Boston Compass #154

AN INDEPENDENT ARTS & CULTURE GUIDE

ENTER THE CHAMBER, EXIT AS A HIP HOP MASTER!

Master of the Chamber is a premier competitive event curated & hosted by Enjoy The Thrill studios. Master of the Chamber originated here in Boston to showcase artists on every level—and from every genre. Every 2 months, 8 artists get the chance to perform 7 songs against each other in the hopes of ironing their skills in front of a crowd. On September 24th, Dom Dior, Exo Shakeem, Nate Nics, Retro GMT, Young Rob, SeeFour, Tomo and Milkshaw Benedict honored the stage with their presence but only one could reign supreme. Nate Nics stepped into the ring and savagely duked it out for the title of first ever Master of the Chamber. If you have what it takes, come enter the chamber and let your fate be decided. Abiding by the OG rules of battle rap in order to step into the chamber, each contender must pay up at the beginning to earn the prize at the end. After each round, the crowd gets to vote and whoever receives the most love from the crowd wins the title of ‘MASTER’ of the chamber. This event is, of course, not meant to put artists against each other but to give them a chance to improve many things such as their stage presence, crowd control and development. Be on the lookout for our January 7th mixer which gives locals a first hand glance of who will be gracing the stage artist for a performance on that following Saturday. Don’t forget we do it for the thrill!

POETIC PATTIE

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

What’s happening BCN Fam! This is Boston Happs, your friendly neighborhood tour guide coming at you live from the gutter. Can y’all believe it’s already January tho? I’m not ready for the snow and icy roads, but knowing New England there’s likely to be a few random sunny days. Button up and bring a buddy because we’re starting the New Year off with a BANG!

Follow us on IG @whatshappening_boston for more events that don’t suck!

1. CHEZ VOUS SKATING RINK

Located on 11 Rhoades Street in Mattapan is one of our favorite skating rinks in Boston. You can find themed skate nights like “Throwback Thursdays”, “Holiday Sleigh”, fundraisers, and parties. There are groups like Boston Swerve that host events similar to the skate culture Of Atlanta Georgia or the DMV area. The community loves this gem and 2023 is going to be a great year for their rollout.

2. Art Of The Brick Exhibition

Located on Newbury Street is one of the most out of this world art exhibits I’ve ever heard of. I guess it’s because my inner child is coming out. Literally, it’s a pop-up of mega structures created using Legos. There’s a 20 foot Tyrannosaurus rex sculpture, as well as sculptures of other renowned mainstream art and pop culture works. Tickets range between 22 and 48 dollars depending on your budget.

The Jungle

My honest opinion? This is the Dorchester Art Project of Somerville. They are a community music club in the concrete jungle, featuring live performances every night. Every Wednesday they have open mic and karaoke. I brought some of the fellas here to check out the local hip-hop scene. Getting here was easy since it’s right near the new Green Line branch. The energy as a soon as we walked in was electrifying. We could tell there’s mad love for performers here.

LAYOUT DESIGN:

Phoebe Delmonte: p.1, 4, 5 Hannah Blauner: p.2, 3, 7 Adrian Alvarez: p.6, 8

THREE

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS MONTH

SURVEIL & CONTROL

There is no debate as to whether or not fentanyl is a deadly, highly-addictive drug. Yet, when an illicit substance begins to take on a boogeyman persona, it can lead to societal consequences for those who suffer under its addiction. During the 1980s, at the height of the War on Drugs, the sensationalist and deeply racist notion of “crack babies” criminalized Black women and fostered a culture that vilified those with substance abuse issues. This moral panic dehumanized Black Americans while treating a drug epidemic with prison sentences.

A 2020 study on drug prevention programs within law enforcement found that as police response to overdose calls increased, officer endorsement of overdose prevention strategies, such as naloxone trainings, decreased—an effect known as “compassion fatigue.” Good Samaritan Laws provide limited immunity for overdose victims when 911 is called, protecting them from prosecution for possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia. These laws do not shield those already ensnared in the criminal justice system, and thus many hesitate to call for help. This same study found that 1 in 3 officers report making an arrest at an overdose scene in the past 6 months.

According to the CDC, 107,622 Americans died of a drug overdose in 2021, with more than 71,000 deaths linked to illicit fentanyl. As the US continues to grapple with this epidemic, misinformation about how fentanyl overdoses happen has spread rapidly. The Harm Reduction Journal published a study that showed stories of accidental fentanyl exposure made up over 150 media reports in 2017. Many of these have involved drug busts in which cops report accidentally coming in contact with fentanyl and then overdosing. Accidental fentanyl overdose due to incidental skin contact is physically impossible and has been repeatedly refuted

This copaganda is an avenue to further stigmatize those who suffer from addiction, painting them as a dangerous element of society not worthy of empathy and treatment, but imprisonment. Phrases like “compassion fatigue” focus on the experience of the police while erasing the humanity of the drug user. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse published a study in 2020 showing that 31% of surveyed police officers reported an increase in negative feeling postoverdose prevention programs. The overlap of those experiencing homelessness and substance abuse is well documented. Cities across the country have decided to combat the housing crisis with aggressive police tactics like camping bans and encampment sweeps, which further criminalize rather than address the root causes of homelessness.

In 2019, an internal memo revealed the Department of Homeland Security was considering labeling fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction.” To treat an addictive drug as a terrorist issue and not a public health crisis is ridiculous. The opioid epidemic should be discussed with seriousness and accuracy, not false narratives and propaganda that do nothing but exacerbate fear, stigma and moral panic, all while empowering the carceral state. Experts say that strategies to address the fentanyl epidemic include accessible naloxone, safe consumption sites, and a safe supply of regulated drugs. Large scale efforts such as universal health care (including addiction care), universal basic income, affordable housing, as well as working to end mass incarceration, would go a long way toward mitigating human suffering that often leads to drug use in the first place.

7-ELEVEN CHICKEN WINGS

Fatigue felt sticky on my body as I was on the train home from work. I needed a sweet and cold snack to shock my body with energy. But a trip to the store felt tedious, especially when most of the drinks and desserts there were too sweet for my palate. Bubble tea, ubiquitous in my neighborhood, did not sit well with my lactose-intolerant stomach. I settled for a cold shower and waited for dinner.

I yearn for the carts of fried food and fresh fruit that lined the hazardous sidewalks in Manila. My eyes used to scan through the plastic dispensers for my favorite drink — gulaman, sweet grass jelly. The ice cream man walked on foot with his cart. My order would usually be an unsteady tower of tiny scoops of cheese, cookies and cream, and avocado ice cream.

Getting snacks in Boston late at night is a challenge. Knowing its lack of late-night bodegas or street taco tents, my friend and I headed toward the nearby 7-Eleven. I lingered by the counter where the hot foods were. A few chicken wings were behind the glass. Their red-orange hue wasn’t as intimidating as the grilled blood cakes and charred pork intestines I was accustomed to. Getting 7-Eleven chicken wings at 10 PM sounded like a bad idea. But insubstantial potato chips bagged in cold air, or dry chocolate cake bricks didn’t sound any less unappealing to me. I wanted hot meat on a stick, or saucy noodles in a cup. My stomach was unscathed from the chicken wings, but

my appetite lingered.

Despite the dearth of cheap and convenient food in the city, Boston has a good number of distinct regional markets. I was excited to explore the unassuming Cambodian grocery, scanning its aisles for usable ingredients. I encountered some familiar items, just labeled in English. Grass jelly, palm seed, and jackfruit would usually be piled onto each other with shaved ice into a plastic cup, topped with condensed milk and ube ice cream.

At the local Chinese supermarket, I felt like I had struck gold when I found fish, squid, and shrimp balls, which were best fried and covered in sweet chili sauce. Longganisa, or Filipino sausage, is my white whale, only appearing when I don’t crave it.

Family and friends are in disbelief that I Google how to make food that they could pick up from the road for cents. But my hands can now nimbly roll turon or banana spring rolls without much thought. I now enjoy the challenge of finding the ingredients or their substitutes, and recreating my cravings from home.

For a friend’s going away party, I decided to make turon, since it was her favorite Filipino dessert. Besides the traditional banana and jackfruit filling, I also filled them with blended Oreos and cream cheese. The result was delightful comfort felt among my friends — and a street food dish to call my own.

CAYCO

by experts, including the American College of Medical Toxicology, amongst other medical institutions.

RENT FOR MOMS

1. Since forming the organization Done For DiDi in 2017 you have created so many platforms and opportunities for artists, what was your first project? Was it Full Set or White Labor Collective or was it something else?

Actually, I was a poet first, co-founding the Society of Urban Poetry, a spoken-word & poetry community in Cambridge, MA. It wasn’t until 2015 when I co-founded Black Lives Matter Cambridge that I put my focus into community-organizing for racial justice. I mean, my art has always been about dismantling white supremacy, but this was a fresh take.

I started to become more well-known, expanding my reach to new audiences & communities. This is when I started experimenting with direct person to person reparations. I would get requests from Black folks in need due to my connections in the community. I started sharing their paylinks on my page, requesting that folks donate and write #donefordidi in the comment once they had.

As this work grew, I created the Done for DiDi White Labor Collective (WLC), led by a team of Black women and non-men, or Marginalized Genders (MaGes). The group engages in Black liberation work through a reparations lens. We take the influx of white people on social media who want to learn about anti-racism and anti-oppression, and put their labor (9000 hours in 2021) and money to work to provide monthly microfunding, stipends, and seed funding for projects led by Black organizers. In 2020, we raised $170,045.95 and handed it over with love, confidentiality and no strings attached to 500 Black organizers & families.

The Full Set Podcast actually began as a healing and self-care journey for me during the start of the 2020 Coronavirus quarantine. The absence of my nail technician, who also happened to be my best friend, forced me to recognize the importance of having a space to discuss issues important to folks who look like us. Not having this container during quarantine was a struggle for me and, I imagined, many others.

So, I decided to create a space for healing. I wanted to hear how everyone else was doing in the same way I would have if I were getting my full set done. An episode of The Full Set is like a long phone call between good friends or frenemies. There are a few specifics you want to touch on but mostly the conversation just goes where it needs to; there’s no spin and no restrictions.

I recorded over 70 episodes in a year, and had guests including Sonya Renee Taylor (The Body is Not an Apology), Elle Hearns (The Marsha P. Johnson Institute), adrienne maree brown (Pleasure Activism), Ejeris Dixon, (Beyond Survival / Vision Change Win), Shameka Andrews (Disability Advocate/Author) and Jennifer Love Williams (The Jennifer Love Project).

2. We see Done For DiDi combining arts and activism to support mutual aid initiatives, was this a goal from the beginning or something that developed naturally in the past few years?

I am an unapologetically Black, Queer, and Cash-Poor Femme. All the work that I do, prioritizes Black movement-builders, artists, educators, visionaries, healers, and communities. We’ve been doing the work of liberation for centuries - reparations and resources are long overdue.

This work of community care is spiritual and so is art. In both these modalities expression is at the root. We all get free together.

To paraphrase the Combahee River Collective Statement, when Black MaGes are free, everybody’s free, because we’re always trying to free everybody.

In regards to mutual aid, I want to make a distinction here. The work I’m doing is reparations. This distinction is important because white folks who called for Covid-19 “mutual aid” are some of the same who previously believed that the person-toperson direct reparations I had been doing were inappropriate. However, the principles in both calls are the same: because systemic oppression has kept some away from the resources they need to live, we as a community must make sure that those resources reach them.

I believe in Black feminism, not only as

outlined by the Combahee River Collective Statement, but as lived, experienced, and practiced by Black MaGes like myself. That is, I believe that every time we as Black MaGes and as BIPOC people are finally given access to resources and healing, it disrupts capitalism. We will continue lifting as we climb.

3. Rent For Moms is super ambitious and a radical idea, is this your first national campaign? Did it require an expansion of the DFD Team?

In 2017 I tweeted “We should cancel ‘Toys for Tots’ and replace it with a ‘Rent for Moms’ program, cuz that’s why Black moms can’t afford to buy the toys.” That same year I also wrote an article for Shelterforce called “Just as I Suspected Paying Rent is Racist.”

The average unhoused family in the US is a single parent household headed by an African-American woman. Rent in Boston consumes about 71% of income in Black neighborhoods, but just 35% in White communities. Although more than half of Black women have attended college, Black moms are almost twice as likely to live below the poverty level in the US compared to white or Asian Americans.

A lot of giving programs are taking away dignity and autonomy from people in need, without addressing the root of the problems.

To use Toys for Tots as an example - Parents don’t get to choose what they want for their kids. If some basic needs were taken care of, like rent, we could afford the toys and still get the joy of watching our kids open what we selected.

So in 2020, I decided it was time to do this for real. That’s when we launched “Rent for Moms” and, working with Simone Gordon (The Black Fairy Godmother) we raised and distributed $37,420 for over 20 single Black moms across the US.

This year’s campaign is going even bigger with a goal of raising $100,000 through grassroots fundraising and with support from some foundations. We’re working with nine Black femmes raising rent in their cities from Washington, DC to Sacramento, CA.

4. Can you tell us how you go about paying out the funds and finding Moms who need support?

We have an intake form where folks can apply for rental assistance https://www. rentformoms.org/apply. So far, we’ve had over 650 applications for assistance for over $770,000 of rent that needs to get paid. The application will remain open until Christmas Day, when the organizers will meet to review applications from their area, and we will select from there, regardless of how much the specific locations have raised. The recipients that are selected by the organizers will need to provide verification of their rent amount, so the full rent will be paid.

5. How can people support this effort and what is next for Done For DiDi?

The sheer number of people who need help can be overwhelming. Give what you can. Help where you can. Be generous. Budget your time and resources so you aren’t over or under-extending yourself. Encourage others to care and realize the importance of wealth distribution. Keep focusing on the most marginalized.

It’s not your job to save everybody. It’s our collective job to make sure everyone is taken care of.

We’re forging channels so that even “broke ass” white people can access our learning and contribute to Black liberation despite their cash flow. Most of all, we ask folks to show up, imperfectly, with a willingness to learn, to be corrected, & to be accountable.

Through our community approach to learning and direct giving in the White Labor Collective, we are increasing the likelihood that white folks will stay in this work for the long haul, reduce the harm they cause and more effectively disrupt institutions of oppression. Our leaders & members are guided by our set of Community Agreements to navigate uncomfortable & necessary conversations.

Whatever you do, don’t get apathetic.

Join the Done for DiDi White Labor Collective: www.facebook.com/groups/436006653627073

Donate to Rent for Moms:givebutter.com/ RentforMoms

Follow me on FB / Insta @TheDiDiDelgado

MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE

There aren’t many rappers in Massachusetts, or anywhere else for that matter, who can compare to Springfield’s Jxylen. His discography contains a certain aura filled with darkness and grit that automatically sweeps in when the play button is pressed. Earlier this year, he dropped his debut album, Project Mayhem, a ten song offering that imparts these sentiments with pin-point accuracy. He follows up on this release with the “Fight Club Edition” of the album – a deluxe that contains four additional songs to further the looming feelings of doom that surrounded the project’s initial version.

When listening to a song by Jxylen, there are many characteristics that meld together to define who he is as an artist. First and foremost, the way his voice carries across each foreboding instrumental is what captivates many initially. There’s a high level of rawness embedded into each verse that he unearths, as his music is seemingly filled with a pent up aggression that has at last reached a point of boiling over. While his style of rap is one of his more distinctive factors, his selection of beats is what furthers the tenacity of his catalog. Working with producers such as AUR, Jadooks, NTVRME, and more to bring Project Mayhem to its final stages, Jxylen’s poised selection of beatmakers cements the underlying conviction in each stanza that he writes. What really brings everything together is his creative direction, all of which is controlled and executed himself. The aim, art, and visuals that have accompanied the various components of his discography reinforce everything that was mentioned above, placing a ribbon atop the well-wrapped package that is his catalog of music. Jxylen knows exactly what he wants to do, and manages to hit the mark every time.

Project Mayhem kicks off with the screeching sounds of Dr. Frankenstein, whose shrill screams boast of satisfaction at the genuine awe of his creation coming to life. The same feelings seemingly swarmed Jxylen upon the completion of this album, as he finally unfurled his grasp around this impassioned body of work. From this point onward, listeners are met with an onslaught of raps that do not break stride until the final moments of the tape. Centered around Jxylen’s ability to persist past any obstacle that comes his way, circumnavigating negativity, and finding a way to remain real amongst the fake, Project Mayhem’s original 10 songs delve into the various corners of this young creative’s psyche. Many of his raps read as a guided manual for surviving in the deranged world that we live in, with Jxylen seldom shying away from injecting his real life experiences into every syllable.

The four songs that form the “Fight Club Edition” of this project are a wondrous extension of what the original body of work conveyed. Rather than fitting into this release as a handful of add-ons, these four new tracks breathe a different form of life into Project Mayhem, showcasing Jxylen’s never-relenting ability to cultivate raps. Each of these tracks is substantial, shining a light onto the potency that fills Jxylen’s catalog. It’s genuinely difficult to select a standout, but if I had to, it would be “Still Tired” and “SKT 3” featuring Dayvii and KENZO. Both of these songs are filled with the rawness that attracts many to Jxylen’s music, and are some of his best creations to date. If you need some high quality raps to digest, then look no further than Project Mayhem: Fight Club Edition. You won’t regret it.

**We strongly encourage all to take careful precautions when going out to public events! Follow the venue’s requirements regarding vaccination/negative Covid tests and masking instructions! Always double check the event online just in case they need to cancel!**

music & audio

1/1 Savageheads, Public Acid, The Massacred, ICU @American Legion Post 76 (Jamaica Plain) 6PM All Ages $15

1/6 Clear The Floor Presents Futch Up America ft. Replicator, DJ Mad Dog, Chelita, Forget Basement, Fraxiom, Folie @Union Tavern 7PM 21+ $25-30

1/6 High Command (Record Release) night one w/ Fuming Mouth , Bygone, Burning Lord, Xard, & Sinister Wand @Ralphs Rock Diner 7PM 21+ $15

1/7 High Command (Record Release) night two w/ Fuming Mouth, Final Gasp, Innocent, & Burning Wind @Ralphs Rock Diner 8PM 21+ $15

1/7 Get2theGig Presents: Vile Creature, Ragana, Lusic Dead Limb @O'Briens Pub 8PM 21+ $13-15

1/7 Picniclunch, Northpoletapes, Frakkastogur, UUUE and Bob Gratis @Hotel Vernon (Worcester) 8PM All Ages $ome Cost

1/9 Get2theGig Presents: Tower Bros, Ruby Grove, BattleMode @Charlie's Kitchen 6PM 21+ $5

1/11 Fully Celebrated Orchestra w/ The Lonesome Land Trio + Yami and Élie Every 2nd Wednesday catch Fully Celebrated Orchestra w/ special guests! @Midway Cafe 8PM 21+ $5

1/12 Global Arts Live Presents: Son Rompe Pera + Meridian Brothers @Crystal Ballroom 7:30PM All Ages $28-35

1/13 Monthly Cypher every second Friday! Be witness to some dope local talent put on by Hustle Killer + Artists for Artists and hosted by Greatness Asf + Nico Hustle. Expect food + drink, networking, giveaways!

@Hustle Killer HQ 8PM 21+ $ome Cost

1/13 Mall Cops, Talk Chalk, Ski Party Feeling S.A.D. and blue? We are too and we want to get mopey with you! Come air your angst with Mallcops and their pals, Talk Chalk and Ski Party. Cuz isn't it better to be morose in the company of other downers? Don't worry, we don't expect you to feel good, just to dance your ass off. @The Rockwell 7PM $18

1/13 Necralant, Brain Famine, Prayer Position, Troll Milk

@O'Briens Pub 9PM 21+ $15

1/13 Wisdom & War, Kaonashi, Clock Out, Edict, Hard Target, No Allegiance @PNI Club (Worcester) 6PM All Ages $15

1/14 Hammered Saint, Greg Allen's Fringe Religion, Stop Calling Me Frank, Hilken

Mancini @Midway Cafe 3PM All Ages $10

1/14 Misery Whip, Cartridge, Done, Phagocyte @O'Briens Pub 9PM 21+ $12-15

1/16 IBookThings Presents Vivid Bloom, Husbands, Still Life Sounds, Sustinet

@The Silhouette Lounge 7:30PM 21+ $10

1/17 Orange Peel Mystic, Battlemode, Sam Mulligan @The Jungle 6PM 21+ FREE

1/19 Infra Presents Trym + Junkfile @The Lower Level 10PM 21+ $25 @infraboston

1/20 Get2theGig Presents Marigold w/ Fernway @Cantab Lounge 7PM 21+ $13-15

1/21 Dancehall Lounge 100% Reggae, Soca, & Afrobeats spun all night! Come ready to dance! Every third Saturday. @Union Tavern 9PM 21+ $10 adv

1/21 Driff Winter Festivalette featuring Jorrit Dijkstra's PorchBone and the Duo Pandelis Karayorgis/Jeb Bishop Jorrit Dijkstra's PorchBone is an extension of The Porch Trio with a section of three trombonists. This project juxtaposes the abstract, improvised sounds of The Porch Trio against the velvety sound of a trombone section, inspired by the sound of the Duke Ellington and Sun Ra big bands. The group plays a mixture of compositions by Jorrit Dijkstra and free improvisations by all members. @ Lilypad 7:30PM All Ages $15

1/21 One Step Closer, Soul Blind, Life’s Question @Hardcore Stadium (Cambridge) 6PM All Ages $18

1/22 Rugged N’ Raw ft. Brandie Blaze, Anson Raps, Cyph GTTB, Vendetta. Hosted by Amanda Shea. Sounds by DJ GI Joe @The Jungle 5PM 21+ FREE

1/28 Shiny Beasts, Andy California, Daughter of The Vine, Lupo Citta @Midway Cafe 8PM 21+ $10

1/28 Subspace, Phagocyte, Secret Miracle, B.E.A.S.T., Black Dog @Canadian-American Club (Watertown) 7PM All Ages $15

1/29 Dari Bay, Pet Fox, Tuxis Giant, Dimitri @O'Briens Pub 9PM 21+ $12-15

AfroCity Afrobeats Brunch + Day Party every Sunday 1PM7PM @W-Hotel Boston

Bad For The Community Podcast Full of hot takes, local hip hop, and deep culture! Come for the reckless entertainment, stay for the

laughs! New episodes every week! Listen on Spotify + Youtube. Follow on IG @bftcpodcast

The Boston Art Podcast sets out to explore and document the varied perspectives, pathways, and lifestyles in the arts in Massachusetts. The podcast releases weekly, and focuses primarily on Boston and the surrounding area. www.bostonartpodcast.com

Master of the Chamber A Competitive Hip-Hop Event by THRILL Studios featuring the best local MCs around! If you miss them in person then check out each round on Youtube. Search "enjoythethrill" and look for THE CHAMBER. On IG @masterofthechamber

Wally's Jazz Cafe is finally back open! Head on down to Boston's oldest black owned jazz club to hear some of the best local musicians around. Students gather and cut your teeth on them standards!

performance art

1/4 Laugh Giraffe Comedy Showcase A new biweekly comedy show coming to Somerville!

Produced by: Tricia Thomson, Maddie Kelly, and Dan Bomba @Union Tavern 7:30 PM All Ages $5

1/5 The Magic Lab: Open Mic Magic Show where local magicians test out their newest material! Vax + mask required @Rozzie Square Theater 7:30PM All Ages $10

1/6 Boston Alternative Tango happens every Friday. A new and expanded concept of Queer Tango Boston which addresses the growing toxicity, elitism and ableism in the tango community. All welcome to practice in solidarity. @Democracy Center 3PM All Ages FREE

1/7 Drag Me To Candyland is a mouthwateringly sexy rendition of the classic board game!

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY local Drag stars take to the stage as they guide you through the map, hitting all of Candyland’s most iconic stops, from the Peppermint Forest to the Molasses Swamp! Each act of drag mixed with burlesque will surely satisfy any sweet tooth.

@Crystal Ballroom 8:00PM 18+ $15-25

1/15 If You Can Feel It, You Can Speak It Open Mic the longest running monthly open mic that prioritizes the voices of LGBTQIA+ communities of color. All talents welcome: poets, musicians, dancers, comedians, activists, more! Hosted by Jha D + D. Ruff @The Jungle 4:30PM 21+ FREE

1/25 Full Spin: Visual Albums of Non-Stop Drag! hosted by Majenta with a J. Featuring Yung Onyx, Secret Queen, Severity Stone, Kimmy Moore, Shean King the Scene King and more! @ONCE Somerville 8PM 18+ $25-35

Until 1/29 Head to Harvard Sq for the Boston premiere of Life of Pi, a harrowing and inspiring epic new play based on the beloved book. @American

Comedy At The Jungle Peter Liu hosts a comedy open mic with a lineup of great Boston comedians every Tuesday @The Jungle 9:30PM 21+ $ome Cost

1/21-2/17 Bien Brutal is a photography/installation experience showcasing Destiny Medina's perspective of Puerto Rico: its culture, beauty, and truth. Opening reception 1/21 5PM-8PM @Elevated Thought, Lawrence

1/6-1/31 The much hyped film Broker by Japanese writer/ director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters) makes its US debut with a killer cast and fascinating story. @Coolidge Corner Theatre

1/7-1/28 '60s/'70s Italian horror fans unite for the return of January Giallo at the Coolidge After Midnite all month long including Torso on 1/7, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin on 1/14,The Editor on 1/20, What Have You Done to Solange? on 1/21, Demons on 1/27 and our pick if you only see one: Tenebrae by Dario Argento on 1/28. @Coolidge Corner Theatre

1/8 Scorsese's doc The Last Waltz covers The Band's farewell show in 1976, featuring heavy hitters Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and many more. Multiple showtimes in one day. Check www.brattlefilm.org @Coolidge Corner Theater 12:00PM All Ages $12+

1/10 Boston Open Screen Get a grip on the local film scene with this an open mic night for filmmakers. @Coolidge Corner Theater 7:00PM All Ages $10

1/19 See this visually stunning piece of Taiwanese cinema on the big screen, as master filmmaker Edward Yang serves an intimate portrait of a family in his beloved film Yi Yi, playing one night only. @Coolidge Corner Theater 7:00PM $15.50

1/20 Tommy Wiseau's melodramatic wet dream, The Room, returns to Coolidge After Midnight. Unintentionally hilarious. Do yourself the favor. @Coolidge Corner Theater 12:00AM 18+ $15.50

1/23 Hitchcock's silent thriller that considers his first real film, The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog plays (with accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis) in a double feature with Downhill, another of Hitch's silents from the '20s.

@Coolidge Corner Theater 7:00PM 18+ $13.50+

1/30 Chantal Akerman explores time and space in this hypnotic French drama detailing the everyday in Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles making a rare appearance on the Coolidge screen. @Coolidge Corner Theater 7:00PM $13.50+

visual art

1/6-1/29 Violence Transformed is a group show where artists share work that respond to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", a song of consciousness raising and protest. The exhibit will focus on socially active and engaged artists in Boston and beyond. Open reception 1/13 6PM-9PM @Piano Craft Art Gallery

Until 2/18 HIDE AND SEE is the latest in the BCA 1:1 Exhibition Series, a series of collaborative projects between one curator and one artist. Curated by Amanda Contrada, this is a solo exhibition of work by artist Mimi Bai. Born in Xi'an, China, Bai contemplates camouflage as a metaphor for assimilation, as a labor-intensive process, and as a methodology for survival and communication that selectively conceals and reveals.

@Boston Center for the Arts

1/28 Auction: Plants of Our Past

The Watertown PACC invites you to a silent auction of work by local artists; an evening of bidding, conversation, and community. RSVP required. More info at www.watertownma.gov/815/Edible-Watertown @Watertown Free Library 6PM All Ages FREE

zines

Breaking The Chains Mag Vol. 7. No. 1 The Woman Worker out now! The expanded organizing of women workers has the potential to bring class struggle front and center to the women’s movement in ways that have been repressed and elided over the last several decades. What do these developments mean for women workers in the struggle for socialist liberation? How do we utilize our history, a vast history of women’s leadership and initiative in the labor movement, to inform our work in the current context? Snag your copy at www. breakingthechainsmag.com

Flight Or Visibility Cookbook

Unlike most cookbooks, this one has very few actual recipes. It is designed to empower readers to get creative in the kitchen! With illustration by Lavender Menace Press! Snag one at a show or hit them up for one on IG @flightorvisibility

Middle of Nowhere (Part One)

This is the journey of two main characters; Andre and Tracey. The story is true to its title, as you are dropped in a random point of their lives. You literally navigate the timeline with them as their journeys intertwine. What seems like nothing, or nowhere, wherever you are... means something. Book created by Mechillwave. Grab a copy here and check out other cool wares! www.mechillwavecollection.myshopify.com @chillwvy

1/5 Dudley Street Winter Market Thursdays from November 10th to February 2nd 1:30-5:30PM at the Dudley Greenhouse, 11 Brook Ave. Roxbury (They will be closed for the holidays Dec 24 and Jan 1st)

1/6 Writer/director Sarah Polley's promising new film, Women Talking delves into questioning faith following violence within a Mennonite colony. @Coolidge Corner Theatre

video & film

community

1/7

Education Learn how to stop life-threatening bleeding 12PM-3PM (Needs registration). Get Narcan opioid overdose prevention training 4PM-5:30PM (Just show up). www.lucyparsonscenter.org @Lucy Parsons Center FREE

1/21 Intermediate Friendship Workshop for 18-30 year olds The geniuses behind Sleepawake Camp are organizing a weekend workshop in Cambridge! This weekend we will dive deep into the ways we make and break connections and how to build relationships that are solid from the inside out. Scholarships available. @Industry Lab 1PM All Ages 200

All Dawgz A collection of purposeful creations by former graffiti artists, vandals, thieves, hustlers & addicts via photos, wearable goods & more. With every purchase they donate $5 to nonprofits and orgs that support mental health, addiction recovery, education & more. @alldawgz.us www.alldawgz.com

Dorchester Bike Kitchen Learn how to fix your bike at this free drop-in in Fields Corner! 6-9PM on Mondays and Saturdays @1443 Dorchester Ave @dotbikekitchen

Melanin Owned Business Vendors Flea Market is back at a new location 1351 Hyde Park Ave every Saturday 12PM5PM. Spoken Word open mics too! Contact 585-237-8487 for vending opportunities. Vendors of color please reach out! @m.o.b_vendors21

Jukebox is a participatory public art project that is stocked with community stories. There are 100 tracks that serve as an audio archive of community voices housed in a unique, artistically restored, vintage jukebox, created to celebrate the equally unique, rich perspectives, backgrounds and stories of folks in Cambridge. @The Foundry

advocacy

1/9 + 1/23 Beyond the Bars In this series, guest speakers that have been impacted by incarceration will speak on their experiences and community partners will provide resources and advocacy support. This will be a safe space to share knowledge and experiences, as well as learn. Search Beyond the Bars on eventbrite.com for more info and RSVP.

Cocoon Collective A weekly dropin space for young women and girls affected by incarceration to receive academic support and mentorship as well as work on seasonal goals. Every Monday 4PM-5PM via Zoom. Email to join - info@sistersunchained.com

Feed The Hood: People's Resource Table Take what you need, leave what you can! FREE food, clothes, & essentials. Bring donations during store hours or leave at the resource table any time every Sunday.

Organized by Voices of Liberation @Scope Apparel HQ, JP

North American Indian Center of Boston Their mission is to empower the Native American community with the goal of improving the quality of life of Indigenous peoples. They honor Indigenous people who may or may not be part of a federally recognized or state recognized tribe, as well as the peoples whose tribes have been split by the U.S.-Canada border and the U.S.-Mexico border. Lookout for all kinds of awesome community events and gatherings! www.naicob.org @naicob91

Pan-Afrikan Liberation Program

Working to amplify, unify, and provide for Black and Brown masses around the world. Youth led + Boston based. Stay in tune on Insta @plpboston

Warm Up Boston A Mass Line material aid on occupied Massachusett and Wampanoag territory. They distribute food, amenities and supplies to encampments. You can help by volunteering or donating! Follow updates and support at www.ko-fi.com/warmupboston

ATTENTION YOUNG

FILMMAKERS! Learning how to make your own films? Submit your short films to be screened in an in-person event live on television! Work can be at any level, medium, or style. Contact audrey@scatvsomerville.org with any questions or concerns.

The Black & Indigenous Resistance Fund’s Sabbatical Program for Black and Indigenous Executive Leaders in Massachusetts This program has been created for executive leaders who identify as Black and/or Indigenous and who lead social justice organizations rooted in BIPOC communities in Massachusetts. The Sabbatical Program offers these leaders the opportunity to take space and time for reflection, review, and renewal, absent the stress of financial concerns and operational demands. Questions? Email Jason Boyd at jboyd@blackmc.org. Apply by 1/15

CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOSALS! Gallery 263 is taking pitches for their Spring 2023 art exhibition. Organize and present a well-curated exhibition of contemporary art from start to finish, with guidance and support from the staff. A successful proposal considers our unique, multi-functional space and engages our audience visually and conceptually. Open to New England artists of all media types and career levels. Deadline 1/8 Apply online at www.gallery263. com

CALL FOR WRITING

SUBMISSIONS: What do you wish you knew about sex as a teenager? The Sex Letters Project is a collection of writings from people of all backgrounds who want to share their experiences with sexuality, romance and identity. Together we can use our voices to fight sexual shame and stigma and promote a culture of positivity and acceptance! Submit your letters to www. sexlettersproject.tumblr.com. Presented by Pleasure Pie www.pleasurepie.org

Job Opportunity: BAMS Fest Community Partnerships & Programs Manager BAMS Fest seeks a resourceful, entrepreneurial and collaborative individual who can facilitate events, lead program(s) and manage good-hearted and talented people. @BAMSfest

SPACE PUSSY: Special Queer and Trans Erotica Edition. An Empty Zine #5 is coming and it's time to share what makes you wanna come;) This special edition is for artists and writers who identify as queer, trans, and/or non-binary to share their cosmos-inspired erotic art, poetry, and prose.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN NOW! Deadline 1/31. More info on IG @decadentcosmos

Forest Town by Meg Scribner

Escape by Daniel Alejandro

Greenhouse Affect by Mehitabel Glenhaber

My adulthood looks disorganized

Like Who said adulthood would be great

Or easy

My adulthood looks like telling millennials your age and hearing, "you're as old as my.... (add eldest adult here)

My adulthood looks like I have no control

Like are these privileges, worth my sanity

My adulthood is 3rd world problems in a 1st world

My adulthood is balancing my childhood dreams with grown up deadlines

My adulthood looks like putting grown up deadlines on my children's dreams maneuvering through white politics with black skin

And Wypipo that cry wolf, cry police, cry 911

I'm still denying calls from bill collectors and Sallie Mae

My adulthood looks like regret

My adulthood looks like remembering when my perception thought my dad was having fun drinking and smoking Then I became a dad realized sometimes black men don't know they need an outlet

Until they find unhealthy ones

My adulthood looks like unhealthy self care habits, because organic way seems too expensive Like Whole Foods

My whole adulthood looks like stressing... calculating paychecks before I get paychecks

Add anxiety times my self care spending Then recalculating after bills

My adulthood is rebranding using my traumas to get to fill my little bellies

Either by being inspired from the healing Or inspiring someone to pay me to do more healing

My adulthood looks like asking mom for a loan instead of paying her back

Looks like black tax becoming a black debt

My adulthood looks like saying things my adults used to say Like, "I don't understand y'alls generation"

Like, "What?! Y'all don't understand good music" Like, "These kids now are just so entitled, spoiled"

My adulthood looks spoiled, like saying things I wish my adults could've said Like, love isn't a fairytale it's heartbreaking hard work if you don't start with yourself first Like, it's about character, not possession

My adulthood looks like two boys, two different women and being caution tape as that black guy My adulthood looks like being a father and still explaining to the son in me what it means to grow up My adulthood looks like growing up undefined My adulthood looks like being a big kid My adulthood looks confusing looks fun

My adulthood looks like I'll have stories to tell My adulthood looks like lessons to preach My adulthood i wouldn't change Because what my adulthood Can and will become Article: Rocks Docks

ROCK: Savin Hill Park Grampian Way Steep drumlin towering above Dorchester Bay. Stone stairs carved throughout. A must-climb.

DOCK: Harborwalk on Columbia Point William J. Day Blvd. to Morrissey Blvd. Innumerable docks, gazebos, benches alongside lapping waters. Stroll on by with the breeze.

BLOCK: Mothers Rest at Four Corners 410 Washington St. Plenty of picnic and game tables in this terraced hillside park with a neighborhood view.