WECA set to meet Feb. 13 at Amy Lowell Apartments
The West End Civic Association (WECA) will meet on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Amy Lowell Apartments, 65 Martha Road.
The planned meeting guest is Captain Richard Driscoll, the new police captain for District A-1. Captain Driscoll will discuss neighborhood safety. All West End residents are welcome, and masks are encouraged.
St. Patrick’s Day tours of the Gibson House Museum set for March 15
‘Upstairs, Downstairs: A St. Patrick’s Day Tour Experience at the Gibson House Museum’ is set for Saturday, March 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at 137 Beacon St. (Timed entry is on the half hour at 1, 1:30 p.m., 2, 2:30, and 3 p.m.)
Between 1860 and 1920, the Gibson House was the home of dozens of domestics—mostly young, Irish immigrant women who worked as cooks, laundresses, nannies, and chambermaids. They also made friends, fell in love, and worshipped at nearby churches. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, come for a self-guided tour of the Gibson House Museum, and learn about the work and the lives of these Irish immigrants. Finish your tour experience by enjoying Irish-themed snacks and live music from The Kitchen Strings, featuring Jonathan Axon (fiddle), Gail Gardner (fiddle), Betsy Lynch (fiddle), and Ned Resnikoff (octave mandolin/bouzouki), in the working spaces of the Gibson House.
General admission is $25 per person and $22 per person for museum members; purchase tickets at https://www.thegibsonhouse.org.
The West End Museum’s upcoming events
The West End Museum,150 Staniford Street, Suite 7, will offer ‘Sankofa: A Journey Through the African Diaspora Experience’ on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 4 to 6 p.m.
This interdisciplinary cultural performance delves into the rich history, struggles, resilience, and triumphs of people of African descent. The program is designed to celebrate diverse cultural expressions through the powerful mediums of music, dance, and the spoken word. Performed by members of Art of Black Dance and Music, Inc., under the direction of arts educator and founder De Ama Battle, this multifaceted program blends artistic performances with educational elements, offering a multi-sensory exploration of shared cultural histories and their global impact.
For tickets and more information, https://www.eventbrite.com.
The museum will offer a reception for its upcoming exhibit, ‘An Illusion of Freedom: Boston and the Fugitive Slave Laws,’ on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The upcoming exhibit explores the evolution of the Fugitive Slave laws, and how Bostonians bravely defied them in order to protect others’ natural right to freedom.
For tickets and more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-illusion-of-freedom-boston-and-the-fugitive-slave-laws-reception-tickets.
Additionally, the museum will bring its Boston Trivia Night to the Causeway Restaurant and Bar, located at 65 Causeway St., on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Put your Boston history knowledge to the test at this night of brain-teasing questions and friendly competition.
For tickets and more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boston-trivia-night-tickets.
Upcoming event sponsored by the Gibson House Museum
Back by popular demand, the Gibson House Museum, located at 137 Beacon St., will offer ‘Elements of the American Wedding 1860-1920’ on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
At this time, join Etiquetteer, Robert B. Dimmick, on an exploration of wedding customs in the United States from the Civil War to Prohibition. Aside from familiar customs like the white wedding dress and tossing the bouquet, Etiquetteer will look at fads like the floral bell, how wedding breakfasts were conducted, and the home wedding. Two of the most celebrated weddings of this period included President Cleveland’s White House wedding to Frances Folsom and Consuelo Vanderbilt’s wedding in New York to the Duke of Marlborough. Etiquetteer will also share the stories of Gibson family weddings, especially those of sisters Mary Ethel (held in Nahant) and Rosamond, held in the Music Room of the Gibson House six months after the death of her father.
Admission is $25 per person for the general public and $20 per person for museum members. Purchase tickets online at https://www.thegibsonhouse.org.
Heart-health education program coming Feb. 26 to MGH
The Blum Center & Slavin Academy Education Series presents ‘Be Heart Smart: Lifestyle Changes for Heart Health’ on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Blum Center, White 110 (MGH main campus)
The featured speaker will be Romit Bhattacharya, MD, who will discuss heart disease – the leading cause of death for men and women. In recognition of Heart Month, join Dr. Bhattacharya to learn strategies to improve your heart health with a focus on lifestyle behaviors at home. There will be plenty of time for participants to ask questions.
This program is free and open to Mass General patients, families, staff, and the general public. Space is limited on a first come, first served basis.
Free lessons in American Mahjong offered at West End Branch Library
The Friends of the West End Library will be offering lessons in American Mahjong to new and experienced players at no cost.
The group meets on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Community Room of the West End Branch Library, 151 Cambridge St.
To sign up or for more information, email Audrey Tedeman ([email protected]) or Julia Forbes ([email protected]).