, music and sketch comedy so “silly and thought-provoking” it prompts follow-up questions from the audience. Information is here.
The Easy Winners perform for Boston Swing Central from 8 to 11:45 p.m. at Q Ballroom, 26 New St., Suite 3, Fresh Pond, Cambridge. $13 to $20. Ragtime and Jazz Era music of the Americas played live on mandolin and guitar for a social partner dance with a lesson for beginners in the first hour. No partner required; no street shoes. Information is here.
Sidewalk, S and R and Lechuga Jam perform from 10 p.m. to midnight at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $12. A Boston alternative rock band with catchy riffs and warm harmonies; alternative songwriting partnership of Saxon Kenney and Reeve Pope, steeped in punk, funk and hip-hop sounds; and a solo project by artist Mo Correa. Information is here.
Paul Rishell and Annie Raines at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $28 to $30. The blues duo has recorded six albums and logged thousands of miles here and in Europe performing a wide range of blues styles. Information is here.
Fav45s: The Breaks @ Satellite from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Remnant Brewing Satellite, 877 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free. DJs Sumj of Fav45s and Coty Soprano of Good Taste Records spin all vinyl 45s all night in a hip-hop, funk and boogie vein. Information is here.
Saturday, Aug. 17
Tai Chi Under a Tree from 10 to 11 a.m. at Sennott Park (Broadway at Norfolk Street, near Central Square, Cambridge). Free. Explore qigong warmups and the elements of tai chi with Ellen DeGenova during this Cambridge Plays event. No experience necessary; a seated option is available. Information is here.
Boston Raising Powerful Musicians showcase at 11 a.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $23.69 and all ages. Several bands debut with original songs. BRPM empowers girls, women and gender-expansive youths and adults.Information is here.
HIIT Pilates with Breathe Cambridge at 11 a.m. at the upper courtyard of The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. All-levels high-intensity interval training Pilates as part of the hotel’s summer fitness series. Information is here.
Mass Mini Con from noon to 6 p.m. at Dante Alighieri Society Center, 41 Hampshire St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $10. More than 10 top pop culture artists gather to sell their work, physical media and collectibles to avid fans of genre movies comics and the like, with free beverages from Liquid Death. Afterward the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline hosts a 9 p.m. mutant mystery movie. Information is here.
Be Free Radio party from noon to 8 p.m. at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Dr., Cambridgeport. Free. Family-friendly celebration of art, music and unity with dancing along the Charles River on an outdoor dance floor. Soulful, Afro-infused dance grooves by DJs Mojavi, Darrel Lewis, Jesse Cardoso and Deep Just. Information is here.
Yvie Oddly reads from “All About Yvie: Into the Oddity” from 2 to 4 p.m. at Connexion, 149 Broadway, Somerville. $29.70 with the book and registration required. Sponsored by All She Wrote Books, the “RuPaul Drag Race” winner of Season 11 discusses their memoir with co-author Michael Bach. Information is here.
Festival of One-Act Plays (continued) at 4 p.m. at Theatre@First, Unity Somerville, 6 William St., Somerville. $20 to $25. Information is here.
Dream Role Players present Shakespeare’s “Richard III” at 5 p.m. at Longfellow Park, 175 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge near Harvard Square (and continuing Aug. 18 and four more dates through Sept. 1). Free. The outdoors Shakespeare troupe performs the Bard’s tragic history play during this glorious summer. Information is here.
“Dungeons and … to be determined” at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $10 to $15 and all ages. The audience decides the rules and chooses the adventure for the players, the Boston-based improvisers of the award-nominated live play “Blittle League,” who must maneuver an ever-changing landscape of rules, motivations and settings. Information is here.
Lloyd Thayer album release at 7 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $23 to $25. The American folk and blues multi-instrumentalist celebrates his new album “Limitation is Necessary,” performing on dobro; Weissenborn lap steel guitars; Turkish oud, saz and cumbus; Indian chaturangui and Mohan Veena; Ragmakamtar; and ukulele. Mariel Vandersteel opens. Information is here.
Sarah Levecque Band with American Beauties from 7 to 10 p.m. at Sally O’Brien’s, 335 Somerville Ave., Union Square, Somerville. $10. Guitarist and singer-songwriter Sarah Levecque’s four-piece band plays American music influenced by early blues, country, folk and rock music. American Beauties is an indie folk-rock band with a sound vibe of late 1960s and early 1970s West Coast folk-rock. Information is here.
Foundry Night Market from 7 to 11 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $5 and all ages, 21-plus with ID for drinks. More than 35 vendors offer crafts and art pieces plus food, drinks, community activities and a live DJ. Information is here.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley performs at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $25 to $30. The musical luminary, singer and saxophonist from West Africa, with 29 albums under his belt, brings his eight piece band from Ghana to perform in its entirety his 1975 debut album “Simigwa,” a masterpiece fusion of highlife, Afrobeat, folk and funk. Information is here.
Billy Wylder with Emily Haviland from 8 p.m. to midnight at The Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood between Harvard and Porter squares, Cambridge. $20 to $25 and 21-plus. Wylder’s American folk and rock music is inspired by African rhythms, art-rock textures and expansive guitars, violins, synths and drum machines. Haviland’s modern folk has roots in jazz and Americana. Information is here.
“Caligula: The Ultimate Cut” film screening at 11:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $12 to $16. This version of the 1979 film premiered at Cannes in 2023 and includes an unprecedented amount of never-before-seen footage of Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren (as the promiscuous Caesonia) for even more of what you still remember. Information is here.
Sunday, Aug. 18
Introduction to bird photography with Nature Man Mike from 9 a.m. to noon at Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. $60 to $75 and adults only. Tips on settings, composition, equipment, light conditions and more from local birder and photographer Michael Bryant. (For DSLR, mirrorless or bridge cameras.) Information is here.
The MIT Swapfest from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Albany Street Garage, Albany St. between Massachusetts Ave. and Main St., near Central Square (and continues the third Sunday of each month through Oct.). $6. At this monthly high-tech, computer, electronics and ham radio flea market you can “buy, sell or swap all things nerdly.” Information is here.
Breakfast Book Club from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St., Prospect Hill, Somerville. $5, or $18.06 with book. This month’s title: “Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Raybourn. Coffee and pastries provided. Information is here.
Black-owned 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 entrepreneurs by shopping for fashion, vegan treats, fine art, bags, jewelry, artisan soaps, sauces, dog treats and accessories. Information is here.
Boston Punk Rock Trivia and performances at 12:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $10 to $50. Team trivia about Boston punk rock with prizes and live music from three punk bands (starting at 3:30 p.m.) All net proceeds donated to the U.N. Fund for Humanitarian Relief for Occupied Palestine. Information is here.
Uncommon Concerts: Booty Vortex performs at 12:30 p.m. at Rollerama at Kendall Common, Broadway and Third Street, Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. New England musicians who revel in playing timeless tunes from the ’70s: disco, funk and danceable. Information is here.
Monarch release celebration from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Kingsley Park near the Water Department facility at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, in West Cambridge at Fresh Pond Reservation. Free and all ages. Watch the ceremonial release of butterflies raised at Fresh Pond Reservation, a program now in its 10th year. Information is here.
LGBTQ Improv Comedy from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Gilman Pop-up Park, 350 Medford St., Gilman Square, Somerville. Free. Hang out, talk and do some improv. Information is here.
Poets Elizabeth Bradfield and Kevin Goodan read at 3 p.m. on the East Lawn at Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge (held indoors in case of rain). Free. Bradfield is a naturalist, Brandeis creative writing teacher and editor-in-chief of the Broadsided Press with its poetry poster project. The Montana-born Goodan was raised on an Indian reservation, worked for the U.S. Forest Service and has taught at the University of Connecticut and Wesleyan University. Information is here.
“Isabella Stewart Gardner and Her Passion for Horticulture” dramatic portrayal from 3 to 4 p.m. at The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Character reenactor Jessa Piaia presents Isabella Stewart Gardener (1840-1924) in a first-person narrative portraying her role as an early advocate of community gardening and her commitment to the spiritual dimension of gardening as a physical oasis within our urban setting. Followed by a Q&A. Information is here.
“Black and White” exhibition closing reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Brickbottom Artists Building, 1 Fitchburg St., Inner Belt, Somerville. Free. Final day to view works from Brickbottom Artists Association members on the theme of black and white. Information is here.
Hatha and Vinyasa yoga outdoors from 4 to 5 p.m. at Dana Park, 74 Magazine St., Cambridgeport. Free. During this Cambridge Plays event, an instructor from The Embody School leads a class that starts off gently and increases gradually in intensity with longer holds. Bring a mat or towel, sunscreen and water. Information is here.
Learn all about marshmallow from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free, but donations accepted. Clinical herbalist Mo Katz-Christy uses storytelling and science, drawing and tasting to provide in-depth exploration of one herb each month. Bring a journal for sketching and note taking. Information is here.
Dream Role Players present Shakespeare’s “Richard III” (continued) at 5 p.m. at Longfellow Park, 175 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge near Harvard Square. Free. Information is here.
Charlie Kohlhase’s Explorer Club from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15. The composer, saxophonist, educator and radio host performs works by Roswell Rudd, John Tchicai and himself with Seth Meicht (tenor saxophone), Ryan Kapoor (trumpet), Bill Lowe (bass trombone), Tony Leva (bass) and Curt Newton (drums). Information is here.
Leanna Firestone performs at 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $25 to $30. The Nashville artist’s first release, “Strawberry Mentos,” reached 5 million streams, followed by “Least Favorite Only Child” at 4 million. Now signed to Frtyfve Records in London, more recent tunes include “Diet Coke” and “Gambling Addiction.” Also playing: Brye. Information is here.
Monday, Aug. 19
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.
Dog Days of Summer Pawty from 6 to 8 p.m. on Palmer Street between Brattle and Church streets, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Furry friends enjoy a parade, costume contest (with a $250 gift basket prize) and treats while you enjoy the sounds of ’80s new wave hits, marvel at Bridget Foster Reed’s custom pet portraits and pick up swag at co-sponsors Tandem Vet and Cambridge Veterinary Care. All this and a Hound Saloon. 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.
Death Cafe from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Somerville Public Library East Branch, 115 Broadway. Free, but register. Not a bereavement or counseling session, but an opportunity to engage in interesting and thought-provoking conversations “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” Information is here.
Sci Fi/Fantasy Book Club at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge (and held monthly). Free, but RSVP. This time, the selection is “The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. Le Guin. Information is here.
MIT Tango Club practice at 7 p.m. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 36-112, also known as the Fairchild Building, at 50 Vassar St., Cambridge. Free. Tango club officers provide Argentine tango instruction every Monday during summer at alternating locations. No partner required, but wear comfortable clothes and shoes with leather or suede soles that allow you to pivot and walk backward. Information is here.
Magic Hour Hobby Photography from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Gilman Pop-up Park, 350 Medford St., Gilman Square, Somerville. Free and all ages. Meet and connect with fellow hobby enthusiasts: bring your favorite camera and items or props related to your hobby (collections, creations, gear, etc.) and photograph them in the park’s stunning evening light. Information is here.
Capoeira class from 7 to 8 p.m. at Dance Union, 16 Bow St., Union Square, Somerville (and every Monday). First class free, $15 thereafter. Learn a new workout based on the dynamic Afro-Brazilian art form that combines dance, music and martial arts. 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 Sept. 16 and 30). Free. The second of four discussions during August and September on “The Last Fire Season” by Manjula Martin. Information is here.
“Heck Yeah,” the Heckle Mic from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Free and 18-plus. A comedy show where you should heckle. We wrote about it here. Information is here.
Bluesy Tuesy Social Dance from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the New England Science Fiction Association clubhouse at 504 Medford St., Magoun Square, Somerville (and every Tuesday). $5 to $25. This weekly partner blues dance event that includes a lesson for beginners in the first hour has relocated from the closed Democracy Center in Harvard Square, finding a home (for now) amid the books and games at the NESFA. No partner required. Information is here.
Tuesday, Aug. 20
MIT Museum Free Admission Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Enjoy the galleries, a drop-in session (11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) on microscopy and a maker hub (2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) on bioplastic. 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: Sol Castell performs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. The Panamanian singer-songwriter explores themes of love, friendship and existentialism in her jazz-rooted melodies. Co-sponsored with 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 Oct. 1). 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.
Board game night for adults from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free, but register. Play Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Scrabble, chess, checkers, Boggle, Bananagrams and more, or bring a board game to play with others. Pizza and beverages provided. Information is here.
Summer Concert Series: High Tea performs 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 indie folk-rock duo of Isabella DeHerdt and Isaac Eliot blend old blues and new rock. Co-sponsored with Club Passim. Information is here.
Knitting group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library’s Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave. Observatory Hill in Neighborhood 9. Free. Bring yarn and needles and find out what fellow knitters are up to. Information is here.
O’Connell Branch Adult Book Group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library O’Connell Branch, 48 Sixth St., East Cambridge. Free. August’s title: “Birnam Wood” by Eleanor Catton. Information is here.
Poet Vijaya Sundaram reads from “Fractured Lens” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. Medford’s poet laureate has written short stories and plays and is also a guitarist, sitarist, singer-songwriter and educator. “Fractured Lens” is her first collection of poems. Julia Lisella, educator and author of the collection “Our Lively Kingdom,” joins. Information is here.
Ken Liu reads from “Laozi’s Dao De Jing: A New Interpretation for a Transformative Time” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of “The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories” discusses his accessible new translation of the 400 BC Chinese classic by Laozi which offers comfort by playfully and defiantly upholding the wisdom of the concrete, the humble, the quotidian and the everyday individual. 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.
High Horse performs at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $25. The progressive-acoustic boy band from Boston has a fiddler, cellist, guitarist and bassist. They mix Celtic and classical music and perform original compositions and tunes from diverse folk traditions. Information is here.
Laugh Giraffe Comedy Show at 8 p.m. at Union Tavern, 345 Somerville Ave., Union Square, Somerville (and every Tuesday). Free, but reserve your space. Stand-up comedy showcase. Information is here.
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Lunchtime Concert Series: Justin Schaefers at noon at the Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. A singer-songwriter from Sonoma Country, California, performs a modern blend of retro rock, lo-fi indie music and folk. Co-sponsored with Club Passim. Information is here.
Valente branch book group from noon to 1 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free. August’s title: “The Three of Us” by Ore Agbaje-Williams. Information is here.
Summer Art Tour: East Cambridge Edition from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. meeting on Cambridge Street outside the Cambridge Public Library Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free, but register. Get a guided tour of the public artwork in East Cambridge and learn how it’s maintained. Information is here.
Streetwise speaker series at 6 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville (and every third Wednesday). Free. Co-sponsored by the Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee and Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets. This month features Ari Belathar, executive director of the Boston Cyclists Union. Information is here.
Yoga with Breathe Cambridge at 6 p.m. at the upper courtyard of The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. All-levels Vinyasa yoga as part of the hotel’s summer fitness series. Information is here.
Japanese dye technique two-session class from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (and continues Aug. 28). $30 for both sessions; ages 15-plus. Learn to colorfully dye fabric using the Japanese Shibori technique. Information is here.
Gabriel Maia from 6 to 8 p.m. at One Reason Garden Bar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The contemporary jazz guitar player and composer from Brazil who combines Brazilian, jazz and blues traditions performs as part of the Berklee Courtyard Series at this outdoor venue with beverages and food from Taqueria El Barrio. Information is here.
Cinema Strange from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., in the Winter Hill neighborhood. Free. This time, David Lynch’s surrealist mystery “Mulholland Drive” from 2001, which in 2016 held the No. 1 spot in the “BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century” list. Information is here.
Central Square Book Club book talk from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free, but register. This month’s title is “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See. Copies are available for pickup at the branch. Information is here.
Literary Trivia Night from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free, but register. Make a team of up to five people or come on your own for an evening of bookish trivia – with prizes. Light snacks provided. 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.
Irish set dancing class for beginners from 7 to 9 p.m. at SomArt@The Hive, 561 Windsor St., Ste. 401a, Somerville (and every Wednesday through Aug. 28). $5 and ages 16-plus. Learn the basic movements and techniques of Irish social dance, no partner required and leather-soled shoes preferred (but sneakers work). Information is here.
Celtic guitarist Tony McManus at 7:30 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $25 to $35 and all ages. As part of the Burren’s Brian O’Donovan Legacy Series, McManus performs “fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing” demonstrating an “uncanny ability to transpose the delicate, complex ornamentation characteristic of traditional bagpipe or fiddle tunes – even the phrasing of a Gaelic song – onto his own six strings.” Information is here.
Alexa Rose at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $23 to $25. The West Virginian’s “well-crafted stylings are a multilayered merger of old country music and traditional folk songs, colored by rock and roll and mountain soul.” Grace Harriet opens. Information is here.
Good Terms and Rematch perform at 8 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $15 and all ages. The West Coast heavy emo-pop punk quartet with a cathartic vibe co-headlines with the five-piece pop punk band from Chicago’s south suburbs featuring ex members of The Fight Night. Also playing: 5Ever and Broken Head. Information is here.
Bachata Room dance party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at La Fábrica Central, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and every Wednesday). $15 and 18-plus (21-plus to drink). An hourlong bachata dance lesson for beginners followed by social dancing to DJ music (salsa, bachata and kizomba). No partner required, walk-ins welcome. Information is here.
Thursday, Aug. 22
“Rewrite, Organize, Remix: Visions of Feminist Organizing” exhibition tour from 11 a.m. to noon at the Poorvu Gallery in the Schlesinger Library in Radcliffe Yard, 3 James St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (repeats Oct. 3). Free, but register. A tour led by librarian Mimosa Shah. Information is here.
Vintage Night Market from 4 to 10 p.m. at Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Free. More than 30 top vintage vendors in clothing, home décor, bar ware, art, jewelry, accessories, antiques and upcycled fashion, plus food and beverage specials. Information is here.
Rollerama DJ Nights (continued) from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rollerama at Kendall Common, Broadway and Third Street, Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Information is here.
Summer Concert Series: Trinity Mei performs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Palmer and John F. Kennedy streets, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. An indie folk/pop singer-songwriter from the mountains of Arizona. Co-sponsored by Club Passim and the Berklee College of Music. Information is here.
Dog Days of Summer Yappy Hour from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the lower courtyard of The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing Aug. 29). Free, but register. Your furry friends enjoy special treats and activities while you enjoy wines, local beers, frozen drinks and food from Taqueria El Barrio for purchase. Plus, free giveaway drawings with rotating prizes. Information is here.
Dancing Outdoors: Beginner Bollywood from 6 to 7 p.m. at Riverside Press Park, 2 Blackstone St., Riverside, Cambridge. Free. Learn choreography to a high-energy Bollywood song with instructor Swati Tiwari of Boston Bollywood as part of a series of summer park events sponsored by The Dance Complex and the City of Cambridge. Information is here.
Salsa in the Park from 6 to 9 p.m. at Henri A. Termeer Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free and all ages and abilities. “Animaciones” (choreographed group dances/follow-alongs) from MetaMovements artist collective members from Cuba, Dominican Republic and the United States, plus social dancing, a music corner, dance lessons by Masacote and Silent Rhythms (in American Sign Language), a beer garden with snacks and more. Information is here.
Friends of Porter Square Books Author Reading at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 25 White St., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. This reading by local authors to celebrate the book shop’s 20 year anniversary features Christopher Castellani, Allegra Goodman, Michelle Hoover and Virginia Pye. Information is here.
Comedian Vanessa Gonzalez at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25 and 18-plus. The Texas native who’s been on Comedy Central, HBO and Netflix shares stories about growing up in a border town, issues with parents and more. Information is here.
Jesselyn Cook reads from “The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Through the stories of five families, the investigative reporter and 2025 Nieman Fellow at Harvard looks into the psychology of how and why ordinary people become vulnerable to outrageous falsehoods promising order, purpose and control. She’s joined by Gina Smith, the investigations editor for McClatchy’s South Carolina newspapers and also a Nieman Fellow. Information is here.
Burnout Syndromes performs at 7 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $26.50. This three-piece Japanese band formed in Osaka in 2005, have produced two albums and were part of the original soundtrack of the anime “Haikyu!!” in its second season. Information is here.
Grant Peeples at 7 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $17 to $20 and all ages. The self-described “tree-hugger that watches Nascar” performs ax-sharp sociopolitical tunes with raucous humor, compassion and a critical eye on American culture and identity. Information is here.
Poetry Open Mic Night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Free. Bring and read your own poetry or a work by another poet. Information is here.
Soul Speak: “When Black Men Breathe,” a special dialogue at 7:30 p.m. in the blue wing at the Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, on the Cambridge border. Free with preregistration and 18-plus. Evan Auguste of The University of Massachusetts at Boston talks with: The Black Joy Initiative’s Thaddeus Miles; Enodi founder Michael Rain; Roxbury-bred artist and 14-year co-host of the open mic “If You Can Feel It, You Can Speak It” D. Ruff; and local psychology student Matthew Sebowa. Presented by ReRooted Productions. Information is here.
Tall Poppy String Band at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $18 to $20. A fiddler, guitarist and banjoist make up this new old-time trio who draw from the deep well of American string band music with playful curiosity. Information is here.
Outdoor Movie Night from 8 to 10 p.m. at Gilman Park, 350 Medford St., Gilman Square, Somerville. Free and ages 10-plus. The final film in the series screening cult sci-fi on 16 millimeter is 1994’s “Time Chasers.” Information is here.
A stronger
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unfortunately the Gyedu-Blay Ambolley show is rescheduled to July 2025 per the link