New Enclosed Bins Combat Rodents and Improve Recycling
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is installing 200 new fully enclosed BigBelly bins starting in September 2025 to combat rodent activity and prevent litter. These new bins, which include both trash and recycling stations, will replace almost all of the open-top trash cans currently in the city.
Wednesdays of Wonder - WOW - Open Gameplay with One Up Games (Valente)
One Up Games is bringing video games and Virtual Reality to the Valente Community Room! NO registration required - FREE - Ages: 8+
Virtual Reality (VR) Headset - Nintendo Switch - XBox Series S - PlayStation 4 - Oculus Quest 2 - and more
Board games and puzzles also available for play. Snacks provided!
LOCATION CHANGED Beginning English Class (Main)
This class is temporarily being held at the Main Library while the Valente Branch Library is closed.
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class! This class will be taught at a beginner level. No testing is needed. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.
Acrylic Painting Workshop (Valente)
Learn how to create beautiful and colorful acrylic paintings! In this class you will be introduced to painting with acrylic, including techniques in color mixing, observational painting, and composition. At your own pace you will learn how to paint still lifes using acrylic paint in a relaxed and welcoming environment. This class will cover wet on wet and wet and dry brush techniques, sgraffito/combing, overlays/glazing, gel mediums,
pattern making, and masking. You will come away from this class with beautiful paintings of your own and a greater understanding and appreciation for the medium of acrylic painting. Registration Required.
This class is suitable for beginners and can be adjusted for all levels of experience.
This class is taught by Brooke Lambert.
Brooke is a professional printmaker and painter. She holds a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and shows her work widely in New England, New York, and beyond. Brooke works in Studio 291 at Western Avenue Studios & Lofts in Lowell, MA. She is currently represented by The Society of American Graphic Artists and Equity Gallery in New York, NY and Galaray House, contemporary art gallery in Lexington, MA. She has thirteen years of teaching experience and currently teaches adult art workshops and holds artist demos at several locations in New England.
Crafting Pride: Felted Banner Edition (Central Square)
Celebrate Pride and the beauty of self-expression through color and craft! In in this inclusive, hands-on workshop led by local fiber artist Alex Makes Art, we'll come together as a community to design a rainbow spectrum of felted Pride banners; wearable or hangable pendants created through the vibrant technique of felt painting.
Using beautifully dyed wool in a range of hues, you'll learn how to blend colors, add texture, and craft a soft, powerful symbol of identity, allyship, and joy. No experience is necessary - just bring your creativity and pride!
This is a welcoming space for all ages, all identities, and all expressions. Let's make something meaningful together with Alex Makes Art at the heart of the experience. Free & open to everyone. All materials provided.
Registration required.
Smartphone Photography [55+] (Main)
We live in an age where we carry our smartphones everywhere we go. Built into this device is a camera that can help us document the world around us. Whether it’s taking family portraits, beautiful landscapes, or in some cases the meal we just sat down to eat, we’re all constantly taking photos. This 12-week class will not only teach you to take the best possible photos, but how to edit your photos to make them look as good as they possibly can. We will also cover how to organize the photos on your phone. We will learn how to become visual storytellers through projects I'll assign each week followed by thoughtful group discussions of your photos. You need only bring two things to this class: your smartphone and your imagination