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April 18,  2017
Featured Stories
In The News
This Week's Featured Event
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Meetings & Notices 
Announcements
Deals & Promos
Construction & Utility Work Updates
BID Services & Links
City of Boston Services
In The News







This Week's Featured Event
'17 Border Crossings' Opens at Paramount Center April 19th

ArtsEmerson is presenting Thaddeus Phillips' "17 Border Crossings" at the Paramount Center starting Wednesday, April 19th. Phillips provides "a surreal sojourn that transports us to very real places: Hungary, Serbia, Morocco, Colombia, Holland and Mexico, to name a few."
Phillips is a storyteller, "In the deft, mischievous manner of the trickster" and "manages to float huge questions that surround the fraught migrations of our era."

Click here for tickets and showtimes. The show runs through April 29th.  
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Downtown Boston Brass Band is Back Strolling Twice a Day and 
Taking Requests!

The very popular Downtown Boston Brass Band is back strolling throughout the streets of Downtown Boston twice a day.
 
The Brass Band will be strolling through the area on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 2 pm and 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

The BID-sponsored band will stroll throughout the Downtown Boston area, stop on street corners, outside of businesses, play a song or two and move on. Please feel free to take photos or videos of them and share them on social media using #DowntownBoston. Also, the band takes requests! 
Freedom Trail Foundation Tour Schedule Expands for Spring Season

The Freedom Trail Foundation's 18th-century costumed guides will be out on the trail in full force this spring, offering more opportunities to bring history to life.  

Walk Into History Tours are daily at 11 am, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm, leaving from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center. Tours also depart from the ArtsBoston Booth at Faneuil Hall including Walk Into History Tours daily at 10:30 am, and North End Tours daily at 1:30 pm. 

Walk Into History T ours are 90-minute walking tours featuring tales of high treason, mob agitations, revolutionary actions, and partisan fights, walking to 11 of Boston's historic Freedom Trail sites to and from Boston Common and Faneuil Hall.

Freedom Trail Foundation walking tours are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors/students, and $8 for children. Tickets may be purchased at the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common, other area locations and online by clicking here.
'The Handmaiden' and  'Moonlight'  at 
Emerson's  Bright Lights Series;
Screenings Feature Post-Film Talks

Emerson College's Bright Light Series continues with "The Handmaiden" today (Tuesday, April 18th). This crime drama tells the story of two women: a young Japanese woman living on an estate, and a Korean woman hired to be the other's handmaiden. A discussion with Emerson College faculty will follow the screening. 

On Thursday, April 20th, "Moonlight," which won the Oscar Award for Best Picture, will be screened. The movie chronicles the life of a black man from childhood to adulthood as he finds his place in the world while growing up in a rough part of Miami. A discussion with Emerson College faculty will follow the screening. 

Post-film discussions with special guest filmmakers, faculty and alumni will follow all screenings.  All screenings are free and open to the public and begin at 7 pm. Screenings take place in the Bright Family Screening Room (Paramount Center, 559 Washington St.). Seating is first-come, first-served. Tickets will be available, one per person, starting at 5 pm at the Paramount Center box office on the day of the show. Click here for more info about the Bright Light Series.  
'Boston's Neighborhood Churches: Restoration Stories & Lost Treasures' at Old South Meeting House April 21st

The Old South Meeting House is hosting "Boston's Neighborhood Churches: Restoration Stories & Lost Treasures" on Friday, April 21st.

This event will explore how historic preservation projects energize city neighborhoods. You'll hear stories about Boston's neighborhoods, the challenges of preserving historic gems and learn what led to the passage of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in Boston.

This event is free for OSMH members and $6 for nonmembers. This event is from 12:15 to 1 pm.
 
GennaRose Nethercott to Offer Her 'Poems-to-Order' at Brattle Book Shop April 22nd

Poet, performer and folklorist GennaRose Nethercott will be writing "Poems-to-Order" at the Brattle Book Shop (9 West St.) on Saturday, April 22nd

Nethercott is known for spontaneously writing poems for passersby, often composed on her 1952 Hermes Rocket typewriter. She responds to requests for poems on most topics and within five minutes she'll type out a poem, read it and autograph it. 

This is a free event open to the public and will be from 1 to 3 pm.
 
'The King and I' at 
Boston Opera House Thru April 23rd

Rodgers & Hammerstein's beloved "The King and I" musical is at the Boston Opera House through Sunday, April 23rd

The musical tells the story of "the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens." Taking place in the 1860s, Anna is a British schoolteacher whom the king, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.  

Click here for tickets and showtimes.
ArtsEmerson Screening 
'The Importance of Being Earnest' 
April 21st - April 23rd

ArtsEmerson is hosting three screenings of a live performance of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" starting Friday, April 21st. The performance was originally performed at London's Vaudeville Theatre in 2015.

The screenings will be on Friday, April 22nd at 7 pm, Saturday, April 22nd at 2 pm, and Sunday, April 23rd at 1 pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by clicking here.
 
BASE Offering Free 
Spanish-for-Lunch Convo April 26th

The Boston Area Spanish Exchange (101 Arch St., 8th Floor) is offering a free Spanish-for-Lunch event on Wednesday, April 26th

Participants will meet new people and practice Spanish. People at all levels of speaking Spanish are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP by 5 pm on April 25th by clicking here. This event is from noon to 1 pm.  
'Activating a Historic Site: 
Sip & Spoke Bike Kitchen' at 
Old South Meeting House April 28th

The Old South Meeting House is hosting "Activating a Historic Site: Sip & Spoke Bike Kitchen, Dorchester" on Friday, April 28th

Learn about the historic preservation of Uphams Corner Comfort Station, a stucco and tile "mission style" building adjacent to the historic Dorchester North Burying Ground. It was built in 1912 to support Boston's expanding streetcar system. The building has been unused since 1977. Historic Boston Inc. is currently rehabbing the station to help "preserve and tell the story of Dorchester's urbanization and transportation growth in the early 20th century." Hear about the ongoing transformation from entrepreneur, Dorchester native, and local history activist Noah Hicks.  

This event is free for OSMH members and $6 for nonmembers. This event is from 12:15 to 1 pm. 
 
The First Annual Founder's Gala to Benefit The Genesis Foundation for Children Article April 28th

The First Annual Founder's Gala to benefit The Genesis Foundation for Children (60 Temple Place, 2nd Floor) is on Friday, April 28th. Dr. Timothy Johnson, senior medical contributor for ABC News, will be awarded the 2017 Dr. Murray Feingold Distinguished Service Award.  

The evening will include a cocktail hour, dinner, award presentation, auction and dancing. Featured speakers include: Charlie Gibson, Dr. Mallika Marshall, Natalie Jacobson and Susan Wornick.
 
This event is taking place at the Hyatt Regency Boston (One Avenue de Lafayette) at 6 pm. Click here for more info, to purchase tickets and more.
Last Week to See Interactive Digital Art Installation by Camille Utterback at 
Emerson College's Urban Arts Gallery

This is the last week to see the interactive digital art installation, Entangled, which tracks viewers' movements in order to create abstract and evolving painting-like projections on a screen, at the Emerson Urban Arts: Media Art Gallery (25 Avery St.).  

Entangled is a creation by international artist Camille Utterback. The art will be displayed on a 10x15 foot screen. The installation will run concurrently with Cybernetic Serendipity, an exhibition documenting what many consider to be the first digital media art exhibition, curated by Jasia Reichardt at the ICA in London in 1968.

Entrance to the gallery is free and is open Wednesday through Saturday 2 to 7 pm. The exhibit will be up through April 22nd.
'Aviary' Exhibit at 
Lafayette City Center Passageway 

The free art exhibit, "Aviary," is at the Lafayette City Center Passageway and compels passersby to stop, look at the imagery, and not just fly through the hallway.  

The  Lafayette City Center Passageway connects Avenue de Lafayette to Macy's and is  open daily to the public from 10 am to 6 pm .

The exhibit is part of the ongoing photography series at the Passageway by the Griffin Museum of Photography. This exhibit is supported by the Abbey Group, Lafayette City Center and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District 
THANK YOU!
Downtown Boston BID Weekly News Update

BID Logo Lo Res

For questions and comments, please contact David Ertischek, newsletter editor, at: dertischek@bostonbid.org
Featured Stories
Congratulations to All Boston Marathoners, Public Safety Officials, Volunteers and More!

The Downtown Boston BID would like to congratulate the Boston Athletic Association on organizing a very successful 121st Boston Marathon. 

The BID would also like to congratulate every person who participated in the marathon -- volunteers, all of the state, city and town public safety departments -- and of course, the runners.   

Book Now: Convene Opening New 
Meeting Space at One Boston Place

Convene at One Boston Place (201 Washington St.) is the newest on-demand meeting, event and conference space in Downtown Boston, and will be opening later this spring. 

Convene is a 15,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art venue that has a capacity for up to 200 guests, including a private outdoor terrace and nine meeting rooms -- perfect for hosting board meetings, town halls, offsite team training and corporate receptions. 

"We are thrilled to launch Convene in Boston and invest our resources in this growing city," said Ryan Simonetti, co-founder and CEO of Convene. "We hope the Boston business community will embrace our unique concept of flexible and on-demand meeting and event space, and we can't wait to partner with local companies to host board meetings, town halls, corporate trainings, receptions and more in our newest facility." 

Convene is also available for residents, non-profits, schools, religious institutions and more. 

Convene's first Boston property is located in one of the largest Convene spaces and provides a dedicated meeting planning team, an on-site executive chef who prepares seasonal menus for your attendees, and unlimited access to Nourish, which is a fully-stocked snack and refreshment station.


For more info and bookings please contact Heather Rosenberg, account director at leads@convene.com or 
1-888-730-7307.
John Warren "J." Geils Jr., 71, 
Iconic Boston Musician

Boston musician John Warren "J." Geils, Jr. passed away on April 11th at his Groton, Massachusetts home at the age of 71. Geils, a guitarist, was known for leading the J. Geils Band, which had several hit songs, including "Freeze-Frame" and "Centerfold." 
 
The J. Geils Band played many Boston shows through the years, including at the Orpheum. Symphony Hall, on the Boston Common, the Boston Garden and more.
Meetings & Notices
Employment Opportunity: 
Arts Market Associate

The Downtown Boston BID is seeking an Arts Market Associate with strong operational and organizational skills for contract work from May 15th thru Sept 29th

The Arts Market Associate will provide support to BID staff and manage the two-day-a-week Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 6:30 pm. The position reports to the Project Manager and the Chief Financial Officer.
 
Responsibilities include:
  • Provide operational support for the setup and breakdown of the market
  • Assist vendors during breaks
  • Manage vendor attendance or schedule adjustments
  • Provide vendors with area support through the help of the BID ambassadors
Qualifications:
  • Strong oral communication and relationship-building skills; interacts with others in a professional and diplomatic way.
  • Solid organizational skills, able to effectively manage and prioritize daily operations.
  • Positive and professional attitude, ability to multi-task, strong work ethic and ability to lift up to 20 lbs.
This is an hourly wage/contract job.  Please email resume with cover letter to: jobs@bostonbid.org.  
Community Meeting for Long-Term 
Library Services in Chinatown April 25th

The Boston Public Library will host the first of three community meetings to gather feedback for planning long-term library services in Chinatown on Tuesday, April 25th

Representatives from the planning firm Miller Dyer Spears will introduce the Chinatown Library Services Planning Study and review its purpose, process and schedule. Representatives from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services and the Boston Planning and Development Agency will also be in attendance. Community feedback can be sent to Chinatownlibrarystudy@bpl.org. More info is available by clicking here.

Temporary library services will open at the China Trade Center in 2017. This meeting will take place at the China Trade Building (2 Boylston St.) at 6 pm.
 
Announcements
Take a Book, Leave a Book: 
BID Little Free Library at 
Walgreens Plaza

The Downtown Boston BID's Little Free Library debuted recently outside of Walgreens on Washington Street and is already 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 contacting Kristen Flanagan at kflanagan@bostonbid.org to organize a pickup in the downtown area.

"I wanted to create a pilot program for little free libraries in Downtown Boston after seeing the popularity of them in different neighborhoods," said Kristen Flanagan, Project Manager for the BID. "We're always looking to improve our user experience and this has already proven to be a great addition to Downtown Crossing."

The BID's Little Free Library is officially registered with the Little Free Library non-profit organization. There are actually more than 50,000 registered little free libraries across the country and world!

The BID would like to thank Ken Gloss of the Brattle Book Shop (9 West St.), which has already donated scores of books to help the little free library.

The BID's Little Free Library will be open 10 am to 6 pm daily (closed during inclement weather). 
Vendors Wanted for 2017 
Downtown Boston  Arts & Crafts Market

The Downtown Boston BID is expanding the Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market program for 2017, and is seeking vendors to sell their products. The market will be at Readers Park by the Irish Famine Memorial at the corner of Washington and School streets. The market will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays from May 17th through September 29th. 

All artwork, crafts and food offerings must be original and handmade by you or your studio or enterprise. No mass-produced goods are allowed.

The Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market accepts arts and crafts in the following categories: fiber arts, fine art (painting, photography, sculpture), Christmas ornaments and holiday items, Judaica, blown glass, stained glass, clay/ceramics, metal, wood furniture, clothing and accessories, children's clothing and toys, pet items, jewelry, artisan foods, personal products (soap and fragrances), home decor and more.

Click here for more information and a vendor application. Also please contact Kristen Flanagan, Project Manager, at kflanagan@bostonbid.com with questions.   
 
Deals & Promos
BASE Late-Spring 
C ourse Period Starts  May 8th; 
BID Newsletter Readers Receive 5% Discount 

The Boston Area Spanish Exchange (101 Arch St., 8th Floor) late-spring course period begins the week of May 8th and the registration deadline is April 28th. BID newsletter readers will receive a 5% discount using the coupon code: BostonBID5.

Courses are being offered in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and there's a $75 coupon for Portuguese courses using the coupon code: portuguese. There's a $100 coupon code for Arabic using the coupon code: arabic. Click here to learn more and to register for classes. 
 
Construction & Utility Work Updates 
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.  
BID Services & Links
You Can Submit Your Own Event to the Downtown Boston BID Website

If you have an upcoming event you can now submit it to the Downtown Boston BID website. Click here to submit your own event.
 
Once approved by BID staff your event will be on the BID's calendar section and could be featured in the newsletter or on the BID social media accounts and promoted elsewhere. 
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 all day or night  -- they'll even tote an umbrella if it's raining! Please call 617-261-0066 to arrange an escort or for other BID ambassador services. You can also email help@bostonbid.org.  
       
  • Ambassadors remove litter and graffiti
  • Ambassadors clear 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
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 2016 BID Report to learn about 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.
City of Boston Services