All-Female Salsa Band Performing at Viva el Latin Quarter Summer Concert on July 17

Celebrate the summer in Boston’s Latin Quarter at a Viva el Latin Quarter Summer Series concert on July 17. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a fun evening of live Latin music by 3nity, Boston’s first all female salsa band. There will also be games, activities and free ice cream from J.P. Licks. The concert will be on July 17th starting at 6 pm on the Blessed Sacrament Plaza (361 Centre St., Jamaica Plain). This event is part of Hyde Square Task Force's Viva el Latin Quarter Summer Series.

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JP World’s Fair Revived: Latin Quarter World’s Fair Coming in September

The defunct Jamaica Plain World Fair will be returning to the neighborhood after a 10-year hiatus, and is being renamed as the Latin Quarter World's Fair (LQWF). The new version of the fair is scheduled to be on September 15 and will be on Creighton Street to Bynner Street, and also scattered throughout the Blessed Sacrament Campus. The multicultural celebration will kick-off National Latinx Heritage Month, and recognize the neighborhood’s designation as a Cultural District by both the Mass Cultural Council and Boston, according to a press release. “The Latin Quarter Cultural District’s new take on the JP World’s Fair will focus on celebrating the neighborhoods long, rich history of Afro-Latin art, culture, food, and music,” said Cisnell Baez, LQWF Committee member and former resident. “By creating spaces and events that are led by the community who lived, work, and own businesses there, we are empowering them to make decisions about their neighborhood.”

Through the years residents and merchants have wanted the fair to return.

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Free Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba Master Class with Hyde Square Task Force This Friday

Don't miss an opportunity to learn and perform Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba with Sasi Marcelino this Friday. Join the Hyde Square Task Force for a Master Class on Friday, May 24 from 6 to 8 pm at Hyde Square Task Force where you will have the chance to learn both Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba music and dance, as well as its rich history. All levels are welcome. The next day, join Hyde Square Task Force youth for a culminating performance on the Blessed Sacrament Plaza (361 Centre St.). Rain Location: Hyde Square Task Force (30 Sunnyside St.).

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Inside Out Sidewalk Fair

Explore food and shopping along Centre Street from Jackson Square to Hyde Square at our 5th annual Inside Out Sidewalk Fair & Sale on Saturday, May 18. We’ll have street musicians, a face painter & balloon artist and more to keep it lively, and businesses will have an array of products on display for sale as well as street food provided by our local restaurants. The Fair will be from 12:00 – 4:00 pm. The rain date is June 1.

Mulch-ca-pade & Centre Street Beautification

Have fun and work along other volunteers to ensure that street trees between Jackson Square and Canary Square get the love they need, public spaces are beautiful and ready for spring, and steel bollards are removed of rust and painted. A free community lunch will follow your dedication. We'll meet at Mozart Park at 10 Mozart Street at 9:00 am.

No Reefer Madness in JP, Mostly Just Parking Concerns

Earlier this week, a recreational marijuana company, Core Empowerment, gained approval by Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeals, bringing it one step closer to opening in Jamaica Plain. The next step is for Core Empowerment to appear in front of the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) to get a license to open. Co-owner Tomas Gonzalez said no date has been set for a CCC meeting. Core has also signed a lease to go into a long-vacant basement level commercial space in Hyde Square. And for the most part there hasn’t been much reefer madness about a recreational marijuana company opening in Jamaica Plain.

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Recreational Marijuana Company Signs City Host Agreement to Open in JP

The city recently signed host agreements with five recreational marijuana companies, including Core Empowerment, which plans on opening a 6,000-plus sq. ft. commercial business on Centre Street. Tomas Gonzalez, one of the co-owners of Core Empowerment, answered Jamaica Plain News' questions about parking, when the business plans on opening, security, the company's Good Neighbor Agreement and local organizations Core Empowerment will be supporting with donations. Q: What stage is Core Empowerment in the application process for opening a recreational marijuana dispensary in Jamaica Plain?

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Celebrate Three Kings Day with Parade and Parranda in Hyde Square on Jan. 5

Join Hyde Square Task Force to celebrate Three Kings Day on January 5, 2019. We will start at 11 am at the Connolly Branch of the Boston Public Library to decorate crowns, read a book about Three Kings Day and learn a traditional parranda song. At 12 pm, we will parade and sing down Centre Street with Fabiola Mendez and her band to Hyde Square Task Force. Refreshments will be provided and each child attending the event will receive a free book. For more information, please contact Sarah at sarah@hydesquare.org or 617-318-6610.

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Video: ‘Thriller’ Flash Mob with Boston Symphony Orchestra & Pops in Jamaica Plain

This Halloween in Jamaica Plain wasn't just costumed kids going from house-to-house asking for candy. This year, professional musicians and dancers made their way across JP creating flash mobs in an homage to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Jamaica Plain's Hoopla Productions collaborated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops to produce several flash mobs for Halloween outside of Symphony Hall and in various locations in Jamaica Plain, said Hoopla's Mindy Fried to Jamaica Plain News. Hoopla Productions also organizes the popular Jamaica Plain Porchfest. Ali Pierre-Etienne choreographed the dancing, which was accompanied by the professional musicians, who also got into the zombie performance with makeup and some dance moves.

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Boo! Halloween Festival in Hyde Square!

Looking for a fun family-friendly event on Halloween? Stop by Hyde Square Task Force’s 5th Annual Halloween Festival for carnival games, activities, arts, crafts and free treats! The Festival will take place on Halloween from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on the Blessed Sacrament Church Plaza (361 Centre St.). This event is part of Hyde Square Task Force’s ¡Viva el Latin Quarter! community events.

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