Did you know that in 1887 the Kindergarten for the Blind opened in Jamaica Plain where the MSPCA is currently located? In honor of Women’s History Month, the Jamaica Plain Historical Society hosted Perkins School for the Blind Lead Archivist Jen Hale, who spoke about the women who led the former JP school. “The Kindergarten was the first of its kind in the United States and had considerable support from prominent women in the Boston…
Jamaica Plain News
To no one’s surprise, District 6 City Councilor Weber is not in support of students drinking in algebra class, and he’s not planning on teaching the art of microbrewing to elementary school students. Now the context: Weber made these pronouncements in his weekly newsletter in reaction to last Wednesday’s City Council meeting. This week’s most ridiculous debate played out at the end of our Wednesday meeting in relation to a non-binding resolution put forward by…
Thanks to fundraising efforts by Croft School parents, the Jamaica Plain private school will remain open for the rest of school year. After shocking news that the co-founder had misrepresented the school’s finances, the Croft community jumped to raising around $5 million to keep the school open the rest of the school year. Croft School kids have also been involved in fundraising, as some students led a bake sale at the South Street mall (tennis/pickleball…
Everyone has heard of the “bee’s knees.” But what about the “tree’s knees?” Yes, just like bees, some trees have knees. The bald cypress, Taxodium distichum, native to the southeastern United States, can have spectacular knees. Like the golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis), dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), all larch species (Larix spp.), and the Chinese swamp cypress (Glyptostroboides pensilis), the bald cypress, as the common name would suggest, is a deciduous conifer, with magnificent copper to bronze colors…
Another new restaurant is coming to Centre Street. The newest addition will be an unnamed fusion tapas restaurant. The restaurant will be at 668 Centre St., and according to the JP Centre/South Main Streets sign in the window, the business is also looking to serve alcohol. But from the looks of it, the restaurant won’t be opening soon because it doesn’t look like any work, or minimal work, has been done in it yet. This…
Mr. Drinky is coming to Centre Street. Mr. Drinky is coming to 606 Centre Street. Mr. Drinky will be a craft cocktail bar with light fare. Mr. Drinky was granted an alcohol license from the Boston Licensing Board. It doesn’t look like there’s been a lot of work has gone on in the location that previously housed the J.C Fruit Shop and Caramelo Clothing Company.
Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) hosted a Batey Comunitario for the local community to celebrate Afro-Latin culture. The event, held on March 12, featured live music and dancing lessons inspired by the practice of Bomba, one of Puerto Rico’s oldest music and dance traditions, originating in the 17th century from enslaved people on coastal sugar plantations. The first half of the event featured a workshop where HSTF teaching artists Marcel Santiago, Genesis Rodriguez, and Nicolas…
The JP Arts Council is seeking small work donations of 2D/3D original art for its Art on Tap fundraiser to support JP Open Studios. This is a great opportunity to purchase work from artists, meet-up friends, have some snacks and drinks and guarantee the future of Jamaica Plain Open Studios. Art on Tap will be on April 29, 7-9 pm, at the Sam Adams Brewery. Admission $5 at the door. All donating artists receive complimentary…
Would you like to host or join a Love Your Block cleanup next month? Registration for the 2026 Love Your Block spring cleanups is now open. Jamaica Plain Love Your Block spring cleanups will take place on Saturday, April 25. Residents can register through March 30 by clicking here to host a cleanup or join an existing effort. Individual volunteers can also pre-register to join cleanups, with the Office of Civic Organizing matching participants to…
The co-founder of the Croft School has been suspended after reportedly misrepresenting the school’s finances, resulting in a $13 million debt and a need for $5 million to keep the school open for the rest of the school year. Scott Given co-founded the Jamaica Plain private school that opened at 3815 Washington St. in Forest Hills in 2017, as well as location in Providence. In recent months, the school had been looking to further expand its…