This Weekend: Early Voting, Beats on the Beach & All That Jazz

updated 8/27/25 with Sunday evening's Gospel Fest. 

There's lots going on in the neighborhood this weekend from early voting to the 15th annual Boston Jazz Festival to the Beats on the Beach Block Party, and did we mention it is all free? 

The Preliminary Municipal Election takes place on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. 
The last day to register to vote in the preliminary election is this Saturday, August 30th. You may register online or by mail.
Early voting starts this Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st at the Condon School from 11am to 7pm at 200 D Street. Tuesday, September 2nd, through Friday, September 5th, you may vote early at City Hall Haymarket Room. Hours are: Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 8pm and Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 5pm. There are 4 candidates for Mayor (pick 1), 3 candidates for District 2 City Councilor (pick 1) and 10 candidates for the 4 City Council At-Large seats (pick 4). The top two vote getters for Mayor and District 2 and the top 8 for At-Large will advance to the November 4th election. View Early Voting Ballot for South Boston wards 6 & 7. 

The 15th Annual Boston Jazz Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 29-30 2025 Maritime Park in Boston’s Seaport District from 5:00 -10 PM Friday . Saturday b12:00 Noon till 10:00 PM. Each year, BJF features performances by some of the best jazz musicians in the business! View line up by clicking above.

Save The Harbor/Save The Bay Beats on the Beach Block Party

When: 8/30 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

What: Pull up for a night of free music, art, and food on Lawn on D! Featuring acts from Chelita, Deevo Da Genius, Lilith, TOMO, ToriTori, DJ Rayvino. Hosted by DJ WhySham. Shop at a 40+ vibrant local art mart with art, crafts, clothes, jewelry, and more!

Where: The Lawn on D, 420 D St.

The 25th Annual Boston Gospel Fest, is taking place on August 31st at the Leader Bank Pavilion, 290 Northern Ave. This vibrant celebration of gospel music will fill the air with uplifting melodies and powerful performances. The free event kicks off at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.  Doors will open at 4 p.m.   

originally published 08.26.25

Illuminate the Harbor With Fireworks & Music This Thursday Night

On the evening of Thursday, August 28,2025 at 8:30pm fireworks will illuminate the Harbor. The13th annual event is hosted by Boston Harbor Now in partnership with MeetBoston. 

It will be a special evening of free, outdoor enjoyment for people of all ages, to celebrate all the waterfront has to offer!

• Live Music & Activities: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
• Fireworks Display: Begins at dusk (approximately 8:30 PM)

Viewing areas will be available at locations across the Boston Inner Harbor Harborwalk in South Boston, East Boston, Charlestown, and North End. Our closest viewing location is Fan Pier Park and Moakley Bridge.

And before the fireworks, enjoy the last free Harborwalk Sounds concert at the ICA Harborwalk from 6pm to 8:30pm with Ness DeJean, an emerging pop singer-songwriter with a voice that channels soul, passion, and raw emotion. A quick reminder that the ICA is free on Thursday nights from 5pm to 8pm. 

About The Neighborhood This Week

updated 8/20/25 with Artists For Humanity's Big Summer Show on August 21st. 

There are a lot of options for things to do this evening. On August 20th, Channelside/Related Beal is in front of ConCom for the proposed floating dock installation. This coming Sunday is a free concert. Details are below:

8/19: Boston Civic Design Commission Subcommittee Meeting(s) at 5pm. P&G Gillette Rezoning Master Plan is on the Agenda A at 6pm.

8/19: 370-401 D Street PDA Amendment Public Meeting at 6pm. The Project Site consists of approximately 5.6 total acres of land owned by MCCA for a new fifteen (15) story. In addition, the Proponent seeks to modify the existing layout of the Element Hotel by increasing layout efficiency, resulting in up to an additional 20 keys within the existing volume and area of the structure. This modification will result in an amendment to the original PDA phase, increasing the maximum key count to up to 530 rooms within the Aloft and Element Hotels, up from the originally approved 510 rooms

8/19: Updating the Groundwater Conservation Overlay District | Public Meeting at 6pm to present  proposed updates for the Groundwater Conservation Overlay District (GCOD). These updates consolidate and simplify the existing zoning text for GCOD, and remove some regulatory barriers for ‘Substantial Rehabilitation projects.’ 

8/19: SUPilates by SUP YO Adventures at 6:30pm at the Fort Point Pier. Parking is available at Channelside. Related programs also at Fort Point Pier include SUPYoga and paddleboarding. 

8/20: Conservation Commission (ConCom) Public Meeting at 6pm. 

Item #7: Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-2063 and BOS File No. 2025-028 from Epsilon Associates, Inc., on behalf of Channelside Acquisitions, LLC, for the proposed installation of a pile supported ramp and a pile anchored floating dock in the Fort Point Channel at 244-284 A Street, South Boston Waterfront, MA  (LUO, LSCSF, Coastal Bank, 100ft Buffer to Coastal Bank, 25ft Waterfront Area).

8/21: Artists For Humanity's Big Summer Show from 4pm to 7pm at AFH EpiCenter, 100 West 2nd. St. Join AFH teens showcasing their work from the summer session at the biggest art and design sale of the year!

8/24: FPAC Harbor Harmonies Concert: Swinging in the Summertime, a Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Concert, from 3pm to 4pm at the Fort Point Room at Atlantic Wharf, 280 Congress Street. Get your free ticket. 

originally published 08.19.25

Happenings Starting Today: Climate Funding & Landmarks, Grand Openings, Art Openings & More

updated 8/19/25: P&G Gillette Master Plan is at BCDC 8/19 at 6pm.

Here are a few of the events going on about and around the neighborhood.

8/14: City Council Committee On Environmental Justice, Resiliency, And Parks Hearing On Dockets #1258, #1345, And #1347 | Boston.gov,a hearing regarding various environmental-related grants including 1.7m for a resilient Moakley Park, ($644,458.00) to grow an accessible, inclusive, and resilient urban forest. $75,000.00) to fund the work climate resilience communities have done to date and support communities with new methods, tools, and resources for building climate resilience, at 2pm. Public is welcome to give comments.

8/14: Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission Public Meeting at 6pm:  268 Summer Street, 51 Sleeper Street, 311 Summer Street and 35 Thomson Place.

  

8/16:  Grand Opening of ANH55— where timeless style meets purpose and every stitch tells a story- from 1pm to 3pm at The Artist Building at 300 Summer Street.  Come celebrate fashion with heart, excellent craftsmanship, and a mission to empower women artisans around the world. RSVP TO anh@anh55.com

8/16: Two openings tonight: Prismatique!, a group exhibition expressing a full celebration of color in the Midway Gallery and Works In Progress by Parvaaz Godara in the Art Tunnel from 7pm to 9pm at Midway Artist Studios,15 Channel Center St.

8/19: Boston Civic Design Commission Subcommittee Meeting(s) at 5pm. P&G Gillette Rezoning Master Plan is on the Agenda A at 6pm.

8/19: 370-401 D Street PDA Amendment Public Meeting at 6pm. The Project Site consists of approximately 5.6 total acres of land owned by MCCA for a new fifteen (15) story. In addition, the Proponent seeks to modify the existing layout of the Element Hotel by increasing layout efficiency, resulting in up to an additional 20 keys within the existing volume and area of the structure. This modification will result in an amendment to the original PDA phase, increasing the maximum key count to up to 530 rooms within the Aloft and Element Hotels, up from the originally approved 510 rooms

8/19: Updating the Groundwater Conservation Overlay District | Public Meeting at 6pm to present  proposed updates for the Groundwater Conservation Overlay District (GCOD). These updates consolidate and simplify the existing zoning text for GCOD, and remove some regulatory barriers for ‘Substantial Rehabilitation projects.’ 

8/19: SUPilates by SUP YO Adventures at 6:30pm at the Fort Point Pier. Parking is available at Channelside. Related programs also at Fort Point Pier include SUPYoga and paddleboarding. 

8/24: FPAC Harbor Harmonies Concert: Swinging in the Summertime, a Hot Club Gypsy Jazz Concert, from 3pm to 4pm at the Fort Point Room at Atlantic Wharf, 280 Congress Street. Get your free ticket. 

WATER TRANSPORTATON IN THE NEWS (Water access to our waterfront)  

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $2.3 Million to Expand Waterfront Ferry and Water Transportation on Boston Harbor  | Mass.gov 

2025.08.12 Mayor Wu and the City of Boston Celebrate New Commuter Ferry Connecting North Station to | Bostonplans.org

originally published 08,14,25

Fort Point Landmarks August 2025 Meeting

THE FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION
will hold a public hearing on:
Thursday, August 14, 2025  
6:00 PM

This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person.

You can participate in this hearing by going to the Zoom meeting link or by calling 929-436-2866 and entering meeting id 941 7604 6618 #. You may also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 26.0042 FPC 268 SUMMER STREET 
Proposed Work: Install new metal panel signage “portal” at existing facade entry with matching metal cladding at existing archways, exterior sconces and recessed lighting.

II.  ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW/APPROVAL

APP # 25.1055 FPC 51 SLEEPER STREET: Emergency repair approval for in kind masonry repairs including repointing, removal and replacement in kind of spauld brick, spot was where repointing has taken place.

APP # 26.0016 FPC 311 SUMMER STREET: Emergency repair approval for damaged concrete at the corner entrance of the building and slope will be corrected for accessibility. Will be repaired in kind with removal of the existing concrete in a manner that will avoid a patched look for a unified appearance. Automatic door opener installation will be included on a separate design review application.

APP # 26.0054 FPC 35 THOMSON PLACE: New sign installed through the mortar joints.

III.  RATIFICATION OF 7/10/2025 Hearing Minutes

IV.  STAFF UPDATES

V.  PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 7:15 PM

Members: David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, Thomas Rodde, Vacancy, Vacancy Alternates: Vacancy, Raber Umphenour

Free Neighborhood Happenings This Week

updated 08/08/25 to include The Distillery Gallery's opening reception August 9th. 

8/5: National Night Out starting at 3:30pm to 6pm at Moakley Park (450 Old Colony Ave.)basketball courts near the football field. Meet Mayor Michelle Wu, Police Commissioner Michael Cox, BPD Command Staff and your neighbors! Free food, face painting, music and entertainment!

8/7: Spoke Art presents From the Monastery, a group exhibition of new works. Opening reception is from 6pm to 8pm at 844 Summer Street. Show runs through August 30, 2025.

8/9: The American City Coalition (TACC) will be hosting Un Día de Kayak (Joy of Kayaking), transporting our Dorchester and Roxbury neighbors to the Fort Point Channel from 10am to 2pm. Please welcome them to our neighborhood. There will be festivities on and along the Fort Point Channel from the Fort Point Pier (dock) to the Children's Museum to Fan Pier. 

8/9: Get a first look at Bodies of Work, a group exhibition showcasing the work of current and former staff members at Maquette Fine Art Services, from  6-9pm at The Distillery Gallery, 516 E 2nd St.

8/10: Castle Island: Oasis of Peace, Beauty, and Joy, captures a magical place where people of all ethnicities and religious traditions can enjoy themselves as seen through the lens of photographer Sylvia Stagg-Guiliano. Opening reception is from 4pm to 6pm at the Gallery at 249A, 249 A Street. Show runs through September 4, 2025. 

originally published 08.05.25

Fan Expo This Weekend

Fan Expo Boston will take place at the Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (formerly the BCEC) from Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10. It will be a pop culture celebration focusing on Sci-Fi, Horror, Comics, Gaming, and Anime. 

We will be welcoming up to 36,000 daily attendees to Fort Point and the South Boston Waterfront. Expect increased area activity, traffic, and limited parking during the event.

The Seaport TMA highly recommends that people traveling through the district utilize public and alternative transportation modes throughout the day of this event. Cyclists can reference their live map of bike parking and Bluebikes stations locations. MBTA Silver Line service may see busier than normal ridership levels, and area garages may also be busier. If you are driving in and out of the neighborhood, please allow additional time for your commute.

For more information on the traffic and parking plan for Fan Expo, view the MCEC’s Transportation Management Plan. Please note the Channel Center garage, the Channelside parking lot and the Necco St. Garage will all be used for overflow parking. There will also be digital signs and police details to help move traffic.

View a complete overview of daily events and attendees this month at the Seaport TMA South Boston Waterfront Calendar of Events.