Happenings About The Neighborhood Starting Tonight

2/3: Green Infrastructure Planning and Flood Mapping Climate Social from 6pm to 8pm: Hear from the Boston Community-Based Flood Resilience project team and community partners. Learn how the results of the Office of Green Infrastructure's Boston Flood Survey are being used, get access to local resources, and explore the updated flood viewer tool!  Meet in person at the Civic Pavilion or online.  

2/5: 2025 Draft Massport Strategic Plan virtual presentation at 6pm. Your comments will help shape Massport’s path forward. Comments are open until March 6th. 

2/5: West Street and West Coast, Works on Paper by Sarah Turner, opens at The Gallery at 249A Street from 6pm to 8pm. A series of quiet ‘burn drawings’ which give into the winter stillness of home in New England’s landscape. A set of photographs that resist winter’s muted colors and reach instead for West Coast exuberance. The exhibition runs through February 20th. 

2/5: The Cultural Incubator presents HUMANITY AS PRAXIS, Resilience. Resistance. Collective Hope by renowned Cuban artist Carlos Martiel and Palestinian artists Hanan Azaiza, Osama Hussein, Ahmed Jarbou, Ahmad Al-Daalsa, and Kawthar Al-Qabbani at 5:30pm at 15 Channel Center St.

2/7: The Distillery Gallery presents Tortured Artist, a collaborative project by photographers Sun Brown and Yves, this weekend only. Saturday Opening reception from 6pm to 10pm with Sunday viewing hours from 12pm to 6om. The Distillery Gallery is located at 516 E 2nd St.

2/7: Assembly Required, An Exhibition of Collage As a Mirror of the Mundane by Hervé Kwimo, opens at 6pm at the Midway Gallery, 15 Channel Center St. Herve presents a study in fragmentation, alignment, and viewpoint.

2/11: Boston in Focus: Capturing a Changing Urban Canvas, a powerful collection of work from AFH teens, alumni artists, and local Boston photographers, each with their own perspective and truth on the changes our city has undergone within the past two decades, opens with an Artist Talk at 5pm followed by a reception at 6pm at Artist For Humanity (AFH), 100 W. 2nd St. 

2/12: Artists of Tomorrow: Self Portraits, created by Artists for Humanity (AFH) teens, opens from 4pm to 6pm at the FPAC Art Space, 70A Sleeper Street. The portraits are honest, imaginative reflections on who they are and who they are becoming. Together, they tell a collective story of emerging identity, possibility, and the vibrant future these young creatives are shaping for themselves and their communities. 

originally published 2.3.26

Fort Point Happenings Kick Off Tonight: Conservation Commission, Inundation District (Friday) & More Art

November 19: Conservation Commission Public Hearing at 6pm

The Conservation Commission (ConCom) reviews projects to determine what conditions, if any, the Commission will impose in order to protect the interests of the public and private water supply, groundwater, prevention of pollution, flood control, prevention of storm damage, protection of fisheries and land containing shellfish, and protection of wildlife habitat.

Neighborhood Items

• Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-20XX and BOS File No. 2025-0XX from Childs Engineering on behalf of Poseidon Enterprises for the proposed replacement of deteriorated sections of an existing fender system along a pier face, as well as repairs to structural timber piles and timber pile caps at Barking Crab, 88 Sleeper Street, South Boston Waterfront, MA (LUO).*Continued from the October 22, 2025 hearing. Continuance postponed to a future hearing. 

• Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-2073 and BOS File No. 2025-034 from Epsilon Associates on behalf of Channelside Acquisitions, LLC, for the proposed construction of a publicly accessible overlook over the Fort Point Channel; construction of retaining walls, platform, and seating for a future public amphitheater; and minor regrading at 15 Necco Street and 244-284 A Street, South Boston Waterfront, MA (25ft Waterfront Area, LUO, Coastal Bank, 100ft Buffer to Coastal Bank, LSCSF). The proponent postponed their appearance three times prior. 
  
  

• Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-2XXX and BOS File No. 2025-XXX from Epsilon Associates, Inc. on behalf of Channelside Acquisitions, LLC for the proposed construction of a new bicycle path, subsurface utility connections, pedestrian sidewalk improvements, and minor site grading at 10 Necco Street, South Boston Waterfront, MA (LSCSF). The proponent postponed their appearance last month. 

November 21:  Free Movie Screening of "Inundation District" hosted by Save The Harbor with Q&A with director, David Abel, at 5pm at 15 Necco. "INUNDATION DISTRICT is an award-winning feature-length film about the implications of one city’s decision to ignore the threats posed by climate change and spend billions of dollars on building a new waterfront district — on landfill, at sea level." Light refreshments will be served. Reserve your spot.

November 21: Objects of Devotion Opening, a group exhibition examining the ways in which the routines, rituals, and spiritual underpinnings of our lives enter and exist within the devotional realm, from 6–9pm at The Distillery Gallery, 516 East 2nd St.

An Afternoon in the FPAC Art Space
Presented By: Fort Point Free Music Collective
Sunday, November 23, 3-5PM 
FPAC Art Space at the Envoy Hotel, 70 Sleeper Street
Reserve Your Free Ticket

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

Art Is Springing Up In The Neighborhood

3/28/19: Updated to include Friday March 29th's one night only show at The Distillery.

March into spring with a collection of diverse art happenings starting Friday, and street cleaning resumes Tuesday, April 2, 2019.  

Friday, March 29: The Distillery presents the premiere of Georden West's Patron Saint, an otherworldly black-and-white film, featuring the looks of fashion designer, and current Project Runway contestant, Jamall Osterholm. One night only 7pm - 10pm at 516 East 2nd St. More details.

Sunday, March 31: Fort Point Theatre Channel presents By The Book, a reading of a play

by Amy Merrill. Free admission. Donations appreciated. 2pm at Midway Artist Studios (15 Channel Center St.) More details.

Tuesday, April 2: Street Cleaning begins Tuesdays from 9 am to 1 pm on A Street and on Binford Street . Sign up for No Tow Alerts. (You will need to enter street name in search first.) 

Thursday, April 4: Opening reception of Regali: Sicilian Stories from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the FPAC Gallery located on the lower level of 300 Summer St. More details.

Saturday, April 6: Opening reception of Sustainable Photography from 6pm - 8pm at Assemblage at The Envoy Hotel. More details.

Monday, April 8: 20 Knots: Daffodils for Boston, a public art installation of enormous daffodils, at Seaport Common (85 Northern Ave). More details.

Open Studios Season Kicks Off & Two Local Artists' Retrospectives This Weekend

Open Studios season in Boston is right around the corner, starting next weekend to be exact. 

There is no need to wait until then. Two women artists are being celebrated this weekend for their contributions to the arts.

The Distillery Gallery presents a modest retrospective of the work of sculptor, and longtime Distillery resident, Joyce McDaniel. The exhibition includes pieces from throughout the artist's career, including her early welded steel work, inspired by her upbringing in Oklahoma, to her later constructions that combined expanded steel mesh, overlaid with delicate hand-made and dressmaker pattern paper.

Opening reception: Saturday, Sept. 8, 6 - 9 PM
On view: September 8 - 29, 2018
The Distillery Gallery
516 E 2nd St. 

Ephemeral Permanence

The Gallery At 249 A honors  the life and art of Valda Zalkalns (1940--2017) in Ephemeral Permanence:

Saturday, September 8th from 2 to 9 pm 

Sunday September 9th, from 2 to 5 pm

Ms Zalkalns was a founding member of the 249 A Street Artist Cooperative. In her early life she and her family were Latvian refugees from the Soviet army, living in DP camps for eight years. She was an active artist for fifty years after her graduation from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, working in watercolors, commercial art, handmade ceramic tiles, earth art, photography, and mono prints. This retrospective includes work from each of phase of her artistic life. The Gallery At 249 A is located on the lower level of 249 A Street. 

Mark Your Calendars: 2018 Boston Open Studios:

• South End: September 15 - 16, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Jamaica Plain: September 22 - 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Roxbury: October 6 - 7, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Fort Point: October 12, 4 - 7 p.m.; October 13, 12 - 6 p.m.
• Mattapan Arts Fest: October 13 - 14, 12 - 5 p.m.
• Allston: October 13 - 14, 12 - 6 p.m.
• Roslindale: October 20 - 21, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• South Boston: November 3 - 4, 12 - 6 p.m.
• Fenway: November 10 - 11, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Charlestown: December 1 - 2, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Two Local Art Organizations Are Making Magic This Summer

The Distillery Gallery presents Make Reality Magic Again, A Retrospective Exhibition of the Voyeuges Series & Public Premiere Screening of Episode III. Reception and screening are Thursday, August 16, 2018 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. 

Voyeuges involves a cameraman and musical ensemble observing the street from a row of second story windows, creating together cinematic footage and an improvised musical score in response to either the happenstance occurrences on the block, or improvised public performances and installations by members of the ensemble. The footage and accompanying live music are cut down to a short movie with a hint of narrative arc. The mood leans naturally towards mystery and suspense, and sways from feelings of daydreaming to mundanity to absurdity, madness and back again - a weird and beautiful form of movie entertainment.

Make Reality Magic Again is on view through August 18th.  The Distillery Gallery is located at 516 E 2nd St.

The Fort Point Theatre Channel takes you on tour with Jose Rivera's Cloud Tectonics. 

Cloud Tectonics is a humorous time-bending love story written by Academy Award-nominated José Rivera. Celestina, a hitchhiker whose pregnancy is lasting over two years, and Aníbal, a baggage handler at LAX, meet in the rain for an unforgettable and life-altering encounter in the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. Sometimes our paths are meant to overlap and diverge simultaneously.

These special workshop performances feature live music and Foley effects by L.A.-based musician Olivia Brownlee and is presented by actor/director Jaime Carrillo in association with Fort Point Theatre Channel. 

August 14 @ 7:30 pm

The Fort Point Room at Atlantic Wharf
290 Congress Street, Boston

August 17 and 18 @ 7:30 pm

Boston Playwrights' Theatre
949 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

August 21 @ 7:30 pm *

Gloucester Stage
267 East Main Street, Gloucester 

The August 14, 17, and 18 performances are free.

To reserve your seats, please email Jaime@fortpointtheatrechannel.org.

* Click here for tickets to the August 21 performance at Gloucester Stage.

Cast: Jadira Figueroa (Celestina), Jaime Carrillo (Anibal), &
Fernando Barbosa (Nelson) 

Musicians: Nick Thorkelson, Mitchel Ahern, Anaís Azul, Francis Xavier Norton,
Luz Lopez, & Fernando Barbosa

REMINDER: Channel Dance continues from 11 am to 1 pm on August 19, 2018 at Waterfront Plaza (290 Congress St) across the Channel from the Boston Children's Museum.  Story Dance returns September 2, 2018 at the same time and location. All events are free and open to kids and families. 

It's The Weekend Art Party

It is Friday. It is the start of the weekend. More importantly it is the weekend after Columbus Day. If you have lived or worked in Fort Point for any of the past 38 years, you know that means Fort Point Open Studios hosted by your artist neighbors and the Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC). If you are new to Fort Point or never been to Open Studios, be ready to see art in the streets, in the Channel, in galleries and in artist studios. Best of all it is free until you are inspired to make that first purchase of art, of course. 

Tonight before hitting the bars, visit select artist studios until 7 pm and don't miss the Grand Opening of The FPAC Space at the Envoy Hotel from 6 pm - 8 pm.

Did you know Fort Point is home to three buildings dedicated to artists? 249 A Street Artist Cooperative arrived first in the mid eighties followed by The Artist Building at 300 Summer Street ten years later and Midway Artist Studios located at 15 Channel Center Street in 2005. 

On Saturday, October 14 and Sunday October 15, 2017 from noon to 6 pm, explore over a hundred artist studios, see art demos, hear live musical performances and learn about art directly from the artist. Whether you are looking to start an art collection or add to it, buy one-of-a-kind gifts or just want to do something cool this weekend, check out the complete list of activities (for kids too), galleries and open studios in the Fort Point Fall Open Studios brochure. Free parking available at the P&G Gillette lots at Binford & A Streets. 

End your Saturday night at the Distillery Gallery's 10 year birthday celebration from 7 pm - 11 pm. The Distillery is located at 516 E 2nd Street.

Art Abounds Around Fort Point Friday & Saturday

With the start of Fall is the return of multiple art openings and events in the neighborhood. Starting Friday night, September 8, 2017, the Gallery at 249A, the Midway Gallery and the Distillery Gallery offer you a variety of art to dazzle the senses. On Saturday, September 9, 2017, the Underground at Ink Block is unveiling 150,000 sf of mural walls by local and international artists. Here is what you need to know to start planing your art adventure now:

The Gallery at 249 A presents Bejeweled, a new exhibit of works by Paola Savarino, to honor her memory and legacy not only as a creative force, but also as an accomplished advocate for affordable live/work space for artists in the City of Boston. 

Bejeweled is co-curated by Duane Lucia and Tony Savarino, Paola’s son, and features 25 paintings never before shown. They are works in acrylic, oil and mixed media, including glass beads and coins. The pieces portray highly-textured, colorful and poetic images that dance on the canvas and energize the viewers’ senses.

Sponsored by 249 A Street Artists Cooperative, Gallery East and the South Boston Community Development Foundation, the exhibit runs from Thursday, August 17 through Saturday, September 30. The show reception takes place on Friday, September 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. and is open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The exhibit and reception are FREE. Gallery hours are by appointment at 617-416-0718. The gallery is located at 249 A Street. More details at the Gallery at 249 A.

A couple blocks away at 15 Channel Center Street, the Midway Gallery presents CLEEK GOLD, an installation of monumental wall paintings by Jessica Tam. The exhibition will be on view from September 1 through October 1, with an opening reception on September 8th from 5–8 pm.

Employing an experimental, multi-step process, Tam transforms imagery back and forth between figuration and abstraction, exploring compression and expansion, cartoon-like gesture and expressive brushwork. The exhibition is made possible with the generous support of the Walter Feldman Fellowship for Emerging Artists, administered by the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, and the support of Clowes Fund Fellowship and the Vermont Studio Center. The Midway Galley is located in Midway Artist Studios.

End your Friday evening at The Distillery Gallery's opening of Feeling Feeling from 7 - 10 pm on September 8th. Artists Emmy Bright & J.R. Uretsky create a series of dubious choices, earnest efforts, collaborative installations, missed opportunities and new works on paper, wall, and in time. Feeling Feeling runs September 8 - October 14, 2017

On Saturday, September 9, 2017 make your way over to Underground at Ink Block (90 Traveler St.) from 2 pm - 6 pm for the Underground Getdown Block Party and the unveiling of the newly transformed mural walls by some of today's most popular and influential street-artists. Come and enjoy a drink at the Loco Beer Garden, DJ's Gucci Vuitton & Braun Dapper, games, food trucks and more.

The Underground Mural Project will transform over 150,000 sf of mural walls in the park.The 2017 line-up of local and internationally renowned artists includes: Cey Adams (New York), Don Rimx (Puerto Rico), Imagine876 (Boston) Hoxxoh (Miami), Marka27 (Boston), Percy Fortini Wright (Boston), Problak (Boston), Upendo (Los Angeles), Vyal One (Los Angeles), Ewok (Boston) & Thy Doan (Boston).

Art Happenings You Won't Want To Miss

If you missed Sowa Artists Guild's First Fridays June 5th at 450 Harrison Street in the South End and last weekend's South Boston Open Studios at the Distillery and at 555 Gallery, you won't want to miss:.  

Tuesday, June 9th from 5pm -7pm is the opening reception of "Mentor", a juried exhibition featuring works by eight Fort Point artist/educators and their students, at the Atlantic Wharf Gallery. RSVP. Show runs through June 19th.

Made in Fort Point hosts their June featured artist of the month, Liliana Folta, at an opening reception on  Wednesday, June 10th from 5 pm - 7 pm. RSVP. Liliana Folta was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has lived and worked in Fort Point at Midway Artist Studios since 2009 and soon will relocate her studio to Berlin, Germany. Liliana studied Fine Arts and ceramics at Tarrant County College NE Texas, where she received an “Outstanding Merit Award” and a “Distinguished Scholarship.”  The Made in Fort Point store sells and exhibits art, craft and design of over 50 Fort Point Arts Community members.

The FPAC Gallery presents "Drawing & Sparring”, an exhibit featuring work by Fort Point artists inspired by the art of boxing. The opening reception is Thursday, June 11th from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at 300 Summer St. RSVP.  The exhibit is on view through July 2, 2015.

There will also be a Fort Point Public Art Walking Tour on Thursday starting at 5 pm at A St. and Necco Ct. to view five art installations and hear from the artists. The tour will end at the FPAC Galley at 6:30 pm. RSVP

The art happenings all take place during Seaport - Fort Point Week June 5th - 12th. Rediscover the Boston Waterfront

updated 6.9.15

Distillery Redevelopment Meeting

There will be a Distillery Redevelopment Impact Advisory Group (“IAG”) Meeting on Thursday, June 24, 6:00-7:30PM, at the Boys and Girls Club, 230 West Sixth Street in South Boston. The purpose of the meeting is for the development team to update the IAG on the project, which was approved by the BRA Board in September 2009.

All members of the public are welcome to attend IAG meetings.

Meeting for Distillery Development, 9/8

Please be advised that there will be an Impact Advisory Group (“IAG”) Meeting regarding the proposed Distillery Redevelopment, which is located at 516-524 East Second Street and 2 Dorchester Street, in South Boston, on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 6:30 PM – 8:00PM, at the St. Vincent De Paul's Church, in the Parish Hall, corner of E Street and West Third Street, South Boston.

All members of the community and media are welcome to attend IAG Meetings.


Kristin Kara
Senior Project Manager
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617-918-4263