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February 3, 2014
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Valentine's Day Specials
Deals & Promos
Announcements
Additional BID Links
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This Week's Featured Event
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Free Screening of Louis C.K.'s 'Oh My God' at Paramount Theatre
Enjoy a free screening of Louis C.K.'s fourth stand-up comedy special, "Oh My God" on Thursday, February 6th, at the Paramount Center (599 Washington St.).
Get ready to laugh during the three-time Emmy-winner's taped show from the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix in 2013. This exclusive presentation features Louis C.K. in an all-new performance before a live audience.
The red-headed comedian discusses topics including the food chain, animals, divorce, strange anecdotes, broken morality, murder and mortality. One of the most popular comedians today, Louis C.K. won two Emmys in 2013, for Writing for a Comedy Series for the FX series "Louie," and Writing for a Variety Special, for "Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre." He also won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Comedy Album for "Hilarious."
This free screening is part of Emerson College's Bright Lights series, which are free and open to the public and held at the Paramount Center. They are all in the Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center and start at 7 pm.
Email [email protected] to RSVP. Click here for more info about the Bright Lights Film Series at Emerson College.
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MAST' Restaurant & Drinkery Is Coming With Mediterranean Fare
It's a lot easier to change a restaurant's name before opening. Just ask the folks at the newly-named MAST' Restaurant & Drinkery, which was previously going to be called Strada 45.
The name, which is in all capital letters, "is derived from the Neapolitan slang term O'mast, meaning 'the master of one's craft,'" according to a press release.
The restaurant will be inside the 45 Province condo development this spring. It'll serve Mediterranean food and Neapolitan street food for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Strada 45 was going to be focused on wood-fired pizza. |
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Attention Juice & Smoothie Fans! Cocobeet Opened on City Hall Plaza
Fresh juice enthusiasts don't need to wait anymore for Cocobeet's doors to open. The juice and smoothie store at 100 City Hall Plaza opened (after receiving its top flight juicer driven in from NY).
 Check back here next week for a feature article on the new store that also has food like vegan mac & "cheese" and Asian maple tempeh. Click here for Cocobeet's website. |
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Get a Free Dessert From Kingston Station with Purchase of Any Entree
For a limited time only, Kingston Station is offering a free dessert with any purchase of a lunch or dinner entree - like Chef Love's Homemade Ice Cream (pictured below).
This offer must be redeemed through an internet enabled mobile device. It cannot be combined with another offer. One limit per customer. This offer is redeemable until Friday, February 28th.
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Book Now For First-Ever Boston Hotel Week February 16th to 23rd
Several downtown hotels are participating and offering special deals during the first-ever Hotel Week Boston from February 16th to the 23rd. Guests at the Hyatt Regency (1 Avenue de Lafayette) will receive a discounted rate, overnight valet parking, and complimentary breakfast in Avenue One for children younger than 12 with a purchase of an adult breakfast. Reservations can be booked online here by selecting Advanced Purchase with Parking offer, or by calling 617-912-1234 and requesting Advanced Purchase with Parking. The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common is offering 25% off its Bed & Breakfast Package for Deluxe and Executive Suite. The package includes an Artisan Bistro Express American breakfast for two (inclusive of tax and gratuity), access to the Sports/Club LA housed within the same building as the hotel, and overnight valet parking. Reservations can be made online here. With 20 Boston-area hotels participating there are plenty of options and deals. Click here for Boston Hotel Week's website for more info. |
Final Reminder: Liberty Tree Park Redesign Meeting - Feb. 5
The community is invited to a meeting to discuss renovations to Liberty Tree Park, which is at the intersection of Washington and Tremont streets.
The current park is a brick area on the sidewalk featuring the Liberty Tree plaque.
The meeting is public and will be held at the BCYF Quincy Community Center at 885 Washington St., at 6:30 pm. This meeting is being run by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
For more information, please visit here or call Allison Perlman of the Parks Department at 617-961-3035.
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Final Reminder: Parkman Plaza Improvements Plan Meeting - Feb. 6
A public meeting to discuss the development of a landscape improvement plan for the Parkman Plaza Visitor Information Center on the Boston Common will be held on Feb. 6.
The meeting will focus on recommendations for improvements and design options to the visitor center (pictured below with a Freedom Trail actor).
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 6th, 6 pm, at the Emerson College Bill Bordy Theater and Auditorium at 216 Tremont St. For more information please call the Parks Department at 617-961-3028.
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Construction & Utility Work Updates
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Construction Continues on Burnham Building, Godfrey Hotel 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 updates on developments, construction, sidewalk closings, and more? Then click here.
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Internships Available
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].
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Dead Battery? BID Ambassadors Will Come Jump Start Your Vehicle for Free
This winter is one of the chilliest New England has has in years, and it's good to know that if your vehicle battery dies - the BID's Ambassadors will come and jump start your car, for free.
You do not have to be a resident, or a BID member, to take advantage of this free service. Our Ambassadors will bring the jumper cables, too.
Please call 617-261-0066 to ask for help. Phone calls after 10 pm will be forwarded to the after hours dispatcher. You can also email [email protected]. |
Shoveling snow off of handicapped ramps and other key sections of public sidewalks in downtown.
- Cleaning and powerwashing in downtown.
- Providing walking escorts 24 hours/day: contact 617-261-0066 to arrange.
- Friendly, welcoming downtown presence: helping visitors with directions, notifying fire and police personnel of incidents, etc.
- Contact [email protected] for more.
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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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Suzanne Dines: From Childhood Rock-Hound to Pearl & Bead Specialist
Suzanne Dines turned her childhood passion of picking up stones into a lifelong career in Downtown Crossing.
"I've been a rock-hound since I was a kid," said Dines, from behind the counter of Pearl & Bead Specialist Suzanne Dines Inc. "I love what I do. My strong belief is jewelers should make people happy."
And Dines knows how to keep her clients happy, after all, she's had a business in Downtown Crossing for 32 years. With keeping her clientele happy, Dines' shop sells new items, offers restoration and repairs to give new life to old jewelry. Of course, her specialty is pearls - after all, she grew up in Pearl River, New York!
Dines gets her pearls and gems from sources all around the world. But don't think that prices your everyday customer out of the store. Dines sells beaded necklaces for as low as $8 a strand, and on the other end, there are items priced in the thousands.
"Everything is real. I don't carry synthetic," said Dines. And 95 percent of the beautiful work in the jewelry cases have been made by Dines, or one of her two associates.
Dines added that customers can come in to just purchase beads so they can make their own jewelry at home.
As for what's hot right now - opal. Dines said opal is new to the industry, and very popular right now.
Pearl & Bead Specialist Suzanne Dines Inc., is located at 333 Washington St., Suite 515. Click here for Pearl & Bead's website for more info. The store is open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Evening and Saturday visits are by appointment only, please call 617-227-9911.
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What's Cooking with Hyatt Regency's Executive Chef Kelly Armetta?
Twenty-one years ago Kelly Armetta was asked to do a two-week stint at the Hyatt at Logan Airport. He was living in New York City at the time. He then met his future wife, and the rest is history. A very tasty history that led Armetta to be the executive chef of the Hyatt Regency. "I treat [the Hyatt Regency] as my home," said the very personable chef from inside Avenue One, the hip restaurant on the third floor of the hotel. Armetta's "home" consists of overseeing the 160-seat restaurant, a 22,000 sq. ft. banquet room, two seasonal terraces, and of course, 24-hour room service. Whether it's working with seasonal items, the seafood of New England, creating a pre-theater menu, or Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes for kids (yes, adults can request them, too), Armetta is always thinking creatively about food.
One task that kept Armetta busy was the Avenue One menu that debuted in December. He deemed the new fare as a "gastro pub" menu geared to families and more sharing of dishes.
Armetta said one thing he really relishes about his work is that Hyatt provides executive chefs autonomy to create their own menus, so no two Hyatt food menus are going to be the same.
"I have a lot of great things: healthy and not healthy. Food is a way of life... eat what you want, it might not be good for your heart, but it's good for your soul," said Armetta.
The Hyatt Regency is located at One Avenue de Lafayette. |
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Five Valentine's Day Restaurant Specials - Make Your Reservations Now
Make your reservation sooner than later for Valentine's Day (Friday, February 14th)! Here are five restaurants offering special dishes, deals, and of course, a romantic evening.
 Salvatore's is offering a special Valentine's Day 4-course meal for $60 per person, and add a wine pairing for $20 per person to the meal. Entrees include roasted Statler chicken, filet mignon with Hollandaise sauce, rosemary skewered scallops, or mushroom raviolo in parmesan sauce. The special menu will be available from 5 to 11 pm, but the regular menu will also be available. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling 617-542-5555. Click here for the full menu.Salvatore's is located at 545 Washington St. Petit Robert Central is offering a 3-course $33 Prix Fixe menu per person for Valentine's Day and the next day (February 15th), which also includes the full menu. The three courses include three appetizer options, such as the mussel and chorizo soup with saffron and fine herbs, and more. Click here for the full menu. Please call 617-737-1777 to make reservations. Petit Robert Central is located at 101 Arch St., with its front entrance at 34 Summer St.
Kingston Station is offering a special menu including Malpeque oysters as an appetizer, a pan-roasted salmon with celeriac remoulade and cauliflower puree as an entree, and don't forget the strawberry parfait for dessert. There are more options on the menu. Click here for the full special menu. Call 617-482-6282 to make reservations. Kingston Station is located at 25 Kingston St.
GEM Italian Kitchen, Nightclub & Lounge is offering a special Valentine's Day package for $95 per couple. The meal includes: a bottle of Mionetto Prosecco (or any bottle of wine served by the glass), a choice of Caesar or Panzanella salad, a choice of appetizer, a choice of two entrees, and a choice of dessert. Please call 617-482-1213 for reservations. GEM is located at 42 Province St.
Avenue One (inside the Hyatt Regency hotel) is offering a Prix Fixe menu for $60 per person, or $85 with a wine pairing. Click here to see the menu. Please call 617-912-1234 to make reservations. The Avenue One restaurant is located at One Avenue de Lafayette. |
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Arts, Entertainment & Events
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Candidate for Governor Charlie Baker Speaking for Free at Suffolk University
The Rappaport Institute's Roundtable discussion series with the candidates for Massachusetts governor continues on Tuesday, February 4th with Charlie Baker.
All of the roundtable discussions are free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information and to register click here. The event takes places at Suffolk Law School's Sargent Hall at 120 Tremont St., in the Function Room on the 1st Floor. This event is from noon to 1:30 pm. A complimentary lunch will be served.
The next candidates will be Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (Democrat) on Tuesday, February 11th, and independent Jeff McCormick on Wednesday, February 19th. |
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African-American Patriots Tour
February is African-American History Month and the Freedom Trail Foundation offers an informative African-American Patriots Tour of the area. Led by a costumed guide, the 90-minute walking tour discusses famous African-American revolutionaries such as Cripsus Attucks, Phillis Wheatley, Prince Hall, Peter Salem, and others.  This tour is not offered regularly except during February. The tour is offered Saturday and Sunday at 12:45 pm leaving from the Boston Common. The tour can be booked for a private, group or school tour anytime throughout the year. Base price school groups: $10 for the first 20 students; and $9 for everyone thereafter. Price includes one free chaperone for every 20 students. Base price for February public tour: $13 adults (includes $1 donation to the Freedom Trail Preservation Fund); $11 students/seniors; $7 children (under 12). Online general admission tickets are good for this tour. Base price for private group tour is a $125 minimum. For more information click here. |
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Green Day's Broadway Musical 'American Idiot' Coming to Boston Opera House
The Broadway smash "American Idiot" will be rocking out at the Boston Opera House in February for only one weekend.
Based on Green Day's Grammy Award-winning album, "American Idiot" tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia, and features the band's hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the title track.
 The Boston Opera House is at 539 Washington St., and tickets can be purchased by clicking here. There are five scheduled showings: Friday, February 7th at 8 pm; Saturday, February 8th at 2 and 8 pm; and Sunday, February 9th at 1 and 6:30 pm. The musical is 95 minutes and has no intermission.
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Also Showing This Week
Also, in theaters this week is: "Power to the Pedals: Wenzday Jane and the Culture of Change" with director Bob Nesson and composer Michael Moss on Tuesday, February 4th (Paramount Center).
The film portrays the transformative vision and extraordinary efforts of Wenzday Jane, a woman whose mechanical skills and innovative actions are reshaping her Cambridge, Massachusetts community. Wenzday goes to the heart of the sustainability issue by offering solutions, suggesting people don't have to be happy with the status quo.
Raised dirt-poor in public housing, Wenzday discovered bicycling, which meant personal freedom and self-determination to her. Now a self-taught innovator and community leader, she heads an urban movement to replace trucks with cargo bicycles for local delivery, municipal waste-hauling [she has a half-million dollar contract with the City of Cambridge] and agricultural distribution.
All Bright Lights screenings are free and open to the public. They are all in the Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center at 559 Washington St., and start at 7 pm.
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Now Showing! New Movie Classics at AMC Boston Common 19
So did Tom Hanks' character ever get any sleep in Seattle? The answer can be easily learned thanks to AMC Boston Common 19's Classics Series.
Boston's AMC Classics series features new classic movies like "Sleepless in Seattle" and the Bill Murray classic "Groundhog Day" - the next two featured classics. "Groundhog Day" is being shown on February 5th, and "Sleepless in Seattle" is being shown on February 9th and 12th. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
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 City Services
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