Happenings About & Around Fort Point Start Tuesday

updated 9/23/26: Sept 26th Colin’s Joy Run & Zero Waste Drop Day plus Sept. 27th Harbor Harmonies are all postponed due to the forecast. 

September 22: Waterfront For All Summit. The Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront and Boston Harbor Now will co-host a free, one-day summit from 9am to 3pm at the Boston Children’s Museum, bringing together a broad cross-section of partners, practitioners, and stakeholders committed to creating a waterfront that is more accessible, welcoming, and equitable for all. Sign up today. 

September 22: Boston Landmarks Commission Design Review Meeting at 4pm. Agenda includes Fort Point Channel Landmark District items: 324 A Street and 35 Thomson Place under Administrative Review.  Cancelled due to lack of quorum.

September 22: Update To Zoning Article 68 and Map 4F | Public Meeting at 6pm.  The meeting will also address a complementary proposed map amendment to better align the boundary between the First LI and WM subdistricts with current and projected land uses to Pappas Way, adjacent to the Reserved Channel. It would also permit the use of Planned Development Areas (PDAs).

September 24: Basin Loop Harborwalk Community Gathering #2 from 5:30pm to 7pm is hosted by Boston Harbor Now about Massport's Harborwalk completion plan around the Reserved Channel. The event takes place at the Southie Boston Public Library and virtually. Register here, The Eventbrite includes the zoom link to attend virtually. Refreshments will be provided, and Boston Harbor Now is offering each participant a $20 gift card to Boston City Experiences, which can be used towards activities like harbor cruises and tours, whale watching, and the Codzilla thrill ride.

September 26: Cancelled Zero Waste Day Drop-Off Day from 8:30am to 12pm at 400 Frontage Road. Looking to declutter? Drop off cell phones, computers, monitors, printers, oil paint, aerosols, tires, etc.. plus paper shredding on site. View full list of accepted items.

September 26: Postponed Colin’s Joy Project 5k at 8:15am for youth and 9am for adults. Celebrating and continuing Colin's Joy Project's mission and welcoming all back to run! Register here. The day will begin with 2 youth races to start followed by a 5 km course along scenic South Boston beaches.

September 27: Postponed Harbor Harmonies "Reimagine: Something Old, Something New" with the Area 9 Saxophone Quartet from 3pm to 4pm at the FPAC Art Space, 70 Sleeper St. Don't miss this fun, free concert! 

September 29: Save the date for the FPNA Neighborhood Gathering at 6pm.

September 30: The 3rd Annual Deployables Day Walking Tour and Training Exercise from 11am to 1pm. Observe Boston’s citywide flood barrier drill as property owners deploy protective barriers with guidance from the Office of Emergency Management. Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett and Chief of Planning Kairos Shen will lead a walking tour will stop at Atlantic Wharf, Martin's Park and include a ribbon cutting at Harbor Towers celebrating the completion of its resiliency improvements plus a live Boston Fire rescue drill. 

originally published 9.21.26

About The Neighborhood This Week

Monday, September 14, Mayor Wu’s South Boston Coffee Hour at 5:30pm at BCYF Curley Center, 1663 Columbia Rd. 

Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours offer a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about City services. The Office of Climate Resilience will be there to answer questions on the US Army Corp of Engineers Coastal Storm Risk Management proposed solutions to protect South Boston from flooding (comments due 9/18/26)

Tuesday, September 15:"Proximate Spaces" Opening Reception from 6pm to 9pm at the Gallery at 249 A, 249 A Street. "Proximate Spaces" artists Kseniya Galper, Amy Rizzico, Will Reed, Luke Flynt examine what draws us near- time, space, sequence, and connection and invites you to find your own moments of surprise and curiosity and connection. The exhibit runs through September 23, 2026. 

Wednesday, September 16:A Virtual Information Session for At-Risk Property Owners at 2pm hosted by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Office of Climate Resilience (OCR). An opportunity for at-risk property owners to learn about Boston’s evolving flood risks, and the products and services available to protect your property. 

Thursday, September 17: Repeat/Repeat Opening Reception from 5pm to 7pm at the FPAC Art Space at 70 Sleeper Street at the Envoy Hotel. Artists Deborah Davidson, Audrey Goldstein, Randal Thurston and Debra Weisberg reflect upon how a dedicated studio practice based on iteration and curiosity evolves over time.

Thursday, September 17: Artist Presentation: Figure, Landscape, and Narrative by Anthony Apesos from 6pm to 7pm in the Midway Gallery at Midway Artist Studios at 15 Channel Center St.  

Friday, September 18: Your feedback on the US Army Corp of Engineers Coastal Storm Risk Management proposed recommendations to prevent flooding in our neighborhood is critical for funding and before the plan moves forward. Comments are due by 5pm.

Friday, September 18: The City's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) Update comment deadline. Boston’s NHMP is a five-year planning process led by the Office of Emergency Management to identify hazards and develop mitigation strategies. It also helps the City qualify for non-emergency FEMA and MEMA funding opportunities. The plan addresses stormwater, green infrastructure, extreme heat, drought, snow, and other hazards in addition to coastal resilience.

The NHMP complements the Boston Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Study by:

• Aligning OEM planning with CSRM outcomes and recommendations.
• Connecting citywide emergency planning with short- and long-term infrastructure projects.
• Identifying opportunities to incorporate multiple benefits—such as evacuation routes, emergency operations, infrastructure, and stormwater management—into CSRM projects.

Saturday, September 19: 26th Annual South Boston Street Fest takes place from 11am to 4pm on East Broadway between I and L Streets with live entertainment on 2 stages, over 100 local merchants, artists, and organizations plus great food, dance performances and children's activities. One of  Fort Point’s artistswill be guiding kids in creating a pencil pouch with fabric paint markers near the 4th Presbyterian Church (340 Dorchester St., close to Andrew T Station).Don't miss this free, fun, family friendly event! 

Fort Point Is Alive With Art, Festivities & Dragon Boats

The FPAC Art Space invites you to experience FLOAT, a group exhibition featuring works by Adria Arch, Cicely Carew, Carly Glovinski, Jo Lobdell, and Eva Lundsager, curated by Robin Hauck.

The Opening Reception is July 29th from 6pm to 8pm at 70A Sleeper Street (across from the Barking Crab) 

Inspired by Mary Oliver's poem The Ponds, FLOAT offers a vibrant sanctuary from the weight of everyday life—inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and embrace a sense of wonder as summer transitions into fall. The exhibition runs through August 22, 2026. 

Discover Distillations, a juried exhibition of FPAC member artists exploring the art of refinement, distilling experience, memory, and observation into their most essential forms. 

On view at The Gallery at Atlantic Wharf now through September 25, 2026 with an Opening Reception on July 30th from 5pm to 7pm. 

Presented by FPAC in partnership with BXP/Atlantic Wharf. The Gallery at Atlantic Wharf is located at 290 Congress St.

                                   🎨  🚣🏽‍♂️  🖼️  🎨  🚣🏽‍♂️  🖼️ 🎨  🚣🏽‍♂️  🖼️

On Saturday, August 1st both sides of the Channel on land and water will be alive with art, games and dragon boats. 

Ohana New England presents Beasts from the East Dragon Boat Classic and free Fort Point Festival from 8am to 5pm at 15 Necco Street. Whether you’re racing or spectating, Beasts from the East Classic races bring an unforgettable moment of sport, culture and celebration to Boston and local waters.

Atlantic Wharf is hosting their annual Summer Bash, a free family-friendly celebration featuring live entertainment, waterfront activities, creative experiences, and more, from 10am to 12pm on Waterfront Plaza. Taking place along Boston’s scenic waterfront, this celebration brings together local organizations and activities for visitors of all ages.

The Midway Gallery invites you to the opening of "Touches of Gray: Portrait Studies in Graphite". Be the first to experience a curated selection of portraits drawn from live sessions, capturing the character and individuality of each model through the expressive simplicity of graphite by artist Raymond MacDonald. 

The Opening Reception is August 1st from 3pm to 6pm in the Project Room within Midway Gallery at Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center St.  

The exhibition is on view August 1, 2026 through September 29, 2026.

The Distillery Gallery presents Organs Studios: Viscera Nuda, an immersive exhibition by the eight artists of the Boston-based collective Organs Studios. Using projection, light, sound, performance, large-scale sculpture, and interactive installations, the exhibition transforms the gallery into a journey through the inner workings of a living system. The Opening Reception is August 1st from 7pm to 10pm. The Distillery Gallery is located at 516 East 2nd St.  

The Boston Children’s Museum CreatedBy Festival, offering family focused STEAM activities celebrating making, creativity, and self-expression, takes place this Sunday, August 2nd  from 10am to 3pm. The Festival is free with museum admission. Advance online tickets are encouraged.

Save the date of August 8th for the Opening Reception of American Landscapes by watercolor artist Lonnie Ash at Midway Gallery's Art Tunnel located within Midway Artist Studios at 15 Channel Center Street.

About The Neighborhood This Week & Next

Interested in learning more about how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in conjunction with the City of Boston is approaching long term flood protection along the Fort Point Channel and Boston Harbor? Here are a number of opportunities to engage:

• July 21: USACE Boston CSRM: Open House #1 from 9am to 12pm at 26 Court St, 1^st floor conference room. Join the City of Boston and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to learn about the Coastal Storm Risk Management Draft Report and Public Comment Period.
• July 22: Southie Summer Nights at Moakley Park from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. USACE and City of Boston's Office of Climate Resilience will have a table to inform and answer questions.
• July 23: Virtual Boston Harbor Now/USACE Draft Plan Release Meeting from 8:30am to 10am. Join Boston Harbor Now to hear directly from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Boston’s Coastal Storm Risk Management Study.
• July 23: A Better City, City of Boston, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Briefing from 1pm to 2:30pm at 26 Court Street, Conference Room 327. Join in person for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Briefing to get the latest updates and insights on their draft report prior to submission to US Congress in 2028.
• July 23: USACE Boston CSRM: Open House #2 from 4pm to 6pm at the New England Aquarium’s Simon Theatre. Join the City of Boston and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to learn about the Coastal Storm Risk Management Draft Report and Public Comment Period.

Other Meetings & Events About The Neighborhood

July 21: BOSTON CIVIC DESIGN COMMISSION at 5pm. Reserved Channel on Agenda B. 

July 21: Which Side Are You On?: A Protest Music Teach-Out at the Opera + Community Studios at Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center. Doors open at 6:30pm and show starts at 8pm.

July 23: Closing Reception of PROGRESSION from 6pm to 8pm at the Midway Gallery's Art Tunnel at 15 Channel Center St. 

July 24: Reserved Channel Master Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report comments due to MEPA Analyst Alexander Strysky.

July 28: 320 Summer Street at Zoning Board of Appeals at 9:30am: 
Purpose : Office to residential conversion with ground floor retail. Conversion of 122,100 sf office building to 145 Dwelling units and 7,500 sf of retail.

BOA-1848595Applicant: HC320 Summer Street, LLC

• ARTICLE 80 Article(s)
• Art. 08 Sec.07 Use: Conditional. MFR is a conditional use in a M 4 District
• Art. 17 Sec. 01 Usable open Space Insufficient. Site has no usable open space. 
• 400 SF required for each unit.
• Art. 32 Sec. 04 GCOD Applicability
• Art. 15 Sec. 01 Floor Area Ratio excessive. Allowed FAR is 4.0. Existing FAR is 6.55. Proposed FAR is 6.91. This further exceeds a non compliant FAR. 

July 29: FPAC Art Space Float Reception: July 29 | 6-8pm FLOAT Reception Tickets, Wednesday, July 29  •  6 PM - 8 PM | Eventbrite

August 1: Near Term Fort Point Channel Resilient Infrastructure. Submit comments via “Share Your Thoughts” section or via email to Benjamin Matusow.

About the Neighborhood: World Cup, Wetlands, Designer Garments, Resilient Fort Point & More

updated 6/17/26 with June 22nd Lolita Abutters Meeting at 6pm  

June 15: Lawn on D hosts FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Haiti v. Scotland at 9pm.Catch select matches on outdoor screens throughout the Grove at the Lawn on D, the Pavilion Tent and in the Lot on D. Lawn on D is located at 420 D Street.

June 17: Zoning Commission Hearing at 9am.    9:20 AM: Text Amendment Application Nos. 549-550-  Sign Code and Conforming Amendments to insert a new and updated Article 11 (Signs) of the Boston Zoning Code (the “Code”) that establish new citywide zoning regulations for signs; and (2) remove outdated signage regulations from the code. June 18: Floating Wetland Ribbon Cutting at 9am at 15 Necco. Join Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, National Development, and Chris Osgood, Director of the City of Boston's Office of Climate Resilience to recognize Chapter 91 licensee ARE and Ohana Dragon Boats for Fort Point Channel watersheet activation, and the Charles River Conservancy for trailblazing floating wetlands in the Charles and providing their expertise.  June 19: Creative Mornings Breakfast hosted by Sophia Moon from 8:30am to 10am at the FPAC Art Space, 70 Sleeper St. Enjoy breakfast, along with an inspiring presentation and storytelling of their journey by Anh and Philip Sawyer of Anh55 & Philip Sawyer Bespoke, unique garment designers and creators from Fort Point. Garments will be on display. June 19: Pappas Way World Cup Watch Party: Scotland vs. Morocco from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Enjoy an evening of soccer, food, games, and community fun! Limited tickets available. June 20: Open Atelier & Reception: A Showcase of Designer Garments hosted by Anh and Philip Sawyer from 10am to 12pm at the FPAC Art Space, 70 Sleeper St.  June 22: 253 Summer Street / Lolita Fort Point (NEW) at 6pm to add 3 tvs on patio for seasonal outdoor entertainment, addition of patio TVs.  Join Zoom Meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/s/1655778261?pwd=L4eslbdu3JpjIE6C8K3yrX2reg1daM.1 One tap mobile: +16692545252,,1655778261# US (San Jose) Webinar ID: 165 577 8261 June 23: Atlantic Wharf Coffee Hour at 9am  a discussion to kick off 2027 event planning, upcoming programming and community engagement. The coffee will take place in the Fort Point Room at 290 Congress St. June 24: Resilient Fort Point Channel Virtual Information Session at 6pm This community information session will provide updates on the Resilient Fort Point Channel Infrastructure Project, including progress on design and permitting. Participants will also learn about the project’s purpose, projected effectiveness, proposed timeline, and opportunities for community input. June 29: Resilient Fort Point Channel Open House + Site Walks Drop-in attendance is welcome any time between 4 and 7pm at 15 Necco St. There will be site walks with the project team at 5 pm and 6 pm. June 30: Save the date for the FPNA Neighborhood Gathering at 6pm. originally published 06.15.26

Earth Day, Art, Gardening & Love Your Block This Week

updated 4/22/26: Martwa Natura Opening Reception April 23rd.

April 22: Sustainable Photography Reception (cancelled) on Earth Day from 6pm to 8pm at Midway Gallery's Art Tunnel at Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center St. Mona Miri's solo exhibition explores the delicate state of our changing landscapes. The show is extended through May 30, 2026. 

April 23: Planar Shifts Opening Reception from 5pm to 7pm at the Atlantic Wharf Gallery, 290 Congress Street. This exhibition features Mother Brook Arts & Community Center artists who use parts to compose a whole, deconstruct “wholes” into parts, or blend abstraction and representation in innovative ways. Planar Shifts runs through July 5, 2026.

April 23: Martwa Natura Opening Reception from 6pm to 8pm at the Gallery at 249 A features work by Anna Leliwa. The subject of still life (in Polish martwa natura, literally “dead nature” or “mortal nature”) as interpreted by the artist is a reflection on life that shows flowers, vessels, or fruit sometimes carry meanings far deeper than their decorative appearance. The show runs through May 23, 2026. The Gallery at 249 A is located within the 249 A Street Artist Cooperative at 249 A Street.

April 25: A Street Park Community Garden Lottery at 9am at the Community Gardens. Don't miss it! The next lottery will be in approximately three years. 

April 25: Fort Point's 21st Annual Love Your Block Spring Cleanup at 10am. Meet in Wormwood Park (Wormwood & A Streets).  

April 26: Community Art Event from 1pm to 3pm at Masary Studios. Let's move! Join in this fun, social event and dance zumba style to bhangra beats and unbeatable rhythms for a good cause. Donations will support laborers in India and in Boston. Venmo @wellgoodmove. Masery Studios is located at Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center Street.

April 26: Harbor Harmonies - The Soul of Epirus from 3pm to 4pm at FPAC Art Space, 70A Sleeper St. The Soul of Epirus is a program rooted in Traditional Greek music that brings together two Grammy-nominated composer-performers: Epirus-born laouto virtuoso Vasilis Kostas and Cypriot percussionist George Lernis.

originally published 04.21.26

About The Neighborhood This Week

Artists For Humanity teens and alumni are showcased in two events: one this Wednesday, February 11th and the other on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Our South Boston Liaison, Lydia Polaski, is holding an office hour on Friday the 13th plus check out the resource offerings below: 

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.

2/13: South Boston Office Hour with our neighborhood liaison, Lydia Polaski, from 10:30am to 11:30am at Elephantine Bakery, 332 Congress Street. Don't let Friday the 13th vibes stop you from joining Lydia to chat or to discuss a City matter you may be wondering about. As an added bonus, pick up a tasty treat at the same time. 

 
Resources (provided by our Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services' South Boston Liaison)

Age Strong's 2026 Cost-Savings Clinics 

Given the rising costs of living, we know it's a struggle to make ends meet. To help, Boston’s Age Strong Commission will host free in-person cost-savings clinics to assist Boston’s older residents (age 55+) to help lower everyday expenses like fuel assistance, home repair, water/sewer discounts, property tax relief, SNAP, Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, Medicare Savings Program and more.

Learn more here. To set up your in-person clinic appointment, call Age Strong at 617-635-4366.

Food Resources

Do you–or does someone you know–need help finding food? Click here

Property Tax Resources here

• Tax Exemptions and Abatements here

• Personal Property Tax Exemption here

• Seniors: File for a Tax Deferral here

• Older Adult Property Tax Workoff Program here

If you have questions about the Residential Exemption or want to know about Personal Exemptions for the blind, disabled veterans, or seniors, please contact the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center at 617-635-4287 or email staff at TRACFAXSG@boston.gov.

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