Boston Compass #162

ART BY:

BOSTON LATIN RISE 2 FAME

Dominican Artist “Skip2Dip” never knew that music could be an outlet for his emotions. By diving into the arts at his local youth center, he discovered his calling—and ever since then, he’s been making hits. Skip relays that being surrounded by such a diverse music scene and talented group of friends drove him to curiosity, and he initially started off in the scene as a photographer. He began taking it very seriously in college while balancing two full-time jobs and actively staying engaged with the diverse melting pot of students on campus. For this Latin star, music is life. And because of music’s powerful ability to bring people together, he’s thankful to be traveling all around the world and making new friends. After years of packing up his equipment to finish his music during overnight shifts at work, Skip feels like at this point in his life he is creating some of his best music. Seeing the fruits of his labor pushes him and everyone else on his team to work harder. Bry, his manager, was introduced to his music as an insurance salesman who used to be a rapper back home in the Dominican Republic. The pair grew together through all the mishaps that come with the music business and have helped fulfill each other. Skip’s mantra and vision is to create connections & contributions, while also making timeless music. You learn the level of your time and art; at this point in his music career, Skip wants to take off with a serious plan—but he prioritizes believing in himself. For the next couple of months, this artist will be focusing on blending fashion with house music—so be on the lookout. When asked what new artists should be doing to follow in his footsteps, Skip had a few gems of knowledge to drop: “If you’re a new artist starting off, invest in yourself and your craft, learn how to record and use social media. Spend more time listening to yourself and less time listening to your favorite people. You don’t

want to mimic your favorite artist. Surround yourself with creative, like-minded individuals. Share your music with your inner circle first and create a plan. Create, connect, contribute, and have fun.” Dominican Artist Lia Nicole came to Boston with a very positive attitude—despite the fact that listening to certain music in her country was illegal. She grew up in a very strict household with two educators for parents who let her express herself, making Lia a learner and lover of the world. Being surrounded by so much knowledge has always been rewarding to her success, attributing to the creation of her powerful Latin music. Lia started making music in 2019 and only recently began making songs in Spanish last year. Although she’s only released singles so far, expect to see the Debut of her first EP “Santa” in the fall—with features from Bori Rock and a heavy Latin vibe. When it comes down to the creation process, this Latin star says her mood takes a big play on her songs. No matter where she is throughout the day, if a line or catchy bar comes to mind, she’ll write it down and wait for the perfect beat to make her feel something. She feels very honored to have made promising professional musical connections that help her work flow effortlessly. Growing up some of her biggest inspirations were Lady Gaga, Mozar, Nicki Minaj, and Melli Melli which we can now see influencing her vast caliber and the dedication that she had for illegally downloading music overseas in the Dominican Republic. Lia Nicole is excited for the future of New England as Boston talent is on the rise and is showcasing many established artists that she favors such as Chelley Marie, Kid Fob, and Caev—some of Boston›s most talented creative individuals.

Poetic Pattie

BOSTON DEMANDS ON OCTOBER 7: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY NOW!

United American Indians of New England (UAINE), the North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB), and others have called for a march and rally on October 7 to demand that elected authorities in Massachusetts forever replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day (IPD).

The decades-long struggle of Indigenous peoples in Massachusetts, where the Pilgrims carried out “first encounter” land thefts and genocide, aims to overturn centuries of entrenched racist mythology wrapped up in the triumphalist federal holiday known as Columbus Day. The 2017 murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the hands of fascists, and the police lynching of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, sparked a national wave of actions targeting racist icons, including Christopher Columbus. On June 10, 2020, a statue of Christopher Columbus in Boston’s North End was beheaded, and statues in Richmond, Virginia, and St. Paul, Minnesota, were similarly targeted. Indigenous organizers succeeded in winning IPD declarations in cities and states coast to coast, but not in Boston, where a 1675 law banning Native Americans from entering the city remained on the books until 2004.

Past time for Massachusetts officials to replace colonial myths UAINE and NAICOB succeeded in 2021, appearing at the press podium with Kim Janey, Boston’s first woman, first Black mayor, to witness the signing of an executive order replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “Observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day is about replacing the colonial myths passed down from generation to generation with the true history of the land upon which our nation was founded,” said Janey. Unfortunately, in 2022, the incoming Democratic mayor, Michelle Wu, bent to racist political pressure and

DESIGNERS:

Phoebe Delmonte: p. 1,

declared the day “Italian Heritage Day” alongside IPD. In Massachusetts—where the state flag, which depicts a white arm brandishing a sword above an Indigenous man’s head, still flies three years after the State House voted to change it —intransigent legislators continue to defend the Columbus myth, holding Indigenous Peoples’ Day bills in committee year after year. This is despite persistent efforts by the Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda and thousands of supporters across the state. Mahtowin Munro (Lakota), co-leader of United American Indians of New England (UAINE) and lead organizer for IndigenousPeoplesDayMA.org, explained: “We call on the MA State Legislature to step up now and pass our statewide Indigenous Peoples’ Day bill and our other legislation currently before them, including bills to ban Native American team mascots, to provide for Indigenous curriculum content in the public schools, to protect sacred Native American heritage, and to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous students.”

IPD action to also target Faneuil Hall

For many years, IPD supporters have joined Rev. Kevin Peterson and The New Democracy Coalition in their movement to rename Faneuil Hall, one of Boston’s most popular tourist traps. Faneuil Hall’s namesake, Peter Faneuil, was one of Boston’s wealthiest settler capitalists who perfected for profit the buying and selling of enslaved Black and Indigenous persons. Many in Boston’s Black and Indigenous communities have joined Rev. Peterson in speaking out and protesting at the very site where Faneuil conducted his despicable auctions of hundreds of enslaved children, women and men. This year’s IPD march plans to again encircle and rally at the site, typically thronged with thousands of tourists, before marching to the waterfront Christopher Columbus Park, to demand an immediate name change there as well. “In a city and country that largely erases Indigenous people, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a day to learn about and celebrate Indigenous history and contemporary Indigenous peoples and cultures,” said Munro. “It should be only a first step for Boston to begin to build relationships with Indigenous people and begin to address the many injustices faced by us here and elsewhere. It is time for us to stop being ignored and erased.”

Workers World Party, Boston Bureau

4, 5

Hannah Blauner: p. 2, 3, 7

Adrian Alvarez: p. 6, 8

AFFECTED ACCENT

Kris Davis: Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard

Kris Davis’ recently released album “Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard” is one of the best new albums I have heard in recent memory. Let me try to put that in context. I love improvised music, and the more open, freeform, and unexpected the better. But as I get older, I have less and less tolerance for endless chaotic noise and ego-driven individualism. I want contrast, a narrative arc, and a collective recognition of where the music is heading and what each person can contribute to the greater whole. There are certain musicians that I idolize for their technical ability, virtuosity across genres, stellar ear, and the maturity and humbleness to not be the center of attention but be part of a group. Pianist Kris Davis is one of those musicians, and in this album, she brought together other like-minded masters, wrote/selected songs that create opportunity and space for winding alleyways, and had the forethought and opportunity to play together over an extended engagement to give everyone time to find their space in the collective. The end result is this selection of live recordings from their shows at the Village Vanguard in May 2022, released in September of this year by Pyroclastic Records.

The core of Diatom Ribbons comes from

the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, where Kris Davis, Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, and Electronic Musician Val Jeanty have leadership positions. That core has been playing under the name Diatom Ribbons for years and released a killer first album in 2019. For this incarnation, Davis brought in Julian Lage (leader of a stellar trio) on guitar and Trevor Dunn (of Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, Fantamos, and Secret Chiefs 3 fame) on bass. What is striking is the absence of overpowering egos—it is the whole that shines, not the individual parts—and while Davis is undoubtedly the leader, she never dominates. The wide stylistic range and flexibility of each musician also creates the perfect environment for something special and unexpected to emerge. The fact that these musicians are regularly tapped by John Zorn speaks to their ability to effortlessly glide from disjointed stabbing chaos to more traditionally composed jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock, etc. Davis uses the group’s flexibility to expertly explore different styles and moods over the course of the 105-minute double album that unravels like a well-crafted story. Definitely check out “Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard.”

-------------------------

STEVE BYCHOWSKI

MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE

Jiles and Vinyl Villain Deliver a Classic

If you’ve been keeping up with the music scene in Massachusetts, then you’ll undoubtedly be familiar with the state’s homegrown collective known as Van Buren Records. In years past, their reputation has derived from their group status, with projects like ‘Black Wall Street’ and ‘Bad for Press’ existing at the forefront of listeners’ minds. These days, the members of the Brockton-based coalition are moving down their own unique lanes, though they’re still very much operating as a unit. Some of the solo releases in recent memory are Luke Bar$’ ‘Angels Never Die’, ET’s ‘#ET’, and Meech’s ‘28’, all of which are some of the most exceptional pieces of work that the state has seen this year. One member of the group who’s been relatively quiet up until recently is Jiles. Revered for his ability to repackage the things he’s witnessed and experienced in life and deliver them with a special aura of rawness that transports the listener into the core of his raps, Jiles’ blend of Rap music is unparalleled. After several years had passed without him releasing a full-length body of work, the drought has finally come to an end. Last month, he teamed up with Massachusetts Producer Vinyl Villain to deliver a noteworthy album titled ‘Mookie Blaylock’.

A 16-song offering, this project is one that stands tall against a large number of Rap albums that have been released in recent memory. From beginning to end, both Jiles and Vinyl Villain bring out the best in one another, as Vinyl Villain curates a stellar collection of soundscapes for the Brockton rapper to carve into hearty, well-enamored pieces of work. The phrase “restoring the feeling” is one that’s thrown around a lot, but that’s exactly what Jiles and Vinyl Villain accomplish here. ‘Mookie Blaylock’ is “real rap” at its core, and the collage of ubiquitous

throwback sports references, anecdotal verses, and cinematic aural environments cement this body of work as one that won’t be lost on listeners anytime soon. Featured across this album are fellow rap talents Dun Dealy, Big Super, maari, Wahid, FELIX!, and Swizzy, all of whom contribute graciously to the unique nature of this project.

There are many standout singles that are prevalent throughout ‘Mookie Blaylock’, some of which include “Sauce Gardner”, “Feed The Rebel Records”, and “10pc”. “Sauce Gardner” starts off with an otherworldly sample that quickly shifts into a guttural, head-knocking instrumental. Jiles attacks this beat with an intense ferocity, and grabs hold of the 80 second runtime of this song with an onslaught of raps. “Feed The Rebel Records” takes name from the featured artists, Dun Dealy of Feed The Family and Big Super from Rebel Mafia Global. Both originally from Boston, “Feed The Rebel Records” is a gleaming example of the Hip-Hop prowess that exists in the Bay State. “10pc” was one of the two singles to be released off of ‘Mookie Blaylock’, and rightfully so, as this song is perhaps the best microcosm for what the entire project consists of. Equipped with an ominous, almost menacing sounding beat, “10pc” establishes Jiles as a prominent MC with a knack for reflecting on life in his raps. There’s an innate quality to his verses, as sharing his perspective on life over song is something that comes incredibly natural to him. At its core, ‘Mookie Blaylock’ is a method for communicating experience, and is a body of work that ultimately grows into a pillar of light within Jiles’ discography. If you’re looking for your new favorite rap project, then look no further. ------------------------------------------------ SHAMUS HILL

THE UNDERGROUND

FERTILITY IN THE LOCAL BOSTON MUSIC SCENE

Just when I started getting into the local music scene of Miami, the world shut down. I couldn’t stand the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to see any live music for the unpredictable future, so I decided that I wanted to give a voice to the bands that were being silenced by the pandemic. That’s how The Underground was born in Miami. Ever since, I have helped shed light on them, exposing them to new audiences and crowds. Soon after establishing the platform in Miami, I moved to Boston for college, and decided to bring The Underground name with me to the Northeast.

Getting used to the local music scene in any new city is a very intimidating experience, and it was overwhelming when I got to Boston. Even though I had done some research on some of the bands I wanted to see, it still felt as if I was jumping into the lion’s den with a blindfold and both hands tied behind my back.

I went to my first local Boston concert in the fall of 2021 and was confused as to why my Uber dropped me off at a house (the first thing that makes the local scene in Boston so unique). There were signs that led me to the backyard, with more signs guiding me down a flight of stairs into a basement (another quaint detail). As I made my way downstairs, the walls of the stairwell started to shake, filling the stairwell with a booming baseline and intense drum patterns.

Before I knew it, I was already integrated into the crowd, jumping right into the music. The size of the basement gave the bands a perfect opportunity to interact with the crowd, at times erasing the line between performer and enjoyer. From that moment on, I could not get enough of the local scene.

That night, I made a pact with myself saying that I am going to attend as many local events as I possibly can, whether it’s hosted at a bigger local venue or if it was another DIY basement show. We are currently amid a very fertile time of the local Boston music scene, taking a predominant focus in the indie rock and alternative scene. I have had the incredible opportunity to see many indie acts from the greater Boston area, with some of the highlights being:

Kayla Silverman, a local artist that never fails to harmoniously blend aspects of electronic pop with classical music, always inviting stunning brass sounds to accompany her “Weyes Blood” aesthetic.

Her performances are always energy filled, as she always gets the crowd to move and to sing back to her, making it a very engaging experience for all parties involved.

One of my favorite acts from the has been a recent Northeastern University graduate that is artistically known as Keyboard Dog. I have had the opportunity to see him many times at varying venues across the city, and he never fails to disappoint. Most of the songs he performs involve a delicate and emotional duet between him and his keyboard, always making his performances special and intimate.

Transitioning into the more alternative rock part of the scene, GOING222JAIL is a relatively new band in the scene, having played their first show at the end of summer in 2021. The closest comparisons I can make to them would be a mix between Green Day and Third Eye Blind, while identifying themselves as indie rockers adding alternative, grungy, and modern sounds to their music. If you listen closely, you might even be able to dissect some faint touches of alt country, which could be made out through certain guitar patterns.

Another band that I witnessed the same night as the previous was Gollylagging. They have also been active in the DIY music scene since 2021, featuring a variety of more aggro instrumentation, but nonetheless getting us to move with their sudden but controlled bursts of intense hooks.

One very special thing about the scene here that never fails to surprise me is that every event caters to a completely different audience, something that I have learned to be a very rare occurrence in the local scenes of other cities. There are so many genres represented in the local scene, with more and more subgenres branching from them. I can’t remember the bands that performed that fall night, but the one thing I do remember was the feeling I got from being in that steamy basement with other people that were enjoying music just like me, creating a safe and harmonious local music community.

As much as I would love to drone on about more of my favorite bands in the scene, you’re going to have to follow The Underground (@underground.bos) to learn more about these bands and the many more that make up the scene!

A.K.A. The Underground

BAO X SCR HOSTS A FREE VIRTUAL BIPOC FILM EVENT

BAO x Sista Creatives Rising, a Disabled Black-Mother-Daughter Project, will host the virtual film event and fundraiser: “Art & Mind: I Know Who I Am! Journeys of Women of Color & Femme-Expressing Creatives,” sponsored by Brain Arts Org & Dancing Queerly Boston, The Puffin Foundation Grant, and FY24 Mass Cultural Council Grant.

“Art & Mind,” is a Free virtual Zoom disability-accessible film event series supporting creative marginalized women and marginalized genders to share their journeys. This event uses short films and speaking engagements from therapists and activists to raise awareness about various social issues.

Founded by us, Sista Creatives Rising (SCR), is a project and concept. My daughter Amaranthia Sepia and I are a Black, invisibly disabled mother-daughter duo. SCR seeks to strengthen our community by increasing the visibility of these artists and compensating them.

We’re also fundraising for the Sistas Uprising Fund, where 100% of proceeds will become mini grants for BIWOC & FemmeExpressing Creatives of Color. We are also showcasing two documentaries alongside talks by Black Therapists Amanda McGuire

& Journee LaFond, free mental health resources, and a talk by our Black Disability Speaker Jacquese Armstrong.

“I Know Who I Am!” is a showcase of women of color and femme-expressing folks of color finding solace and healing in art. We are showcasing the following artists: Haisi Hu, Kaiana Hernandez, The Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins, Tennesha Skyers, and SabiLewSounds.

Our second documentary, “A 50% Chance of Paralysis: Get Ahead of Life Before Life Gets Ahead of You,” delves into my 2022 cancer journey. Black women have been forced into living within the strong and resilient stereotype and burdened with the idea that we must nurture others without putting our needs and mental health first. I believe this stressor manifested as a spinal tumor. I face my trauma by navigating physical and occupational therapy to be one of the 1% that can walk again after high-risk spinal surgery. Showcases original music by Mel Chilianis, Australian musician and disabled creative, and my spoken word performance art.

Sign up, donate, and view trailers: https:// givebutter.com/iknowwhoiam

“Art & Mind: I Know Who I Am!”

more at bostoncompassnewspaper.com

music & audio

Open Mic & Karaoke

Wednesdays Open Mic 7pm to 10pm. Karaoke 10pm to Midnight. Every Wednesday. Presented by AllStar Fresh.

Hosted by @GreatnessASF617

Open Mic & Karaoke

Wednesdays @ The Jungle

The People's Jam - Blues on Sundays When Johnny D's Uptown closed, there was a big hole that needed to be filled. For decades, blues musicians jammed on that stage on Sundays. Some big names grew up on that stage and everyone supported everyone else. That is the spirit that the Porch fosters with this jam. Just come on in, add your name to the signup sheet. Each group of jammers plays 3 songs and no one repeats until all the players have had a turn.

@ The Porch 1pm

El Bad Guy Show Dj Epps & D'shon El Villano, the Spanglish rapper hailing from Miami, has boldly stepped into the scene to shatter the mold with his bilingual mixtape masterpiece: NUEVO DOOM. This Spanglish show about hip hop culture, lifestyle, and events hosted by @villanomuzik and @diRagga_ musicfresh airs on WKMT-DB

DAGR8FM Sundays 7-9pm

10/4 Free Workshop: Mics, Movement, and Content

Monetization Come see the live taping of the #Artdacity conversation series hosted by BAMS Fest, where you will explore pathways, challenges & opportunities in podcasting & broadcasting @ The Record Co

6-8pm All Ages

10/6 Studio Friday's with BVD

Boston All Afrobeats, Dancehall & Soca Every Friday Night @ Rumor Boston 21+

10/6 Salsa in the Park Returns to Cambridge! MetaMovements teams up with Canal District Kendall to bring Salsa In The Park to Cambridge! Lessons, Performances, Music Corner, animaciones (group dance), social dancing, and more! @ Skate at Canal District Kendall 6-9pm All Ages

10/7 Dancing on the Charles Season Closer presented by Resident Advisor Outdoor dance party! Ft. Pete Moss (Philly), Cakewalk, Phil Costa, MGG and Funky Brewster @ American Legion March Post #442 3-11pm

21+

10/7 Day JaVu Saturdays Join Boston Lesbigay Urban Events every 1st Saturday of the month at Crave Allston for a night of dancing, drinking, and eating !!! 10pm-2am. Celebrating a Birthday that month get in for FREE before 11:30pm @ Crave Allston 10pm-2am

10/7 Thunder Lily and Brittany

Holljes Steven Mullen aka

Thunder Lily shares music from his upcoming album and accompany Brittany on songs from her

@ Cranberry County House Concerts 4-6pm All Ages

10/7 Kleo album listening party for his new album, Evil Hero @ Nosa Boston 7:30pm All

Ages

10/9 Black Beach, Astral Bitches, Bad Verb, Saturniids @ The Silhouette Lounge 9pm 21+

10/10 Get to the Gig Boston presents The Good Life with Doom Flower @ Deep Cuts Deli

7 All Ages

10/12 Trans4Texts and trans open mic, reading series and talk show featuring established and emerging trans writers as guests. The event runs every second Thursday at the Model Cafe in Allston. 7pm Sign Up, 8pm Open Mic, 9pm Guest. @ Model Cafe 7-10pm 21+

10/12 Athene Wilson & Friends

From a Pentecostal Church in Jamaica to Boston, Bringing Jazz, Gospel and R&B! Every 2nd Thursday night in Medford @ The Porch 7-10pm

10/13 The Cheerful Desolation Choir, Matthew Connor, and VQnC @ The Loft 7pm All Ages

10/13 Honky Tonk Night with Rosie Porter and the Neon Moons Often reminiscent of Patsy Cline meets Waylon Jennings, "Porter’s vocals are heartfelt and her strong voice pays homage to influences of the past while, at the same time, creating music that is incredibly fresh.” @ The Porch 6-8:30pm

10/14 Bent not Broken Circuit Bending Workshop friend, an old toy, or any sound producing electronic device and learn how to bend it to hell to make weird sounds! The workshop provides soldering irons, tools, materials, and a few things to bend if you don't have something. @ Firehouse 2-6pm

10/15 Optic Sink with Colby Nathan, Houndsteeth, and Sacred Heart Auto League @ Deep Cuts Deli 7pm 18+

10/17 Decisive Pink and EDAN Live @ Lilypad 7:30-11:30pm All Ages $17

10/19 Darsombra, Dyr Faser, FEEP, The O-Zones Pub 9pm 21+

10/20 Big Fuzzy, Lou Ball and Randy Numebs 9:30pm 21+ $10

10/22 Noah Britton's Going Away Party with Evil Sword, Indescribable Pleasure and Hazel Allie Come celebrate this Boston legend moving away to Barcelona! And hear some amazing tunes. @ Lilypad 9pm All Ages

10/24 Crossroads presents Squirrel Flower

Music Hall 7pm

10/28 Halloween Loft Show! Ft Halloween-esque cover bands. Including: Thom Yorke/ underground EP. Doors open 2pm, show at 4pm.

Radiohead (Audrey), The Kinks (Toby Tantrum), Guided by Voices (Grownup Noise), & Time Warp (Lunatic Fringe) @ The Loft 7pm 21+

10/28 Raveyard presents Pilgrims of Yearning, CMB (Casey Desmond), Avoxblue and DJ Andre Obin The darkness of space is coming to life in this upcoming gothdance event, RAVEYARD. The night is drenched in synthwave, electronic, dark-wave, and industrial dance music, and promises to be an intoxicating experience. Come get wicked! Spooky-Seasonal/ Thematic Attire Encouraged but not required @ Magic Room 7:30pm

visual art

10/5 ImprovBoston Jam

A weekly night of comedy hosted by leaders of ImprovBoston. All students, performers, and friends are welcome. Each week will focus on a different Improv skill or form. Come play every Thursday! @ ImprovBoston

6-7pm FREE

10/22 Blowwloween VI: BLOWW Goes Broke Come watch the Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers try to hold on to their prized possessions and keep their very souls from being REPOSSESSsssssed... BLOWW struggles to pay the bills, but the fights must go on! Enter if you dare! @ Arts at the Armory

7-10pm $25

10/27 Stand Up Comedy Series

ft. Mark Gregory, Jonathon

10/15 Open Streets: East Boston Open Streets Boston events help people experience streets as public spaces where communities thrive. City streets transform into vibrant, pedestrian-friendly boulevards where people can dream, play, and explore. Come visit East Boston, Meridian Street from Maverick to Porter, and Bennington Street from Porter to Day Square 10am-3:30pm

10/23 Speed Friending with Skip the Small Talk Do you wish you could have more of the kinds of conversations you have late at night where, for some reason, you feel safe talking about the things you actually care about? Bring your friends (or come by yourself, most people do!) and spend your Monday night at an event where

advocacy

10/3 Indigenous Peoples Day Bill Committee Hearing at MA State House Show up to support the statewide Indigenous Peoples Day bill at its first committee hearing! Hearing location will be in the Gardner Auditorium at the MA State House in Boston.

WEAR PURPLE to show your support! Be prepared to stay for a few hours since there are other items on the committee's agenda, but if you can't stay the whole time, stop by anyway to show your support! The hearing starts at 11am, but plan to arrive by 10:45am. @ Massachusetts State House 10:45am-1:30pm

10/15 Cultural Deferences is a multisensory event celebrating Muslim creative voice! This showcase brings together thinkers, creatives, and artists for a thought-provoking, soulenriching, and heart-levitating evening. @ Kresge Auditorium

6-9pm

literary art

Book Release: Daughters of Latin America by Sandra Guzman A total of 140 women ancestors and contemporary writers—in one volume.

More than 40 nations and 24 languages—songs, chants, poetry, lyric essays, speeches, short stories, fragments of novels, opinions, letters.

10/7 Bilingual Drag Time Story

Hour with Just JP! Hora del cuento bilingue con Just JP! The event will include a reading of Platanos Go With Everything/ Los platanos van con todo written by Lissette Norman and illustrated by Sara Palacios. And of course, different types of platano dishes will be available. For children ages 4 and up, accompanied by a parent/ caregiver. @ Connolly Branch of the Boston Public Library 11am12pm

10/14 Watertown Zine Fest

Join the Watertown Free Public Library for the third annual Watertown Zine Fest to celebrate and learn about all

10/14 Boston Book Festival

Celebrating the power of words to stimulate, agitate, unite, delight, and inspire, the Boston Book Festival presents year-round events culminating in an annual festival that promotes a culture of reading and ideas and enhances the vibrancy of our city.

@ Copley Square 10am-6pm

opportunity

2024 Exhibition Opportunities at the Jamaica Plain Branch Library

Call for Proposals for bi-monthly shows of two-dimensional works by New England area artists.

Deadline to apply is 10/4

Now and There Community

Captains The Community Advisory Group is a non-voting group of 9-15 paid individuals who believe in the power of collaboration in neighborhoods and communities to engage curiosity-based dialogue that can help shape Boston into a more vibrant and equitable city. Deadline to apply is 10/16

Local Cultural Council Grants The largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, this grant program enriches the cultural life of all cities and towns in Massachusetts. Deadline to apply is 10/17

Company One Theatre's Season 25 Volt Lab is designed to help early career playwrights, dramaturgs, designers, and directors hone their craft. Participants will join a cohort of civically-engaged, antiracist peers. Deadline to apply is 10/23

George B. Henderson Foundation Mini-Grants This program will provide grants of up to $7,500 for immediate implementation of community and neighborhood-based public outdoor space and public art projects. Deadline to apply is 12/30

The Shubert Foundation nation’s largest funder dedicated to unrestricted funding of notfor-profit theaters and dance companies. Deadline to apply is 10/18

Network for Arts Administrators of Color Mentorship Program

From January 2024 to June of 2024, six early career and six mid-career arts administrators of color will participate in monthly professional development workshops and have monthly oneon-one sessions with their mentor or sponsor. Deadline to apply is 10/30

Cultural Facilities Fund Grants support the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities. Nonprofit cultural organizations, municipalities, and colleges or universities that own or lease cultural facilities are eligible to apply. Grants range from $7K to $200K. Deadline to apply is 12/14

The New Art Center’s BIPOC Curatorial Program will enable curators who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to develop and share exhibitions that spark dialogue, and share personal vision and personal experiences through curation. Deadline to apply is 10/15

STARS Residencies bring students and teachers together with practicing artists, scientists, and humanists to create rich cultural experiences in Massachusetts K-12 classrooms. Grants range from $2500-$6100. Deadline to apply is 10/24

Fay Chandler EMERGING Art Exhibition 2023 The City of Boston is seeking submissions for this annual exhibition at Boston City Hall from artists that live, work, or create in the Greater Boston area. Deadline to apply is 10/27

City of Boston Small Grants Program The Small Grants program will accept applications in four program areas. Charitable and humane purposes (providing humanitarian aid or services), Special or new recreation for Bostonians, Recreational (play or sports) areas for children, and to adorn and embellish (or beautify and enhance) Boston's streets and public spaces. Grants awarded up to $2K. Deadline to apply is 10/6 Call for creative, interactive artwork connected to the theme of Belonging Castle of our Skins seeks artists of different disciplines to create interactive experiences that answer the question: "What does it mean to belong to a person, to a place, to yourself?" Up to five artist designed experiences will be included in a collection of “Connection Stations” that are participatory driven and designed to facilitate the process of belonging. Deadline to apply is 10/9

The Extremely Boring Adventures of Jamal B. Franklin by Nile Hennick

The Adventures of Aaron & Beatrice by Gabriel Joy Reid

The Mixx by Zahirah Nur Truth

Space Cat 2 by Coleman Luse

The Market by Cagen Luse

THE OFTEN INVISIBLE CENTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES

coming Watertown Zine Fest at the Watertown Free Public Library on Saturday 10/14 which will provide a zine market, zine making workshop, and lectures on the history and process of zine making. Libraries often have art galleries that showcase local artists, they provide free meeting spaces for community groups to gather and work, they provide a safe afterschool location for children to go, and provide streaming services for movies, books, music, and more through services like Kanopy, Hoopla, and Libby - all free with your library card.

I love being a librarian. Helping members of my community every day in one of the last social spaces free of corporate influence and capitalist dogma is a privilege, and one that I’m very grateful for. Libraries are so much more than just books, and since September was library card signup month we thought there was no better time to highlight some of the many different ways these important institutions support their communities.

Did you know that libraries often loan items other than books? Thanks to the “Library of Things” movement, most libraries loan digital cameras, musical instruments, digital projectors, video game systems, cooking equipment, toys for children, media conversion tools, and much more. The library “Makerspace” initiative recently saw the incorporation of creative spaces in libraries that include access to software like Adobe Photoshop, high-end podcasting equipment, and even things like 3D printers all open for free public use.

Providing services like ESL classes, diverse programming for all ages, assistance with applying for jobs or navigating the process of securing government assistance are also all on offer at your local library. The Boston Public Library holds regular citizenship classes to help improve English language skills and prepare individuals for the US citizenship test. They offer resources and services to help people start their own business and even provide free consultations with lawyers specializing in patent applications.

Libraries often preserve the historical record as well, maintaining large archival collections and actively digitizing local historical materials that tell the unique stories of our various communities. BAO will soon be donating a complete run of the Boston Compass from 2010 to the present for preservation at the BPL. Promoting and preserving both popular and countercultural content is a key part of a library’s responsibility. Look no further than the up -

I could go on and on, but it's worth noting that these are not services to take for granted. Libraries nationwide are under assault. Book bans are up over 20% in 2023 with nearly 2000 titles already being challenged this year alone. Many of these titles are by marginalized authors, BIPOC, or members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and seek to give voices to underrepresented individuals. These books help people feel seen, and yet they’re being forcibly removed or censored by groups who seek to repress collective identity and free expression.

The freedom to read, long a mantra of libraries and cultural institutions, is being challenged every day as cities and towns nationwide seek to cut funding for libraries or eliminate them altogether. In rural communities, which often bear the brunt of these attacks and setbacks, the library is often the only place that is welcoming to everyone. The only place that provides access to high speed internet. The only place where someone can explore who they are free of prejudice and judgment.

We find ourselves living in a post-truth world in which objective fact is questioned daily and people’s rights are under near constant assault. The library stands at the front lines of this clash of ideals. We should all join them in their quest to support their communities and stand up for justice and equality for all. So if you don’t have one already, go out and grab a library card. I think you’ll be amazed at the doors it will open.

THE GLUTTON REPORTS

Yafa Bakery

You’re walking along Somerville Avenue— siloed on the sidewalk by the cyclists and cars and their cymbals—and a sniff of sugar snags you by the collar. Candied dates, rose-honey glazes, cinnamon and syrup… You see her: Yafa Bakery. Nestled in between Union and Porter Square, Yafa is like the cream in the center of a crisp kunafeh. Serving up sweet breads, sweets, and delicacies for all the senses, Yafa Bakery transcends distance and delivers taste to Somerville. Owner Abdulla Awad opened the bakery last summer, naming it after a city on the far outskirts of Jerusalem. The taste profile herds inspiration from a range of overseas countries, like Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, France, and Italy—yet Awad describes the theme as Mediterranean. The offerings are of a jeweled museum, or decadent wedding: chocolate filled-dates, million-layered pastries, and rose-garnished cookies. As for the savory, there are hoops of hot Jerusalem bread and steaming safayeh that rest in the corner of the eye as you approach the register.

And it is the hospitality that is the honey on the cake. After working in food service, I became a quick customer, meaning that I try to make my transactions succinct. As I rattled off my order, Awad politely interrupted me, saying “I want you to try this one first.” Alarming, yet entirely disarming. He walked me through each choice, explaining its flavor composition and craft, even steering me to options that he thought I would like better. And after sampling several of Awad’s specialties, I settled on two sweets, a bread doused in zaatar, and a hot chai. I felt special, like a guest in someone’s home.

The Glutton Reports: What a wonder. The mosaic table-tops rays reflecting light-blue onto the walls, the red-orange oil atop the hummus accompanying my flatbread. Yafa, in Hebrew and Aramaic, means “beauty.” It seems that every creative decision in the bakery paid a special attention to the cultivation and care of beauty. Delicate flakes of rose petals on the crispy-like-a-bird’s-nest kunafeh cream, the subtle chew of finely-chopped nuts on the almondo, the three different types of pistachio balloriya… It was like I was on the second day of a week-long vacation overseas, stumbling into a local cafe after walking up and down several cathedrals. Like I was in love with the world. I departed with sugar still stuck in my teeth, and the deep aromas of chai clinging to my hair.

Yafa Bakery has perfected the art of the treat, whether in the form of orange-blossom syrup, gestures that stray past the ordinary, the tiny detail that elicits new feelings. Reader, there was a little statue in the shop window—a brown-glazed horse sitting cross-legged and hanging his hooves over the display. He held a biscuit in his lap. He sported a small smile. Is it strange to say that I felt like that horse? Life can be this whimsical.

MIKE ACHILLE