Thursday (30th) – 7th Annual Taste of Dorchester
 is held from
6-8:30 p.m. at the IBEW
Local 103 Hall, 256 Freeport St.
Over20 restaurants and hundreds of well-fed guests. Each year, guests are treated to some of the best food in Dorchester all under one roof. Seniors 65 and older and Children from 6-12 pay $20; Children 5 and under are free. All other advance tickets are $35.

Friday (1st) – The City’s annual volunteer Spring clean-up event Boston Shines focuses on Mattapan and Dorchester today and tomorrow. Call the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services at 617-635-3485 for more information.

Saturday (2nd) – Dorchester observes the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War today with an encampment of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. next to the Civil War Monument on Meetinghouse Hill. The names of Dorchester men who died in the war are engraved on the monument which stands in Rev. James K Allen Park, right across the street from First Parish Dorchester. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment was an African-American regiment that fought for the Union during the war. They will talk about the history and accomplishments of the regiment. In addition, they will teach the “manual of arms,” which is the proper way to hold a rifle and change the position of the weapon (using wooden replicas, of course). They will also teach some marching techniques.

• Free jazz concert at the William E. Carter American Legion Post, 1531 Blue Hill Avenue, is set 1 - 6 p.m. Free. JazzBoston and the Carter Post will co-host an all-ages festive afternoon of performances by Mattapan musicians and guest artists, including Fritz Orvil and his band Melanj playing kompa, jazz and troubadour; Frank Wilkins and WeJazzUp; pianist Rollins Ross; and vocalists Athene Wilson and Rebecca Zampa. The event will conclude with a vocal showcase for members of the audience.

Sunday (3rd) – A celebration of Polish Constitution Day in the Polish Triangle begins at 12:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa with a procession to the
Polish American Citizens Club on Boston Street. Speakers and cultural activities begin there at 1 p.m. At 2:30 p.m. a $5 donation will buy the opportrmity to taste and vote for Boston’s Best Kielbasa at the Kielbasa Cook Off, a competition between the three Polish Triangle delis: Baltic European Deli, DJ’s Market and Euromart.

Monday (4th) – New York Times columnist David Brooks discusses his new book, The Road to Character at the JFK Library, Dorchester, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Call 617-514-1643 to RSVP.