Events
EVENTS
Share Your Story
Our Marathon is a crowd-sourced, digital archive of pictures, videos, stories, and social media related to the Boston Marathon bombing, hosted by Northeastern University. The Our Marathon team is holding events across the Boston area to talk about the project and help you share your story (or photos, text messages, social media, etc.). No story is too small for Our Marathon; please stop by and add yours to the website.
Saturday, March 15, 1:00-5:00, Cambridge Public Library
Wednesday, March 26, 5:00-8:30, Cambridge Public Library
Saturday, March 29, 1:00-4:00, Public Library of Brookline
Sunday, March 30, 1:00-4:00, Public Library of Brookline
Tuesday, April 1, 7:00-8:30, Tewksbury Public Library
Wednesday, April 9, 4:30-8:30, Pollard Memorial Library, Lowell
Wednesday, April 16 through Saturday, April 19, noon-4:00 daily, Boston Public Library, Central Location, Copley Square
Thursday, April 17, 3:00-5:30, Newton Free Library (co-sponsored by Historic Newton)
Wednesday, April 30, 11:00-3:00, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Saturday, April 26, 11:00-2:00, Stoneham Public Library
Concerts
A View from Heartbreak Hill
Thursday, February 20, 7:30-8:30, Berklee College of Music, David Friend Recital Hall
A View from Heartbreak Hill is a six-song piece by Francine Trester, a professor at the Berklee College of Music. Through music, Trester reflects on the marathon bombing, its aftermath, and her experiences of these events.
A View from Heartbreak Hill: A Concert of Hope and Remembrance
Sunday, March 2, 2:00-3:00, Newton Free Library
This performance by The Mockingbird Trio will feature the world premiere of a new song cycle A View from Heartbreak Hill, whose themes stem from the events of last year's Boston Marathon Bombing. The songs, scored for contralto, viola, and piano, are reflections on the tragedy, a memorial to the victims, and an offering of hope. Longtime Newton resident and Berklee College of Music Composition Professor Francine Trester wrote the words and music to the cycle, a retelling of events from a personal, honest, and direct perspective. She will attend the performance. The program is cosponsored by All Newton Music School.
This concert was featured in the Boston Globe. Read the article here.
A Concert of Healing, Hope and Moving On
Sunday, April 13, 2:00-3:00, Newton Free Library
The concert program, performed by the Barbara Cassidy Band, will include songs that have a thematic connection to healing, hope and moving on. Numbers will include band originals, as well as contemporary/pop and traditional songs by the likes of Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, Woody Guthrie, Paul Simon, and others. The Barbara Cassidy Band began performing in 2010, arranging songs mostly from the Americana tradition. The band members are Newton residents Barbara Cassidy (vocals), her husband Eric Chasalow (guitar and vocals), and invited guests.
A Concert of Hope and Peace
Sunday, April 13, 3:00-4:00, John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
WBZ News Anchor Lisa Hughes will introduce the Hawthorne String Quartet, who will perform pieces from Mozart and Previn, among others, in a concert marking the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. Richard Hoffman will also read a selection of poems in this program of hope and peace.
Register at www.jfklibrary.org or by calling 617-514-1643.
Lunchtime Concerts
The Boston Public Library is holding lunchtime concerts in the Courtyard every day from Monday, April 14 to Saturday, April 19. All concerts begin at 12:30 pm at the Central Library in Copley Square.
Monday, April 14: Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble
Tuesday, April 15: Lindsay Straw (vocals & guitar with Ivy Leaf)
Wednesday, April 16: Daniel Acsadi (classical guitar)
Thursday, April 17: Gabrielle Diaz/American Century Music (violin)
Friday, April 18: Michael Avitabile, flute; Raley Beggs, guitar (from the New England Conservatory)
Saturday, April 19: Stephanie Zyzak & So Young Choi, violin; Myeonghoon Park, viola; Taeguk Mun, cello (from New England Conservatory)
Newton Remembers: "Our City"
Saturday, April 19, 11:30-12:30
Before Newton's annual Heartbreak Hill Kids Road Race, national touring band Reverse Order will perform their song “Our City,” a tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and the city of Boston. The performance will be held at 11:30 on Saturday, April 19th just outside Newton City Hall, located at 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton.
Outdoor Concert Featuring Reverse Order and The Sugarbabies Band
Saturday, April 19, 12:00-5:00
This free concert at Faneuil Hall Marketplace will feature Reverse Order and The Sugarbabies Band, each playing songs in commemoration of the Marathon bombing. Reverse Order is a nationally touring pop/rock band. On April 19, the group of three will perform “Our City,” written in remembrance of the Boston Marathon bombing last year. The Sugarbabies Band is comprised entirely of Berklee scholarship students and alumni who exude youth and energy, while being genuine with legendary music. One of the group's lead singers wrote a song called "So Good" (The Boston Song) to commemorate last year's tragedy. The band will also be introducing a new, healing song titled "Beat As One."
Community Discussions
Stories from the Scene
Thursday, March 13, 6:30-8:00, Cambridge Public Library
Our Marathon is a crowd-sourced, digital archive of pictures, videos, stories, and social media related to the Boston Marathon bombing. At this event, first responder and runner Dr. Natalie Stavas, Cambridge resident Lt. Jeremy Walsh, a paramedic at the finish line, and marathon runners Gael Henville and Dave Athey share their stories of that eventful day. A moderated discussion will follow.
Tuesday Night Talk: "The 27th Mile" with Ray Charbonneau
Tuesday, March 25, 7:00-8:30, Tewksbury Public Library
The public is invited to an illustrated presentation on The 27th Mile: Going the Extra Mile to Support the Victims of The Boston Marathon Bombing, a collection of writings from local runners, including former Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot, explaining their passion for the sport. According to editor Ray Charbonneau, “Within this book, you’ll find stories that extol the spirit that first got us on the roads to run, that brought us to Boston on a sunny spring day, and that will bring us back to Hopkinton next year and in the years that follow. It’s the spirit we celebrate every time we go for a run, whatever the distance.” Charbonneau will also be on hand to answer questions and sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase. Proceeds from each sale will be donated to the One Fund. Learn more about the book at www.27thmile.com.
Tuesday Night Talk: "Aftermath: A Photographic Reflection" with Joshua Touster
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00-8:30, Tewksbury Public Library
The public is invited to an illustrated presentation on “Aftermath: A Photographic Reflection on the Boston Marathon Bombings,” a photography collection that captures how the tragedy affected the people of Boston. For the ten weeks following the Boston Marathon bombings, professional photographer Joshua Touster comprehensively photographed all aspects of the bombing’s aftermath, including the makeshift memorials; the bombing sites; first responders being honored at Fenway Park; the national media covering the bombings; the Tsarnaev home; the Watertown shootout location; crowds observing moments of silence; and the dismantling of the memorials by City of Boston archivists. Touster will share these images, plus his own personal reflections of the bombings, including being locked down in his Watertown home and witnessing the joyous street celebrations that erupted after the capture of the second bombing suspect. The “Aftermath” exhibition is currently on display at Curry College in Milton.
Terrorism and the Boston Marathon: Fear, Hope, and Resilience
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00-8:30, Boston College, Higgins 300
Peter Krause will discuss the causes and effects of terrorism in general and the 2013 Boston Marathon attacks in particular. He will present findings from his own research on the role of education, emotion, and community resilience in the difficult choices faced by societies in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. The Boisi Center will live-tweet the event. Join the conversation at #BostonHope.
"26.2: Beyond The Finish Line” With Tom Ashbrook
Tuesday, April 15, 6:30-9:00, John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Boston suffered terrible loss in the Marathon bombings last April 15. This April 15, join Tom Ashbrook for a live broadcast at the John F. Kennedy Library to remember, to reflect, and to look ahead. Tom will be on stage for “26.2: Beyond the Finish Line,” along with special guests Jill Lepore, Jonathan Katz, James Carroll, Eileen McNamara, Kevin Cullen, Regie Gibson, Farah Pandith and more. This free event will also feature live musical tributes from Bill Janovitz, Patty Larkin, Amanda Palmer and more.
Register HERE for your seat at the Kennedy Library. Doors open at 6:30, and the live broadcast begins at 7 p.m. sharp.
One Year of Strong-Becoming Stronger?
Tuesday, April 15, 7:00-8:00, Boston College, Yawkey Center, Murray Room
Speakers Matthew Jose of the Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative, Atyia Martin from the Boston Public Health Commission, and Katy Erker of Rosie's Place for homeless women gather to discuss their work to catalyze change in Boston on issues of health, immigration, and homelessness, and reflect on the strength of this city and becoming stronger one year after the 2013 Marathon bombing. This event will mark the beginning of Strong Month, a 26-day initiative to inspire positive social change in the spirit of Boston Strong. "The Heart of This City: Boston Strong and Becoming Stronger," a book produced by sixteen Boston College students in the Presidential Scholars Program, Class of 2016, will also receive its formal dedication at this event.
Tuesday Night Talk: Celebrating Kindness & Heroism From The Marathon Bombing
Tuesday, April 15, 7:00-8:30, Tewksbury Public Library
The public is invited to a panel discussion with contributors to the book, If Not for the Perfect Stranger: Heartwarming and Healing Stories of Kindness from the 2013 Boston Marathon. Hear directly from a group of individuals who delivered, received or witnessed real-life acts of heroism and generosity as a result of the bombings. Editors Diane Montiel and Steve Alexander will also be on hand to answer questions and sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase. Portions of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the One Fund, the Challenged Athletics Foundation, the L.C.C. K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, and other organizations. Learn more about the book at www.bostonperfectstranger.com.
Author Talk with Robert Wicks
Wednesday, April 16, 6:00-7:00, Commonwealth Salon, Boston Public Library, Central Library, Copley Square
Robert Wicks is the author of Perspective: The Calm Within the Storm. In Perspective, Wicks combines research and classic wisdom to provide advice on how to discover and regain a balanced and healthy perspective. As Wicks explains, how we see the world and ourselves is more important than what we see. Our perspectives are what matter. Classic wisdom literature has emphasized this for generations, and clinical psychology has followed suit from its inception. Wicks received his doctorate in psychology from Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital and is on the faculty of Loyola University, Maryland. He has published over 50 books for professionals and the general public including Bounce: Living the Resilient Life, Riding the Dragon, and Streams of Contentment.
Author Panel, Scott Helman and Jenna Russell
Thursday, April 17, 6:00-7:00, Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, Central Library, Copley Square
Scott Helman and Jenna Russell are the authors of Long Mile Home: Boston Under Attack, the City’s Courageous Recovery, and the Epic Hunt for Justice. Long Mile Home tells the gripping story of the tragic, surreal, and ultimately inspiring week of April 15, 2013, and highlights the bravery, resourcefulness, and resiliency of the Boston community before, during, and after the tragic Marathon Bombings. The authors, both journalists at the Boston Globe, are backed by that paper’s deep and widely praised coverage of the event. Through the eyes of seven principal characters, Helman and Russell trace the distinct paths that brought them together. With an unprecedented level of detail and insight, the book offers revelations, insights, and powerful stories of heroism and humanity.
Aftermath: Remembering the Boston Marathon Bombing
Thursday, April 17, 7:00-8:00, Newton Free Library
Watertown-based photographer Joshua Touster will give an illustrated lecture titled Aftermath: Remembering the Boston Marathon Bombing. Joshua will share his stunning post-Marathon bombing images, and his personal and professional remembrances of the days following the bombings and the capture of the bombing suspect.
Design Museum Morning with Louis Joseph
Friday, April 18, 8:30-10:00
Design Museum Boston has dedicated their April Design Museum Mornings event to all 2013 and 2014 Boston Marathon runners, families and supporters. This month's Design Museum Morning presenter will be Louis Joseph, Global Director of Strategy & Innovation at PUMA who will discuss performance footwear and designing for athletes. Join the Design Museum Boston community for a free event on Friday, April 18th at 8:30am at Hostelling International Boston in their Community Room on the ground floor. Enjoy free breakfast from Mike & Patty's, juice from Purity Organic, and mingle with the local design crowd.
RSVP for a free e-ticket here
Aftermath: A Photographic Reflection on the Boston Marathon Bombings
Saturday, April 19, 2:00-3:00, Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library, Central Location, Copley Square
Aftermath: The Boston Marathon Bombings is a series of images taken by photographer Joshua Touster following the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15, 2013. Touster will show a selection of images from his Aftermath series and discuss his personal and professional reflections on photographing the tragedy’s aftermath and seeing the event’s enduring effects on the community and on himself as a photographer
Tuesday Night Talk: "Bled For Boston" with Chris Padgett
Tuesday, April 22, 7:00-8:30, Tewksbury Public Library
The public is invited to an illustrated presentation on “Bled For Boston,” a photography project documenting the people who received tattoos after the Boston Marathon bombing. Founder Chris Padgett, recently featured on WBZ News and in Boston Magazine, says, “Bostonians everywhere showed their support for the city after the bombings. Many tattoo shops in Massachusetts stepped up and offered Boston-themed tattoos, donating their profits to The One Fund Boston. I wanted to capture the people that dedicated permanent space on their bodies as memorials to their city, first responders and the people who lost their lives at the Marathon.” Get the first look at this fascinating year-long project, which officially launches this April with an exhibition at the Boston Center for Adult Education and the publication of a book.
Art-Making
Boston Marathon Prayer Flags Project
Four Sundays: March 23, March 30, April 6, and April 13, 11:00-2:00, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Isabella Gardner journeyed to Asia in the late 1800s, when the West was still discovering Tibetan Buddhism, and one of the items she returned with was a Tibetan prayer wheel. Today, Tibetan prayer flags are known the world over as a symbol of blessing. Visit the Education Studio on four Sundays this spring to join in a collaborative project to mark the anniversary of the events of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, by creating prayer flags that will be hung in Boston.
A Day of Community Reflection and Art Making
Tuesday, April 15, 11:00-5:00, Davis Museum at Wellesley College
To commemorate the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing, the Davis Museum welcomes members of the community to join us for a day of art-making, reflection and healing. Visitors are invited to participate in the Davis Peace Project by creating colorful origami hummingbirds to be displayed along Route 135 during the Marathon. For visitors seeking quiet contemplation, the galleries will be open and sketchbooks will be available at the front desk. All activities are drop-in and free of charge.
Close-Knit Boston Hangout for The Joining Project
Friday, April 18, noon-5:00, Boston Center for the Arts
The Joining Project will be hosting a knitting event at the Boston Center for the Arts. Knitters of all skill levels are welcome, as well as those who want to learn to knit. Additionally, "wish tags" will be provided for participants to write messages that will be included in a public installation of fabric arts on the Mass Ave bridge from June to September.
The Joining Project was conceived in the heart of an artist and runner as a wish to connect the Boston and Cambridge communities in a positive heartfelt experience. Using the Harvard Bridge as a psychical connector between the two cities, this installation will both uplift those who experience it and knit the wishes for our cities together. The project connects runners and artists from various communities to link fresh, inspiring and positive experiences with The Boston Marathon.
Workshops
History Conference: Continuity and Change in Doing History
Saturday, March 29, 8:30-3:00, UMass, Boston
This one-day conference at UMass, Boston will explore the study of history at the university. In addition to panels on topics related to historic research and interpretation, the keynote address, by Professors James Green and Darwin Stapleton, will discuss the preservation and memorialization of the Boston Marathon Bombing.
To Light the World: Stories of Hope & Courage for Challenging Times
Thursday, April 3, 8:00-3:15, John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
A Conference for School Librarians and Teachers of Grades 3 - 8, presented by the JFK National Historic Site and the JFK Library and Museum April 3, 2014
When bad news dominates the headlines and children are bombarded with frightening images from streaming media, we find ourselves looking for ways to explain and reassure. In these times, stories of hope, courage and resilience can offer an inspirational counterbalance—providing children with examples of people facing difficulties head-on and taking action to make things better. The program features conversations with award-winning authors Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Walter Dean Myers, Doreen Rappaport, and a plenary session with author and artist Suzy Becker whose book Kids Make it Better is inspiring young people to make a difference. Afternoon workshops include: launching a service learning project, engaging teens in reflective writing, introducing young learners to world issues, and using text sets to explore themes of hope and courage.
Conference brochure and registration form
Rethinking and Rebuilding Community in the Aftermath of Violence
Wednesday, April 9, 4:00-6:30, Facing History and Ourselves, Brookline
When a group, neighborhood, or nation experiences an act of violence, it can shake the community to its very core. What brings communities together in these times of crisis? What tears them apart? Guided by Facing History’s themes of justice, legacy, and memory, we will explore the ways that communities process and respond to collective trauma. This workshop will offer opportunities for reflection, and will introduce participants to literary, artistic, and historical resources for exploring universal themes of loss and healing.
Other Community Events
Boston Marathon: We Run Together
Tuesday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 22, Wellesley Free Library
The Wellesley Free Library's main location will feature the display, "Boston Marathon: We Run Together." Explore books, audiobooks, and films for all ages with this first floor display honoring the Boston Marathon. Topics will include Marathon history, the 2013 bombing, and how-to information on everything from training for running to dealing with trauma.
Boston Strong at the USS Constitution Museum
Tuesday, April 1 through Wednesday, April 30, USS Constitution Museum
Over a thousand men and women responded to the Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, 2013. Show your support for their dedication and service by writing a “thank you” letter at the USS Constitution Museum throughout the month of April. The Museum will distribute the letters to local area police and medical personnel. The Museum will also be featuring a panel describing the impact of the bombings on USS Constitution and her captain who was at mile 20 when news broke of the attack at the finish line.
Globe Insider: Advance Screening of 5 Runners
Thursday, April 10, 7:00-8:00, John F Kennedy Presidential Library
Globe Insider presents a screening of the Boston Globe documentary, 5 Runners, which will be followed by a panel featuring Globe reporter and documentary producer/co-director Geoff Edgers; Emmy-winning Globe videographer and documentary co-director Darren Durlach; and runner Mary Jenkins; moderated by Boston Globe Deputy Managing Editor for Features Janice Page. Five strangers before the 2013 Boston Marathon, are five strangers who now share something linking them forever--at the precise moment when the first bomb exploded, they were taking their final steps to the finish line. Now, one year later, they plan to return to Boston to race again, where 3 people were killed and 264 injured - because they can't imagine not being there.
Register here
Newton Remembers: Marathon Daffodils
Friday, April 18, 5:3015-6:15
Newton's Mayor Warren will host a special daffodil planting ceremony in front of the Johnny Kelly statue on Heartbreak Hill. “Marathon Daffodils,” a group comprised of residents from the greater Boston area, was created last year to plant daffodils along the entire marathon route in tribute to the victims of last year’s bombing. As one of the marathon’s host communities, Newton welcomes the plantings along the route, and Mayor Warren invites all residents to join him for this special ceremony, which will include clergy and local officials. The Johnny Kelly statue is located at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street, across from Newton City Hall.
Community Day at the Museum of Fine Arts
Saturday, April 19, 10:00-4:45
On Saturday, April 19, the MFA is hosting a free community day of art and fellowship. Browse the museum's galleries, view the touching "To Boston With Love" exhibition, and contribute to the America 4 Boston Prayer Canvas to be unveiled at the Red Sox game on April 20.
Community Day at the Mary Baker Eddy Library
Monday, April 21, 10:00-4:00
The Mary Baker Eddy Library is offering free admission on Marathon Monday in support of the city's healing. Browse exhibits, experience the Mapparium, and contribute to the Museum's "Transcending Boundaries" exhibition, adding your messages of hope for the city and the world.