A week of events in Cambridge and Somerville, from Strip Zeppelin to Somerstreets Carnaval

Thursday, May 29

Farmer Visits: Green City Growers from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at the Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. A farmer stops by to tend to raised vegetable beds, inviting all to learn more about the beds and growing processes and help with the harvest.

Kendall Square Farmers Market opening day from noon to 6 p.m. at 1 Broad Canal Way, Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Shop from local farmers and food purveyors who focus on Massachusetts agricultural products as well as value-added products that promote local agriculture.

Asian American and Pacific Islander small-business networking from 3 to 5 p.m. at Pagu, 310 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. Local AAPI entrepreneurs connect and enjoy food at the Spanish Japanese tapas restaurant. The Cambridge Community Development Department and the Boston Foundation’s Asian Business Empowerment Council sponsor the event.

Harvard Art Museums at Night from 5 to 9 p.m. at Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge (and the last Thursday of every month). Free. During this recurring event, wander exhibits, make art, catch spotlight tours, browse the shop, enjoy sounds from DJ C-Zone and buy refreshments from Jack’s Abby. The American Repertory Theater and The B-Side offer a rom-com-themed scavenger hunt to celebrate the production of “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” at the nearby A.R.T. Participants compete for prizes, including two free tickets to tonight’s performance.

Eleven-Year Anniversary bottle tasting with the Aeronaut Brewers from 7 to 9 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square in Ward 2, Somerville. $45. Test four bottled beers, including new wild ales – Carina’s Cliffs and Petite Rosette. Participants enjoy light refreshments and get 11 percent off bottles bought that day.

“The Princess Bride” screening from 7 to 10 p.m. at Side Quest Books & Games, 1 Bow Market Way No. 25, Union Square, Somerville. $15 and 21-plus. Bring or buy a craft kit and sip on a themed drink while watching this funny romantic adventure film about gallant suitors, helpful giants and classic lines, such as “As you wish” and “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

“Evolution of a Snake” live podcast on Taylor Swift at 7:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville. $44. The podcast analyzes the life and times of Taylor Swift, including her music, relationships, mental health and interview appearances. Hosts Zachary Hourihane and Madeline Rubicam record live on their ”Sneras Tour.”

Richard Shindell performs at 7:30 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through May 30). $40. The folk singer continues to spread his love, and lost love, songs on tour nationally and internationally. He was a member of Cry Cry Cry and has written songs such as “You Stay Here” and “The Next Best Western.”

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” at 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $70. The musical romantic comedy centers Dougal, in town from England for his father’s second wedding, and Robin, New York native and sister of the bride. Dougal and Robin’s unlikely relationship develops over 36 hours. Jim Barne and Kit Buchan composed the musical.

Michael Lowenstern and the Improbable Beasts from 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15 to $40. Bass clarinetist Lowenstern joins Boston’s only professional bass clarinet ensemble. 

V.oL.T! dance at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $32. An 11-piece band, including five vocalists, a percussionist, a bassist, a guitarist, two alto and tenor saxophonists, a trombonists and a DJ conductor, plays music from the 1970s.

Comedy with Rob Cantrell at 8 p.m. at The Comedy Studio, 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $25. Known for appearances in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Last O.G.” and “The Colbert Report,” Cantrell has also performed at South by Southwest and The New York Comedy Festival. Maria Palombi joins.

Masculine Drag Revue presents “Mantasy: Boys of Summer” at 8 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $40. Set to 1980s music, a dozen local drag kings bring cabaret, theatre and stripteases to an audience welcome to participate. Sherman hosts.

Friday, May 30

Artist reception for Janette Brossard Duhart from 4 to 8 p.m. at Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road, in the Spring Hill neighborhood. Cuban artist Janette Brossard Duhart will debut her pop-up exhibition, “The world as a supermarket,” an exhibit that centers on advertising, consumption, cultural displacement, globalization and more.

“Tango Malhar” screening at 6 p.m. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 32, also known as the Ray and Maria Stata Center, at 32 Vassar St., Cambridge. Free to $5. MIT alumna and filmmaker Saya Date shows her debut feature about a young rickshaw driver in India who begins to learn tango. A Q&A with Date follows. Presented by the MIT Tango Club.

Carolicious Gourmet anniversary at 7 p.m. Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Live music with Gaby Cotter & the Timba Messengers and food for the first anniversary of the Venezuelan restaurant.

Psyched Out improv comedy at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Tickets are $17 to $22. Unscripted comedy show based on live psychic readings that get acted out. We wrote about it here. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Must be 21. 

Supersonic performs as Oasis at 7 p.m. at Sonia, 10 Brookline St., Central Square, Cambridge. Advance admission is $20 to $25, and 18-plus. The English rock band led by brothers who hate each other – giant in the mid-1990s with songs such as “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and  “Champagne Supernova” – are near a U.S. tour. If you can’t wait, this is your maintenance dose. 

International Folk Dance from 7 to 10 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville. Cost is on a sliding scale, $5 to $15. Wear soft-soled shoes that have not been worn outside. 

“A Night to Be Heard” from 7 to 11 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville. $109. Art, music and storytelling on themes of social justice that includes a look at a new dance performance, “How We Go” and projects with youth and documentary film. Dinner is included.

Richard Shindell performs (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $40.

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $35 to $115.

Wet performs at 8 p.m. at The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $35. The indie ensemble led by Kelly Zutrau brings a new sound to their fans with their latest record, “There’s a Reason.” Joe Valle and Marty Sulkow round out the trio, which brought in Portugal. The Man’s John Hill, Haim’s Rostam Batmanglij and Big Thief’s Andrew Sarlo to produce the record.

Ian Coury Quintet from 8 to 9 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $20 to $30. Coury is a 22-year-old mandolinist, composer and educator who specializes in choro music, an improvisational Brazilian genre. Drummer Mark Walker, pianist Maxim Lubarsky, percussionist Rafael Heredia and bassist Ebinho Cardoso join.

Beginner Swing Dance Lesson from 8 to 9 p.m. at Boston Swing Central, 26 New St., Suite 3, Cambridge. $18 or $20. Take a beginner swing dance lesson while enjoying the music of The Whozit/Whatzit All-Star Band. 

Orbit performs at 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. $31, but 21-plus. Orbit is back, reviving a Boston indie-rock power trio with the late-1990s single “Medicine,” big on MTV and worth a spot on the last Lollapalooza tour. With Eldridge Rodriguez and Harris.

“An MBTA Musical” theater performance at 9:30 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville (and continuing through June 15). $18 to $45. Follow the lives and commutes of three fictional and chronically late Bostonians who are fed up with the “T” until they find a map that allows them to conquer their underground routes. The musical began in 2011 as a “love letter” to the city and its quirks.

Midnight at the Mad Monkfish with Mikayla Shirley from midnight to 1 a.m. at The Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. Free to enter. The Berklee jazz vocalist sings, and improvises fluently in multiple languages. 

Saturday, May 31

Black Birders Week: Explore with Nature Man Mike from 8 to 10 a.m. at Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register and ages 14-plus. Walk with the popular local birder and photographer to encounter late migrant bird species at the start of nesting season.

World Portuguese Language Day from 10 a.m. to noon at Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Free, but register. A morning story time, sing-alongside and library tours, all in Portuguese. Presented by SomerViva.

New England Hong Kong Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Seven Hills Park, Davis Square, Somerville (with a rain date Sunday). Free to enter. The community-run festival returns for its second year with more than 30 artists, vendors and groups serving food and sharing free items, and 15 musical and cultural performances as well as games, activities and chances for photos, including a newspaper stand set and stamp stations inspired by famous streets in Hong Kong. The event is co-hosted by SomerViva, the city’s office of immigrant affairs. Last year’s inaugural event took place in Union Square. We wrote about the festival here.

Aeronaut’s 11th Anniversary patio party from noon to 5 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square in Ward 2, Somerville. Free to enter; those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Celebrate the brewery’s birthday “under the big tent” with acrobatics and aerialists, taste tests and other games. Rock band Luigi Fishtank performs from 1 to 4 p.m.

Union of European Football Association watch party from noon to 9 p.m. at One Reason Garden Bar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Multiple large screens line the patio to show this year’s final kickoff at 3 p.m. between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. Food from Kured and cocktails provided.

JoyFest from 1 to 6 p.m. in Prospect Hill Park, 68 Munroe St., Somerville (with a rain date Sunday). Free to enter. A group of arts-loving friends hosts the second year of a DIY music and arts festival that asks attendees “to bring your joy.” Music, art and vendors, workshops for crafting and dancing and opportunities for folks to meet local arts and housing affordability advocates funded by a grant from the city’s arts council.

Jane’s Walk Somerville: Lost Histories of Central Street from 2 to 3 p.m. at Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road, in the Spring Hill neighborhood. $10 to $20. Central Street once divided the farmland to the west and growing industry to the east. Hear stories about the forgotten families, homes and buildings and pivotal moments that occurred along and around the street. Tufts University’s David Guss and Maddie Short lead.

“An MBTA Musical” theater performance (continued) at 2 and 6 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville (and continuing through June 15). $18 to $45.

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (continued) at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $35 to $150.

“Mrs. Warren’s Profession” play at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 22). $27 to $103. George Bernard Shaw’s 1893 play centers a former prostitute turned madam and her estranged daughter’s struggle to reconcile what her mother’s wealth afforded her and the source of that wealth.

“Lady Tarquinia” concert from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Somerville Music Spaces, 1060 Broadway C101B, near Teele Square, Somerville. $10 to $20. Singer and viol player Tarquinia Molza was one of the few women of her time to be employed as a musician until she was striped of the title due to allegations of a romantic relationship with a colleague. Lyracle’s spring concert includes music and poetry by the 16th century Italian musician.

“Grief to Gratitude” dance from 6 to 7 p.m. at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge. $28.50. A site-responsive dance at five spots around Auburn Lake by artist-in-residence Lonnie Stanton with live musical accompaniment. 

“Salvage” dance and theater from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $13. A work-in-progress set in a megachurch centering on the funny, ridiculous, harmful and beautiful practices of nondenominational American Christianity. Alexandria Nunweiler directs and choreographs. A Q&A session with performers follows.

“Generation Queer” book launch at 7 p.m. at Connexion, 149 Broadway, East Somerville. $5 to $27 with the book. Author Kimm Topping discusses their latest book featuring interviews with young LGBTQ+ leaders. Topping, who founded Lavender Education, a national initiative that teaches LGBTQ+ history through arts and youth organizing, is joined by Alia/Forest Cusolito and L Austin-Spooner, two queer youth activists.

Classical concert featuring masters Francesco Cipolletta and Jacques-Pierre Malan at 7 p.m. at Museum of Modern Renaissance, 115 College Ave., between Davis and Powder House squares, Somerville. Mendelssohn and Schumann and more for cello and piano in a space covered floor to ceiling in vivid and quirky paintings – secular, but pulling iconography from an array of religious traditions and cultures. Tickets $30 at the door. 

Niki Luparelli presents “Strip Zeppelin” at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $35 to $70. Comedian and chanteuse Luparelli hosts a glittery, rock-and-rolling burlesque tribute to Led Zeppelin, with her band the Misty Mountains joining. Luparelli is known for tributes to musicians such as David Bowie, Stevie Nicks and Lana Del Rey.

WBUR Radio 75th Anniversary Festival Comedy Show at 9:30 p.m. at The Comedy Studio, 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $30 to $35. Part of WBUR’s festival weekend, local comedians including Alex Giampapa, Dan Boulger, Tooky Kavanagh, Orlando Baxter take the stage.

Midnight at the Mad Monkfish with Yifei Zhou from midnight to 1 a.m. at The Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. Free to enter. Late-night entertainment from  a New England Conservatory student vocalist and composer.

Sunday, June 1

Cambridge 5K from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at CambridgeSide, 100 CambridgeSide Place, East Cambridge. $50. Spend time outside on the fast and flat course in support of Helen K. Holland Animal Care Trust Fund and Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Tickets include a shirt, five free parking vouchers, two drink tickets and more.

CaziCon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free. Previously LadiesCon, an annual celebration of comics, science fiction, fantasy, cosplay and other realms of pop culture with a special focus on women, nonbinary people and the LGBTQ+ community.

Family music festival from noon to 3 p.m. at New School of Music, 25 Lowell St., West Cambridge. Free. A student recital followed by a faculty recital at 1:15 p.m. Lawn games; crafts; an “instrument petting zoo,” in which children explore different instruments; and ice cream available for purchase.

Tenth Curated Vintage Market from noon to 8 p.m. at Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Free. Clothing, jewelry, home décor, furniture, art and collectibles from more than 80 New England vendors spilling out onto Somerville Avenue. Five professionals upstairs at Mender Row will make small repairs on clothing you bring while you shop, eat or drink. Celebrate with a Y2K day party including tie-dye and bedazzling crafts, live music with DJ L’duke, cocktails with Nook and a fashion contest with a $100 gift card to Nook prize.

Cambridge Mini Makers Market from 2 to 4 p.m. at King Open School, 850 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Optional donation of $10 requested to Friends’ of Amigos eighth grade trip. All of the handmade goods sold at the market were made by children. 

Somerstreets: Carnaval festival from 2 to 6 p.m. on Lower Broadway in East Somerville (from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Avenue). Rain date: June 8. Free. The street closes to cars and opens to some 6,000 people enjoying music, dance performances, a parade, interactive activities, more than 40 artisan vendors and food from all over the world. The first of three Somerstreets neighborhood festivals for 2025.

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (continued) at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $35 to $150.

“Mrs. Warren’s Profession” play (continued) at 2 p.m. at Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 22). $27 to $103.

“An MBTA Musical” theater performance (continued) at 2 and 6 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville (and continuing through June 15). $18 to $45. The earlier show includes live announcements by “the Voice of the T,” Frank Oglesby.

Longfellow Student Poetry Awards and reading at 3 p.m. at Longfellow House and the Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., West Cambridge. Free. The New England Poetry Club and Frank Buda Memorial Fund co-sponsors this reading with prize-winning works by students in grades 3 to 12. A celebration follows.

Multigenerational outdoor dance party from 3 to 6 p.m. at Cambridge Street Courtyard, 688 Cambridge St., Cambridge. Free. The dance party features DJs Sean Quinn and Justin Tiernan of Soulelujah. Rain date is June 8. 

Pico Opera presents “L’elisir d’amore” from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $23. The 1832 Italian opera by Gaetano Donizetti depicts a chaotic love triangle that emerges after a quack doctor sells peasant Nemorino a fake love potion. The evening includes a performance by the Pico Opera Chorus at intermission and dessert with the cast following the opera.

Open Mic: Death, Birth, Rebirth from 6 to 8 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville. $20. Storytellers, musicians and poets explore loss, creation, change and endings, and beginnings. Sign up in advance.

Chris Moreno performs at 6:30 p.m. at The Middle East Upstairs, 472 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $24. The country singer has collected more than 115,000 followers on social media. Singers Joshua Gleave and Patrick Kearns join.

“Jillith Fair – Loving Jill Sobule” at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $25. The benefit show and tribute to Sobule, a singer known for gay anthem “I Kissed a Girl” and “Supermodel,” includes folk singers Vance Gilbert, Antje Duvekot, Catie Curtis and others. Sobule died in May.

Monday, June 2

Restorative Contact: Mindful Touch and Movement from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at The Dance Complex, 536 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $13. Friends or paired strangers connect through a session of mild to moderate compression with dancer and choreographer Gabrielle Revlock. Participants are welcome to bring blankets and pillows.

Boston Leather Guild from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Public Library West Branch, 40 College Ave., near Davis Square. Free. Share your love of leather craft through a project show and tell and an introductory workshop on saddle stitching.

Ron Chernow reads from “Mark Twain” at 7 p.m. at First Parish Cambridge Unitarian Universalist, 3 Church St./1446 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $15 to $50 with the book. The Pulitzer-winning author discusses his latest book, about the early American literary celebrity and humorist. (Chernow’s other historical profiles include “Alexander Hamilton,” which Lin-Manuel Miranda adapted into his hit musical.) Presented by Harvard Book Store.

“Space to Sea: The Gulf of Maine’s Ocean Wilderness” screening at 7 p.m. at the Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston, on the Cambridge border. Free, but register. Visual artist Keith Ellenbogen brings the submersed work off Maine’s coast to the museum’s five-story Imax dome screen. The film shows humpback whales, schools of mackerel and microscopic plankton and more. Ellenbogen and David Sittenfeld, director of the Center for the Environment, join after the film.

Elan Mehler Trio from 7 to 8 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge (and every Monday). $15. The jazz pianist and composer who’s released 11 albums performs with Max Ridley and Dor Herskovits.

Picture + Panel: Insects with Peter Kuper and Allison Conway from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Arts Center, 285 Washington St., Ward 2, Somerville. Free to $15 and 21-plus. This monthly confab of graphic-novel creators sponsored by Boston Figurative Arts Center, Porter Square Books and the Boston Comic Arts Foundation brings in Kuper, the legendary illustrator and cartoonist behind “Insectopolis” and “Ruins,” and Conway, artist behind “The Lab” and “A Pillbug Story.”

Pitch a Friend from 7 to 9 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square in Ward 2, 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.”

Two Strangers (Split A Popcorn) screening at 8 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 16). $13 to $15. A showing of Richard Linklater’s “Before” movie trilogy of a duo walking and talking in celebration of Jim Barne and Kit Buchan’s “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” a play about a duo walking and talking. “Before Sunrise,” the first in the series, depicts strangers played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meeting on a train to Vienna and spending the day together.

Tuesday, June 3

Play kickoff from 4 to 7 p.m. at Kendall/MIT Open Space at 292 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Anagrams, chess, checkers, Uno, Connect Four, hopscotch and other board and lawn games are available to participants and ice cream is free while supplies last. Picnics and dogs welcome.

Finn Hansbury performs at 5 p.m. at Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. Folk-rock songwriter, singer and instrumentalist Hansbury plays as part of the Berklee College of Music’s Summer in the City concert series. 

Lesley Wheeler reads from “Mycocosmic” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. These poems are “prayers, hexes and charms” springing from a tarot reader telling Wheeler “good things come to you through fire” and the discovery of pyrophilic fungi – which lurks in soil until activated by fire. An essay in verse called “Underpoem [Fire Fungus]” runs across the bottom of the book’s pages while other poems breathe above. Poet Jennifer Martelli joins.

Cartoonist Peter Kuper at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. A second chance to see the legendary illustrator as he present his graphic nonfiction book, “Insectopolis: A Natural History” joined by Crystal Maier, of Harvard’s entomology collection. 

The Unlikely Candidates perform at 7 p.m. The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25. The indie rock band known for songs including “Novocaine” and “Bells” on the final stop on their tour. Slo/Tide joins.

Crafts & Pints Candle Making from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lamplighter CX, 110 N. First St., North Point, Cambridge. $43.50. All materials are included to make two soy candles per person. 

Honky Tonk Tuesday with the Talking Hearts at 7:15 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25. A brief dance lesson followed by live music by the Talking Hearts at this monthly event. The six-piece ensemble performs original country music in the spirit of George Jones, Loretta Lynn and Buck Owens.

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $60 to $150.

Wednesday, June 4

Lunchtime Concert Series: Cameron Peak from noon to 1 p.m. at Urban Park Roof Garden at Kendall Center, 325 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. Free. The summer series opens with Peak, inspired by Nick Drake, Stephen Merritt, Adrianne Lenker and Elliott Smith. Peak released his debut single “Decide” this year. Co-sponsored with Club Passim.

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Book Group from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library’s Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free, but register. Kids in fourth, fifth and sixth grade read nominated titles in their monthly book club and vote on their favorites. This month’s book: “Small Town Pride,” a coming-of-age novel about Jake, the first openly gay student in his high school’s history, by Phil Stamper. Pizza provided.

The Art of Discourse Series: “How to Discuss What Matters Most” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (and on June 4 and 18). $50. Participants learn how to navigate difficult conversations in the second of three events in this series full of interactive discussions.

The Halluci Nation performs from 6:30 p.m. at Sonia, 10 Brookline St., Central Square, Cambridge. $26. The Canadian electronic dance ensemble once named A Tribe Called Red, blends First Nations music into its sets. Their songs include “How I Feel” and “Stadium Pow Wow.”

Karen Hao reads “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, or $37 with the book. The Atlantic contributor discusses the artificial intelligence platform’s origins and scandals, reporting on Silicon Valley engineers, Kenyan data laborers and Chilean water activists.

Yrsa Daley-Ward reads “The Catch” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. Actor, writer and model Daley-Ward discusses her debut novel about estranged sisters figuring out what to do about a stranger who might be their mom. Emerson College’s Tatiana Johnson-Boria joins.

Donald Niedekker reads from “Strange and Perfect Account from the Permafrost” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. Accompanied by Dutch translator Jonathan Reeder, Niedekker discusses his poetic latest novel, which discusses humans’ effect on the planet through an explorer who dies in 1597 yet lives on as a part of the landscape.

Ravi Chary performs at 7 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25. The sitarist from Goa in western India is known for albums “Ravi Chary Crossing” and “Sitar Symphony.” Tabla player Amit Kavthekar and drummer Fabio Pirozzolo joins for an evening of indy-jazz fusion.

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $35 to $150.

“Mrs. Warren’s Profession” play (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 22). $27 to $103.

Young Widows performs at 8 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $36. The Kentucky band brings atmospheric rock influenced by post-punk and gothic folk from its new album, “Power Sucker.” The band is known for songs “Old Wounds” and “Took a Turn.” Rid of Me and Kal Marks join.

The Lilypad Variety Show from 10 p.m. to midnight at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $5. Enjoy new talent performing music, art, poetry, comedy, and dance.

Thursday, June 5

Richard Russo reads “Life and Art: Essays” at 6 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free to $30 with the book. The Pulitzer-winning author discusses his collection of essays, reflecting on his work, familial tensions around the Covid vaccine and the terror of seeing his 7-year-old grandson in critical condition. Author Andre Dubus III joins. Presented by Harvard Bookstore and Cambridge Public Library.

Zaakir Tameez reads from “Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The author examines an often-overlooked fighter in the history of civil rights. 

Kendra Greene reads from “No Less Strange or Wonderful” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free, but register. A book subtitled “Essays in Curiosity” examines deep themes through wild but true curiosities such as exploding sharks, trees riding bicycles, a giant sloth in costume, a stolen woodpecker and a sentient bag of wasps.

Tree I Love Walking Tour from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge. $12. Former cemetery arborist and local herbalist Alex Klein leads a tour of his favorite trees. The tour examines tree physiology, natural history and historical and modern uses of trees.

“A Time for Fun” concert and cabaret from 7 to 8 p.m. at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St., Harvard Square. $23. Vocalist Vira Slywotzky and pianist David Sytkowski perform classic opera arias, show tunes and classical and popular songs.

Caro de Robertis reads “So Many Stars” at 7 p.m. at All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St., East Somerville. Free, or $34 with book. Subtitled “An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer and Two-Sprit People of Color,” the book centers on the experiences of LGBTQ+ elders growing up, coming out, navigating family issues, weathering the Aids crisis and other reoccurring themes. Mik Hamilton of The History Project, Boston’s LGBTQ+ community archive, joins.

A Kiln Theatre presents “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 29). $80 to $150.

“Mrs. Warren’s Profession” play (continued) at 7:30 p.m. at Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge (and continuing through June 22). $27 to $103. After the show, author Nelson O`Ceallaigh Ritschel discusses the contemporary implications of a play about a sex worker in society.

“Tinder Live!” with Lane Moore from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville. $34. An acclaimed comedy show in which Moore projects her dating app onto a screen, swipes through profiles live on stage and the audience votes whether she swipes right or left – to cathartic, hilarious and surprisingly kind results.

Movies on The Lawn: “Inside Out 2” at 8:30 p.m. at The Great Lawn at Assembly Row, 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville. Free. The first of three monthly events welcomes families and friends to bring blankets to this outdoor movie. This 2024 animated coming-of-age film got three out of four stars from our reviewer, who called it “a heartwarming take on the big emotions of early adolescence.”

A stronger

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