Thursday, Feb. 13
Thursday Morning Talks: I. Glenn Cohen on “Medical Artificial Intelligence: Legal & Ethical Issues” from 10:15 a.m. to noon at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., West Cambridge. $20 or $125 (suggested donations for individual talk or series subscription), and registration is required. The Harvard law professor asks “What does ethical use of medical AI look like?” and discusses topics such as privacy, informed consent, bias, liability and governance. The January and February lecture series is a fundraiser for Mount Auburn Hospital in its 88th year. Information is here.
The 50th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon at 4 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square (and through Feb. 17). $16 to $20 (per film) to $100 (for a marathon pass) to $200 (for an all-access pass). This multiday sci-fi feast, which organizers say is the longest-running genre film festival in the country, includes features, some premieres, programs of shorts, panels, director appearances, parties and more. The 24-hour marathon from Feb. 16-17 has films ranging from great, good, no-so-great to downright laughable. Information is here.
Steffen Mau on “Trigger Points: How Divided is Germany Really” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Adolphus Busch Hall, 27 Kirkland St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Despite the media painting the picture of a polarized Germany as the Feb. 23 election approaches, the Berlin-based co-author of 2024’s “Trigger Points: Consensus and Conflict in Contemporary Society” argues that there is much consensus on poverty (and wealth), migration, diversity (and gender) and climate protection, but certain “triggers” ignite intense debates that blur the common ground. Information is here.
Speed-dating with a book from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, but register. For those in a reading rut, create connections while exploring new authors, titles and genres. Light snacks and refreshments provided. Information is here.
Artist Talk: Monika Plioplyte’s exhibition “I for Nested Pattern” from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in S354 of the Center for Government and International Studies, South Concourse, 1730 Cambridge St., Harvard Square. Free. Plioplyte’s photo series on CGIS’ third floor draws parallels between traditional Lithuanian weaving patterns and the universal language encoded in the structural patterns of human DNA. After the talk, Lithuanian artist and professor Gediminas Urbonas joins for a Q&A and a reception. Information is here.
The Environment Forum: A Conversation with Elizabeth Kolbert at 6 p.m. in a location TBD in Cambridge. Free. The author of the 2015 Pulitzer-winning “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History” discusses her 2024 book “H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z,” which grew out of essays she wrote for The New Yorker. Moderated by Robin Kelsey of Harvard’s Committee on the Arts. Information is here.
Dungeons & Dragons from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mothership, 125 Cambridgepark Drive, in North Cambridge near Alewife. $25 and 18-plus. Fight The Exposition presents a monthly D&D night open to all levels of experience (includes a beginners’ table). Information is here.
After Dark Series: Disguise, Deceive, Debunk from 6 to 9 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $10 to $20 and 21-plus. A night of humor, media literacy and creative deception cohosted with MIT’s Knight Science Journalism Program: three comedians challenge your gullible gauge to spot the one true news story; MIT’s Rand Lab showcases interactive tools to help you spot fake news in real-time; and training in how to craft your own illusions the way Victorian photographers faked ghostly images;. Snacks from Lola’s Pinoy Pastry and drinks from Marzae Wine are available to buy. Information is here.
Pianist Artina McCain presents “Hidden Gems” at 7 p.m. at the Longy School of Music, 27 Garden St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free to $20. Lesser known repertoire including the works of composers Joseph Joubert, Maria Corley, Poulenc, Tania Leon and more. Information is here.
Drink + Doodle (+ Dates!) at 7 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free, but RSVP and 21-plus. Hosted every other month by local artists to help connect the Boston art community (with a Valentine’s theme this time). Information is here.
Cynthia Blakeley reads from “The Innermost House” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. The Emory University writing professor’s memoir is about growing up poor in a 19th-century saltbox house in Wellfleet surrounded by extended family with secrets and traumas. Journalist Kate Ellis joins. Information is here.
Julian E. Zelizer reads from “In Defense of Partisanship” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The CNN political analyst and Princeton history professor charts the evolution of U.S. political parties and argues that party-oriented reforms could create a more functional path on which two responsible political parties compete to shape policy and still govern. Boston University history professor and author Bruce Schulman joins. Information is here.
“Pepe” film screening with the director from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harvard Film Archive at The Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The 2024 film by Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias “playfully reimagines the life of the titular hippopotamus, brought from southern Africa to Colombia in the late 1970s by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar,” as a “shrewd allegory for the history of colonialism in the Global South.” This event is part of ArtsThursdays and of a film series on the director running through Feb. 14. Information is here.
High Horse from 7:15 to 9:45 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15. The progressive-acoustic Boston band blends bluegrass, old-time and Celtic music with the energy of alternative rock. Tonight, clarinetist Itay Dayan joins. Information is here.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill at 7:30 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through March 16). $70 and 14-plus. A contemporary take on Homer’s “Odyssey” that reimagines the stories of both Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, and asks how we can learn to embrace healing and forgiveness so cycles of violence and revenge can end. We wrote about it here. Information is here.
Cellist Seth Parker Woods at 7:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $34. With an anchor of three Sarabande movements from Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites, Woods presents a varied program of traditional and 20th and 21st century works, which also includes Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Lamentations, ‘Black Folk/song Suite’” and Fredrick Gifford’s “Difficult Grace” for speaking cellist and electronics. Sponsored by Boston Celebrity Series. Information is here.
“S P A C E” at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Feb. 23). $27 to $87. Playwright L. M. Feldman and director Larissa Lury draw on the experiences of women pilots and astronauts over the past 100 years – with The Mercury 13 female pilots at the center – to ask “What future are we headed toward?” This performance is followed by a conversation with the cast and creative team about bringing the play to Central Square Theater. Information is here.
Camping in Alaska performs at 8 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $26.50. The post-emo band is based Huntsville, AL. Also playing: Catalyst. Information is here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” at 8 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through March 9). $41. This year’s original musical is set in hell with pun-named characters navigating and scheming against the forces keeping them from getting what they want (often a reassignment to heaven), including its chief executive, Lucy Fur. Information is here.
Galentine’s Comedy Night at 8:30 p.m. at Remnant Brewing Satellite, 877 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. $10 to $15. Comedians Steph Dalwin, Kristina Feliciano, El Kennedy and Gina Christo with special guest Elizabeth Stone. Hosted by Shelby Lecuyer. Information is here.
Friday, Feb. 14
“European Cold War Neutrality in the Kremlin’s Perspective” lecture from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in S250 of the Center for Government and International Studies, South Concourse, 1730 Cambridge St., Harvard Square. Free. The University of Vienna’s Wolfgang Mueller explains how Russia’s ideas about European “neutrality” have changed since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Information is here.
The 50th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon (continued) at 4 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $16 to $20 (per film) to $100 (for a Feb. 16-17 marathon pass) to $200 (for an all-access festival pass). Information is here.
“Amor a la Mexicana” Valentine’s Day fest from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $10 to $35 and 21-plus. Meet new people over authentic food, drinks and live music from guest artists Martin Silva, Maura Mendoza, Son Jarocho en Boston and Zaira Meneses (plus dance classes, art market, karaoke, an open mic and more). Presented by the Latin American Music Festival. Information is here.
Sexfest from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Warehouse XI, 11 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville (and tomorrow at The Jungle). $20 to $30. Days like these definitely call for multiple nights of “music, drag and madness,” starting off with Battlemode, Cheap City, Regal Seagull and Feep, and with drag performers Smokinbutts, Severity Stone, Sherman, Coleslaw and Arabella Ladesse (with four other bands and six other drag artists Saturday). Information is here.
Judith Rosen reads from “Bookstore Romance: Love Speaks Volumes” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The New England correspondent for Publishers Weekly interviewed 24 couples who planned and celebrated their engagements and weddings in independent bookstores (and the booksellers who slipped rings into books and made special displays of handmade volumes to help them). Store co-owner Jeff Mayersohn joins. (A portion of the book’s proceeds goes to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation). Information is here.
Hot Comedy Couples and Rockin’ Music at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $10 to $25 and 21-plus. Deby Xiadani hosts a couple of comedy couples doing double duty at other gigs tonight, including Brieana Woodward with Al Christakis and Cam Ohh with Zach Stewart. Music by Tyler & The Names and The Kayde Hazel Explosion. Information is here.
The Poetry Brothel Boston presents “The Lovers” at 7 p.m. at Sonia, 10 Brookline St., Central Square, Cambridge. $40 and 21-plus. An immersive literary cabaret with poetry, burlesque, live music, pole, drag, mysticism and more. Information is here.
Valentine’s Day Adult Night at 7 p.m. at the Lego Discovery Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville. $20, but 18-plus. Bring a date or your bestie and play with Legos with other adults – complete with adult beverages and building competitions. Information is here.
Detention stand-up comedy with Ryan Howe at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. at Goofs Comedy Club, 432 McGrath Highway, Prospect Hill, Somerville (and Saturday). $20 to $25, and 21-plus. The Goofs founder headlines while his fiancée Isabel Stone hosts, followed by sets with other funny couples who arrive with or without hostess gifts. Information is here.
Session Americana at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and also Saturday). $28 to $30. Four shows to see the band that had their first jam at the back of Toad in Cambridge, then progressed to a residency, launched a touring collective and made nine albums – inspiring many other musicians along the way. Information is here.
The Westerlies at 7:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. Information is here. $34. The New York brass quartet of trumpeters Ray Larsen (replacing Riley Mulherkar for this event) and Chloe Rowlands and trombonists Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon bring the “precision of a string quartet, the audacity of a rock band and the charm of a family sing-along” to this Boston Celebrity Series event. Information is here.
American Classics presents “Moonlight, Music and Romance: Musical Lunar Delights” at 7:30 p.m. at Margaret Jewett Hall in First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square. $25 to $30. The second of three concerts highlighting the terrestrial icons of the sun, moon and stars includes familiar songs such as “Blue Moon” and “Moon River” and others by Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen and more performed by eight vocalists and pianist Catherine Stornetta. Information is here.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $90 and 14-plus. Information is here.
“S P A C E” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $87. Information is here.
“Line Dance Lovers” country dancing from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Upstairs at Bow, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. $5 to $10. Barn and partner dances to make it real easy to get to know each other. A portion of proceeds goes to Mahmoud’s Kitchen. KN95 masks provided. Information is here.
Boston Early Music Festival: Agave string ensemble and countertenor Reginald Mobley perform “Rum and Rebellion” at 8 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square. $25 to $95. The San Francisco ensemble makes its festival debut with the music of Ignatius Sancho, José Mauricio Nuñes Garcia and others in collaboration with the Grammy-nominated vocalist. Information is here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” (continued) at 8 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $51. Information is here.
“I ♥ Swing” with Swing City Argentina performing for Boston Swing Central at 8 p.m. at Epic Ballroom, 26 New St., near Fresh Pond in Neighborhood 9, Cambridge. $18 to $25. This annual dance features custom-designed valentines delivered by dancing cupids and, this time, the full band from the biggest swing dance school and jazz club in Latin America, led by Mariel Gastiarena singing and tap dancing. Dress in some red and pink, but bring a clean pair of shoes to dance in when it’s wet outside. Information is here.
Valentine’s Bingo: Two Ways to Play at 8 p.m. at Remnant Brewing, 2 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville and at 9 p.m. at Remnant Brewing Satellite, 877 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free to $10. It’s “solos and socialites” at the brewery in Bow Market, “friends and lovers” for $10 at Satellite and Valentine’s-themed bingo for all. Information is here.
Boston Conservatory Orchestra presents “Romance pour deux” at 8 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. $12 to $17 (free with a Berklee ID). The orchestra celebrates three famous couples from different locations and historical styles, kicking off with a fandango (the centuries-old, romantic couple’s dance). Information is here.
Men in Comedy presents “Pulp: A Valentine’s Day Show” from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Connexion, 149 Broadway, Somerville, Cambridge. $10 and all ages. A lineup of femme comics followed by an open mic. Sponsor All She Wrote Books brings dreamy romance novels to peruse and purchase, if desired. Information is here.
The Late Night Show: Comedy Couples Edition at 9:30 p.m. at The Comedy Studio in the basement at 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $15 to $20. Brieana Woodward hosts a lineup of all “comedy couples” including Al Christakis, Elyssa Penson, John Mahon, Logan O’Brien, Spadaro, Cam Ohh, Donny Bloatus and Melania Firsthatlady (all right, not those last two). Information is here.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Foundry Festival from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (and continuing through Feb. 22). Free, with some activities just for kids, some just for adults and many for all ages. This third annual fest, with the theme “Resilience,” includes a vendor market and makerspace tours as well as studio spaces, labs, workshops and conference rooms abuzz with events scheduled for specific times during one or more days, including crafts activities involving upcycled earrings made from recycled materials; collages about radical acts of love using LGBTQ+ protest imagery, natural clay paint made from scratch, Japanese origami lotus flowers, printmaking, beaded jewelry-making as therapy, seed bomb making and loom weaving; fun with textiles such as hand-sewing for practical clothing repairs, fabric scrap upcycling into household items, quilting squares that tell a story, screen printing of peace and punk patches, repurposing garments into unique creations, visible creative clothing repair and making welcome blankets, aprons, pillows and eco-friendly wipes; kid-specific activities for ages zero to 3 (a classical music concert for babies and a story time), for grade-school age (improv classes, building a new kind of vending machine, learning about Chinese civilization’s 24 Solar Terms while crafting a spring ox from yarn, playing steel pan music, cooking vegan Caribbean food, 3D printing a personalized stamp, working through a maze and taking a snail walk to discover tiny wonders), for middle schoolers (a weeklong Steam-focused cooking program with meals provided, making clean-energy – wind and sun – models, designing a monument celebrating local heroes, playing chess and brainstorming a redesign of Cambridge) and for teens (expressive crafting, stand-up “traumedy” workshop and mask-making); movement classes that include Kathak Indian dance, yoga to live music, Argentine tango, physical circus comedy, Zumba, Tai Chi Chuan martial arts, queer country-western dancing, contemporary dance, authentic dance, poetry-inspired movement, Cuban-style dance and dance to drumming; and hands-on cooking of “perfect” empanadas, vegan Caribbean food, baked comfort cups and dishes using five ingredients. You can learn about anticarceral mental health crisis response, balancing a small-business budget, the human-and-plant connection, protecting yourself from AI-enabled fraud, using empathy to design empowered communities, decolonizing history curricula in schools, the intersection of disability and LGBTQ+ communities and science-based sensory tools. Or you can roll up your sleeves and play poetry-writing games, make fidget toys that explore sensations, free jam about community care, participate in a ritual honoring grief, add to a mural about composting, create original music through playful vocal improv, explore problem solving through Steam challenges, write street-name poetry and join in immersive (and climate) storytelling. Feel free to sit back and watch a screening of the “The Ride Ahead” about advocacy for the disabled, performances of play excerpts focused on resilience, an original play about high schoolers learning how anyone can be an inventor, the Me2 Flute Choir for mental health, a spoken-word night for diary entries and a play about an Irish honeybee. Enjoy socializing during a friendship market, with Foundry partners whose work centers resilience and while creating an art piece symbolizing collective strength. Or delve into self-reflection with a somatic mapping experience, a meditative goal visualization session; a sensory-based workshop on creative embodiment, a quiet twilight tea party and a yoga practice to support selfhood. Information is here.
The 50th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon (continued) at noon at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $16 to $20 (per film) to $100 (for a Feb. 16-17 marathon pass) to $200 (for an all-access festival pass). Information is here.
Soup Fest from noon to 4 p.m. at Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. $38 to $64. A soup showcase with nine vendors’ creations served in 4-ounce bowls to enjoy while moseying through the market; the higher priced ticket gets you additional hot adult beverages. Information is here.
“Sonic Jubilance” public open house at MIT’s new music building from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building W18, also known as the Linde Music Building, 201 Amherst St., Cambridge. Free. Get a look-see and a listen at the new Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building that’s open to the public today for workshops (gamelan and Senegalese drumming) and performances from MIT music groups (chamber music, jazz and laptop ensemble). We wrote about it here. Information is here.
“S P A C E” (continued) at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $87. Information here.
Afro-Brazilian Percussion Workshop at 4 p.m. at the Masacote School at Cambridge Athletic Club, 215 First St., East Cambridge. $30. As part of the Latin dance school’s Afro-oriented series, Capoeira master and drummer Mestre Chuvisquinho gives a class on the rituals, practices and sounds of the drums and how to engage with them as cultural context for dance. Information is here.
Session Americana (continued) at 5 and 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $28 and $30. Information is here.
Arias Aloft: Love Languages at 6 and 8:45 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $174 for two tickets, table seating and charcuterie. Operatic artist Donatella Fermata hosts a show with intimate, cabaret-style table seating where opera and musical theater favorites are performed live while circus artists soar high above the stage. Information is here.
University of Toronto’s Hart House Orchestra Valentine’s Concert from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square. $10 to $60. As a fundraiser for Boston’s Eastie Farm, the 80-member orchestra performs Mozart’s Overture to the opera “Figaro” K. 492; Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto Op. 129 in A minor with cellist Yuna Lee; and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 Op.98 in E minor. Information is here.
Sexfest (continued) from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at The Jungle, 6 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville. $20 to $30. Information is here.
Cheap Chocolate Day Live Music Show at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25 and 21-plus. Indulge in the best deals on chocolate while listening to three bands play: Pink Slip, Good June and Little Low. Information is here.
Book launch celebration for “Hail Murray! The Bay Area Punk Photography of Murray Bowles, 1982–1995” at 7 p.m. at Rodney’s Bookstore, 23 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Editor Anna Brown and contributor Aaron Cometbus present a slideshow and talk, with copies of the book available for purchase. Information is here.
Draft League Comedy Show from 7 to 8 p.m. at Somerville Music Spaces, 1060 Broadway, Suite C101B, Somerville. $12. Boston improv comedians perform together on a team they’ve never been on before; three captains draft five improvisers (before the show) to be on their team for the night, and each team has a 20-minute set the night of the show. Information is here.
Detention stand-up comedy with Ryan Howe (continued) at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. at Goofs Comedy Club, 432 McGrath Highway, Prospect Hill, Somerville. $20 to $25, and 21-plus. Information is here.
“The Love Box” Valentine’s Day Concert from 7 to 10 p.m. at Upstairs at Bow, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. $40. Four Latin American musicians and two special guest vocalists present a night of music and dancing in tribute to the iconic romantic songs by Venezuelan composers Jorge Luis Chacín, Frank Quintero, Aldemaro Romero, Simón Díaz, Ibrahim Bracho and Ilan Chester, among others. Information is here.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $95 and 14-plus. Information is here.
Valentine’s Comedy Show (and Dinner) from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. $30 (or $90 with prix fixe dinner) and 18-plus. Jim McCue brings his sharp wit and crowd work as headliner to an evening also featuring Boston Comedy Festival finalist Kathe Farris, Andrea Henry, who appeared on Nick at Nite’s “The Search for the Funniest Mom in America,” and rising star Liam Hales. Information is here.
The Popp Boutique Comedy Show from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Popp Boutique, 301 Massachusetts Ave., The Port, Cambridge. $15. Laugh among “beautiful artwork, handcrafted scented goods, crystals, body oils and more” at this Black-owned business that once a month becomes a comedy venue. Tonight’s local lineup: Carolina Montesquieu, Raoul Biron, Arianna Magee, Adam Melvin, Tricia Thomson, Aj Cappuccio and Emily Patenaude. Hosted by Chef Phil. Information is here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” (continued) at 8 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $51. Information is here.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs at 8 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. $28 to $58. The multi-Grammy-winning group performs their powerful South African a cappella singing featuring proud melodies harmonized in layers of call and response. Information is here.
Nova Comedy Collective presents “Nebula Night” from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville (and monthly). $10. A blend of sketch and improv with comedic and musical performers of all kinds. Includes a chance for audience members to join in on the fun with a jam. Information is here.
“Crown: A Celebration of Black Hair” from 8 to 10 p.m. at Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. Free to $40. A joy-filled focus on culture, creativity and community with Black models showcasing styles by Mannette Dione, plus live hairstyling demonstrations, live painting and dancing to beats by DJ Kenworth. Vendors offer unique jewelry and hair care products. Information is here.
Lovestrukk Indoors Winter Series Part I from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the American Legion Marsh Post 442, 5 Greenough Blvd., West Cambridge. $17.50 to $28.55 and 21-plus. Underground electronic music event with sets from KC Stoner, Joey Finnz and Hint of Reason. No backpacks or large bags. Information is here.
Flora presents “Rose Bloom” from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at The Lower Level at the Massasoit Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Drive, Central Square, Cambridge. $15 to $20 and 21-plus. Live local DJs Freyja, DJ Upstairs, Villa and Weso spin house, tech house and minimal house amid groovy Valentine’s themed lighting and decorations and a lounge area with local vendors. Information is here.
Sunday, Feb. 16
Lindy Hopcats practice from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cambridge Community Center for the Arts, 41 Second St. (enter from the side-street patio), East Cambridge. $5 (cash or Venmo). Semistructured practice sessions for motivated dancers at all levels. No partner required. Information is here.
Foundry Festival (continued) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, with some activities just for kids, some just for adults and many for all ages. Information is here.
Selena drag brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Summer Shack, 149 Alewife Brook Parkway, Alewife, Cambridge. $20. A “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” heartfelt tribute to the late singer Selena. Information is here.
The 50th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon (continued) at 1 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $16 to $20 (per film) to $100 (for a Feb. 16-17 marathon pass) to $200 (for an all-access festival pass). Information is here.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill (continued) at 1:30 and 7 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $80 to $155 and 14-plus. Information is here.
“S P A C E” (continued) at 2 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $87. Information here.
“Mazatec Art and Psychedelic Heritage in Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, Mexico” from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, 11 Divinity Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Elias Garcia Mendez, director of the Casa Adobe Gallery, discusses local youth mural creation and Indigenous art, including connections with, nature, spirituality and psychedelic experiences. Information is here.
“Grace: The History of Black Churches in Cambridge” exhibition opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Kendall Public Lobby, 355 Main St., Cambridge. Free. Many community curators assembled this monthlong exhibit about Cambridge’s Black churches illuminating the rich history and contributions of some of these institutions with a focus on their legacy. Information is here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” (continued) at 3 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $51. Information is here.
Beethoven, Brahms and Schoenberg from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., near Harvard Square. $4 to $68. Eight musicians from the Boston Chamber Music Society perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Clarinet Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11 (1798); Johannes Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101 (1886); and Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 (1899). Information is here.
Koji Kompote performs at 3:30 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Formed less than a year ago out of love for classic console games with high-octane soundtracks, this rotating collective of Boston-area musicians plays tunes from popular, just-under-the-radar and deep-cut games in a variety of styles. Information is here.
“Nuh-Mi-Bee-Uhn: Germany’s Forgotten Genocide” film screening from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at Lehrhaus, 425 Washington St., Somerville. $10. Filmmaker Kavena Hambira, a descendant of Herero survivors, and Jewish sociologist Miriam Gleckman-Krut present Hambira’s film about the history of Germany’s genocides in Southwest Africa and Europe and its ongoing effects. Information is here.
Heart-shaped cake decorating workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. $50. Baker and artist Violeta Smart guides you through piping techniques, composition and other tips and tricks to make your very own edible masterpiece to take home. Supplies included. Information is here.
Adult Night at Science Park from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, on the Cambridge border. $20 (free for members) and 18-plus. Adults-only night in the museum to revisit fond memories, see what’s changed and connect with other science enthusiasts and the museum’s educators. Free Planetarium and 4-D Theater add-on tickets available to reserve. Information is here.
Clay N. Ferno’s Variety Hour at 7 p.m. at the cafe at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $15 to $20 and 16-plus (ID required to drink). The host makes his stand-up debut at this event featuring comedy, music, spoken word and burlesque featuring Devastasia, Jeannie Martini, Duncan Wilder Johnson, Steph Dalwin, DJ Panda and others. Information is here.
Mark Stepakoff album release with The Lied To’s at 7 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $23 to $25. The Boston folk musician celebrates his seventh album on the night of his 65th birthday, joined by Susan Levine and Doug Kwartler of The Lied To’s, who have a monthly residency at Newburyport Brewing. Information is here.
Toni Nagy at 7 p.m. at The Comedy Studio in the basement at 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $15 to $20. When Nagy isn’t writing or performing comedy that’s “quasi–radical, pseudo-philosophical, somewhat-existential and mostly funny,” she’s teaching fusion belly dancing, hip-hop and modern dance at her Brattleboro, Vermont, studio. Information is here,
Kelsy Karter & The Heroines at 7 p.m. at The Middle East Upstairs, 472 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $18 and all ages. The four-piece Aussie/British rock band’s new album is “Love Made Me Do It.” Playing first is surfer rocker Pearl. Information is here.
Bida contra dance from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 1950 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. $5 to $25. The thrice-monthly dances of the Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates start with a lesson in the first 30 minutes, switch up callers from dance to dance and alternate mask policies. Tonight: Masks required. Information is here.
54 I Feel Love from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at ManRay, 40 Prospect St., Central Square, Cambridge. $12 to $15. All disco, all night, with DJ Brian Halligan. Creative ’70s Studio 54 attire is extremely encouraged. Information is here.
Monday, Feb. 17
Foundry Festival (continued) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, with some activities just for kids, some just for adults and many for all ages. Information is here.
MIT Museum February School Vacation Week from 11 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Feb. 23). Most activities are free with museum admission. Activities for the week include extended Maker Hub and Learning Lab hours, tours, gallery cart demos and family workshops ($15 to $20). Information is here.
Violinist Mary Grace Johnson at 4:30 p.m. in Killian Hall in the Hayden Library Building at 160 Memorial Drive at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Free. A masterclass with the newly appointed concertmaster of the West Virginia Symphony, who’s been a prize winner and finalist at competitions in the United States and abroad. Information is here.
“Heschel and Du Bois: Prayers, Justice and Quests” lecture from 5:30 to 6:45 at Lehrhaus, 425 Washington St., Somerville. $10. Harvard Divinity School’s Becca Leviss describes how the civil rights activists and intellectuals W.E.B. Du Bois and rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, though almost half a century apart, wrote similarly about the importance of prayer as a method for identifying and grappling with uncertainty and complexities. Information is here.
“Exploring the Odyssey” screenings of films at 6 and 8 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $13 to $15. In conjunction with the new production of “the Odyssey” at the Loeb Drama Center, screenings of 2023’s “The Boy and the Heron” and 2024’s “The Return,” both of which explore Homer’s epic, with each film introduced by an American Repertory Theater staff member. Information is here.
Speed-dating from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. $18.50 and 21-plus. Meet a special someone at this facilitated event using psychology-backed question prompts run by Somerville-founded Skip the Small Talk. 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. Information is here.
Zine Workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. $15 and all ages. Zine Space teaches how to construct and fill a one-page foldable zine. No artistic background required, and materials such as colored paper, drawing utensils and magazines for collaging are provided. Information is here.
Tom Acitelli reads from “The Golden Age of Beer: A 52-Week Guide to the Perfect Beer for Every Week of the Year” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The local beer expert and author of “The Audacity of Hops” distills what you need to know to select and enjoy a wide range of beers to get your out of your comfort zone. All About Beer magazine’s Andy Crouch joins. Information is here.
Sci-fi/Fantasy Book Club at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. This month’s selection: “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke. 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 Afro-Brazilian art form that combines dance, music and martial arts. Information is here.
Figure-drawing basics from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. $40. Illustrator, cartoonist and figure drawing instructor Chris O’Neill shares his approach to nailing proportions, making faster drawings, getting loose and having more fun at figure drawing. Information is here.
Bachata Mondays from 8:15 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Havana Club, 288 Green St., Central Square, Cambridge. $10 to $15 and 18-plus. The club has a strictly no-alcohol policy on Mondays (also on Tuesdays and Sundays) with lively dancing to mostly bachata (90 percent) and some salsa (10 percent) and bachata lessons in the first hour. Information is here.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
MIT Museum February School Vacation Week (continued) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Most activities are free with museum admission (family workshops are $15 to $20). Information is here.
Foundry Festival (continued) from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, with some activities just for kids, some just for adults and many for all ages. Information is here.
Alice Rothchild reads from “Inspired and Outraged: The Making of a Feminist Physician” from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Cheney Room Building 3 Room 308. Free. The retired obstetrician-gynecologist discusses her autobiography – written entirely in free verse – of how she journeyed from a 1950s good girl to forging her own irreverent direction in the contradictory, sexist world of medicine. Judy Norsigian, co-founder and past executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves, and retired MIT history lecturer Steven E. Ostrow join. Information is here.
Love is Love Coffee Klatch from 5 to 7 p.m. at the cafe at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free. Stop by for coffee, pastries and some adult beverages, if you’d like. A playlist, conversation and games are available, with no set agenda for the evening. Information is here.
Valente branch movie night from 5:30 to 7:40 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free (registration is helpful). A screening of 2016’s “Hidden Figures,” based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly that chronicles the lives of Black female mathematicians at NASA and their contributions to achievements in space. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst and Kevin Costner. Popcorn and candy provided. Information is here.
Ethiopian dance performance and demonstration from 6 to 6:45 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library O’Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave., North Cambridge. Free. Youth from Cambridge’s own Enku Dankira Ethiopian Dance group perform and instruct audience members in cultural dance. Information is here.
Music bingo from 6 to 8 p.m. at CanalSide Food + Drink at CambridgeSide, 100 CambridgeSide Place, East Cambridge. Free, but RSVP. Test your knowledge of diverse types of music during this game where you’ll mark off songs on your bingo cards as songs from various decades and genres are played; get five in a row and yell bingo to claim victory (or just have fun singing along). Information is here.
Outdoor pub sing from 6 to 8 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.
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. February’s title: “Sing, Unburied, Sing” by Jesmyn Ward. 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.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill (continued) at 7 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $115 to $150 and 14-plus. Information is here.
Rich Benjamin reads from “Talk to Me: Lessons from a Family Forged by History” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The cultural anthropologist and author of “Searching for Whitopia” discusses his memoir – an account of the coup that ended his grandfather’s presidency of Haiti – and the secrecy enshrouding his mother. Information is here.
Lena Jonsson Trio at 7 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $25 to $30 and all ages. Somerville’s the last stop on the trio’s U.S. tour performing a unique mix of Swedish folk, jazz, American old-time and electro acoustic sounds in 11 Midwest and East Coast cities. Next up, back to Scandinavia. Information is here.
Nicholas Ryder Trio from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $10 to $15. Swing music with saxophonist Ryder, bassist Leo Weisskoff and drummer Caleb Montague, with some original hard bop-inspired tunes composed by Ryder himself. Information is here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” (continued) at 8 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $41. 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, Feb. 19
Foundry Festival (continued) from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, with some activities just for kids, some just for adults and many for all ages. Information is here.
MIT Museum February School Vacation Week (continued) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Most activities are free with museum admission (family workshops are $15 to $20). Information is here.
“Secrets of Phillis Wheatley” theatrical monologue and poetry reading from noon to 2 p.m. in the Sullivan Chamber on the second floor of Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square. Free. In this multimedia presentation, Lilly Darr portrays Phillis Wheatley, a female slave considered to be the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Her “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral” published in London on Sept. 1, 1773, brought her fame in England and the American colonies, with George Washington praising her work. Light refreshments served. Information is here.
Ice bumper cars from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. at Harvard’s Science Center Plaza between Harvard Yard at Kirkland and Oxford streets, near Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing Wednesdays through Saturdays until March 13, weather permitting). $10. Jump-start the hump day by bumping in cars? (I got nothin’.) Information is here.
Winter wildlife and animal tracking wander (for kids and families) from 1 to 2:30 p.m., meeting at the ranger station (under the clock tower) at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, in West Cambridge at Fresh Pond. Free. February is the month of hardship for most of the wild world, so join ranger Tim Puopolo on this guided walk at Fresh Pond Reservation to see nature and its adaptations to make it through to March when spring has sprung. Dress for the weather. Information is here.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill (continued) at 1:30 and 7 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $80 to $150 and 14-plus. Information is here.
Try an E-Bike from 4 to 6 p.m. in the CambridgeSide Parking Garage, Level G1, 100 CambridgeSide Place, East Cambridge (also March 1). Free. Try brands and models of e-bikes, including e-cargo bikes, at this event co-hosted with bike shops participating in the Cambridge Bike Lottery program and Community Pedal Power. Information is here.
Double bassist Charles Paul at 5 p.m. in Killian Hall in the Hayden Library Building at 160 Memorial Drive at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Free. A masterclass with the soloist, chamber musician and collaborator performing with The Cleveland Orchestra. Information is here.
“Worshiping the Ancestors in Egypt’s Tell Edfu” lecture from 6 to 7 p.m. at Geological Lecture Hall, Harvard Geological Museum, 24 Oxford St., in the Baldwin neighborhood near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free, and registration preferred. Yale University’s Nadine Moeller describes recent discoveries at an ancient city in southern Egypt: a large villa from around 1550 BCE containing a rare and well-preserved example of a domestic shrine dedicated to family ancestors. Information is here.
Collins (Boudreau) Branch Book Group from 6 to 7 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave., Observatory Hill in Neighborhood 9. Free. While Collins is closed for construction, the book group meets virtually and in person at the Boudreau Branch. This month’s title is “The Lioness of Boston” by Emily Franklin. Information is here.
“An Ongoing Threat: Israel’s War on Lebanon, Past and Present” panel discussion from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in S030 of the Center for Government and International Studies, South Concourse, 1730 Cambridge St., Harvard Square. Free. Panelists are from Bard College, University College London and the University of Chicago. Information is here.
Central Square Book Group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free. This month’s title is “Kindred” by Octavia Butler. Copies are available for pickup at the branch. Information is here.
Wednesday Night Creative Writing Group from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the community room at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, but register. Writers of all experience levels are invited to join a casual, peer-supported writing group. Bring short in-progress or completed pieces of any genre. Information is here.
Introduction to marker techniques from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. $45. Illustrator Stephanie Vecellio shows how to use water-based brush markers for layering, blending and creating rich, fun colors, with the focus more on play and technique than bringing home a finished piece. No drawing experience necessary; materials provided. Information is here.
New York Cat Film Festival at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Kendall Square Cinema, 355 Binney St., Cambridge. $18.25. A selection of short films about cats, including documentaries, animated and fiction films, with a portion of ticket sales going to Broken Tail Rescue to support medical care for the cats and dogs they rescue. Information is here.
Eli Zuzovsky reads from “Mazeltov” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The screenwriter, playwright and winner of the 2025 Einstein Fellowship and Rhodes Scholar from Harvard and Oxford University discusses his debut novel about a boy confronting queer lust, shame and the threat of war, which may or may not be an extended take on his 2021 short film of the same name. “This Strange Eventful History” author and Harvard lecturer on fiction Claire Messud joins. Information is here.
Fantasy and science fiction book club from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library West Branch, 40 College Ave., near Davis Square (and the third Wednesday of each month). Free, but register. This month’s title is “Neuromancer” by William Gibson. Information is here.
“A Beautiful Resistance” with Jeneé Osterheldt 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. A program “to carry on the tradition of Black artists” with music (DJ Mez.Wav), short films and long-form storytelling and a Q&A. Love Your Magic’s Ivanna Solano and Massachusetts state senator Liz Miranda join. Information is here.
“S P A C E” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $95. Information here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” (continued) at 8 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $41. Information is here.
The Sean Temme Group with Ali & Friends and Peyton Griffin Trio at 8 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $15 to $20 and all ages. The contemporary jazz ensemble led by 22-year-old trumpeter and composer Sean Temme performs an eclectic mix of original compositions and free improvisation. Other Berklee College of Music friends support: vocalist Ali Golodner and her band and pianist Peyton Griffin and his trio. Information is here.
Thursday, Feb. 20
Foundry Festival (continued) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, with some activities just for kids, some just for adults and many for all ages. Information is here.
MIT Museum February School Vacation Week (continued) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The MIT Museum, 314 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Most activities are free with museum admission (family workshops are $15 to $20). Information is here.
Thursday Morning Talks: Susan Suleiman on “Existential Choices: The Cinema of István Szabó” from 10:15 a.m. to noon at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle St., West Cambridge. $20 or $125 (suggested donations for individual talk or series subscription), and registration is required. The professor emerita of Harvard discusses her 2024 book “István Szabó: Filmmaker of Existential Choices” about the Hungarian director of films including 1981’s “Mephisto” and 2020’s “Final Report.” The January and February lecture series is a fundraiser for Mount Auburn Hospital in its 88th year. Information is here.
Olena Nikolayenko reads from “Invisible Revolutionaries: Women’s Participation in Ukraine’s Euromaidan” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in S354 of the Center for Government and International Studies, South Concourse, 1730 Cambridge St., Harvard Square. Free. The Fordham University professor explains the motivations and manifestations of women’s participation in revolution, shedding light on the sources of Ukraine’s fierce resistance to Russia’s invasion. Harvard’s Emily Channell-Justice joins. Information is here.
“Justice in and for Palestine: An Academic Perspective” lecture at 5:30 p.m. in the Kirsch Auditorium, room 123, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 32, also known as the Ray and Maria Stata Center, at 32 Vassar St., Cambridge. Free. Israeli historian Ilan Pappé from the University of Exeter shares his views. Information is here.
Cambridge Cooks: roasting coffee with Yego from 6 to 7 p.m. in the community room at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, but register. A demonstration of small-batch coffee roasting from Fatuma and her husband Francois Tuyishime of the family-owned Yego Coffee, on the border of Teele Square and West Somerville. Information is here.
Open Rehearsal Demonstration with Kinetic Ensemble from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building W18, also known as the Music Building, 201 Amherst St., Cambridge. Free, but RSVP. As part of the MIT Artfinity Arts Festival, the 16-member conductorless string ensemble highlights its unique approach to music-making during this behind-the-scenes interactive rehearsal demonstration ahead of the evening’s concert. Information is here.
“Sitting Still” documentary screening with landscape architect Laurie Olin and the director from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Gund Hall, 42 Quincy St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The film about Olin and his dedication to designing public spaces fostering democracy and equality exposes flawed economic models and misguided policies while revealing the power of landscape to address environmental crises and social divides. Afterward, Olin and director Gina Angelone take the stage to chat followed by a Q&A and reception. Information is here.
“Pedro Gómez-Egaña: The Great Learning” art installation opening reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at MIT’s List Visual Arts Center, 20 Ames St., Building E15, Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. The artist uses sculpture, performance, video and drawing to create dynamic constellations of objects and events in time. Light refreshments from Momma’s Grocery + Wine are provided. A brief presentation by the artist at 5:30 p.m. followed by a public dialogue between Gómez-Egaña and curator Natalie Bell introduces the work. Information is here.
“The Odyssey” adapted by playwright Kate Hamill (continued) at 7 p.m. at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $85 to $150 and 14-plus. Information is here.
Geraldine Brooks reads from “Memorial Days” at 7 p.m. at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School’s Fitzgerald Auditorium, 459 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. $10 or $37.50 with book. The author of the Pulitzer-winning “March” and 10 other fiction and nonfiction books discusses her memoir about the sudden death of her husband at age 60, about timeless love, grieving and peace. Pulitzer-winning journalist, author and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Suskind joins. Information is here.
Poets Michael McCarthy, Pedro Poitevin and Alan Smith Soto 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 Tom Daley. Information is here.
“Homecoming: Celebrating Black Voices” with Omo Moses from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lewis Room at the Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free. The son of civil rights activist Bob Moses discusses his experience living in Cambridge and the process of writing “The White Peril,” his book described as “a coming-of-age story, a multigenerational family memoir, an epic father-son road trip, a searing account of the Black male experience and a work that powerfully revives Rev. Moses’s demand for liberation.” Afterward, attendees are invited to share their experiences living in Cambridge and how they commemorate them and their own family’s legacy. Food from Coast Cafe. Information is here.
Art Battle Boston from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lamplighter CX, 110 North First St., North Point, Cambridge. $15 to $25 and 21-plus. During this live competition, 12 painters create the best work they can across three 20-minute rounds while audience members walk around them and vote on their favorites. Afterword, the artists receive 50 percent of the proceeds from their works sold during the event’s silent auction. Information is here.
“S P A C E” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, Cambridge, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $27 to $95. Information here.
Popcorn Comedy with Tyler Hittner from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. $20. A comedian known for his high-energy delivery, charisma and crowd work – and who won Maine’s “Wicked Funny Laugh Off” in 2023 – headlines a night of freshly popped stand-up in the historic theater’s intimate microcinema. Information is here.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents “101 Damnations” (continued) at 8 p.m. at Harvard University’s Farkas Hall, 12 Holyoke St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $41. 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, the keyboardist and composer presents improvised music with guitarist Eric Hofbauer, violinist Gabriel Solomon, bassist Jacob William and drummer Brooke Sofferman. Information is here.
Kate Willet at 8 p.m. at The Comedy Studio in the basement at 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $25. The comedian, actress and writer has appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and Netflix’s “Comedy Lineup.” She’s the author of the Audible Original “Dirtbag Anthropology.” Information is here.
A stronger
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