Top picks of the week
FRI 8.25
‘‘Rock ’N’ Roll Parents 2’’: Amy Poehler put her own spin on the ‘‘cool mom’’ character in Lindsay Lohan’s 2004 film, ‘‘Mean Girls,’’ but leniency and a second adolescence do not a cool mom make. Boston-based photographer Kelly Davidson explores truly cool moms and dads of the musical variety, such as Joe Klompus and Nell Beram posing with daughter Eva (below), in her latest exhibition, ‘‘Rock ’N’ Roll Parents 2,’’ at the JP Art Market gallery. The exhibit, which opens today and runs through Sept. 2, features photos of rock-star parents spending time with their kids. This installment has portraits of Kay Hanley and Mike USA, Henry Santoro, Julie Kramer and Johnny Grady, Emily Grogan, and David Minehan, among others. Tonight is the opening reception from 6-9. Free. JP Art Market, 36 South St., Jamaica Plain. 617-522-1729. www.jpartmarket.com
THURS 8.24
Marisha Pessl: For most, growing up is a wild and unpredictable roller coaster of emotion. For Blue Van Meer, the brainy protagonist of Marisha Pessl’s debut novel, ‘‘Special Topics in Calamity Physics,’’ life comes complete with a syllabus. The book’s chapters are modeled on the syllabus of a college English course with names such as ‘‘Paradise Lost’’ and ‘‘The Big Sleep.’’ The story unfolds as Blue and her father, Gareth, travel city to city after her mother’s death. Once Blue befriends ‘‘the Bluebloods,’’ this coming-of-age story becomes an academic murder mystery. Tonight at 7, Pessl (above) is at Brookline Booksmith, so come prepared — there will be a final exam. Free. Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St., Brookline. 617-566-6660. www.brooklinebooksmith.com
THURS 8.24
Jumpstart’s Read for the Record: Readers young and old can be part of something big today if they just think they can. Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign hopes to set a world record for the most people reading the same book on the same day. Locally, participants will gather at Boston’s Children’s Museum to read the selected title (the classic ‘‘The Little Engine That Could’’) from 1-4 p.m. To celebrate, Penguin is custom-publishing a special edition of the classic children’s tale, available at Starbucks through Aug. 28. If you can’t make it out to the museum, you can read at home; just don’t forget to register online. Free. Children’s Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston. 617-542-5867. www.readfortherecord.org
SAT 8.26
Boston Ironsides Bootcamp: There’s another way to blow off steam this weekend that doesn’t involve the sauna at the gym. Today, the Ironsides provide rugby basics, a cardio workout, and a scrimmage for rugby fans of all experience levels. For $30, participants not only get to knock around on the field, but they also receive a T-shirt, lunch, and a chance to drink with the team afterward. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m.; no credit cards accepted. Be sure to bring a mouthguard, cleats, a towel, and an insurance card. Moakley Field, 600 William J. Day Blvd., South Boston. 978-618-1257. www.bostonironsidesrfc.org
TUES 8.29
Leah Souza: One of the freshest faces in contemporary jazz, Leah Souza brings her stylish interpretations of standards to Ryles tonight at 8:30. Souza’s been taking the stage since she was 13, and by the time she turned 16, she was fronting a seven-piece band of her own. Now 23, she fully explores the genre, from lively numbers to sultry ballads. Souza applies her personal touch to each, catering her show to the venue. Her father, trumpeter and vocalist Johnny Souza, plays with her band tonight. $7. Ryles Jazz Club, 212 Hampshire St., Cambridge. 617-876-9330. www.ryles.com
