The Downtown Boston BID is seeking interested students to help out with a variety of projects. Please send cover letters and resumes to [email protected].

The Downtown Boston BID welcomes 2014 with great enthusiasm and anticipation. As predicted, 2013 saw many positive changes in downtown, as the opening of dozens of new businesses and the arrival of hundreds of new residents kept the positive momentum going.

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in Boston's political history. We welcome and congratulate Boston's new Mayor, Martin J. Walsh (below), who was sworn-in earlier today.



We wish Walsh every success and embrace his promise to foster new opportunities for everyone while continuing to support initiatives helping downtown. We also congratulate and send our sincere best wishes to the newly-elected members of the Boston City Council.

On behalf of everyone at the Downtown Boston BID, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mayor Thomas M. Menino and his administration for their dedication to the people of Boston. We hope Mayor Menino will take some time to relax with his family and stop to smell the roses before embarking upon his next venture at Boston University. We wish him well.

As we close this holiday season, we want to thank our directors, property owners, businesses, and residents in the BID district for their continued support and participation as we work to transform this most beloved and historic space--"the heart of Downtown Boston." We have much to report on our goals for 2014, and will outline our upcoming plans in next week's newsletter.

A Rock 'N' Fitness has replaced the former Planet Fitness location at 1 Washington Mall, adjacent to Government Center Plaza.



Rock 'N' Fitness celebrates its debut with some new member sign-up specials: "The Roadie" and "The Rockstar." Call Rock 'N' Fitness at 617-248-3877 for more info. 

Kadhim Alzubaidy, downtown's beloved "Falafel King," has expanded his sandwich shop chain to 62 Summer St. (the former Qdoba).



Bloggers quickly took note of the new location, which complements the Falafel Kings at 260 Washington St. and 48 Winter St. Contact 617-227-6400 for more info. Congratulations, Kadhim, on opening the first new restaurant in downtown in 2014!

There is nothing funny about genocide--and yet, with "We Are Proud To Present A Presentation," Boston's own Company One Theatre creates a show that explores this grim subject matter with irreverent and touching humor.



Hailed by The New York Times as a "Top Ten Play" of 2012, "We Are Proud" centers on a group of well-intentioned dramatists who try, but fail spectacularly, to stage a play based on the Herero genocide of 1904. The show opens at the Paramount Center this Friday, January 10th, for a two-week run. Visit here for tickets and more info.