Thursday, Jan. 16
Craft Supply Swap drop-off from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library West Branch, 40 College Ave., near Davis Square (also Jan 17). Free. Bring gently used arts-and-crafts-related items (yarn, fabric scraps, paper crafting supplies) and return on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, if you’d like to pick up craft items others dropped off. Information is here.
Thursday Morning Talks: “Dinosaurs” 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. Ophthalmologist Henry Kreigstein talks about paleontology and the private digs he organizes in the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana. The January and February lecture series is a fundraiser for Mount Auburn Hospital in its 88th year. Information is here.
The Pleasures of Poetry from 1 to 2 p.m. in conference room 14E-304 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 14, also known as Hayden Memorial Library, 160 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge (and continuing every weekday through Jan. 24 except for Jan. 20). Free. The Lit@MIT community has offered this Independent Activities Period for 30 years. Each session is devoted to a poet or two, often a close reading of a single poem. Everyone with an interest in a diverse range of poetry, regardless of experience level, is welcome to join. Information is here.
“The Art of the Festival Celebrating the Rain God of the Kathmandu Valley” exhibition opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road, in the Spring Hill neighborhood. $8 (free to members and kids 12 and under). Photographs (by anthropologist Bruce McCoy Owens), cultural artifacts and works of fine art and popular culture that tell the story of the largest festival of the Kathmandu Valley, practiced for nearly 1,400 years. The exhibit includes stories of people in the Somerville area who share their memories in connection with Nepalese festivities. Information is here.
Neha Ruch reads from “The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids—and Come Back Stronger Than Ever” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The founder of the online community “Mother Untitled” rebrands the stay-at-home mother for a new generation of women who don’t want to leave ambition behind just because they decide to pause or change careers postkids. Kara Baskin, writer of the “Parenting Unfiltered” column for The Boston Globe, joins. Information is here.
“New Year New You: A Speculative Fiction Anthology” launch at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. The book store hosts the launch for “New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention,” edited by Chris Campbell and featuring a reading of work by story contributors Elizabeth Bear, Chris Campbell, Nick DePasquale, Allison Pottern and Brigitte Winter. Author Max Gladstone moderates. Information is here.
Houston Bernard at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $15 to $20. The Oklahoma-born and Alaska-raised army veteran brings his country music to Boston. Information is here.
Boston Celtic Music Festival from 7 to 9 p.m. (and continuing through Sunday). $25 to $35. This twice-annual homegrown celebration marks its 22nd anniversary of showcasing Greater Boston’s tradition of music, song and dance from Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, Quebecois and other Celtic communities. The event includes musicians, workshops and participatory musical sessions and dances over the course of a weekend at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge; Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square; The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville; and The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Information is here.
Gender Free Scottish Country Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. at the New England Science Fiction Association clubhouse at 504 Medford St., Magoun Square, Somerville (and also Jan. 30 and Feb. 20). $5 to $20. Learn and practice in gender-neutral language. A warm-up and lesson in the first hour is followed by an hour of social dancing. Kat Dutton emcees and teaches. Information is here.
Comedian Rachel Scanlon at 7:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $29. The Los Angeles stand-up comic and writer co-hosts the podcast and nationally touring live show “Two Dykes and a Mic.” Information is here.
Open Mic Night from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Narrative, 387 Highland Ave., Davis Square, Somerville. Free, but register. Sign up to perform (first come, first served on the night of the event) or just attend and cheer on others. All mediums are welcome. Tonight’s event also features Jess Rizkallah, author of “The Magic That My Body Becomes.” Hosted by Aparna Paul. 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 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the debut recording of Trio Ex Nihilo with its members cellist Jeff Song, drummer Curt Newton and cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum. He also brings saxophonist Tom Hall, who was part of a jazz trio – The Blooming – formed with Song and Newton three years after that debut, to perform with the celebration. Information is here.
Sungazer at 8 p.m. at The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $25. Bassist Adam Neely and drummer Shawn Crowder bring their hard-hitting jazz fusion, 8-bit, prog rock and electronic dance music to town. Information is here.
City of Four and Bubble Wave from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at The Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood between Harvard and Porter squares, Cambridge. $15 and 21-plus. Two Boston bands performing, respectively, groove-based jazz fusion and reggae and roots (covers and originals). Information is here.
Clown Town: A Queer Circus Variety Show from 8 p.m. to midnight at The Jungle, 6 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville. $10 and 21-plus. Live music by SillyBand followed by a drag clown show. DJ tunes all night from Mx.Demeanor. Information is here.
Route 1: The Last Exit with DJ Foley from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at ManRay, 40 Prospect St., Central Square, Cambridge. $10 and 19-plus. DJ Paul Foley brings the best freestyle, electro house, new jack swing, old school hip-hop and club classics. All vinyl all night. It’s the last Route 1 before Foley takes some time off, so don your favorite track suit and enjoy the music and times that were Route 1. Information is here.
Friday, Jan. 17
Craft Supply Swap drop-off (continued) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library West Branch, 40 College Ave., near Davis Square. Free. Information is here.
The Pleasures of Poetry (continued) from 1 to 2 p.m. in conference room 14E-304 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 14, also known as Hayden Memorial Library, 160 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free. Information is here.
Central Square Shares the Love: Community Mosaic from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free. Share what you love about the square and its library in a community mosaic to be displayed in February. Drawing supplies provided for this session. Information is here.
Arisia science fiction and fantasy convention from 3 p.m. to midnight at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge (and continuing through Jan. 20). Free to $75. A volunteer-run nonprofit organization has presented New England’s largest, most diverse sci-fi and fantasy convention for 35 years. Information is here.
Colette Shade reads from “Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything (Essays on the Future That Never Was)” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The magazine writer discusses her debut book about how the early 2000s forever changed us and the world we live in. Information is here.
Chemystery: A Showcase of Magic at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $25 to $35. Headliners Jeki Yoo (as seen on “America’s Got Talent” and The CW’s “Penn and Teller Fool Us”) and Meadow Perry (as seen on The CW’s “Masters of Illusion”) perform alongside two local acts from The Magic Lab, Boston’s open mic magic show. Information is here.
Jenny Howe reads from “How to Get a Life in Ten Dates” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St., Prospect Hill, Somerville. Pay-what-you-can, or $18 with book. The author of “On the Plus Side” and “The Make-Up Test” discusses her new rom-com about a young woman set up on 10 dates by her friends and family, with her best friend adding himself to the roster. Information is here.
Chloe Gong reads from “Vilest Things (Flesh and False Gods, #2)” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Lovestruck Books, 44 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $45 with book. As part of the bookstore’s three-day opening celebration, the New York Times bestselling author of the “Secret Shanghai” novels discusses her lethal romance fantasy sequel to “Immortal Longings,” inspired by Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra.” Instagram content creator Azanta moderates. Information is here.
Grass is Green, Speedy Ortiz and Pile perform at 7:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $21.50. A night with the Boston experimental rock-and-postpunk band and its Philly and Boston indie rock friends. Mingko opens. Information is here.
Zeke Martin & The Oracle at 7:30 p.m. at Regattabar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $30. The drummer and composer leads a night of soulful grooves fusing jazz, funk, R&B and more featuring Scott Tarulli (guitar), Kent Mashimo (bass), Joey Mazzarella (keys) and Pat Loomis (sax). Information is here.
Boston Urban Ceilidh at 7:30 p.m. at Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square. $25 or $85 for a full-fest pass. As part of the 22nd Annual Boston Celtic Music Festival, learn participatory and social dances from the Cape Breton and Scottish traditions to live music, no experience necessary. Includes a short performance from O’Riley Irish Dance; contra dance with caller Will Mentor and Calico; and Scottish Ceilidh with five callers. Information is here.
“Hear Her Sing for Freedom” at 8 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge (and continuing through Sunday). Pay-what-you-can or $35. Natasha Ellis reprises her performance in the role of Coretta Scott King, a vocalist and political activist before she met Martin Luther King Jr. An annual MLK holiday tradition including a freedom concert with Ellis narrating biographical details between the musical numbers. Information is here.
Detention stand-up comedy with Carmen Lagala at 8 and 10 p.m. at Goofs Comedy Club, 432 McGrath Highway, Prospect Hill, Somerville (and also Saturday). $16 to $25 and 21-plus. A weekend of performances from a fearless New York City comic tackling life’s toughest moments, no topics off limits. There’s a full bar (drinks start at $4) and a Wade BBQ menu. Information is here.
R!SK: Open Stage for Drag & Burlesque from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Pay-what-you-can $10 to $30 and 18-plus. Anyone 18 or older is welcome to sign up to perform at this sober, open-stage show (with an 18-performer limit). Hosted by Killah Croc and Wilhelmina Ladessé and presented by Boston Drag Things, Gnat and AsterR*sk. Masks required. Information is here.
The Whozit/Whatzit All Star Band performs for Boston Swing Central from 8 to 11:45 p.m. at Q Ballroom, 26 New St., Suite 3, Fresh Pond, Cambridge. $13 to $20. This social partner dance, which includes a lesson for beginners in the first hour, welcomes a band that includes leaders of their own bands: Sonya Rae Taylor, John Clark and a rhythm section of Greg Toro and David Moore. No partner required. Information is here.
Sensual Dance Annual Winter Masquerade Gala from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Lusitania Recreation Club, 44 5th St., East Cambridge. $15 to $25. Hourlong bachata and kizomba workshops followed by social dancing, no partner required, to music from DJ Ceijay and DJ Ascends. Dress to impress. Presented by Moves & Vibes Dance in Boston. Information is here.
Tambó Salsa Social from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Dante Alighieri Society Center, 41 Hampshire St., Kendall Square, Cambridge. $15 and 21-plus. Start the evening with a one-hour salsa lesson then dance to music from DJ Hernan. No partner required. Information is here.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Monthly bird walks: winter birds from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Mass Audubon Nature Center at Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridgeport. Free, but register,. Bring binoculars (or borrow a pair on site) to search for migrating and common birds; waterfowl and waders on the river; songbirds in the trees and brush; and soaring raptors. Information is here.
Craft Supply Swap from 10 a.m. to noon at the Somerville Public Library West Branch, 40 College Ave., near Davis Square. Free. Find your next craft obsession or hobby among the gently used crafting items donated earlier in the week. It’s not necessary to have donated something to pick something up. Information is here.
Arisia science fiction and fantasy convention (continued) from 10 a.m. to midnight at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free to $75. Information is here.
Boston Celtic Music Festival (continued) from 11 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at three locations in Somerville’s Davis Square: Somerville Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square; The Rockwell, 255 Elm St.; and The Burren, 247 Elm St. $30 (Dayfest) and $35 (Nightcap with Dervish). Information is here.
Tea tasting: Chai from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free, but register. Learn about the world of chai with Nancy Daniel, the South India-born chef and owner behind Madhrasi Chai. Complimentary snacks provided. Information is here.
“The Art of Care” exhibition artist talk and family event from 1 to 3 p.m. at Gallery 263, 263 Pearl St., Cambridgeport. Free. Learn more about the practices of writer, organizer and artist Cameron Russell and photographer Mei Tao, whose exhibition explores the intersection of caregiving and creativity. Includes a story hour, an eye-spy gallery tour and an invitation to put a photo from your own family archive on the gallery wall. Information is here.
Improv Gym from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. Free or $10 suggested donation. Nova Comedy Collective helps you hone improvisational comedy skills. No experience necessary. We wrote about it here. Information is here.
Metam0rephosis from 6 to 10 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $15 and 21-plus (ID required). This rave-style event based on anime music and 2000s Internet nostalgia features a curated showcase of local idol performers. Cosplay highly encouraged. Hosted by Metam0re, a Boston-based Vocaloid cosplay and dance cover duo. Information is here.
Wyrd presents… Improv Comedy! At 7 p.m. at the café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $10. Local comedians invite guests on stage to tell stories to inspire scenes for a brand-new show completely made up on the spot. Information is here.
Catie Curtis at 7 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $33 to $35. The acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriter toured for 25 years in the United States and Europe, releasing 14 recordings and selling more than 250,000 CDs. Then in 2017 she got a master’s degree in counseling and is now a psychotherapist in Newburyport (though still loves to play shows). Information is here.
Peter Kontrimas Quartet performs from 7 to 8:15 and 8:45 to 10 p.m. at The Mad Monkfish, 524 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. Free, but there’s a $25 food-and-drink minimum. The acoustic bass jazz and classical musician and owner-engineer of PBS Studios in Westwood performs with Arnie Krakowski (tenor sax), Russ Hoffman (piano) and Les Harris Jr. (drums). Information is here.
Lizards and Gizmos Comedy presents “A Night of ‘Lizzie’ Talks (because ‘TED Talks’ is taken)” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Music Spaces, 1060 Broadway, Suite C101B, Somerville. $12. Presentations about a variety of topics that will get you thinking, featuring Betsy Kleiner, Claire Maguire, Emily Tullock, Jay Feinstein, Jeff, Julia Cooper, Lizzie Granata and Martha Kenyon. Information is here.
Detention stand-up comedy with Carmen Lagala (continued) at 7 and 9 p.m. at Goofs Comedy Club, 432 McGrath Highway, Prospect Hill, Somerville. $16 to $25 and 21-plus. Information is here.
Dooley-o, DJ Madd Flava and DJ Prime Beats from 7 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $5 to $10 suggested donation. DJs spin all vinyl, ranging from funk, disco and hip-hop to reggae. Art and merchandise, too. Information is here.
Robert Pinsky presents PoemJazz Con Salsa at 7:30 p.m. at Regattabar, 1 Bennett St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $25 to $35. The three-time U.S. poet laureate reads from his latest book, “Proverbs of Limbo,” as part of a music performance directed by Laurence Hobgood (piano), Stan Strickland (sax, flute and vocals), Catherine Bent (cello) and John Lockwood (bass), featuring Francisco Mela (drums). Hosted by Harvard sociology professor Orlando Patterson. Information is here.
“Hear Her Sing for Freedom” continued at 8 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. Pay-what-you-can or $35. Information is here.
The Popp Boutique Comedy Show from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at 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: Katie Farrell, Julie Cameron, Ed Lorah, Mel Moscoso, Zach Valencia and Chris Post. Hosted by Chef Phil. Information is here.
The R&B Remix Party, MLK Weekend from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Dx@Dunster, 33 Dunster St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $25. Jomo King, aka DJ Plush, brings his signature blend of dance beats, from R&B, hip-hop, soul and Afrobeats to house and reggae. Hosted by Nina Williams and Stephen Anglin of Urban Elevation. Information is here.
DJ Mello and DJ Nightime Gallagher from 10 p.m. to midnight at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $5 to $10 suggested donation. Old school dance grooves and classics. Information is here.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Arisia science fiction and fantasy convention (continued) from 9 a.m. to midnight at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free to $75. Information is here.
Adults with Hobbies: Bad at Art (drawing and water color painting) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge. $20 to $40. Try a different hobby each week in a series with educator and activist Nicole Hicks and friends. Information is here.
“Hamilton” sing-along drag brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Summer Shack, 149 Alewife Brook Parkway, Alewife, Cambridge. $20. Don’t throw away your shot to join historically costumed drag performers singing all the songs from the hit musical. Information is here.
Seán Heely Celtic Band at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $25 to $35. As part of the 22nd Annual Boston Celtic Music Festival and the Burren’s Brian O’Donovan Legacy Series, two performances from U.S National Scottish Fiddle champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely, multi-instrumentalist and All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, bouzouki and bass player Beth Patterson, percussionist Lucas Ashby and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs. Information is here.
Drum and song circle from noon to 1 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (and most Sundays through Feb. 9). $10 to $35. All levels are welcome. No experience required; instruments provided, or bring your own. Information is here.
Celebrate the Japanese new year from noon to 3 p.m. at Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Free. Co-hosts Nagomi Bento and Ko-Kyoto offer calligraphy workshops (at noon and 2 p.m.), mini matcha lemonade and a special zōni soup ($12). Information is here.
Native plant seed sowing in winter workshop from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square, Somerville. Free. Help get plants started for spring by sowing seeds in DIY milk jug greenhouses during this outdoor workshop. Soil and seeds provided; bring a plastic milk jug (extras are available). Information is here.
Winter Wandering: Exploring the Golf Course from 1 to 2:30 p.m. meeting at the parking lot of the Fresh Pond Golf Course Clubhouse, 691 Huron Ave., Fresh Pond, Cambridge. Free. Explore the natural elements and often unseen world throughout Cambridge’s golf course with ranger Tim Puopolo. (The tour involves uneven terrain in winter weather.) Information is here.
“Hear Her Sing for Freedom” (continued) at 2 p.m. at the Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge. Pay-what-you-can or $35. Information is here.
“Blooms and Brews!” pop-up market series kickoff from 2 to 7 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville (and continuing monthly through May). Free, but 21-plus. A variety of artisans sell at the brewery monthly. Organized by Planning with a Scorpio. Information is here.
“The Onion” sci-fi opera preview at 3 p.m. at the Longy School of Music, 27 Garden St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. A semi-staged performance of the concluding half of a new opera that deals with issues of memory, thought and consciousness, followed by a conversation with the vocalists and composer and librettist Eric Sawyer and director and librettist Ron Bashford (winners of the 2019 American Prize for best opera for “The Scarlet Professor”). The first half was staged in conjunction with the UMass Initiative on Neurosciences. Information is here.
Intro to Watercolors from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. $50. Alex Mafusalov breaks down the process of watercolor painting into simple steps, providing prompts, references and individualized feedback. Basic drawing experience is expected, but no painting experience is required. All supplies are 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 starting Jan. 16. Information is here.
Saltare album release at 7 p.m. at Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $18 to $20. The members of Saltare met at the New England Conservatory and now bring together global musical and dance traditions (including Irish, Transylvanian, American old-time and klezmer) to explore how dance music is shaped and understood. Tonight features guest violinist Michelle Zimmerman. 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.
Baker Thomas Band – 15 Years of BTB at 7:30 p.m. at The Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $20 to $25. A one-night-only celebration; more than a dozen members of the Boston band are expected to be on stage throughout the night. Information is here.
Joe Hunt Group performs from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge (and the third Sunday of every month). $15. Some of Boston’s best musicians play live modern jazz, usually paying tribute to a certain composer or performer. Information is here.
Monday, Jan. 20
Arisia science fiction and fantasy convention (continued) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free to $75. Information is here.
Belmont World Film’s 22nd Family Festival from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge (and continuing through Jan. 21 at other area cinemas). $12. Films from Canada, Brazil, Germany and Norway make their U.S. premieres during the Cambridge screening day for this four-day celebration of some of the world’s most imaginative films for and about children. Information is here.
Somerville Martin Luther King Jr. Day panel discussion and donation drive from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the auditorium of the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St., East Somerville. Free, but register. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Department of Racial and Social Justice and Somerville Public Schools’ Department of Equity and Excellence invite community members to celebrate the life and legacy of King by joining a community panel including Somerville students, activists and others discussing themes from “Good Trouble,” the 2020 documentary chronicling U.S. Rep. John Lewis’ 60-plus years of extraordinary activism. The film streams for free until Feb. 6. Items for donation are accepted at the event. Information is here.
Martin Luther King Day Commemoration and Remembrance from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 838 Massachusetts Ave., Riverside near Central Square, Cambridge. Free. The City of Cambridge honors King and his legacy with members of the Cambridge community sharing readings of King’s words calling for peace, justice and transformation. This year’s program includes a greeting from mayor E. Denise Simmons, original poetry from Jean Dany Joachim, Cambridge’s poet populist from 2009 to 2011, and remarks by the Rev. Jeremy Battle. An informal social hour with coffee, tea and pastries follows in the undercroft (basement) at St. Peter’s. The Cambridge Peace Commission organizes the event. Information is here.
Fifteenth Annual Cambridge MLK Day of Service and Learning from 2 to 5 p.m. at various public spaces in Central Square with the welcome gathering at Central Square Church, 5 Magazine St., Cambridge. Free and all ages, but register. The event includes a 2 p.m. presentation at the church where King spoke Jan. 10, 1960, followed by a band of musicians leading attendees to the Senior Center, YWCA and City Hall to work in groups making blankets and scarves for those in need, valentines for vets and lonely elders or the homeless, and sorting clothing and books for local shelters. All are encouraged to bring nonperishable food, gently used winter clothing, children’s books or new warm socks to donate. Information is here.
The Enormous Chorus: Peace Caroling on MLK Day from 6 to 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. An invocation from poet Fanny Howe kicks off this singing event, sponsored by Harvard’s Woodberry Poetry Room and Kindred. Vocalist Erin Shea Hogan teaches a few powerful peace anthems before the group leaves to sing through the streets to Harvard Square. Information is here.
Bachata fundamentals from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the downstairs studio at the Cambridge Athletic Club, 215 First St., Kendall Square, Cambridge (and Mondays through Feb. 17). $25. Learn a dance that originated out of the Dominican Republic and has different types (traditional, sensual and modern). 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: “Gideon the Ninth” by Tamsyn Muir. 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.
Boston Indies game demo night from 7 to 10 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing, 14 Tyler St., near Union Square, Somerville. Free and 21-plus. Come show off the game you’re working on, or just come and see what folks in the community are up to, offering feedback and encouragement. Information is here.
The New Grown-ups perform from 8 to 11 p.m. at Remnant Brewing Satellite, 877 Cambridge St., Wellington-Harrington, Cambridge. Free. The octet takes a modern twist on American roots music, blending traditional folk, country, blues, celtic, old time, originals, bluegrass and pop “into a snafu of contemporary acoustic music.” A special barbecue menu is offered. 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.
Jerry Bergonzi Quartet from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge (and continuing most Mondays). $10 to $15. Bergonzi brings his tenor sax mastery to this seated show with bandmates Phil Grenadier on trumpet and Luther Gray on drums. Information is here.
“Onyx Storm” Midnight Release Dragon Pajama Party from 10 p.m. to midnight at Side Quest Books & Games in Bow Market at 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. $30, or $63 with book. Get cozy with other Basgiath enthusiasts for trivia, sundaes, hot cocoa, character creation games and fan theories while the group counts down the minutes to book No. 3 in Rebecca Yarros’ “Empyrean” series. Information is here.
The Fringe at 10:30 p.m. at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge (and every Monday). $10 to $15. Remaining members of The Fringe (formed in 1971), tenor-saxophonist George Garzone and bassist John Lockwood perform contemporary jazz. Information is here.
“Onyx Storm” Midnight Release Party from 10:30 p.m. to midnight at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $35.05 with book. Enjoy Empyrean-themed activities, including photo opportunities, trivia and a costume contest, while waiting until midnight to get Rebecca Yarros’ follow-up to “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.” Information is here.
Tuesday, Jan. 21
The Pleasures of Poetry (continued) from 1 to 2 p.m. in conference room 14E-304 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 14, also known as Hayden Memorial Library, 160 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free. Information is here.
“Harper and Me” film screening from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. Free and ages 60-plus only. Watch and discuss this cross-country road trip film documentary that actor Will Ferrell made with his close friend of 30 years after his friend came out as a trans woman. Information is here.
Aligning Innovation and Equity in the Digital Economy from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Samberg Conference Center, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge. Free, but register. In this Shaping the Future of Work Initiative event, policymakers, practitioners and scholars share recent academic research and policy ideas during three panel discussions: industrial relations and technology; AI and opportunity; and finance and competition. Information is here.
Sit ’n’ Knit from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge (and continuing every Tuesday). Free. Bring a project and enjoy the company of other crafters. Refreshments provided. Information is here.
“Thinking Through Photography” workshop from 4 to 5 p.m. in the common room at the Center for the Study of World Religions, 42 Francis Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood near the Somerville border, Cambridge (and continuing Jan. 23 and 23). Free, but registration is required (and you must be able to attend all three sessions to participate). Artist-in-residence Sarah Schorr’s three-day workshop with discussion and photography exercises. Information is here.
Contemporary book group from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Rossi Room of the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, but register. January’s title: “A Fire So Wild” by Sarah Ruiz-Grossman. Information is here.
Omo Moses presents his book “The White Peril” plus panel discussion from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free, but register. The launch of a book interweaving the author’s life story with excerpts from his great-grandfather’s sermons and the writings of his father, civil rights activist Bob Moses. Includes a panel, moderated by My Brother’s Keeper co-president Tony Clark, with Janet Moses, Omo Moses, Maisha Moses, Taba Moses and Cambridge School Committee member Richard Harding. Information is here.
Comic drawing workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. $40. Instructor Christian Garnett teaches traditional comic strip creation, from storyboarding, paneling and sketching to line art, text and color. Prompts and ideas are provided, but attendees are encouraged to come with their own story, poetry, song or anything else as inspiration. Information is here.
Knitting group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library’s Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave. Observatory Hill in Neighborhood 9. Free. Bring yarn and needles and find out what fellow knitters are up to. Information is here.
O’Connell Branch Adult Book Group from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cambridge Public Library O’Connell Branch, 48 Sixth St., East Cambridge. Free. January’s title: “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. Information is here.
Movement, Rhythm and Voice in Community from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St., East Cambridge (also Feb. 25). Pay-what-you-can or $20. Sophie Leurent shows how to dance joyfully to live drumming with easy movements and repetitions inspired by Haitian choreographer Herns Duplan and 20th century American choreographer-anthropologist Katherine Dunham. Information is here.
This is Lorelei at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $18 to $20. Nate Amos, half of the Brooklyn duo Water From Your Eyes, performs songs from his solo project’s album “Box for Buddy, Box for Star,” which deal with themes of loneliness, recovery and longing. Information is here.
Pagan Kennedy reads from “The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The journalist and author of 11 books discusses her investigation of the story woman who kicked off a feminist revolution in forensics by designing the rape kit, then vanished into obscurity. Alysia Abbott, author of “Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father,” joins. Information is here.
The Moth story slam at 7:30 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. $15. This monthly open-mic storytelling competition is open to anyone who can share a five-minute tale on the night’s theme – this time, “Happy Accidents,” about positive setbacks, failing upwards or blessings in disguise, whether they’re from serendipity, a fluke or even a mistake. Information is here.
Bluesy Tuesy Social Dance from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the New England Science Fiction Association clubhouse at 504 Medford St., Magoun Square, Somerville (and every Tuesday). $5 to $25. Stephen York DJs at this weekly partner blues dance event that includes a lesson for beginners in the first hour. No partner required, but masks are required this time. Information is here.
Peppe Voltarelli at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $28 to $30. The Calabrian singer, songwriter, actor and writer is the founding voice and leader of Il parto delle nuvole pesanti, a cult Italian new folk band. Information is here.
Wednesday, Jan 22
Bird watching walk from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. meeting at the bird sighting board near the front entrance of Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., West Cambridge. Free, but register. Identify birds, learn tips and tricks to watching and familiarize yourself with migratory birds as well as birds that can be spotted year-round. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. Information is here.
Fiber crafts drop-in at the library from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cambridge library’s O’Connell Branch, 48 Sixth St., East Cambridge. Free. Bring a project and knit, embroider, crochet, spin, mend, cross stitch and more with other crafters. Information is here.
Intellectual Property Boot Camp: Building an IP Portfolio from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in the Patil/Kiva seminar room (32-G449) on the fourth floor of the MIT CSAIL Stata Center, 32 Vassar St., Cambridge. Free, but register. Patent attorney Bruce Sunstein explains that even if you plan to file only a single patent application for your startup, you should also consider what to file next. Information is here.
The Pleasures of Poetry (continued) from 1 to 2 p.m. in conference room 14E-304 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 14, also known as Hayden Memorial Library, 160 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free. Information is here.
Garo Paylan on “Building Bridges of Understanding: Hrant Dink’s Legacy in a Fractured World” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Hall E at the Harvard Science Center, 1 Oxford St., near Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The former Turkish parliament member and one of Turkey’s foremost advocates for democracy and human rights is a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. Information is here.
Central Square Shares the Love: Community Mosaic from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free. Share what you love about the square and its library in a community mosaic to be displayed in February. Drawing supplies provided for this session. Information is here.
“Visual Interpretations: An Exploration of Renaissance Biblical Art” from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Lehrhaus, 425 Washington St., Somerville. $10. Lindsay Flammey Furman leads a discussion of Renaissance art masterpieces compared them with the original text of the Biblical stories they depict. Information is here.
Cookbook book group: zero waste home cooking 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 “Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking” by Margaret Li. All experience levels are welcome at this potluck; bring what you’ve cooked (or just your thoughts) to share with the other cooks. Information is here.
Strummerville Ukulele from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville (and every fourth Wednesday). Free. Amateur musicians invite you to join in as they sing and strum the hits. Information is here.
Erik Baker reads from “Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The Harvard history lecturer argues that the entrepreneurial work ethic has given meaning to work in a world where employment is ever more precarious – and has helped legitimize a society of mounting economic insecurity and inequality. Harvard history professor Walter Johnson joins. Information is here.
Kara Perez reads from “Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth and Create a Better Future for All” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St., Prospect Hill, Somerville. Pay-what-you-can, or $28 with book. The debut book by the founder of the Bravely Go financial education company describes planet-friendly ways to build wealth. Information is here.
Fantasy and science fiction book club from 7 to 8:30 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. A new library book discussion group inviting patrons to read all things science fiction and fantasy. This month’s title is “All Systems Red” by Martha Wells. Information is here.
Boston writers read prose and poetry from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Suite 102, near Union Square, Somerville. Free, but register. Josh Barkan has written prize-winning short fiction as well as a novel, a collection of short stories and a memoir. Kevin McLellan is a prize-wining poet who also makes videos that appear at film festivals. Tanya Larkin is managing editor of Transition Magazine, which is run out of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard, and teaches poetry at Tufts University. Information is here.
Rakish album release at 8 p.m. at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $23 to $25. The folk duo of Maura Shawn Scanlin (fiddle and banjo) and Conor Hearn (guitar and vocals) perform contemporary Celtic and American style music off their new album “Now, O Now.” Information is here.
Local bands Le Prestige and Fully Celebrated Orchestra from 8 to 11 p.m. at The Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Ave., in the Baldwin neighborhood between Harvard and Porter squares, Cambridge. $15. The horn-driven Le Prestige is primarily influenced by the spirit of ’60s soul jazz and the big beats and loops of ’90s hip-hop and electronica; underground legends FCO started playing free jazz at punk rock clubs in the ’80s. Information is here.
Re:Set with Gene Hunt (Chicago) from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Phoenix Landing, 512 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge. $10 to $25 and 19-plus. The Wednesday Re:Set house and techno night brings one of the top artists of Chicago House Music, with a career spanning back to the early 1980s. Re:Sidents Bruno Limma and Joe Tagessian warm up and visuals by @areyouwellconnected. Information is here.
Thursday, Jan. 23
Thursday Morning Talks: Carol Felsenthal on “Writing Unauthorized Biographies and Magazine Profiles” 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. Felsenthal’s written in-depth magazine articles on numerous political figures as well as biographies of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, S. I. Newhouse Jr., and Katharine Graham. The January and February lecture series is a fundraiser for Mount Auburn Hospital in its 88th year. Information is here.
The Pleasures of Poetry (continued) from 1 to 2 p.m. in conference room 14E-304 in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Building 14, also known as Hayden Memorial Library, 160 Memorial Drive, in the MIT/Area II neighborhood, Cambridge. Free. Information is here.
Central Square Cooks! cookbook club from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St. Free, but register. This month for this new cookbook club make and bring a dish from “À Table: Recipes for Cooking and Eating the French Way” by Rebekah Peppler – or just come to talk about your experience with this cookbook. Information is here.
The Fifth Annual Radical King Symposium: Building Bridges from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway, Mid-Cambridge. Free. A My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge Task Force panel discussion guided by King’s work examines relationships and change across racial, ethnic and social divides. Moderated by MBK’s Tony Clark, the panel includes Ellen Semonoff from the Department of Human Services; Andrew King from the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research; Lilly Havstad of Harvard University; Wayne Altman of Tufts University School of Medicine; state Rep. Marjorie Decker; and Anthony Galluccio. Information is here.
Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry discuss their book “Oathbreakers: The War of Brothers That Shattered an Empire and Made Medieval Europe” at 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. Free. The medieval historians and co-authors of “The Bright Age” discuss their book about the Carolingian Civil War: a bloody, protracted battle pitting brother against brother and father against son that would end an empire, upend a continent and redefine the future of Europe. Information is here.
Crowded Mind presents “Celebrating Her” at 7 p.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. $15 to $20. The Boston indie rock band teams up with female musicians to celebrate songs written or performed by women. Information is here.
Alison Wood Brooks reads from “Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves” at 7 p.m. at Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Free. The Harvard Business School professor and expert on the science of conversation illuminates how to make small improvements in the architecture of our conversations to improve our relationships in work and life. Comedian, communication scholar and blogger (“Experimental History”) Adam Mastroianni joins. Information is here.
Poets Robert Carr, Gloria Mindock, Tim Suermondt and Pui Ying Wong 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 Lloyd Schwartz. Information is here.
Poetry open mic night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill. Free, but register. Bring and read your own poetry or a work by another poet. 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. $12 and 21-plus. Watch cult classic “The Craft,” bring your own craft (or buy a crafty kit from Homebody DIY in Bow Market) and sip a well-crafted themed drink. Outside food and drink are allowed. Information is here.
New Language Collaborative performs at 7:30 p.m. at Café Phinista, 1876 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge. $15 to $20. Enjoy Vietnamese food or coffee while listening to Eric Zinman (piano), Eric Rosenthal (drums), Vance Provey (trumpet) and Glynis Lomon (cello, vocals and Aquasonic). Information is here.
“Why Are You Being So Unreasonable?! The Ethics of Misunderstanding” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lehrhaus, 425 Washington St., Somerville. $10. Deborah Barer from the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America references Talmudic stories to explore ways to access the perspectives of others during challenging interactions to improve the ways we respond. Information is here.
“Same Time, Same Place” comedy show at 8 p.m. at The Comedy Studio in the basement at 5 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. $20 to $25. Orlando Baxter, Corey Manning, Corey Rodrigues and Chris Tabb. Information is here.
Next Stop Comedy from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Bred, 730 Main St., The Port, Cambridge. $20 to $25. The group formerly known as Boston Comedy Club brings a novel lineup of stand-up comics seen on television and heard on podcasts. Information is here.
Hustle Killer Presents: Welcome to 2025 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the The Jungle, 6 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville. $10 and 21-plus. Rage against the January cold with 15 New England bands and performers, plus a Super Party Bros. pop-up arcade. Information is here.
Lorena Ometto and The Village Idiots from 10:30 p.m. to midnight at Lilypad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge. $15. Pop rock Brazilian artist and Berklee College of Music student Lorena Ometto brings a five-piece band to play rock and blues along with some originals; Village Idiots are a four-piece group from Boston with a grunge rock musical style and also perform originals. Information is here.
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Thanks for mentioning the Le Prestige and Celebrated Orchestra gig at Lizard Lounge on 22 JAN. It would be great if you would also include 2nd Saturdays at Remnant Satellite gigs that Le Prestige plays, often with another band.