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November 27,
2017
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Featured Stories
In The News
This Week's Featured Event
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Announcements
Deals & Promos
Construction & Utility Work Updates
BID Services & Links
City of Boston Services
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This Week's Featured Event
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2017 Skating Spectacular and
Boston Common Tree Lighting
Nov. 30th
Join The Skating Club of Boston for a free figure skating ice show featuring national and international competitive figure skaters, soloists and more at the Boston Common Frog Pond on Thursday, Nov. 30th. Following the show please join Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and others for the Boston Common Tree Lighting.
The Skating Club of Boston is partnering with the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and the Club will be honoring Hamilton at Boston's Tree Lighting Skating Spectacular. The show starts at 5 pm and is free to attend. Click here for more info about the show and tree lighting. Ice skating will be open to the public after the show. |
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Arts, Entertainment & Events
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Holiday Bands and Carolers Strolling in Downtown Boston
Through New Year
This holiday season the Downtown Boston BID Holiday Bands and Carolers are back by popular demand. They are strolling through the downtown Boston area through the New Year. It will be hard for to you miss them as there are three strolling bands and three strolling singing groups performing twice a day, every day!
The bands and singing groups feature different styles: the bands will feature Brass, Dixie and 'Bones (trombones and tuba); and the singers feature Victorian, Twilight and Doo-Wop. The groups play and sing holiday-themed songs every day from noon to 2 pm and then again from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.
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Santa Claus in Downtown Crossing
Every Weekend Until Christmas
The Downtown Boston BID is working with Santa Claus again this year, as St. Nick will be outside of Macy's on Summer Street every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.
Santa Claus will be outside granting wishes, greeting children big and small from noon to 2 pm and then 3 to 4 pm every Saturday and Sunday. It is free to visit Santa Claus. Please bring your own camera if you want a photo with Santa. |
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Sweet Harmony Performing
Saturdays and Sundays
The singing group Sweet Harmony is performing outside of Macy's on Summer Street every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23rd.
Sweet Harmony performs hits from the 1970s through today, including holiday-themed songs from 12:30 to 3 pm. |
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Celebrate 150th Anniversary of
'A Christmas Carol' at
Omni Parker House's
Dinner with Dickens on
Nov. 28th
Join the Omni Parker House (60 School St.) in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens' first American reading of his classic, "A Christmas Carol," on Tuesday, Nov. 28th.
Dickens resided at the Parker House during his 1867-68 American lecture tour, and joined members of the famed Saturday Club at the hotel for one particularly memorable meeting on November 30, 1867. It was there, he recited his classic tale to his peers, before performing it to the American public the following evening at the Tremont Theater next door.
The evening will feature a five-course meal featuring items reminiscent of the Victorian era. English actor and performer
Gerald Roderick Charles Dickens will perform an excerpt from his great-great-grandfather's famous work. Your ticket includes the five-course meal, wine pairings, a commemorative gift, tax and gratuity.
All proceeds from the event will benefit Omni's Say Goodnight To Hunger initiative, which provides donations
directly to Feeding America and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Click here for more info and to purchase tickets. This event is from 6:30 to 9 pm. |
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Boston Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' at Boston Opera House Through Dec. 31st
From the sugar plum fairies to the Russian dancers, the Boston Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is a holiday tradition you don't want to miss. The show will be at the Boston Opera House through Dec. 31st.
Whether you're seeing it for the first time or the 100th time, the performance is always captivating. Click here for tickets and showtimes. |
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Old South Meeting House
Open House: Farm Fair Throwback
Dec. 1st & 2nd
Join the Old South Meeting House (310 Washington St.) to honor its past with fun, farm-themed activities, including carding wool with Historic New England staff at the Holiday Open House on Friday, Dec. 1st and Saturday, Dec. 2nd.
This year's open house recalls one of OSMH's fundraisers near its 140th anniversary in the 1870s, which was a farm-themed fair featuring a full-scale barn and a visit from Mother Goose on Dec. 5, 1877. This event is free and open to the public. The open houses are from 10 am to 4 pm. |
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The Tedeschi Trucks Band Performing Three Shows at Orpheum Theatre
The Tedeschi Trucks Band will perform three shows at the Orpheum Theatre on Nov. 30th, Dec. 1st and Dec. 2nd. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
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'Black Nativity' at Paramount Center Starting Dec. 2nd
Enjoy the National Center of Afro-American Artists' "Black Nativity" at Emerson College's Paramount Center opening on Dec. 2nd.
"Black Nativity" is a celebration that tells the original story of the Nativity in scripture, verse, music and dance. Based on the Gospel of St. Luke, combined with the poetry of Langston Hughes, this song-play touches a special chord in the hearts of all.
Click here for more info about showtimes and to purchase tickets. The show runs through Dec. 17th. |
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Moscow Ballet's 'Great Russian Nutcracker' at Orpheum Theatre
Dec. 3rd
The Moscow Ballet will be performing two shows of its "Great Russian Nutcracker" on Dec. 3rd at the Orpheum Theatre. The performances are at 3 and 7 pm. Click here for tickets.
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Make Advent Crafts at
King's Chapel Parish House
Dec. 3rd
Children and adults of all ages are welcome to participate in an Advent Crafts event at the King's Chapel Parish House (64 Beacon St.) on Sunday, Dec. 3rd.
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Gifts That Do Good
Holiday Market & Party at CIC Boston
Dec. 7th
The 3rd Annual Gifts That Do Good Holiday Market at CIC Boston (50 Milk St., 20th Floor) will feature merchandise and services that you can buy for loved ones this holiday season with the knowledge that you are supporting sustainability, equity, empowerment, or inclusion with your purchase on Thursday, Dec. 7th.
Twenty companies started by local entrepreneurs will be selling gifts that address important challenges and create positive social or environmental impact.
After completing your holiday shopping between
3 and 7 pm, stay for the
Impact Hub Boston Holiday Party from 6 until 9 pm.
Tickets to the Holiday Market are
free,
and folks who haven't RSVP'd are welcome all the same. A donation of $15 to attend the post-market Holiday Party is suggested, which will support the creation of an Impact Hub Boston Scholarship Fund. Please note that party tickets must be secured ahead of time. Click here to RSVP and more.
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'Driving Innovation at Work' Lunch and Learn Series at Metro Meeting Centers Dec. 8th
Metro Meeting Centers (101 Federal St., 4th Floor) is hosting a lunch and learn series "Driving Innovation at Work" with Cheryl Jacobs, Senior VP of MCG Partners, on Friday, Dec. 8th.
Discussion will focus on the power of questions and practicing a simple model to help you uncover solutions to the real life problems you and your business are facing.
This is a free event with a complimentary lunch. Seating is limited. Please email Maureen Ridings at mridings@metromeetingcenters.com to reserve your seat. This event is from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
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Enjoy Freedom Trail Foundation
Historic Holiday Strolls
The Freedom Trail Foundation's Annual Historic Holiday Strolls are a great way to enjoy the holiday season in Downtown Boston.
The festive atmosphere of the city, set against the backdrop of Boston's historic sites, makes these merry 90-minute tours a great way to celebrate the holidays.
The strolls are led by Dickensian costumed guides departing from the ArtsBoston Booth at Faneuil Hall. Strolls include a visit to the Omni Parker House for refreshments and world-famous Boston cream pie.
Tickets are $29 for adults and $19 for children and reservations are required 24 hours in advance. Tours can also be booked as private family or group tours. The strolls are offered Thursdays through Sundays at 3:30 pm.
Please call 617-357-8300 for more information and reservations. The strolls are being offered through January 2018.
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Santa, Singers, Mayor Ring In
Holiday Season at
Macy's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
Santa Claus stopped in Downtown Crossing to kick off the holiday season at Macy's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting festivities on Black Friday. People of all ages enjoyed holiday-themed entertainment that invigorated the audience before the tree was lit atop of Macy's canopy.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love, below, performed her beloved hit "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," as well as "Winter Wonderland" and "Marshmallow World."
For the second year in a row the
Boston Children's Choir
sang at the annual holiday event. Singers-songwriters
Sam Tsui
and
Bea Miller
,
below, both wowed the crowd in separate performances.
Then New England Patriot Mike Gillislee joined Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, BID President & CEO Rosemarie Sansone and Santa Claus for the countdown to light the holiday tree!
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Support These Local Organizations on #GivingTuesday
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a more heartfelt day: #GivingTuesday. Fueled by social media, #GivingTuesday is a global day to kick off the charitable season and there are plenty of downtown Boston organizations to support.
The Conservation Law Foundation (62 Summer St.) utilizes its legal acumen to take on those who pollute our air and water, and damage our natural resources. CLF fights for a clean energy future, countering climate change and more. Click here to donate.
FriendshipWorks' (105 Chauncy St.)
mission is to reduce social isolation, enhance quality of life, and preserve the dignity of older adults in Greater Boston. And a
small group of loyal FriendshipWorks supporters created a special Matching Gift Challenge and pledged $50,000 to match every gift, dollar for dollar, received by December 31, 2017. Your gift, when combined with theirs, will allow us to replace the loneliness of isolated elders with additional friendly faces and helping hands of wonderful FriendshipWorks volunteers. Click here to donate.
JVS Boston (75 Federal St.), one of the largest and most impactful workforce development organizations, works to e
mpower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers. JVS Boston partners with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive work forces. Click here to donate.
St. Anthony Shrine (100 Arch St.) actually has a donor who is prepared to donate $50,000 if the Shrine raises $100,000. Please help The Shrine meet and exceed this challenge! Click here to donate or text the word "Donate" to 617-712-2233 to make your gift.
Click here to learn more about #GivingTuesday and to learn more about local organizations to support.
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Where to Ice Skate in Downtown Boston:
Boston Common Frog Pond and
City Hall Plaza
There are two wonderfully scenic spots to go ice skating in Downtown Boston: the Boston Common Frog Pond and City Hall Plaza. You are welcome to bring your own skates or rent a pair, and both locations avail the opportunity to get a warm cup of cocoa, tasty treats and more.
The Boston Common Frog Pond opened for ice skating on Nov. 14th. Admission is based on a skater's height -- under 58 inches gets in for free, and $6 for 58 inches or taller. Skate rental prices vary. Click here for more information about skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond.
For the second year City Hall Plaza is hosting Boston Winter, which opened Nov. 24th, and is open seven days a week. Boston Winter features a mix of winter activities, including a unique outdoor skating path, an expanded holiday shopping market and an array of hospitality experiences and attractions.
The holiday shopping market features 85 boutique style chalets offering a wide variety of local and international gifts, goods and food. Attractions this year include an enchanted Christmas tree maze, a Santa House, a Bavarian Village, and Vinopolis, an interactive wine and beer experience. The skating path will be open through February, offering learn-to-skate programs and many special events.
Click here for more information about Boston Winter on City Hall Plaza. The Skating Path's hours vary and can be seen by clicking here.
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Boston Tea Party Reenactment
Volunteers Wanted
The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum tells the true story of the brave men and women who defied Great Britain in an iconic act of protest on December 16, 1773. But only once a year is the Tea Party reenacted -- and volunteers are wanted this year to help with the event.
More than 3,000 attendees are expected for this year's event and volunteers are crucial to a successful event. Volunteers of the 244th reenactment of the Boston Tea Party will be taking one of several important roles, including directing crowd flow, securing parade routes and facilitating the reenactment along the Harborwalk on Atlantic Wharf. Please contact Dan O'Neill at 617-596-6494 or email doneill@bostonteapartyships.com. |
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The Ritz-Carlton, Boston's Offering
Holiday Desserts To-Go
The pastry team at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston can sweeten your holidays with traditional pies, cookies and cakes.
Please place your order 48 hours in advance at Artisan Bistro by calling 617-574-7176 and voila, the holidays just got easier! This option is available prior to Thanksgiving and throughout the December holidays thanks to Pastry Chef Kerry Meister and her talented team. |
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Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe Bottle Signing at Roche Bros Nov. 29th
Join former Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe at Roche Bros (8 Summer St.) for a wine bottle signing on Wednesday, Nov. 29th.
Purchase a bottle of 2014 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, which will be on sale for one day, for $99.99 (a $20 savings), and Bledsoe will sign your bottle. This event is from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. |
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Godfrey Hotel Boston Holiday Pop-Up Series Through Dec. 23rd
The Godfrey Hotel Boston (505 Washington St.) is hosting a Holiday Pop-Up Series on each Saturday through Dec. 23rd.
The pop-up series will feature Boston area businesses offering an assortment of products, including handmade knits, cocktail kits and specialty baked dog treats. The pop-up series will be from 11 am to 4 pm. Anyone is welcome to attend the pop-up series.
The following is the schedule:
Dec. 2nd: Polka Dog Bakery
Dec. 9th: Boston General Store
Dec. 16th: Derouchaeu Handmade Knits
Dec. 23rd: Polka Dog Bakery
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A Boston Holiday Tradition Lives On at Yvonne's Starting Dec. 1st
Yvonne's (2 Winter Place) is following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Locke-Ober, to provide delicious holiday lunches on the first four Fridays in December.
Curated by Culinary Director Tom Berry and Executive Chef Juan Pedrosa, the holiday lunch menu features Lobster a La Stroganoff, Veal Parmesan, Short Rib & Filet Mignon 'Turf & Turf' Rossini and more. There will also be an all-new martini lounge featuring vodka and gin martinis paired with various vermouths and accoutrements.
The holiday lunch is being served on Dec. 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd with seatings at noon, 12:30 pm, 1 pm and 1:30 pm. Please call 617-267-0047 to make reservations or book online by clicking here. |
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Common Vines Wine Free Tastings
Common Vines Wine (100 Summer St.) offers free tastings all day. Stop by and try something new for the holiday season.
This week's tasting schedule is as follows:
Nov. 27th: Producer focus -- Bellus Wines (Italy)
Nov. 28th: Country spotlight -- Spain
Nov. 29th: Off the beaten track varietals
Nov. 30th: Explore South African wines with Jean Daigle of MS Walker
Dec. 1st: Interesting Italian wines with James Mucci of Mucci Imports |
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Construction & Utility Work Updates
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New Developments Under Construction, Proposed Projects and More
Downtown Boston is continually transforming, with new buildings rising, as well as transportation projects taking place underground and at street level.
Looking for the latest u
pdates on developments, construction, sidewalk closings, and more? Click
here.
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Take a Book, Leave a Book:
BID Little Free Library at
Walgreens Plaza
The Downtown Boston BID's Little Free Library is outside of Walgreens on Washington Street and is very popular. Readers are welcome to take a book, and encouraged to leave a book. People are also welcome to donate books by leaving them at the library or by contacting BID staffer Kristen Flanagan at kflanagan@bostonbid.org to organize a pickup in the downtown area.
The BID's Little Free Library is officially registered with the Little Free Library non-profit organization and
is open 10 am to 6 pm daily (closed during inclement weather). |
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BID Ambassadors Provide Clean & Hospitality Services
in Downtown
The
Downtown Boston BID Ambassadors
provide clean and hospitality services seven days a week, nearly 24 hours a day. Ambassadors create a friendly, welcoming Downtown presence by helping visitors with directions, notifying fire and police personnel of incidents and more.
B
ID Ambassadors
provide walking escorts when needed and
they'll even tote an umbrella if it's raining! Please call 617-261-0066 if you want to contact our BID ambassador services program. You can also email help@bostonbid.org.
- Ambassadors remove litter and graffiti
- Ambassadors clear crosswalks, handicapped ramps and storm drain openings
- Ambassador powerwash in Downtown Boston during warm weather
- Ambassadors maintain the BID's landscaping
- Masonry Ambassadors fix sidewalks and more
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Additional BID Services & Info
- Communication and Business Networking
- Meetings with individual BID members to discuss neighborhood issues
- Entertainment programming
- Member Advocacy
- Capital/Public Improvements
- Wayfinding
- Please click here for the Downtown Boston BID's Welcome Guide that provides a look at many of the BID's accomplishments in leading the transformation of Downtown Crossing
- For additional details and information on the complete range of BID services please contact Doug Meyer, Membership Services & Database Manager, at dmeyer@bostonbid.org.
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Downtown Boston BID Weekly News Update
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