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December 26,
2017
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Featured Stories
In The News
This Week's Featured Event
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Deals & Promos
Announcements
Construction & Utility Work Updates
BID Services & Links
City of Boston Services
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This Week's Featured Event
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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 or the 100th time, the performance is always captivating. Click here for tickets and showtimes. |
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Arts, Entertainment & Events
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Downtown Boston Brass Band and Carolers
Through New Year
The very popular Downtown Boston Brass Band and Downtown Boston Singers will be strolling and performing in the streets of downtown Boston through the New Year.
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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See John Hancock's Original
Crimson Jacket & Blue Waistcoat at the
Old State House Through Jan. 2nd
Bostonians have long been able to view John Hancock's original crimson jacket and blue waistcoat in the Old State House (206 Washington St.). But soon those treasured garments will be returned to dark storage to preserve for future generations, and they are now on display for a limited time through Jan. 2nd.
Knowing the original garments are being put into storage, the Bostonian Society worked with Master Tailor and Historical Costumer, Henry Cooke, to make period-accurate replicas of Hancock's clothing. Now only through Jan. 2nd can you see Hancock's original clothing next to Cooke's replica items. Click here to learn more.
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The Arch Street Band in Concert
Jan. 3rd
The Arch Street Band will perform live in concert at St. Anthony Shrine (100 Arch St., 2nd Floor Church) on Wednesday, Jan. 3rd at 6 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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Need Last-Minute Holiday Gifts?
Give the Gift of Memories with the
14th Annual Mayor's Holiday Special
The ArtsBoston Mayor's Holiday Special offers discounted tickets on sale through Dec. 31st for performances in December and January. Some tickets are up to 60% off!
There are discounts on many performances throughout the greater Boston area, including several Nutcracker productions, "Blue Man Group," holiday puppet shows, Broadway in Boston productions and more. Click here to learn about all the special deals being offered. |
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Artisan Bistro Offering Prix Fixe
'Nutcracker' Menu
Artisan Bistro (10 Avery St., inside The Ritz-Carlton, Boston) is offering a prix fixe $38 Nutcracker menu on show days from 5 to 10 pm.
Signature cocktails are also being offered, including the Snowflake and the Northern Lights for $15 each. Please call 617-574-7176 to make reservations. |
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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 [email protected] 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 snowing! Please call 617-261-0066 if you want to contact our BID ambassador services program. You can also email [email protected].
- Ambassadors remove litter and graffiti
- Ambassadors clear crosswalks, handicapped ramps and storm drain openings
- Ambassadors shovel in Downtown Boston during winter
- 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 [email protected].
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Downtown Boston Restaurants to
Celebrate New Year's
There are plenty of restaurants that will be open on New Year's Eve. Below are just a few options.
Avenue One (1 Avenue de Lafayette) is offering a special New Year's Eve menu, as well as a 3-course meal for $56 and a 4-course meal for $65. Both include an amuse-bouche and a glass of Champagne. Please call 617-912-1234 to make reservations.
Back Deck (2 West St.) is offering its regular brunch menu from 11 am to 3 pm and a special dinner menu from 3 to 10 pm. Call 617-670-0320 to make reservations.
Cultivar (1 Court St.) is offering special New Year's Eve menus: a 5-course tasting menu for $105 with wine pairings for $50, and a 7-course tasting menu for $145 with wine pairings for $75. Click here for the menus. A full a la carte menu is also available. Please call 617-979-8203 to make reservations.
Hyatt Regency Boston (1 Avenue de Lafayette) is hosting its 3rd Annual NYE Party complete with food stations, formal pictures, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, party favors and discounted hotel rooms. DJ Stamz and DJ Snax will be providing dancing music. Click here for more info about discounted rooms. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets to the party.
jm Curley and Bogie's Place (21 Temple Place) will be open to celebrate New Year's Eve. jm Curley will be serving its regular menu and isn't taking reservations. Bogie's Place (inside jm Curley) is offering a 5-course prix fixe menu -- click here to view the menu and to make reservations.
The Marliave (10 Bosworth St.) will be serving its regular menu on New Year's Eve. Call 617-422-0004 to make reservations.
The Merchant (60 Franklin St.) will be serving its regular menu and featuring Veuve Clicquot specials. The restaurant will also be offering brunch on New Year's Day from 11 am to 3 pm, its regular dinner menu from 3 to 10 pm and a traditional Irish Session from 1 to 4 pm. Call 617-482-6060 for more info and to make reservations.
Pabu (3 Franklin St.) will be having two seatings, one from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and one from 8:30 to 10:30 pm on New Year's Eve. The first seating will be a $105 7-course plated dinner with a $75 beverage pairing, and the second seating will be a $145 8-course plated dinner with a $95 beverage pairing. There is also a $65 children's menu. The bar will be offering the 7- or 8-course menu on an a la carte version of the menu.
Please call
857-327-7228
to make reservations or visit
opentable.com
.
Scholars (25 School St.) is hosting a New Year's Eve Party with DJ Swytch starting at 9 pm, a balloon drop at midnight and more. Click here to purchase tickets or call 617-248-0025 to make reservations.
Sip Wine Bar and Kitchen (581 Washington St.) is hosting a party with live entertainment by Classic Trax, complimentary passed appetizers, an open bar, a New Year's specialty cocktail and a midnight Champagne taste. Tickets guarantee entry until 11 pm. Click here to purchase tickets.
Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale (48 Temple Place) is hosting a New Year's Eve celebration. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. |
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First Night in Boston:
Fantastic Ice Sculptures,
Family Fun, Scavenger Hunt,
Fireworks and More
This year a fireworks show will once again be shot above the Boston Harbor at midnight, as it has in years past (but didn't happen last year). Before the harbor show, there will be fun for the younger crowd with the People's Procession parade at 6 pm and the Family Fireworks show at 7 pm on the Boston Common. At midnight there will also be a pyrotechnics show in Copley Square.
This year's ice sculpture theme is: Enchanted Forest. Ice sculptures will be at six locations, including at the Boston Common Frog Pond, on Boylston Street and more. Click here for a map of the ice sculpture locations.
New this year is the First Night Scavenger Hunt!
Starting Dec. 26th, you will be able to download the GooseChase
Android/
iPhone app, find the First Night Boston Scavenger Hunt, and start completing missions to earn points towards an awesome Boston prize pack. There will be several "missions" available to enhance your First Night Boston experience. Prizes will include a one-night stay at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, $100 gift cards to several restaurants and more.
There will be also be lots of entertainment on New Year's Eve from 11:50 am and ending with the midnight fireworks shows. There will be family and children's entertainment throughout the day, which are all free and open to the public. There will be puppet shows, improv comedy performances and musical performances from several groups that are regulars on the downtown Boston music scene such as Sweet Harmony, Code 51 and the Downtown Boston BID Brass Band.
There will also be free family and children's entertainment from 11 am to 3 pm on New Year's Day.
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Livingston Taylor Performs at
New England Center and Home for Veterans
Singer-songwriter
Livingston Taylor recently gave an intimate concert for residents at the
New England Center and Home for Veterans (17 Court St.).
Taylor sang several of his songs, including "I Must Be Doing Something Right," as well as his brother James's "Carolina in My Mind" and Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely." Taylor offered to do the concert after performing at the Center's annual gala in November, to honor and give back to the veterans served by the Center. |
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Winter Coat Drive at the Old State House Through Jan. 2nd
In partnership with the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, the Bostonian Society is collecting winter coats, clothing and accessories to help Boston's homeless community.
Bring your donation of new or lightly-used, weather-resistant winter coats to the Old State House (206 State St., above the State Street MBTA station) everyday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm through Jan. 2nd. Clothing of any size, for any age or gender, is welcome as the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program serves men, women and children of all ages and sizes.
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Shoveling, Parking and More:
What to Know About Winter in Boston
Whether you're a property owner, a homeowner or a resident with a car it's important to know about shoveling and parking regulations, snow emergencies and more. The City of Boston has a resourceful webpage providing all necessary info
here, and below is important info to know for when the white stuff comes down.
Shoveling Info:
Click here for City of Boston rules on clearing snow.
Property owners must:
- Clear sidewalks within three hours of snowfall ending or three hours after sunrise if it snows overnight, and
- Clear at least a 42-inch-wide path for wheelchairs and strollers.
Do not shovel snow into the street or you can be subject to fines. Also please remember to:
- Remove ice to bare pavement or make as level as possible and treat with sand, sawdust, or similar material.
- Please clear any snow that may be blocking a handicap ramp, fire hydrant or catch basin.
- Don't leave snow or ice on stairways or fire escapes. All common means of exit must be clear in case of fire or another emergency.
What To Do With Your Car When It Snows:
During a snow emergency main roads need to be clear for plows and emergency vehicles. If you're parked on one of these main roads during a snow emergency, you may be ticketed and your vehicle may be towed. How do you know if you can't park on a street during a snow emergency? Check the signs posted on the street. Also, here is map of restricted roads due to a snow emergency.
Click here for a City of Boston list of discount parking garages available during snow emergencies. Click here for the BID's webpage of local parking garages. It is recommended you contact the parking garages to see if they are open for vehicles.
Please also call the BID's dispatch line at 617-261-0066 to report sidewalks, handicapped ramps or other Downtown Crossing public ways that need to be shoveled. Our Ambassadors will be out in the snow 24 hours a day making sure the sidewalks are clear!
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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 is open for ice skating. 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 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. The market is open through Dec. 31st.
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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Downtown Boston BID Weekly News Update
For questions and comments, please contact David Ertischek, newsletter editor, at:
[email protected]
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