Thursday, Dec. 5
“Rhyme, Rhythm, and Resistance: Enacting the Art of Dissent” curator-led tour from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Poorvu Gallery in the Schlesinger Library in Radcliffe Yard, 3 James St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. A tour led by curator Patrice Green. Information is here.
MIT Axiom Ensemble from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Free. The newly formed ensemble performs “musical works which don’t quite fit in the context of a typical large-ensemble concert nor chamber music concert.” Its second concert features Darius Milhaud’s “Le creation du monde.” Adam Boyles conducts. Information is here.
Harvard Art Museums at Night from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Calderwood Courtyard at Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. During this recurring event wander exhibits, catch spotlight tours, browse the shop, enjoy sounds from DJ C-Zone and buy brews from Vitamin Sea Brewing and food from Nibble Kitchen’s Dos Manos Kitchen. Information is here.
Randal Munroe reads from “What If? 10th Anniversary Edition: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” at 6 p.m. at First Parish in Cambridge Meeting House, 3 Church St./1446 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square. $40 with book. During this Harvard Book Store event, the former NASA roboticist, creator of the webcomic “xkcd” and author of the bestsellers “What If?,” “What If? 2,” “Thing Explainer” and “How To” discusses the special 10th anniversary edition’s revisions and annotations with new illustrations and answers to important questions you never thought to ask. Information is here.
“Darkness Spoken” – Peter Filkins on Ingeborg Bachmann from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Woodberry Poetry Room at Lamont Library, Room 330, 11 Quincy St., Harvard Square. Free. The editor and translator of “Darkness Spoken: The Collected Poems of Ingeborg Bachmann” will intersperse readings of his translations with the playback of a rare Poetry Room recording of Bachmann, made during her time in the Harvard International Seminar in 1955. Information is here.
Resa Blatman’s “Little Green” art exhibition opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. Free. The artist explores “the shifting climate that is unpredictable, yet captivating and beautiful through painting, drawing and mixed-media installation, blended with reverence for the natural world to compose works that are both contrary and compelling.” Information is here.
Ice Sculpture Stroll from 6 to 8 p.m. at Assembly Row, 355 Artisan Way, Assembly Square, Somerville. Free. There are nine sculptures to discover at this annual event, with live music, treats and retailer giveaways (all while supplies last). Donations for food pantries will be accepted. Information is here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project presents “Emma” at 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge (and continuing through Dec. 15). $25 to $64. Kate Hamill’s radical adaptation of Jane Austen’s Regency-era novel about matchmaking features screwball antics and fourth-wall breaking meta-theatrics. Directed by Regine Vital. Information is here.
Grolier Poetry Book Shop fundraiser with poet Tom Daley at 7 p.m. at a West Cambridge location revealed with registration. $100 donation. The first 25 people to donate $100 or more receive a copy of Daley’s limited-edition book featuring his watercolors and a poem, “Body Surfing, Venice Beach” and an invitation to bring a guest to the party. Refreshments provided. Information is here.
Comedian Abby Govindan’s “How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents” at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25. A stand-up show and solo act in one that’s an intimate, hilarious, soul-bearing journey about struggling with mental health, fitting in and wanting to understand one’s parents but struggling to see eye-to-eye. Information is here.
Joseph Luzzi reads from “Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Biography” and his new translation of Dante’s “La Vita Nuova” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The Bard College professor discusses the influence of Dante’s epic poem on legendary authors and describes fresh and approachable translation of Dante’s smaller “La Vita Nuova.” Boston College Italian professor Mattia Acetoso joins. Information is here.
“Galileo’s Daughter” at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Dec. 8). $27 to $95. Jessica Dickey’s play alternates between Tuscany of the present day and the 1600’s. A writer on the brink of divorce travels to Florence to research a trove of revelatory letters written to Galileo by his daughter Marie Celeste. This performance is followed (at 9 p.m.) by a discussion with the cast and creative team about bringing this production to the stage. Information is here.
“The Thanksgiving Play” at 7:30 p.m. at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Dec. 15). $45. In Larissa FastHorse’s “rambunctious, wild and fearless play” serving up “a steaming side dish of uniquely American hypocrisy,” four politically correct performers come together to create a new take on the traditional holiday pageant. Tension ensues as the group struggles to reenvision history without ruffling any feathers. Directed by Tara Moses (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma/Mvskoke). (Masks are required for Thursday evening performances.) Information is here.
Without Borders featuring Maxim Lubarsky Group at 7:30 p.m. at Regattabar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $30. The quartet blends jazz with artful arrangements of music worldwide, featuring Maxim Lubarsky (piano), Tucker Antell (saxophone), John Lockwood (bass) and Rafael Barata (drums). Information is here.
“Pippin” musical at 7:30 p.m. at Agassiz Theatre, 5 James St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Dec. 8). Free to $15. A humorous allegory about growing up and a dark tale of the danger of false appearances and empty promises, with a main character who dabbles in bloody battle, licentious and lusty sexual entanglements and savvy political maneuvers, only to discover that true happiness is more complicated than he thought. Information is here.
This Music series from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $10 to $15. First group: Eli Wallace (piano), Bill Harris (drums), Josh Berman (trumpet) and Ishmael Ali (cello). Second group: Tomatillo Latin and Middle Eastern jazz fusion with Martin Gohary (piano), Eric Barber (sax), Kathleen Jara (violin), Doug Harrison (bass) and Carlos Herrand-Pou (drums). Information is here.
Tufts Opera Ensemble at 8 at Distler Performance Hall, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. An evening of opera, operetta, and musical theater scenes from composers Claudio Monteverdi to Alan Menken and everyone in between. Stage director: Carol Mastrodomenico. Music director: Thomas Stumpf. Information is here.
Non-Event Concert Series presents Speaker Music, Isabella Koen & Rachel Devorah and ehrdz at 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $12 to $18. Non-Event organizes experimental music and sound performances in spaces in and around Boston. This time, a night of experimental techno featuring an ex-American rhythmanalyst who channels the African American modernist tradition of rhythm and soul music, and three sound artists. Information is here.
Friday, Dec. 6
Boomerangs x More Than Words opening day at 563 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. The revived vintage and book shop we wrote about here opens for shopping. Information is here.
Cozy Holiday Market from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of Deano’s Pasta Shop, 15 Garfield Ave., East Somerville. Free entry. Wares from local vendors and artisans, activities with The Beautiful Stuff Project, delicious bites from La Cosecha Colombian Food, photos with Santa and more. Information is here.
“Burning, Growing” art exhibition opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gallery 263, 263 Pearl St., Cambridgeport. Free. Oil paintings by Rhode Island’s Matthew Napoli and Maryland’s Julia Gould on the fragility of environmental and interpersonal climates. Information is here.
Fiesta Flamenca with Nino de los Reyes at 6:30 p.m. at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $10. An open level class for anyone interested in learning flamenco with the first dancer to win a Grammy Award (for best Latin jazz album “Antidote,” collaborating with Chick Corea), followed by a short demonstration by his students and a party the dancer calls “Juerga Flamenca.” Information is here.
Experimental sound and visual performance with Andrew Neumann at 6:30 p.m. in the ACT Cube (E15-001) of MIT’s Wiesner Building, 20 Ames St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. The artist’s “The Predictability of Unpredictability” employs a Buchla Music System analog synthesizer and a custom-designed video switching system. Co-sponsored with the MIT List Visual Arts Center. Information is here.
Heavy Holidays: Disassembly Required at 7 p.m. at New Alliance Gallery, 438R Somerville Ave., in Ward 2 near Union Square, Somerville. Free. The theme of this year’s holiday party “hints at the process of deconstruction” and features six artists and music from Uma Thermos (at 8 p.m.) and MK Naomi (at 9 p.m.) Information is here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project presents “Emma” (continued) at 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. $25 to $64. Information is here.
“Little Women” at 7 p.m. at the Marran Theater, 34 Mellen St., on Lesley University’s Doble Campus in the Baldwin neighborhood near Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing Saturday). Free, but donations from $5 to $20 accepted. Yet another feminist-friendly spin by Kate Hamill on a classic novel, this one influenced by Alcott’s advocacy for women. Presented by the Lesley Performing Arts Club. Information is here.
The Harvard Undergraduate Contemporary Collective presents “Bloom” at 7 p.m. at the Harvard Dance Center, 66 Garden St., in the Avon Hill neighborhood near Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing Saturday). $10. A dance performance highlighting student choreography and the debut of a work by New York choreographer Madison Hicks, “How to Fall.” Information is here.
“Black Sea” premiere with the filmmakers at 7 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $12.50 to $14.50. Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden’s tale about a charismatic barista from Brownsville, Brooklyn, who drops everything back home to meet up with a woman in Bulgaria … then finds himself stranded without a return fare or a passport, as the one and only Black man in the seaside resort town of Sozopol. Information is here.
“Galileo’s Daughter” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $95. This performance is followed (at 9:15 p.m.) by a conversation with three local university professors about how scientists reconcile faith with their pursuit of knowledge and how theologians reframe belief in light of scientific advances. Information is here.
“Pippin” musical (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Agassiz Theatre, 5 James St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free to $15. Information is here.
Berklee Cello Takeover from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $5 to $10. An eclectic night of cello-centric music featuring the Berklee Contemporary Cello Ensemble featuring the music of Tool, Bjork, Popper, Tricot, Ken James Kubota, Gunther Tiedman, Chris White and more. Information is here.
Jacob Williams’ Trio Spanning at 8 p.m. at The New School of Music, 25 Lowell St., West Cambridge. $15 to $20. The Creative Music Series welcomes an electric and acoustic bassist, composer, improvisor and educator born and raised in India and based in Boston. He performs with saxophonist Tony Malaby and drummer Francisco Mela. Information is here.
Mike Viola at 8 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $25. Though now in Los Angeles and decades into his career, this producer, musician, songwriter and singer reflects on where it all started with his latest album “Rock of Boston.” Also playing: The Figgs. Information is here.
Boston Early Music Festival: The Tallis Scholars perform “In dulci Jubilo,” music of Praetorius, von Bingen, Lassus, Victoria and others at 8 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 29 Mount Auburn St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $25 to $95. A journey through centuries of chant music and polyphony. Directed by Peter Phillips. Information is here.
“The Thanksgiving Play” (continued) at 8 p.m. at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge. $45. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” at 8 p.m. at The Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square (and continuing through Jan. 5). $35 and 18-plus. Our area’s naughty holiday stage tradition is a burlesque version of “The Nutcracker” showcasing the talents of people from nearly every walk of life, body type and kink. Information is here.
Italian opera choruses with the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square. $5 to $25. Italian opera through the ages, from Monteverdi to Verdi, conducted by Edward Elwyn Jones and accompanied by John Sullivan Information is here.
10th Annual Prism Concert Spectacular from 8 to 10 p.m. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. $10. An amalgam of music performed by the MIT Wind Ensemble and special lighting designed by MIT’s E33 Productions. Includes Holst’s “Hammersmith,” Reed’s “La Fiesta Mexicana,” Stephen Montague’s “Intrada 1631” and works by Bach, Vaughn Williams, Charles Carter and others. The Groton Hill Wind Ensemble joins the ensemble. Information is here.
Tufts Kiniwe African Music Ensemble and guests perform music and dance from Ghana from 8 to 10 p.m. at Distler Performance Hall, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. Tufts’ Attah Poku leads Kiniwe in a performance featuring Mohammed Alidu, the Agbekor Drum and Dance Society and students from New England Conservatory’s “Mile Norvisi” music of Ghana student ensemble. Information is here.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Friends of the Somerville Public Library winter book sale from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill (also Sunday). Free entry, all items are $1 each. Shop for a next read from the library’s gigantic 6,000 book selection. There will also be movies, music and more to choose from. Proceeds help fund library programming for the greater community. Information is here.
Cambridge Boat Club Annual Art & Craft Holiday Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cambridge Boat Club, 2 Gerry’s Landing, Cambridge. Free entry. This second fair for the boat club is open to all and includes ceramics, baskets, knitted accessories, recycled bags, honey, granola, organic beauty products, shrubs and lots more. Information is here.
Fourth Annual Janet “Ms. K” Kendrick Sisters of the Center awards brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., Riverside. $40. Named for the center’s former longtime executive director, the brunch celebrates local women leaders. Honorees this year are longtime CCC volunteer and supporter Evette M. Layne and former board member and executive director Corinne Espinoza. In addition, Erin Gullage (1971–2023) is posthumously given the highest honor bestowed by the center, The Rev. E.K. Nichols Founder’s Award. Information is here.
Winter Playwright Series at noon and 2:30 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville (also Sunday). Free. Lindsay Carpenter (at noon) and Sam Noble (at 2:30 p.m.) are among four local playwrights who develop a play from Dec. 1-6 and showcase it with a reading this weekend. Information is here.
Charles Square Outdoor Winter Holiday Market from noon to 5 p.m. in the lower courtyard of The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (also Dec. 14). Free. Shop local vendors offering gifts, plus enjoy seasonal drinks at One Reason Garden Bar or Noir Bar. Information is here.
Cambridge Arts Holiday Art Market from noon to 6 p.m. at 650 E. Kendall St., Kendall Square, Cambridge (and Sunday). Free. Shop for gifts by local creators at this event presented in partnership with BioMed Realty. Information is here.
Tenth Annual Union Square Holiday Stroll from noon to 6 p.m. at Union Square Plaza and beyond, Somerville. Free. The festive neighborhood tradition includes decorated storefronts, inflatables on the Festivus Trail, unique eats and retail shopping, plus challenges and prizes. Information is here.
Vernon Street 50th Anniversary Open Studios Celebration from noon to 6 p.m. at Vernon Street Studios, 6 & 20 Vernon St., Somerville (also Sunday). Free. Midcareer and emerging artists working across a spectrum of fine art styles and craft media exhibit and sell their work. Information is here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project presents “Emma” (continued) at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. $25 to $64. Information is here.
“Little Women” (continued) at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Marran Theater, 34 Mellen St., on Lesley University’s Doble Campus in the Baldwin neighborhood near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free, but donations accepted. Information is here.
“Pippin” musical (continued) at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Agassiz Theatre, 5 James St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free to $15. Information is here.
“Galileo’s Daughter” (continued) at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $103. Information is here.
“The Thanksgiving Play” (continued) at 2 and 8 p.m. at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge. $45. (Masks are required for Saturday matinee performances.) Information is here.
Solstice: “Reflections on Winter Light” experience from 5 to 9 p.m. during timed entries every half-hour at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge (and most days through Dec. 21). $5 to $35. Boston’s Masary Studios’ installation at the cemetery features an outdoor journey through large-scale light and sound artworks (including two that are new); a lantern walk; and an indoor experience with live music and candle lighting. It’s selling out quickly. Information is here.
Pico Opera presents “I Puritani” by Vincenzo Bellini from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $20 to $25. Experience this classic opera up close and personal but fully staged and full of madness, passion, drama and bel canto singing. Performed in Italian with English titles; pianist Aditya Raguram accompanies. Information is here.
I Just Want to Fly: Open Mic and Drawing from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, but register. Artist-in-residence Wen-hao Tien asks that you “Bring a story about ‘flying,’ whatever strikes your fancy. Flying carpet, a fly on the wall, a mobile, a balloon ride, dragon fly, migrating birds … The drawing game is a mystery and we will unlock it then.” Information is here.
Joe DeRosa’s “Piggy Christmas to You!” at 7 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $30 to $40. The stand-up comic and “Better Call Saul” actor’s holiday comedy show includes a full performance by his band Salsa Windfall, a meet-and-greet and special guests (including Paul Chell). Information is here.
Romantasy Revealed: A Conversation with Sabaa Tahir from 7 to 9 p.m. in The Kennedy meeting room at The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $10 ($37 with book). During this Lovestruck Books event, the author of “An Ember in the Ashes” and “All My Rage” discusses her new novel “Heir” and her writing process, followed by a Q&A. Information is here.
Trumpeter Marquis Hill performs at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Regattabar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $30. The musician, composer and bandleader brings together contemporary and classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house and neo-soul. Information is here.
Rambax MIT Concert at 8 p.m. in the Thomas Tull Concert Hall at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building W18, also known as the Music Building, 201 Amherst St., Cambridge. Free. Performance by the ensemble dedicated to learning the art of sabar, a drum and dance tradition of the Wolof people of Senegal, West Africa. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” (continued) at 8 p.m. at The Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $35 and 18-plus. Information is here.
Sunday, Dec. 8
Winter Classic 5K Road Race at 9 a.m., starting from 64 Sidney St., Central Square, Cambridge. $50 to run (or free to watch), with proceeds benefiting the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School Girls and Boys Track Team. Yet more opportunity to counteract holiday-time indulging, with prizes that include “a ridiculously oversized trophy.” Information is here.
A History of Cambridgeport Through Tides & Time from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register. The former shoreline of present-day Cambridge was once defined by a dynamic tidal estuary (known today as the Charles River). Trace this historic water’s edge on foot and learn about the changes that have led to its current location while appreciating the great diversity of street trees along the way. Information is here.
Vegan Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free. An opportunity to buy vegan food and other items from more than 30 small local and regional makers. Information is here.
Hassle Flea from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St., Riverside. $2. A flea market featuring 85-plus vendors of handmade artwork, prints, patches, records, tees, pins, ceramics, jewelry, zines, body care, tea, fiber art, vintage clothing, accessories and books as well as tarot readings. Live music all day in the basement. Information is here.
Winter Playwright Series (continued) at noon and 2:30 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Free. Information is here.
Hoppy Holidays Pop-up Vendor Market from noon to 4 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free entry and 21-plus. Enjoy locally crafted beer while shopping from a variety of local vendors and artisans. Information is here.
Milk Row Studios Holiday Market from noon to 6 p.m. at Milk Row Studios, 438 Somerville Ave., Somerville. Free entry. A buildingwide market with more than 60 artists and crafters, food by Buenas and free snacks and drinks. Information is here.
Cambridge Arts 2024 Holiday Art Market (continued) from noon to 6 p.m. at 650 E. Kendall St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Information is here.
Vernon Street 50th Anniversary Open Studios Celebration (continued) from noon to 6 p.m. at Vernon Street Studios, 6 & 20 Vernon St., Somerville. Free. Information is here.
Friends of the Somerville Public Library winter book sale (continued) from 1:15 to 3 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Free entry, all items are $1 each. Information is here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project presents “Emma” (continued) at 2 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. $25 to $64. Information is here.
“Galileo’s Daughter” (continued) at 2 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $103. Information is here.
“Pippin” musical (continued) at 2 p.m. at Agassiz Theatre, 5 James St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free to $15. Information is here.
“Again Again in Dance and Film” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $20. J2RC Dances presents works exploring the concept of repetition from seven collaborating modern choreographers, modern dancers and videographers. Information is here.
“The Thanksgiving Play” (continued) at 3 p.m. at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge. $45. Information is here.
“Christmas in Harvard Square” with the Boys and Schola of Saint Paul’s Choir at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 29 Mount Auburn St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (also Dec. 15). $35 to $70. The only all-boys Catholic choir school in the United States, which has collaborated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and Boston Pops, performs Theodore Marier’s setting of “Silent Night” as well as Christmas standards by Benjamin Britten, Robert Lucas Pearsall and Tomás Luis de Victoria. Information is here.
Music of the great Late Baroque masters with Ensemble Chaconne from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road, in the Spring Hill neighborhood. $25 to $30. Peter H. Bloom (on baroque flute) along with Duo Maresienne (Olav Chris Henriksen on baroque lute and Carol Lewis on viola da gamba) perform masterworks by J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Couperin and Weiss. Information is here.
Tufts Symphony Orchestra performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Distler Performance Hall, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. John Page conducts. Also livestreamed. Information is here.
Poets Charles O. Hartman and Lori Lubeski at 4 p.m. at The Press Room at 90 Oxford St., in the Spring Hill neighborhood, Somerville. $5 suggested donation. This time, Michael Franco’s Xit the Bear Readings brings in Connecticut poets Charles Hartman, whose eight published collections include 2024’s “Downfall of the Straight Line,” and longtime former Boston-area writer Lori Lubeski, author of “My Original Enthusiasm” among other collections. On the walls, through December, are paintings and drawings by Thorpe Feidt. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” (continued) at 4 p.m. at The Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $35 and 18-plus. Information is here.
Holiday concert fundraiser for Toys for Tots from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Somerville Music Spaces, 1060 Broadway, Suite C101B, Somerville. Donations requested. Andrew James Safioleas – pianist, violinist, educator, composer, lyricist and author of the children’s book “The Wonderful Gift of Music” – performs a program of original music with all proceeds going to charity. Information is here.
Christmas Concert with Coro Dante at 5 p.m. at the Dante Alighieri Society Center, 41 Hampshire St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. An annual concert featuring seasonal music from four centuries, sung in Italian. Directed by Nathaniel Meyer. Information is here.
The 115th Annual Christmas Carol Service from 5 to 7 p.m. at Harvard Memorial Church, 1 Harvard Yard, Harvard Square (also Dec. 10). Free, with an offering for charity collected. Sung by the Harvard University Choir, this is America’s oldest carol service, with a liturgy virtually unchanged since its first use in 1910 – making it potentially of historical interest even during the three lessons from scripture mixed in among choral and congregational carols. Information is here.
Solstice: “Reflections on Winter Light” experience (continued) from 5 to 9 p.m. during timed entries every half-hour at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge. $5 to $35. Information is here.
Monday, Dec. 9
From Baku to Brazil: Key Takeaways from COP29 and the Road to COP30 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Bell Hall (B-500) in the Belfer Building of Harvard Kennedy School, 79 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. Harvard students and faculty share their takeaways and perspectives from UN Climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, then discuss progress around international climate negotiations and what lies ahead for COP30 in Brazil. Information is here.
Bill Nowlin on “Starting and Running a Record Company: The Rounder Records Story” from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Distler Performance Hall, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. The Tufts alum is one of the founders of Rounder Records, whose releases have won 54 Grammys representing genres from bluegrass, folk, reggae and gospel to pop, rock, Americana, polka and world music. Information is here.
Monday’s Pages at 6 p.m. at The Comedy Studio in the basement at 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and the second a last Mondays of each month). Free. At this cold reading series, actors and writers get together to work on their crafts via 10-page submissions, with casting at 6:15 p.m. and reading at 7 p.m. The Variety Free Open Mic and The Theo Griffin Experience house band follows at 8:15 p.m. Information is here.
“Follow the LeadHer” Monday Night Run from 6 to 8 p.m. leaving from the auditorium of Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Free. TrailblazHer’s Run, a crew in the Boston area for women, especially Bipoc women, hosts a 3-mile run beginning and ending at the central library. Information is here.
O’Neill Branch book group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library O’Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave., North Cambridge. Free. December’s title: “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper” by Phaedra Patrick. Information is here.
Millennial Crisis presents Boston Social Conversations from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free and 21-plus. You’ll be placed in small groups with other millennials and Gen Z-ers and be given prompts to spark thought-provoking conversations about topics that matter to you (because you’re the generation with the most connections but least community). Information is here.
Jazz and Contemporary Music Vocal Workshop presents “Jazz Ain’t Nothin’ But Soul” at 7 p.m. at the Longy School of Music, 27 Garden St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free to $20. Longy students give a culminating class performance. Information is here.
PSB Book Club at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge (and held monthly). Free, but RSVP. This month’s selection: “The Vegetarian” by Han Kang. Information is here.
Grrl Haus Cinema – Best of 2024 Festival at 7 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and also Dec. 10). $12.50 to $14.50. With screenings in Cambridge and Berlin (and an online showcase), this two-night event features a curated selection of standout short films from local, national and international filmmakers and highlights works by women, trans and nonbinary artists, with a focus on low-budget and experimental films. 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 workout based on the dynamic Afro-Brazilian art form that combines dance, music and martial arts. Information is here.
Resonance Lab singles-matching launch event from 7 to 9 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Two Camberville psychotherapist millennials have created a way for people 28 to 48 to meet. Joining the database via a short Google form questionnaire allows for personalized matching. Information is here.
Annual “Messiah” Sing at 8 p.m. in the dining hall at Dunster House, 945 Memorial Drive, near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Harvard student soloists, the Harvard Bach Society Orchestra and guest conductor Edwin Jones of The Memorial Church perform the English language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with scores of the music available for the audience to sing the most popular choruses. Information is here.
Poets David Semanki and Jason Schneiderman read from 8 to 9 p.m. at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 56 Brattle St., Harvard Square. $5. Semanki’s debut poetry collection is “Ghost Camera”; Schneiderman’s fifth poetry collection is “Self Portrait of Icarus as a Country on Fire.” Sponsored by the Blacksmith House Poetry Series. Information is here.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
Winter walk and tea from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register and adults only. Enjoy mindful walking in the park with guided breathing and sensory awareness exercises. End with a cup of hot tea while reflecting on how nature can help keep people grounded. Information is here.
“Abortion, Emancipation and Reproductive Disobedience in Ukraine” lecture from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Pritsak Memorial Library of Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, 34 Kirkland St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. HURI’s Kateryna Ruban presents her book project exploring how abortion as a constant political problem in the 1910s to 1960s shaped female emancipation in Ukraine. A casual lunch is provided. Information is here.
“Antisemitism on Campuses: Reports From Faculty at Major American Universities” conference from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in the Fong Auditorium of Boylston Hall, Harvard Yard, Cambridge. Free. Harvard’s Derek Penslar moderates two panels with speakers from eight universities (Brandeis, Princeton, Yale, Fordham, Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Pennsylvania and University of California, Los Angeles). Sponsored by the Friends of the Center for Jewish Studies. Information is here.
International Human Rights Day Interfaith Event from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Islamic Society of Boston, 204 Prospect St., near Inman Square, Cambridge. Free. Talks, an exhibition, inspiring videos and activities for all ages. 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, Catan, Scrabble, chess, checkers, Boggle, Bananagrams and more, or bring a board game to play with others. Pizza and beverages provided. Information is here.
“Book Moot” discusses “The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche” at 6:30 p.m. at Pandemonium Books & Games, 4 Pleasant St., Central Square, Cambridge. $5 (ticket price redeemable for store credit during event). A young woman who harnesses the strange, ancient magic of gemstones to investigate a series of shocking crimes in plague-stricken Florence proves she is more physician than witch. 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.
Death Cafe from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. 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.” Led by Sarah Gladstone; light refreshments served. Information is here.
Eleni Paris, Emil Droga, Sophie Garrigus and Tyler Heaton perform at 7 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $10 to $15. A lineup of local (college student) musicians. Information is here.
Earfull performance series with writers and musicians at 7 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $25 to $30. This time, the series hosts writer Phuc Tran, a high school Latin teacher and author of the memoir “Sigh, Gone”; Boston-grown musician Carissa Johnson, who tours solo as well as with The Cure-Alls; bestselling author Michael Patrick MacDonald, whose memoir “All Souls: A Family Story from Southie” won the American Book Award, among other prizes; and former Gang Green and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones member Joe Gittleman, currently of The Kilograms and performing at this show with friends Amy Griffin and Richie Parsons. Information is here.
Romance book group from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free. A book discussion group for teens and adults. This month: “Three Holidays and a Wedding” by Uzma Jamaluddin and Marissa Stapley. Information is here.
Point01 Percent contemporary series from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15. During this special edition, a first set of chamber music in the modern and contemporary classical tradition precedes a set of improvised music. At 7:30 p.m.: the chamber music of Stratis Minakakis with Nina Dante (voice), Dalia Chin (flute), T.J. Borden (cello) and Jihye Chang (piano). At 8:30 p.m.: Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet), Pandelis Karayorgis (piano), Ken Filiano (bass) and Eric Rosenthal (drums). Information is here.
Arab Music Ensemble from 8 to 10 p.m. at Distler Performance Hall, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. A performance of selected instrumental and vocal music representing a wide range of genres within the Arab world. Music director: Naseem Alatrash. Information is here.
The 115th Annual Christmas Carol Service (continued) from 8 to 10 p.m. at Harvard Memorial Church, 1 Harvard Yard, Harvard Square. Free, with an offering for charity collected. Information is here.
Drag Tribute to “Cowboy Carter” at 8:30 p.m. at Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $35 and 18-plus. Full Spin salutes Beyonce’s eighth studio album “Act II,” from beginning to end, with 14 drag artists. Hosted by Just JP. Information is here.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Walking Tour of Harvard’s Psychedelic History from 5 to 7 p.m. meeting in front of the Center for the Study of World Religions, 42 Francis Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood near the Somerville border, Cambridge. Free, but register. Learn about the heroes, felons, fugitives and academics related to the interest in psychoactive drugs at Harvard from the 1940s through the 1960s during this 2-mile traipse through related sites. Led by Jeffrey Breau and Paul Gillis-Smith of the Psychedelics and Spirituality program at the Center. Information is here.
Solstice: “Reflections on Winter Light” experience (continued) from 5 to 9 p.m. during timed entries every half-hour at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge. $5 to $35. Information is here.
Catalyst Conversations: “Why We Need Magic” from 6 to 7 p.m. at MIT’s Bartos Theater, 20 Ames St., Building E-15, atrium level, Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. Magician Zoe Reiches and MIT anthropology professor Graham Jones explore why we’re fascinated with the field and investigate it and some of its permutations. Expect to be surprised! Information is here.
Cookbook book group: cookies from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave., Observatory Hill in Neighborhood 9. Free, but register. This month choose any recipe from “The Perfect Cookie” by America’s Test Kitchen. All baking levels are welcome at this swap; bring the results of what you’ve baked (or just your thoughts) to share with the other bakers. Information is here.
Valente branch book group from 6 to 7 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free. December’s title: “No One Left to Come Looking For You” by Sam Lipsyte. Information is here.
Make a winter felted landscape hoop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, but register. Learn how to “paint” a seasonal landscape with wool by attaching loose wool fibers with a special barbed needle. It’s easier than it looks, and relaxing … even fun! Information is here.
Katie Hallahan reads from “The Twice-Sold Soul” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pandemonium Books & Games, 4 Pleasant St., Central Square, Cambridge. $5 (ticket price redeemable for store credit during event). The designer of award-winning narrative adventure games with her company Phoenix Online Studios discusses her debut magical fantasy novel that should appeal to “Buffy” fans and those who miss “Supernatural.” Information is here.
Hub Comics “Book Clhub” at 7 p.m. at Hub Comics, 19 Bow St., Union Square, Somerville. Free, but bring a copy of the book with you. December’s title: “My New York Diary” by Julie Doucet. Information is here.
Comedian Alexis Gay presents “Unprofessional” at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25. New York City comedy-scene veteran Matt Gehring directed Gay’s comedy debut, acclaimed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, that “explores making work your entire personality, going nowhere on the hedonic treadmill and worrying so much about your LinkedIn profile that it lands you at the hair doctor.” Information is here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project presents “Emma” (continued) at 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. $25 to $64. Information is here.
Holiday Small Works Art Sale from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Cambridge Art Association’s Kathryn Schultz Gallery, 25 Lowell St., West Cambridge. Free. A showcase of more than 150 affordable artworks by local and regional artists, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, ceramics and more, with all works priced at $150 plus Massachusetts sales tax. Light refreshments and entertainment provided. Information is here.
Ugly Sweater Adult Night from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Lego Discovery Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville. $20, but 18-plus. Holiday-themed Lego building competitions, a Kingdom Quest challenge, an ugly sweater contest, Lego prizes and adult beverages. Information is here.
Seán Gavin and Colm Gannon at 7:30 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $25 to $35. The master uilleann piper and flute player, the first and only musician born outside Ireland to win the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal, teams up with accordion wizard Colm Gannon as part of the Brian O’Donovan Legacy Series. Information is here.
Son Little performs at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $25 to $30. The R&B singer-songwriter’s latest, “Like Neptune,” is about self-acceptance. Information is here.
Tony Trischka’s Holiday Show at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $28 to $30. A banjo-driven celebration of the season by perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world. Information is here.
Comedian Drew Dunn at 8 p.m. at The Comedy Studio in the basement at 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $25. Winner of the Boston Comedy Festival in 2017 and the Seattle International Comedy Competition in 2019, Dunn has performed around the country, most recently opening for Dane Cook. Information is here.
Jumbo Knish Factory: Tanz! Klezmer dance party from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Fisher Performance Room of Granoff Music Center, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. Free. The klezmer dance party and concert returns after four years of not being able to hold hands and dance in a circle. Michael McLaughlin directs. Information is here.
Thursday, Dec. 12
Illuminations Somerville any day, any time after dark in a range of neighborhoods found by using Somerville’s official online Illuminations Map (and continuing throughout the holiday season). Free. Launching today, this annual, self-directed tour memorably showcases the artistry and creativity of residents and businesses who transform their spaces and yards with lights and ornaments. Information is here.
Maud’s Handmade Holiday Market from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Maud Morgan Arts, second floor, 20A Sacramento St., in the Baldwin neighborhood near Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. An annual sale (coinciding with the Kids Only! Holiday Sale) of art and other handcrafted goods made by staff from the Maria L. Baldwin Community Center and Maud Morgan Arts in support of the artists. Information is here.
Nomads Art Collective Holiday Pop-Up Exhibition opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Gallery 263, 263 Pearl St., Cambridgeport. Free. This annual artists collaboration opportunity sponsored by the Korean Cultural Society of Boston features work by ceramists, crafters, sculptors, painters, photographers, jewelry makers and fiber artists. On view through Dec. 22. Information is here.
Wax Poetics: Ilya Kaminsky reads Kaminsky and Valentine from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Forum Room at Lamont Library, Room 335, 11 Quincy St., Harvard Square. Free. Kaminsky shares selections from his own work and several poems by Jean Valentine, whose first-ever recording was made by the Poetry Room in 1965, the same year she won the Yale Younger Poets Award for her book “Dream Barker.” A listening session and after-party with reception follows in the adjacent Poetry Room. Information is here.
“Bostonian Poetry Before Longfellow: Adventures in Literary Archaeology” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge. Free, but register. Boston College’s Paul Lewis and Christy Pottroff discuss literary discoveries, such as the 4,500 poems included in the 59 magazines published in Boston between 1789 and 1820, and what a nose ring, eight old coats, four silver spoons and a neighborhood park in Boston reveal about the lives of Phillis Wheatley Peters and her husband John Peters. Information is here.
Winter Sing-Along from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at New School of Music, 25 Lowell St., West Cambridge. Free and all ages. Pianist and NSM instructor Joe Reid leads a group sing of festive tunes to celebrate the upcoming season with cheer. Cider and snacks served. Information is here.
After Dark Series: Made in the ’90s from 6 to 9 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $10 to $20 and 21-plus. Before greeting the New Year, a night of nostalgia: catch a performance of ’90s video game music, try out retro board games and consoles and make and take home your own (fuzzy) copy of Dolly the sheep. Plus, Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman talks on ’90s space exploration, priming your brain for some out-of-this-world trivia. Dress up in your favorite styles of the eta and enjoy sets by DJ Philip Tan while buying beers by Lamplighter Brewing and Jamaican eats from Cocobelly Bites. Information is here.
Let’s Rock Cancer! at 6:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $25 to $250. The second annual rock music festival brings back Vapors of Morphine, The Chelsea Curve, Muck & the Mires, The Ray Liriano Experience and others along with GBH’s Henry Santoro as host. Proceeds benefit the Cancer Care Equity Program at Dana-Farber, which aims to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes among local communities. Information is here.
Actors’ Shakespeare Project presents “Emma” (continued) at 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. $25 to $64. Information is here.
Poets Timothy Donnelly, Jenny Grassl and Callie Siskel from 7 to 8 p.m. at Grolier Poetry Book Shop on 6 Plympton St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $5 to $10, but register. With an introduction by Anna V. Q. Ross. Information is here.
John Ruymann’s “Narrative Spaces” exhibition opening reception from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Gallery@SPL in the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Free. Digital landscapes inspired from fantasy, pop culture and science fiction media that prompt the questions “Where is this represented landscape? Who is this figure? What happens next?” The show runs through December. Information is here.
ArtsThursdays: Silkroad Ensemble presents Train Station Trio from 7 to 9 p.m. at Harvard’s John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, 3 Oxford St., just north of Harvard Square, Cambridge, and Harvard Yard. Free, but RSVP. Mike Block (cello), Edward Pérez (bass) and Balla Kouyaté (balafon) contextualize through music the stories of the African American, Chinese, Indigenous, Irish and other immigrant communities who built – and were affected most – by the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad. Also playing: Boston Latin Baroque ensemble Rumbarroco. Information is here.
Witch-Craft Cinema from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Side Quest Books & Games in Bow Market at 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. $15. Watch “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” BYO craft or buy a kit (available from Homebody DIY in Bow Market) and sip a themed cocktail from Nook. Popcorn and nonalcoholic beverages provided; outside food from market vendors is welcome. Information is here.
“Holiday Feast” at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Dec. 14). $29. A staged reading of holiday episodes from beloved Black sitcoms of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, including episodes from “Amen,” “The Jeffersons,” “A Different World” and “Family Matters.” Information is here.
“The Thanksgiving Play” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge. $45. (Masks are required for Thursday evening performances.) Information is here.
“Diary of a Tap Dancer” at 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Jan. 4). $60. Trailblazing tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel and director Torya Beard premiere a play inspired by Casel’s roots in the Bronx and Puerto Rico. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” (continued) at 8 p.m. at The Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $35 and 18-plus. Information is here.
Electroacoustic improvisational music at 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $12 to $18. Trumpeter Greg Kelley, drummer Sean Meehan, instrument maker and musician Vic Rawlings and (performing solo) Brooklyn, New York, composer and vocalist Zosha Warpeha perform music that experiments with the physical possibilities of the instruments. Information is here.
Pitch-a-Friend from 8 to 10 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Prepare a three-to-five minute slide presentation to pitch your amazing single pal to a room full of other singles and onlookers. “Like Shark Tank, but for love and friendship.” Information is here.
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