'First Light' Celebrates the Season in Brookline Thursday

BROOKLINE, MA — This year's First Light celebration flutters into Brookline on origami wings.

As part of the annual winter festival, organizers are asking the community help make paper cranes at local businesses.

They write that, "As a way to give voice to something positive, people and businesses from all over town are joining together to fold origami peace cranes."

"We believe that beyond whatever divisions exist, all politics must come from a first principle of peace, kindness, and humanity," organizers explain on the First Light site. "We will bring these cranes to Washington DC for Martin Luther King Jr. Day."

There's a whole host of additional activities planned around town this year, with the full list shared below, including paper crane folding locations.

You can find more information and a full map of activities on First Light's site here.

COOLIDGE CORNER EVENTS

The Brookline Ballet School, 1431 Beacon St: Rehearsals for 'The Nutcracker' performances, treats, raffle and a chance to take pictures with a life-size Nutcracker. 5:00-8:00 pm

Olive Connection, 1426 Beacon St: Tasting - Olive Oil, Vinegar and Specialty Foods Sampling. 5:00-8:00 pm

Get In Shape for Women, 1379 Beacon St: Open House & Raffle for free month PLUS free month to give to a friend. 5:00-8:00 pm

Uncommon Yarn, 1386a Beacon St: Open House. 5:00-8:00 pm

Leaf Boutique, 1382 Beacon St: Cocktail Hour. 6:00-7:00 pm

Biyoshi Salon, 1382 Beacon St: Leaf Boutique Fashion Show, 7:00-8:00 pm

The Wild Goose Chase, 1355 Beacon St: Live Entertainment and Refreshments, 5:00-8:00 pm

Party Favors, 1356 Beacon St: Cake and Gingerbread Decorating Demonstration. 5:00-8:00 pm

DJ Magic Mark, Harvard and Beacon: DJ. 5:00-8:00 pm

Brookline Grown, 14 Pleasant St: Tour and tasting - Farm tours as well as tastings from local vendors. 5:00-8:00 pm

Magic Beans, 312 Harvard St: 10% off toys all night. 5:00-8:00 pm
Elmo Visits. 5:00-5:30 pm

Vanessa Trien Performs. 5:30-6:30 pm

Open Play Time. 6:30-8:00 pm

Tiny Hanger, 314 Harvard St: Face-painting and Paper Peace Crane making. 5:00-8:00 pm

The Coolidge Corner Arcade, 318 Harvard St: Paper Peace Crane making. 5:00-8:00 pm
Brookline Senior Center Chorus. 5:00-5:30 pm

PB & J Dance Company. 5:30-6:00 pm

BHS Camerata. 6:00-6:30 pm

Voices Boston. 6:30-7:00 pm

Coolidge Corner Community Chorus. 7:00-7:30 pm

Brookline Symphony. 7:30-8:00 pm

WorkShop Brookline, 318 Harvard St Suite 38 & 39: Open House. 5:00-8:00 pm

Unlimited Sotheby's International Realty, 1290 Beacon St: Cherry the Balloon Artist. 5:00-7:30 pm

365 Organic Skin Care, 318 Harvard St: Tea Tasting. 5:00-8:00 pm

Fire Opal, 320 Harvard St: Wine and Chocolate tasting. 5:00-8:00 pm

Kolbo Fine Judaica Gallery, 437 Harvard St: Jazz ensemble. 7:30-8:00 pm

BROOKLINE VILLAGE EVENTS

Dr. Haleh Azar, Brookline Family Dental, 3 Harvard Ave: Charlie the Giant Tooth & face-painting. 5:00-8:00 pm

Gateway Arts, 60 Harvard St: Face-painting for kids, wine & shopping for adults. 5:00-8:00 pm.

Vanguard Realty, 54 Harvard St: Live Jazz Quintet, wine and cheese reception, Latin Combo Lookie Lookie. 5:00-8:00 pm

Art with Amy, 45 Harvard St: Collage Night - create your very own work of art. 6:00-8:00 pm

Boston School of Boabom, 33a Harvard St: Face-painting, free giveaways, Paper Peace Crane making 5:00-7:30 pm

Free kids classes at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30 pm

Pop-Up Art Gallery, 33a Harvard St - 3rd Floor: Art show featuring Brookline artists Audra Keefe and Martha Chason-Sokol. 5:00-8:00 pm

Korean Church of Boston: Education and Community Center, 32 Harvard St: Drum performance & refreshments.6:15 & 7:15 pm

Henry Bear’s Park, 19 Harvard St: Come decorate a lantern for First Light. 5:00-7:00 pm

Chobee Hoy, 18 Harvard St: Paper Peace Crane making. 5:00-8:00 pm

Benjamin the Clown. 5:00-6:30 pm

The Squeezebox Stompers. 7:00-8:00 pm

Framer’s Workshop, 278 Washington St: Monotype Print Demonstration. 6:00-8:00 pm

Rockland Trust, 264 Washington St: Caricature Artist - Susan Festa. 5:00-8:00 pm

The Golden Chickpea Center, 224 Harvard St: Arts & Crafts and Peace Crane Making. 5:00-8:00 pm
Philip Alexander. 6:30 pm

Children’s Book Shop, 237 Washington St: Each visitor receives a Book Character Word Search. Paper Peace Crane making. 5:00-8:00 pm

Feet of Clay, 21 Station St: Free Pottery Classes - Sign up at feetofclay.com to secure your spot, as space is limited. 5:00-8:00 pm

Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St: Free performances of “I Spy Butterfly” by Faye Dupras (every 30 mins). 5:00-8:00 pm

AROUND BROOKLINE

Sylvan Learning of Brookline, 1626 Beacon St: Lego Robotics Demo. 5:00-8:00 pm

Brookline Arts Center, 86 Monmouth St: Artist Marketplace shopping, Mei Mei Food Truck and a special tasting. 5:00-8:00 pm

Photo by dailyinvention, Flickr/Creative Commons