Archive of 2010 Events
Sponsored by the Forest Hills Trust

CONCERT Sunday, January 10 2 pm $20/$15 Trust members	Holiday Concert with Cappella Clausura A Chantar: The Greek Connection Celebrate the New Year with an afternoon of ravishing choral music in Forsyth Chapel. The intimacy, resonance and acoustics of the Chapel combined with its splendid architecture and stained glass make this the ideal setting for a brilliant program of love songs drawn from the Byzantine Empire and France in the time of the Crusades. Amelia LeClair founded Cappella Clausura and recruited her talented ensemble of singers in order to pursue one of her passions: music composed by women throughout history that expresses the passions, challenges, joys and tragedies of female experience. LeClair delights in rescuing complex early choral music, repertoire which has often been miraculously rescued from oblivion by recent scholars. This program juxtaposes Byzantine hymns composed by Kassia – a 9th century Greek aristocrat banished to a nunnery for defying the Emperor Theophilus – with songs of impossible love written by French trouvares (female troubadours) during the Crusades. These trouvares celebrated romance outside of the prison of an arranged marriage – love that was sometimes sincere, sometimes bawdy, but, unfortunately, always unattainable. Admission: $20/$15 Trust Members
POETRY Sunday, January 17 at 2 pm $5	Poet Afaa Michael Weaver Poetry in the Chapel in collaboration with Tapestry of Voices Come hear local poets Paul Hostovsky, January O'Neil, Dan Tobin, and Afaa M. Weaver read their work in "the coolest place to hear poetry in Boston" (The Boston Globe).
BOOK LAUNCH & IMPROV CONCERT Sunday, February 7 at 2pm Free	Join author and musician Tom Hall for an afternoon of ideas, music and art celebrating the launch of his new book, Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide. After a short talk entitled "Life is One Big Improvisation," Tom will pick up his saxophone for an improvisational concert with Michael Rivard (acoustic bass), Marty Ballous (acoustic bass), Jerry Leake (percussion) and Lennie Peterson (trombone). Peterson's intricate portraiture is featured in the book, and his new artwork will be on exhibit for the afternoon. Tom Hall is a graduate of New England Conservatory and co-founder of Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet; he has performed al over the world in a wide variety of musical styles. Whether he's playing Jazz, Blues, Rap, Folk, Funk, Latin or R&B, what has always fascinated Tom most is not the differences between musical styles, but what they all have in common - the creative process of improvisation.
POETRY Sunday, February 21 at 2pm $5	Poetry in the Chapel in collaboration with Tapestry of Voices Hear four poets from Jamaica Plain, whose work reflects the rich, artistic community in which they live. Susan Eisenberg, Carolyn Gregory, Audrey Henderson, and Sandra Storey read their work; a reception with refreshments follows. Eisenberg will also exhibit photographs from Perpetual Care, an installation project which she developed at Forest Hills exploring the themes of chronic illness and systems of care. In these images, prescription bottles multiply and inhabit the cemetery's lush Victorian landscape.
POETRY Sunday, March 7th at 2pm $5	Poetry in the Chapel in collaboration with Tapestry of Voices Acclaimed local poets Denise Bergman, Dzvinia Orlovsky, Catherine Sasanov, and Dr. Michael Zack present their captivating work in beautiful Forsyth Chapel.
CONCERT Sunday, March 14 at 2pm FREE for Members & Donors with RSVP Not a member? Join today!	"The passion and clarity with which she assayed a tricky mix of South American rhythms and jazz-inflected harmonies made clear why she has been embraced by New York City audiences from Carnegie Hall to the hippest downtown haunts." – Phil Lutz, The New York Times Members & Donors Concert: Latin Jazz with Sofia Rei Koutsovitis Sofia Rei Koutsovitis, one of the rising star's of the New York jazz scene, returns to Forsyth Chapel for a special concert for members and donors of the Forest Hills Educational Trust. If you are not a current member, join today and get complimentary tickets with your tax deductible donation! Your membership also includes discounts on a year of concerts. Sofia was born in Buenos Aires where she began classical vocal training at the age of four and was singing professionally by age nine. In addition to her Argentine musical roots, from an early age she was captivated by Brazilian music. Later, she relocated to the United States to study at New England Conservatory, and fell in love with both jazz and Peruvian music. While still attending NEC, she began to compose her own material drawing from her diverse musical background. The result is a strikingly original music of exquisite complexity; a brilliant mind is evident in the shimmering collage of styles incorporating an expansive array of timbres, rhythms and textures from across the globe. With the help of her superbly talented band of international musicians, Sofia creates a dynamic, delicate tapestry grounded by her masterful vocals. Sofia’s thrilling vocals utilize a vast range of techniques with such impressive control that it makes it easy to see why she has been called “one of the most versatile and in-demand singers on the New York music scene” and why her debut CD, Ojalá, was chosen a top 10 album of 2006 by the Jazz Journalists Association. Wine Tasting The concert will be followed by refreshments and a wine-tasting. Enjoy the wines of Sofia's native Argentina, courtesy of Sean Martin of Albert Winestein. Albert Winestein is a specialty store in Hyde Park. Visit them for wine & cheese tastings and expert advice, whether planning an intimate dinner or a large event. www.albertwinestein.com Memberships Memberships are $35 for an individual (includes one ticket), $55 for a household (includes two tickets) and $100 for a patron (two tickets, plus two tickets to our annual holiday concert in January). Please call 617.524.3354 or email tickets@foresthillstrust.org.
POETRY Sunday, April 18 at 2pm Admission: $5	Poetry in the Chapel in collaboration with Tapestry of Voices Come hear noted area poets Harris Gardner, Gary Metras, Susan Edwards Richmond, and Sophie Wadsworth read their work in beautiful Forsyth Chapel--"the coolest place to hear poetry" according to The Boston Globe. Artist Bios: HARRIS GARDNER: Publication credits- The Harvard Review, Midstream, Cool Plums, Rosebud, Fulcrum, Chest (forthcoming), Ibbetson Street Journal, Main Street Rag, Facets, Vallum (Canada), Pemmican, The New Renaissance, WHL Review, and about fifty other publication credits; also Chalice of Eros, co-authored with Lainie Senechal and 2 chapbooks- Lest They Become (Ibbetson Street, 2004) and Among Us Cervena Barva Press, 2007)   Pushcart Prize Nominee: Fall, 2005; Hon. Mention: Boyle-Farber Prize (NEPC 2004) GARY METRAS- is the author of fourteen books and chapbooks of poetry, most recently, Francis of Assisi (Finishing Line Press, 2008), and Greatest Hits 1980-2006 (Pudding House, 2007). His poems have appeared in such journals as The American Voice, Another Chicago Magazine, The Bellingham Review, California Quarterly, English Journal, Poetry, Poetry East, and Poetry Salzburg Review. He is the editor, publisher, and letterpress printer of Adastra Press, selected as Poetry Publisher of the Year in 2006 by The Contemporary Poetry Review (over FS&G). Read more about Adastra here. SUSAN EDWARDS RICHMOND’S newest poetry chapbook, Increase, is due out Spring, 2010 from FootHills Publishing. Her other collections include  Purgatory Chasm and Boto, both with Adastra Press, and Birding in Winter with Finishing Line Press. Recent work has appeared in Blueline, Green Mountains Review, Poetry East, and Sanctuary. Richmond teaches at Clark University and is a founding editor of Wild Apples: A Journal of Nature, Art, and Inquiry. Read more about Susan's work here. SOPHIE WADSWORTH is the author of the award-winning collection of poems, Letters from Siberia. Her poetry and essays have appeared  in a variety of periodicals including Provincetown Arts, Meridian, Sycamore Review, and Sanctuary Magazine. She has taught writing for over fifteen years and is one of the founding editors of Wild Apples. She lives in Harvard, Massachusetts. Read more about Sophie's work here.
WALKING TOUR Sunday, April 25 at 2pm	JP Historical Society: Walking Tour with Al Maze Al Maze's annual tour sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. Learn about the people involved in creating and designing Forest Hills, and hear the stories of some of notable people buried here, making Forest Hills a unique Boston treasure. Visit the Jamaica Plain Historical Society's website for details: http://www.jphs.org
CONCERT Sunday, April 25 at 2pm Admission: $15/$12 Members	Photo of Valerie Stephens by Justin Keena The Music and Times of Nina Simone “Jazz is not just music, it's a way of life, it's a way of being, a way of thinking.”  – Nina Simone In this tribute to legendary jazz singer Nina Simone, Boston vocalist Valerie Stephens’ displays the full array of her talents – a professional actress, acclaimed storyteller, and singer whose dramatic vocals will leave you breathless. Stephens channels the passion, strength, and exquisite musicality that made Nina Simone unforgettable. Nina Simone had the ability to capture her audience and inspire them in a way that endured long after the last note had sounded. The Bay State Banner has written that "Valerie Stephens gives sensational evidence that divas are still in the making. She steps, stomps and shashays..." and The Boston Globe simply observed "Valerie Stephens knows how to take over a room." Simone's music and outspoken political commitment inspired Stephens’ own performance style and led her to create this stunning homage. Advance ticket sales are now closed. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door starting at 1:30pm on Sunday. Admission: $15/$12 Trust Members This event is part of Jazz Week '10: Made in Boston, Played in Boston coordinated by JazzBoston. For more information and a complete listing of Jazz Week events visit their website at: http://www.jazzboston.org
WALKING TOUR Sunday, May 2 at 2 pm Admission: $ 9	The Architecture, Architects and Builders of Forest Hills Anthony Sammarco, author of more than 50 books on Boston history, leads you on a tour exploring the theme of architecture at Forest Hills. Some of the 19th century's preeminent architects – including William Preston, Gridley Fox Bryant, and Van Brunt and Howe – designed Cemetery's Main Gate, stone bridge, and 19th century buildings as well monuments and mausoleums for wealthy clients. Visit the gravesites of William Ralph Emerson, Harrison Atwood and others. Meet at the Main Gate. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; this is a 2-hour walk (with frequent stops) over varied terrain. Admission: $9
BIRD WALKS Tuesdays & Thursdays, May 4-13 at 6 am at the Boston Nature Center and Forest Hills Free	Night Heron at Lake Hibiscus Spring Bird Walks led by Tim Factor and sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club in collaboration with Mass. Audubon’s Boston Nature Center Forest Hills and our neighbor, Mass. Audubon's Boston Nature Center, offer food and shelter to a variety of birds all year, but an even greater variety can be seen passing through during Spring Migration. Spot some on tours with expert birder Tim Factor of the Brookline Bird Club. Birders of all levels welcome. Gather on Tuesdays at the Boston Nature Center and Thursdays at Forest Hills, at 6 am at the main entrance. Wear comfortable and weatherproof boots or shoes (the morning dew can be wet this time of year). Bring binoculars if you have them, bottled water if you like, and anything else you would find helpful. The Boston Nature Center is located at 500 Walk Hill St. in Mattapan. For further directions please visit the Boston Nature Center website for details, or our own directions to Forest Hills. Tuesday, May 4 @ 6-8 am: Boston Nature Center Thursday, May 6 @ 6-8 am: Forest Hills Cemetery Tuesday, May 11 @ 6-8 am: Boston Nature Center Thursday, May 13 @ 6-8 am: Forest Hills Cemetery
FESTIVAL Birds and Bards Festival May 13-16	Birds & Bards illustrations by Cheryl Warrick 5th annual Birds & Bards Festival Join us for a collaborative celebration of migrating birds, poetry, nature, and the wonderful green sanctuaries at the end of the Emerald Necklace. This weekend of events is co-sponsored by the Arnold Arboretum, Forest Hills, the Franklin Park Coalition, Mass. Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, and Zoo New England. Bring a picnic to enjoy outdoors between events. Download a pdf with the schedule here. Thursday, May 13 7:00 – 8:30 am: Morning Birdwalk Arnold Arboretum Join expert birder and Arboretum tour guide Bob Mayer for an easy walk while the lilacs are still in bloom. Spot migrating birds as they rest and refuel during their long journeys north. Meet at the Arborway Gate. FREE! 6:30 – 9:30 pm: Festival Kick Off Activities 6:30 pm Twilight Bird Walk Peter Alden, world renowned naturalist and author, leads an early evening stroll through Forest Hills Cemetery to Lake Hibiscus to spot migrating and native birds. FREE! 8 pm: a Festive Evening of Music, Poetry & Talk Inspired by Nature Forsyth Chapel, Forest Hills Cemetery Join us for a reception with refreshments at 7:30. The program starts at 8 pm with nature poetry by Susan Edwards Richmond. Next, a playful and participatory performance of improvised jazz inspired by the sounds of nature by the superb Tom Hall Quartet. Then world-renowned naturalist Peter Alden, author of 15 books on wildlife, gives an entertaining talk on his adventures around the globe and right here in Boston. Admission: $10 donation; kids 12 and under free. Friday, May 14 7:00 to 8:30 am: Morning Birdwalk Franklin Park Explore the picturesque woods and meadows of Boston’s largest green space with park naturalist and recreational tree climber Andrew Joslin; look for nesting birds and late migrating scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings and warblers at Scarboro Pond. Meet at the Resting Place, Shattuck Picnic Area. FREE! 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Evening “Bird-a-thon” Bird Walk Boston Nature Center Every year Mass Audubon volunteers conduct a state-wide bird census to count our feathered friends. Help the the Boston Nature Center’s Bird-a-thon team search for both common and elusive birds to check off their list at the start of this 24-hour birding competition. You can borrow binoculars. Birders of all levels welcome. FREE! Saturday, May 15 7:00 – 8:30 am: Morning Birdwalk Boston Nature Center At the height of spring migration, wake up with a brisk bird walk at the Boston Nature Center. Help BNC’s Bird-a-thon team search by sight and sound for as many visiting bird species as possible. Birders of all levels welcome. FREE! 10:00 am – noon: History Walk Franklin Park Explore Frederick Law Olmsted’s masterpiece – his last large-scale urban park – with local historian and author, Julie Arrison. Hear about the glory days of Franklin Park at the turn of the century. See the views from School Master Hill, once home to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Meet at the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse. FREE! 2:00–4:00 pm: Bards & Blooms: Interactive Poetry Hike Arnold Arboretum What was Walt Whitman talking about when he said “…Lilac and star and bird twined with the chant of my soul”? Find out on this multi-sensory excursion into the blossom-filled landscape of the Arboretum. Bring a short piece inspired by nature to read aloud yourself – either your own writing or a favorite poem by someone else (less than 2 minutes, please). Meet at Visitor Center. FREE! 4:30 – 6:00 pm: Family Bird Walk Franklin Park Stroll with local birder and children’s performer, Stephen Baird, from the Emerald Necklace Bird Club. We’ll see song birds, water birds, and maybe even the Great Blue Heron! Birders of all levels welcome. Meet at the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse. FREE! Sunday, May 16 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Family Concert: Peter & the Wolf Forsyth Chapel, Forest Hills Cemetery Enjoy a narrated performance of this childhood favorite performed by the master musicians of the Solar Winds Quintet. A humorous folk tale set to music by Sergei Prokofiev features the adventures of a bird, duck, cat and wolf playfully portrayed by the flute, oboe, clarinet and French horn. $12/$10 members; kids 12 and under free! 2:00 – 4:00 pm: Horticulturists Walking Tour Forest Hills Cemetery Discover the horticulturists of 19th century Boston – men who developed many of the fruits, flowers and trees that we enjoy today – during a tour led by historian Anthony Sammarco. Sample some of their edible creations, such as Bartlett’s Pear and Downer’s Late Cherry, along the way. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Meet at Main Gate. $9 2:00 – 3:30 pm: Poetry Reading Forest Hills Cemetery Find out why The Boston Globe calls Forsyth Chapel the “coolest place to hear poetry in Boston” when Michael Casey, Danielle Legros Georges, Elizabeth McKim, and Lainie Senechal read their work. $5 1:30 – 2:30 pm: Meet and Greet with the Birds Boston Nature Center Meet some of the avian residents from Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum. This live bird demonstration allows you to see these majestic creatures up close and learn how they live in the wild. FREE! 2:30 – 3:30 pm: Bird Olympics Boston Nature Center Hummingbirds can fly backwards. Ostriches can run as fast as a car. The peregrine falcon is the fastest living creature, reaching speeds of at least 124 mph. Birds can accomplish amazing feats! Join us for bird relay races, beak seed pick-up, and other fun activities inspired by the bird world. FREE! 4:00 – 5:30 pm: Birds & Bards Closing Reception Boston Nature Center Gerry Wright presents “Flying free, no fences for you or me,” a one person performance as Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed the Emerald Necklace, and Walt Whitman, America’s most influential poet and the father of “free verse.” Plus refreshments! FREE!
B&B FESTIVAL KICK-OFF CELEBRATION Thursday, May 13 at 7:30 pm	BIRDS & BARDS FESTIVAL KICK OFF Join us for a reception with refreshments at 7:30. The program starts at 8 pm with nature poetry by Susan Edwards Richmond. Next, a playful and participatory performance of improvised jazz inspired by the sounds of nature by the superb Tom Hall Quartet. Then world-renowned naturalist Peter Alden, author of 15 books on wildlife, gives an entertaining talk on his adventures around the globe and right here in Boston. Admission: $10 donation; kids 12 and under free. Susan Edwards Richmond's (pictured, left) most recent poetry collection, Purgatory Chasm,was published by Adastra Press in 2007. Her collection, Birding in Winter, was selected as a finalist in the Finishing Line Press annual chapbook competition, and her first chapbook, Boto, was published by Adastra in 2002. Susan's poems have appeared in Appalachia, California Quarterly, Green Mountains Review, The Iowa Review, Perihelion, Santuary, The Journal of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and The Seattle Review. Tom Hall (pictured left, on saxophone) has spent his life improvising all kinds of music, in groups such as Your Neighborhood Sax Quartet,  Bob Neiske’s Wolf Soup, Bruce Katz Band, and Club d’Elf and with people like John Medeski, D.J. Logic,  Matt Maneri, Tim Ray, Duke Levine, Dave Bryant and Dave Tronzo. He teaches at Brandeis University and is the author of "Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide." For this event, he has invited some talented musicians to join him: Jon Damian on guitar, Marty Ballou on Bass and Curt Newton on drums. Peter Alden (pictured, above) is a world renowned naturalist, lecturer, ecotourism guide and author of 15 books on North American and African wildlife, including the National Audubon Society's Regional Field Guide Series. He is also a highly entertaining and sought after lecturer on topics that include world wildlife, the Polar regions, invasive plants and biodiversity of the northeast, as well as migratory birds. He grew up in Concord, walking among the same trees, rivers and wetlands as the famous 19th century naturalist Henry David Thoreau.
B&B FESTIVAL: CONCERT Sunday, May 16 at 11 am	Peter & the Wolf A Family Concert featuring the Solar Winds Quintet Enjoy a narrated performance of this childhood favorite performed by the master musicians of the Solar Winds Quintet. A humorous folk tale set to music by Sergei Prokovief features the voices of a bird, duck, cat and wolf playfully portrayed by the flute, oboe, clairnet and French horn. $12/$10 members; children 12 and under free.
B&B FESTIVAL: WALKING TOUR Sunday, May 16 at 2 pm	Horticulturists of Forest Hills Discover the horticulturists of 19th century Boston – men who developed many of the fruits, flowers and trees that we enjoy today – during a tour led by historian Anthony Sammarco. Sample some of their edible creations, such as Bartlett’s Pear and Downer’s Late Cherry, along the way. Forest Hills was founded and designed by one of the most prominent of these "experimental gardeners" – Henry A.S. Dearborn, who was also the first president of the Massachusetts Horticulture Society. Dearborn intended Forest Hills to serve the community as a lush green sanctuary, an arboretum and picturesque park as well as Boston's most beautiful burial ground. He created the first jewel in the Emerald Necklace a generation before Olmsted came to Boston. Meet at the Main Gate. This is a two-hour walk over varied terrain, with many stops along the way; wear comfortable shoes and bring water. $9
B&B FESTIVAL POETRY Sunday, May 16 at 2 pm Admission: $ 5	Poetry in the Chapel in collaboration with Tapestry of Voices Find out why The Boston Globe calls Forsyth Chapel "the coolest place in Boston to hear poetry" when four acclaimed local poets read their work. Michael Casey, Danielle Legros Georges, Elizabeth McKim, and Lainie Senechal read from their work as part of the Birds and Bards Festival.
CONCERT Sunday, May 23 at 2pm	photo: Liz Linder Borromeo String Quartet Nicholas Kitchen, Violin Kristopher Tong, Violin Mai Motobuchi, Viola Yeesun Kim, Cello "Simply the best!" – The Boston Globe Experience the rich and passionate playing of the extraordinary Borromeo String Quartet. The combination of an intimate setting, superb acoustics, and the masterful performance of this internationally acclaimed quartet makes this a highlight of Boston's chamber music season. We are delighted to present this invigorating program celebrating the genius of Bach, Haydn, and Beethoven. The concert features a special arrangement of Bach's spectacularly intricate "St.Anne" Fugue crafted by Borromeo violinist Nicholas Kitchen, a "hands-on" approach to Haydn including analysis of key sections of his quartet in Eb, Op. 64 No. 6, and finishes with the breathtaking complexity and extreme technical demands of Beethoven's "Grosse Fugue". Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) "St. Anne" Fugue for organ BWV 552, arranged for string quartet by Nicholas Kitchen Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) String Quartet in Eb Major Op. 64 #6 (Hob. III:64) Allegro Andante Menuet, Allegretto Finale: Presto Ludwig van Beethoven, (1770-1827) String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, no. 2 Allegro Adagio cantabile; Allegro Scherzo Allegro Allegro molto quasi Presto Ludwig van Beethoven, (1770-1827) String Quartet in Bb Major, Grosse Fuge Op. 133: Overtura; Allegro; Meno mosso e moderato; Allegro molto e con brio Purchase tickets by calling 617.524.3354 or email tickets@foresthillstrust.org with a daytime number and the number of tickets you would like reserved; we'll call you back to confirm. Admission: $55 VIP Tickets include seating in the front rows and a festive reception with the musicians following the concert. General Admission: $30/$25 Trust Members. For more information about the Borromeo String Quartet visit their website.
WALKING TOUR Sunday, May 30 at 2pm	Celebrate America's Heroes during Al Maze's Annual Memorial Day Tour Forest Hills expert Al Maze recently celebrated his 12th year of leading tours here. This is one of his most popular: a walk exploring the stories of soldiers and survivors of the Civil War and other battles. Al will read excerpts from letters, diaries and newspaper accounts that illuminate the experiences and emotions of the men and women who have served during wartime.
CONCERT Sunday, June 6 at 2pm $10/$8 Trust members/kids are free	The Sounds of Song and Dance A Family Concert featuring Chameleon Arts Ensemble Stomp, swirl, tango, and twirl. Whether you like to find the beat, follow a rhythm, or trace the melody, music makes your spirits soar and your body move! So kick up your heels and join us for an afternoon of chamber music inspired by dances from around the world. After the concert, drum with the Chameleons and try out their instruments. $10/$8 Trust members. Kids are free.
WALKING TOUR Sunday, June 13 at 2pm	The Jane Austen of Roxbury Experience Forest Hills in the 19th century through the eyes of Anna Cabot Lowell, a privileged Boston woman who kept a vigilant daily diary from the age of ten onwards. Since her life spanned the entire century, Anna's diary chronicles some of the changes that took place in Roxbury over the decades and provides us with a fascinating glimpse back in time. A descendant of inventor/industrialist Francis Cabot Lowell, Anna lived on an estate in Roxbury not far from Forest Hills. A clear-eyed observer, Anna candidly captured the details of domestic and social life in Victorian-era Roxbury. This unique walk with historian Dee Morris includes readings from this diary, weaving history and anecdote into an illuminating tour. Hear Anna’s story recounted as you visit her gravesite, as well as those of people she knew and loved. Meet at Main Gate. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; this is a 1 1/2-hour walk (with frequent stops) over varied terrain. Admission: $9.
BIKING TOUR Thursday, June 24 at 5:30	Roxbury Bike Tour in collaboration with Discover Roxbury and the Franklin Park Coalition. Ride to the southern reaches of Roxbury and tour historic green spaces: Forest Hills Cemetery and Franklin Park. The cemetery was originally founded as a public burial ground in 1848 by the Mayor of Roxbury and is the final resting place for prominent Roxburyites such as abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, surgeon Susan Dimock, entrepreneur Joseph "Wally" Walcott, and arts leader Elma Lewis. After touring the cemetery, ride through Franklin Park alongside the 200-acre forest and catch the view from Schoolmaster Hill where Ralph Waldo Emerson once lived. At the end of the ride, purchase a light meal at the Golf Clubhouse and watch the setting sun on the terrace. Helmets are required. 20 person limit. Tour is weather permitting. Meet at main gate at Forest Hills. Advanced tickets required. Purchase tickets here.
WALKING TOUR Sunday, June 27 at 2pm	Philanthropists of Forest Hills Tour Join Anthony Sammarco for a tour highlighting the lives of intriguing collectors and generous philanthropists buried at Forest Hills Cemetery. The Jordans of Jordan Hall, Forsyth of the Forsyth Dental Clinic, and Carney of Carney hospital are just a few of the men who made vast fortunes and then became patrons of the arts, science, and social causes. Many wealthy women were also active philanthropists, such as Pauline Agassiz Shaw, founder of the North Bennet Street School and supporter of the American kindergarten movement. Meet at Main Gate. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; this is a 2-hour walk (with frequent stops) over varied terrain. Admission: $9.
FESTIVAL Thursday, July 15 6-9pm Rain Date: Thursday, July 22	12th Annual Lantern Festival Presenting sponsor: Join us – and thousands of Bostonians – for a moving memorial ceremony inspired by Buddhist rituals. Inscribe a lantern with a personal message to friends or family and float it across Lake Hibiscus at sunset. In this breathtaking ceremony of remembrance, visitors to this lush, Victorian landscape make paper lanterns and set them afloat on the peaceful waters of a small lake. This ritual is based on the traditional Japanese Bon Festival, a time when a door opens to the world of the ancestors, allowing us to send messages to the other side. Bring your own picnic and blanket and enjoy a multi-cultural program of music and dance which starts at 6 pm. Featuring Grand Master Tsuji's Samurai Taiko drummers, gospel music by Ron Murphy and friends, and traditional Japanese Bon dances by the students from Showa Institute as well as performances of Chinese and Balinese dance. You can have a calligrapher inscribe your lantern with Japanese characters meaning love or hope. Then add your own drawings and messages for friends and family who have passed away. At sunset, everyone gathers at the Lake and a thousand candle-lit lanterns are set afloat. Drifting and flickering with the wind, the lanterns symbolize the soul’s mysterious journey when life ends. Admission is free, with a $10 donation per lantern. Parking is $10, or take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and use the shortcut, one block up Tower Street to a pedestrian gate into the Cemetery. Directions are on our website. There is no food or water for sale at the festival, so bring whatever you want. Mosquito repellent recommended. There is no lighting after dark; bring a flashlight to assist your departure.
WALKING TOUR Sunday, July 18 at 2pm	Lions flank the grave of Pietro Caproni (left) and Teddy Thaw is portrayed with the archangel Michael in his Art Deco style memorial by sculptor Jerome Brush (right) – just a few of the treasures you on this tour. A Milton Hill Treasure Hunt Find a gravesite guarded by lions, portraits of the inventor of the shoe vamp machine and a young pilot, and an elaborate memorial designed by Tiffany Studios! Visit the graves of poet Anne Sexton and Wall Street Journal publisher Clarence Walker Barron – owner of the Dow Jones – on a fascinating tour with author and historian Anthony Sammarco. $9
WALKING TOUR Sunday, July 25 at 2pm	Coming Home...for Eternity Victorians were in love with their homes, which they constructed as idealized sanctuaries imbued with their personal sensibilities and a feeling of abundance. They filled their rooms with family photographs, souvenirs from travels, and furniture covered in rich fabrics – and every detail had meaning. When the time came, they planned their final resting places with the same combination of design flair, symbolic meaning, and emotional investment. Join social historian Dee Morris for a tour illuminating the sense of home and family expressed in the exquisite carved memorials found throughout the Cemetery’s lush landscape. $9
WALKING TOUR Sunday, August 1 at 2pm	A Visit with Anne Sexton and E.E. Cummings Join us for a pilgrimage to the gravesites of two of the most famous American poets of the 20th century – Anne Sexton and E.E. Cummings. Along the way, we will read their poetry and see contemporary art inspired by their work, decode Victorian symbolism and view elegant 19th-century sculpture, and hear the stories of some of the other notables buried at Forest Hills during a walk led by the Trust’s Director Cecily Miller and Program Coordinator Jonathan Clark. $9
WALKING TOUR Thursday, August 5 7 pm to dusk	Twilight Tour: Contemporary & Victorian Art Explore Forest Hills’ unique site-specific contemporary art with Cecily Miller, the Trust’s Director. See how artists have been inspired to create contemporary interpretations of Victorian themes of family, memory, nature, and the cemetery as a home for eternity. Along the way view masterpieces of 19th century sculpture and architecture. Escape the summer heat during an early evening tour – a beautiful time of day to experience the Cemetery's picturesque landscape. Founded in 1848, Forest Hills was designed to offer a lush green oasis, a tranquil refuge from the city. If you like, come early with a picnic and find a shady spot on the grass to have dinner before the tour. $10 admission. Bring a flashlight to guide your exit!
WALKING TOUR Thursday, August 12 7 pm to dusk	Twilight Tour: A Library of Life Stories There are more than 100,000 people buried at Forest Hills, ranging from the legendary actress Fanny Davenport to merchant Samuel Reed, owner of the fastest clipper ships of his day. Hear some of their stories and view their monuments – some lavish and dramatic and others modest or mysterious, in a fascinating tour with historian Anthony Sammarco. Escape the summer heat during an early evening tour – a beautiful time of day to experience the Cemetery's picturesque landscape. Founded in 1848, Forest Hills was designed to offer a lush green oasis, a tranquil refuge from the city. If you like, come early with a picnic and find a shady spot on the grass to have dinner before the tour. $10 admission. Bring a flashlight to guide your exit!
WALKING TOUR Thursday, August 19 7 pm to dusk	Twilight Tour: Animals – Real and Imagined A pair of magnificent griffins, the heroic horses of the 19th century fire department, and a gentle St. Bernard dog are some of the creatures represented in memorials at Forest Hills. Join historian Dee Morris for tales of Victorian animals – beloved pets, faithful workers, and symbolic emblems of loyalty, strength and the soul. Escape the summer heat during an early evening tour – a beautiful time of day to experience the Cemetery's picturesque landscape. Founded in 1848, Forest Hills was designed to offer a lush green oasis, a tranquil refuge from the city. If you like, come early with a picnic and find a shady spot on the grass to have dinner before the tour. $10 admission. Bring a flashlight to guide your exit!
WALKING TOUR Thursday, August 26 7 pm to dusk	August 26: Eugene O’Neill & E.E. Cummings Visit two of the 20th century’s most influential writers – polar opposites in interests and expression – with the Trust’s Program Coordinator Jonathan Clark. Cummings’ wit, bold language and playful typography transformed American poetry. O’Neill’s complex and tragic plays, emphasizing regular people and commonplace speech, reshaped American theatre, heralding the birth of realism. The tour will include readings from both authors’ work. Escape the summer heat during an early evening tour – a beautiful time of day to experience the Cemetery's picturesque landscape. Founded in 1848, Forest Hills was designed to offer a lush green oasis, a tranquil refuge from the city. If you like, come early with a picnic and find a shady spot on the grass to have dinner before the tour. $10 admission. Bring a flashlight to guide your exit!
POETRY Sunday, September 26th at 2pm	Carpenter Poets of Jamaica Plain Inspired by the work of poet and carpenter Mark Turpin, this group of carpenters started their own poetry night and eventually formed the Carpenter Poets of Jamaica Plain. They see a connection between carpentry and writing and seek to explore life through the tools they use to build the world around them. The Carpenter Poets will be reading at Forsyth Chapel. Admission: $5.
TOUR Sunday, October 10 at 2pm Admission: $12/$10 Trust members	13th Annual Dog Walk Dee Morris tells tales of Victorian animals – beloved pets and faithful workers – and tours animal sculpture throughout the cemetery. For sociable canines and their owners; people without dogs also welcome. Certificates and delicious treats from Polkadog Bakery awarded upon completion. Admission: $12 per human/$10 Trust members.
TOUR Sunday, October 17 at 2pm Admission: $15/$12 Trust members	A Moveable Feast Join historian Anthony Sammarco for a tour highlighting the fascinating stories of eminent Bostonians who brought us such delights as chocolate treats, the exotic Hawaiin pineapple, early ripening pears and late ripening cherries. Sample some treats along the way! Admission: $15/$12 Trust members.
SPECIAL EVENT Sunday, October 24th, 1:30 to 5pm following the E.E. Cummings Celebration Free	10th Anniversary Celebration of The Contemporary Sculpture Path Join us for the unveiling of new sculpture by Kahlil Gibran, take a tour with seven artists, enjoy live music and a poetry tribute to EE Cummings! The Forest Hills Educational Trust opened the Contemporary Sculpture Path in 2001, establishing one of Boston’s most ambitious collection of temporary and permanent public art. Discover 28 works of permanent and temporary public art exhibited in the grand Victorian landscape of Forest Hills Cemetery. Schedule: 1:00 Refreshments and a family art activity – tour Forest Hills with Amy Beth Harrison and Jennifer Marsh, the artist/educators who taught Summer Discoveries, the Trust's program for kids in summer camps. Make a Lantern inspired by Forest Hills and use it in the JP Lantern Parade later Sunday night! 1:15 Unveiling of Standing Ceres – a new sculpture by Kahlil Gibran replacing the beloved Seated Ceres, which was stolen in 2008 – and live music at Lake Hibiscus 2:00 Poets Charles Coe, Robert K. Johnson and John Sturm pay tribute to E.E. Cummings by reading from his work and their own poetry 3:00 Flute concert Peter H. Bloom – experience Bach and Debussy in Forsyth Chapel. 3:30 Take a tour with participating artists Fern Cunningham, Christopher Frost, Danielle Krcmar, Mitch Ryerson, George Sherwood, Andrea Thompson, and Leslie Wilcox All activities are free. The rain date is Sunday, October 31st. Background The Contemporary Sculpture Path is an evolving exhibition that weaves through the grand Victorian landscape of Forest Hills Cemetery. For 10 years, the Trust has invited artists to create site-specific work exploring themes such as nature, memory, family, nature, identity, and the mysteries of the spirit world. Many of the works on the Path were originally commissioned for summer-long juried exhibitions with themes – Spirits in the Trees, the 4 Elements, ReVisited and Dwelling. The most successful – and durable – of the temporary pieces stayed on exhibit. The Path currently consists of 28 works of art, primarily by Boston-area artists, composed from diverse media including bronze, wood, copper, cast cement, stainless steel mesh.
POETRY Sunday October 24th at 2pm   Admission: Free!	E.E. Cummings Celebration Join us for a celebration of the life and legacy of poet E.E. Cummings, who is buried at Forest Hills. His brash humor, bold language and playful typography transformed American poetry. Defying all conventions regarding line breaks, spelling, sentence structure, and perhaps most famously, capitalization, Cummings's work expanded the contributions of fellow modernists Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. In honor of his birth month, the Forest Hills Educational Trust in collaboration with Tapestry of Voices hosts a tribute to E.E. Cummings at the Receiving Tomb. Charles Coe, Robert K. Johnson, and John Sturm read from Cummings’ poems and their own.   The reading at the Receiving Tomb will be followed by a walk to the poet’s grave site by Lake Hibiscus. Bring a memento or message to leave at the gravesite. Admission: FREE!
TOUR Sunday, October 31st at 2pm Admission: $9	Victorian Spiritualism Tour Spiritualists believed that death was a transition to a new form or existence; people who had "crossed over" could be contacted through seances and spirit guides. Visit some of the religious leaders and practitioners – as well as skeptics – of this controversial 19th-century faith. Meet at the main gate; this is two-hour walk. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
RITUAL Tuesday, November 2 at 4-6 pm Free	Day of the Dead Tzompantli Join us for a traditional Mexican celebration of remembrance co-sponsored by Latin American folkloric performance group La Pinata. Based on the ancient traditions of Mexico's indigenous peoples who believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit their families, the Day of the Dead celebrates the continuous cycle of life and death, embracing cultures from all throughout the Americas. Enjoy a program of music and dance as individuals bring offerings of flowers, copies of photos, mementos, and traditional skull-shaped sugar candies to leave on a decorated candle-lit altar for those departed loved ones. Dress warmly. Bring a flashlight. Bilingual: English/Spanish. Admission: Free Co-sponsored by La Piñata and Spontaneous Celebrations. Visit them at http://www.spontaneouscelebrations.org.
POETRY Sunday, November 14 at 2pm Admission: $9/$5 members	Tribute to Anne Sexton Sexton wrote fearlessly about family, sexuality, rage and joy, pioneering a radical new poetry. Her finely crafted work also reveals wit, elegance and fierce intelligence. Join four writers who knew her well for an afternoon of poetry and reminiscence. Lois Ames, Suzanne Berger, Robert J. Clawson and Victor Howes. A walk to Sexton’s grave follows. $9/$5 Trust members.

Archive of 2009 events sponsored by the Educational Trust
Archive of 2008 events sponsored by the Educational Trust
Archive of 2007 events sponsored by the Educational Trust
Archive of 2006 events sponsored by the Educational Trust
Archive of 2005 events sponsored by the Educational Trust
Archive of 2004 events sponsored by the Educational Trust

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