Real Estate
Rendering of previous proposal for The Gate, 5 McBride St.

Plan for Old James’s Gate Property Returns to Neighborhood Committee

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One of the most-watched real estate developments in a neighborhood full of them returns to public debate this week. The former James's Gate site at 5 McBride St. will be on the docket Wednesday when the JP Neighborhood Council's Zoning Committee meets. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Farnsworth House, 90 South St., just a block from the abandoned pub. Proponents are pitching a four-story mixed-use building that would have 11 residential units and commercial space on the ground floor.

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Elections

Early Voting Available Today and Next Friday in JP

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Friday is one of two days this election when voters can exercise their franchise early, right here in the neighborhood. Friday from 2-8 p.m. at Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South St., there's early voting. Next Friday - Nov. 4 - there's early voting at Back of the Hill Apartments. There are many more early voting locations outside JP.

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Arts
Sylvia Lopez Chavez and Elisa Hamilton will have an interactive public art exhibition at The Eliot School for the 2016 JP Open Studios

Your Guide to Jamaica Plain Open Studios 2016

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Want to get the most out of your time at this year's Jamaica Plain Open Studios? We've put together this guide to help. During Open Studios, which run Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 200 artists will showcase their work at 40 sites around the neighborhood. The massive event is free. Open Studios is a fixture on the JP calendar alongside other can't miss events like Wake Up the Earth, the JP Music Festival, the Lantern Parade and JP Porchfest.

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Business

This is Not a Drill: Dumpling House Finally Opens

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The long-awaited Pink Samurai Dumpling House, which originally was scheduled to open in December 2015, is finally open. Twitter user John Hayden confirmed the 658 Centre St. restaurant was open Saturday and should be open again Tuesday after being closed for Labor Day. .@pinksamurai_jp @OnlyInBOS @02130News Pink samurai is so open!!! pic.twitter.com/5vDlHgr8uH— John Hayden (@anvilwonk) September 4, 2016

The long delay has had dumpling fans on a high-alert Dumpling Watch.

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Detail from “Nieli’ka” mural by Mayor’s Mural Crew, 2013 on wall of Purple Cactus
Arts

JP Home to Four of Region’s Top 50 Pieces of Public Art

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Several pieces of art familiar to anyone from JP made WBUR's list of the top 50 pieces of public art in Greater Boston. We won't spoil all the enjoyment, as scrolling through Greg Cook's well-reasoned list is half the fun. But we were happy to see Rafael Rivera García's epic mural of Taino mythology at No. 20. Click through for Cook's full fifty to find the four that are in JP.

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Business
Pink Samurai Dumpling House, 658 Centre St., poised to open soon. Photo taken Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016.

Long-awaited ‘Pink Samurai Dumpling House’ May Open as Soon as Friday

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We have it on good authority that the old Charlie Chan's on Centre Street will open as Pink Samurai Dumpling House as early as Friday. The chef who originally was going to launch the dumpling restaurant told Jamaica Plain News that while he is no longer involved in the project, he expects the new team may open as soon as Friday. We expect menu changes from the original concept. We'll pass along more as soon as we can confirm it. We've been unable to reach the owner but we'll update this story if we do.

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Real Estate
Proposal for five-story mixed-used building, "The Gate" on site of former James's Gate Pub

‘The Gate’ — 5-Story Building Would Take James’s Gate Spot

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The neighborhood will get a closer look Wednesday at the five-story mixed-use development that would rise where a much-loved pub once stood. James's Gate Pub, fireplace and dual bars included, closed abruptly in September 2015. The developer is scheduled to give a presentation on the plan on Wednesday at the Zoning Committee of the JP Neighborhood Council. If you'd like to go, the meeting is 7 p.m. at Farnsworth House, 90 South St. The parcel is at the corner of South and McBride.

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Charlie, the shop dog of On Centre
Animals

Meet Charlie, the On Centre Shop Dog

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JP has a tradition of shop cats and shop dogs. From Ivy at Ivy Insurance to Monkey at Pups N' Paradise and Lucy at AAA Appliances, fur-bearers fairly festoon our storefronts. A recent addition to the shop companion animal scene is Charlie at On Centre. Philip Celeste, who runs the 676 Centre St. gift shop, says Charlie is a Tibetan terrier who gets along well with customers.

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City Services

Photos: Library Addition Makes Progress

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Work continues on the long-sought renovation of the JP Branch of the Boston Public Library. Neighbors met with the city on Thursday to hear about the progress and discuss the hassles attendant to a big project being undertaken near the center of the neighborhood. We stopped by on Friday for a few photos of the construction. The Friends of the Library are also documenting the project. Its Facebook page is a good place to start to connect with the group.

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