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July 14, 2014
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Announcements
Deals & Promos
BID Ambassador Services & Links
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This Week's Featured Event
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Free Shakespeare on the Boston Common Begins July 23rd
The 19th season of Shakespeare on the Common begins on July 23rd with the classic comedy "Twelfth Night."
One of The Bard's most popular plays, "Twelfth Night" follows the journey of Viola and Sebastian, twins separated by a shipwreck, as they encounter loss and love in the mythical land of Illyria. The show is directed by Steven Maler and runs through Aug. 10th. Shows on Tuesdays through Saturdays are at 8 pm, Sundays at 7 pm, with a matinee show on July 26th at 3 pm. Click here for more information. |
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Get Your Groceries Delivered by Roche Bros. in Boston Proper
Roche Bros. isn't opening their flagship store in Downtown Boston until next year, but the supermarket chain has already launched its delivery service in the Boston Proper area.
Delivery hours are from 6 am to 8 pm and regularly costs $9.95 per order. But Roche Bros. is offering a special promotion for first-time customers in the Boston area. Click here and enter BOSTON14 at checkout for a free delivery with no minimum purchase. |
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Walgreens Wins Boston Preservation Alliance Achievement Award
The Walgreens Emporium (24 School St.) was recently honored with one of 10 Boston Preservation Alliance Achievement Awards for 2014.
"When the former Boston Five Cents Savings Bank in downtown's central shopping district became vacant there was much lament about the impact of the loss to the neighborhood and concern about the future of the building," said Greg Galer, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance. "With the arrival of Walgreens, their treatment of the building, and the activity of their store, those concerns are eliminated. Walgreens celebrates Kallman, McKinnell, & Knowles' 1972 building in a manner that demonstrates that successful restoration and modification of mid-century buildings is an attainable goal we should seek in other areas of the city."
According to the Alliance, "Walgreens chose to restore the original fabric of both the 1972 addition and the 1925 bank building and highlight the features of the modern, innovative design. The architects of HPA Design, working with Shawmut Design and Construction, guided the restoration of the stone surfaces, ornamental brasses, hanging light fixtures, decorative plasterwork, and marble tile floors of the interior." |
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BID's New Maps Make Travel Easier for Visitors Throughout Downtown Boston
Have you requested your free new Downtown Boston Visitor's Guide map? The new maps are being distributed by our ambassadors to hotels, restaurants, ground level retail stores, and to residential concierges. If you are interested in receiving our new maps, please email [email protected].
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BID Internships Available
The Downtown Boston BID is seeking qualified, enthusiastic interns to assist with the following projects: - Office administration and customer service
- Policy research and analysis
- Data collection, input and management
Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. |
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Picnic with Your Dog During Shakespeare on the Common Thanks to Artisan Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton
Enjoy Shakespeare on the Boston Common with one of three special picnic baskets from Artisan Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton.
 The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is putting on "Twelfth Night" from July 23rd to August 10th (see this week's Featured Event), and you only need to call Artisan Bistro at 617-574-7176 at least 24 hours in advance to order your picnic basket.
There are three baskets: The Boston Common is $85 per basket and includes your choice of two specialty sandwiches, two salads, two side dishes and two desserts; The Public Garden is $125 per basket and includes your choice of four gourmet open face sandwiches, two salads, and two desserts; The Rover (for dogs!) is $50 per basket and includes an Orbee-Tuff durable frisbee, a Chuck-It toss ball, a Planet Dog reusable travel bowl, and a hamburger cookie treat baked fresh from Boston Barkery. |
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Last Chance Tickets to Six-Course Pig and Beer Dinner at The Merchant on July 20th
Something PIG is coming to The Merchant (60 Franklin St.) on July 20th. Sign-up now for a Pig and Beer Dinner featuring Chef Foley's pork pairings with six brews.
The brews will be from 21st Amendment Brewery, Ace Cider, Great Divide Brewing Co., Dogfish Head Beer, Stone Brewing Co., and Anderson Valley Brewing Company. Click here to purchase $85 tickets and view the full menu. This event is from 6-9 pm. |
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Limited Time Offer: $15 Tickets to 2014 Boston Tea Party Reenactment
On December 16th, 2014, you can go back in time 241 years to the Boston Tea Party, and for a limited time only you can save 60% off the regular price of $25 by booking $15 tickets through August 31st.
 Click here for tickets for this event presented by the Old South Meeting House and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. The offer expires Aug. 31st, with ticket prices jumping to $20 on September 1st. |
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BID Ambassador Services & Links
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BID Ambassadors Provide Walking Escorts 24 Hours a Day in Downtown
The Downtown Boston BID Ambassadors provide hospitality services seven days a week, nearly 24 hours a day. BID 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. Please call 20 to 30 minutes prior to desired escort. You can also email [email protected], which is encouraged.
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Additional BID Ambassador Services
- Providing walking escorts 24 hours/day: contact 617-261-0066 to arrange.
- Landscaping, watering flowers, making sure handicapped ramps are not obstructed and storm drain openings are not clogged.
- Cleaning and powerwashing in Downtown Boston during warm weather.
- 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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Arthur Griffin Photography Exhibit Debuting at Lafayette City Center Passageway on July 16th
Arthur Griffin was one of New England's top photojournalists during the 1930s and 40s with the Boston Globe Rotogravure Magazine, as well as Life and Time magazines. Starting July 16th you can see his work at the Lafayette City Center Passageway through the free exhibit "Arthur Griffin" A Singular Vision."
"After 1951, Arthur Griffin chose to move into more commercial work," said Paula Tognarelli, executive director of the Griffin Museum of Photography, which was founded by Griffin. "Many people aren't aware of his journalistic work, or of his pioneering work with color film."
"In conjunction with the renovation of the Lafayette City Center into a modern mixed use office and retail center, we are excited to be promoting culture and arts in the district," said David Epstein, president of the Abbey Group, owner of Lafayette City Center (2 Avenue De Lafayette - between Macy's and the Hyatt Regency Hotel). "The vibrant nature of Downtown Boston continues to flourish with these types of unique and exciting happenings occurring on a regular basis making it one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in the city for both office workers and residents."
The Lafayette City Center Passageway opens at 10 am and closes when Macy's closes. This exhibit is brought to the public courtesy of the Lafayette City Center, the Griffin Museum of Photography, and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District. |
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A Fond Farewell to Tello's Super Store; First Opened in Boston in 1976
The BID would like to wish the Vitello family well, and thank them for their years of service to the community after Tello's Super Store (449-461 Washington St.) closed its doors for the last time this past week.
Tello's Super Store opened at its current location in 1996, after a previous Tello's store had closed in 1992, which had been at The Corner Mall since 1976.
"We employed so many young kids as their first jobs," said Hank Vetrano, district manager for Tello's for 27 years. "Our young employees learned about their first retail experience from us."
Tello's had eight stores in 2010 when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Tello's will be remodeling and keeping open one store, its East Boston business at 221 Border St., which can be reached at 617-569-0621. |
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Going Over The Edge for Special Olympics Massachusetts on July 18th & 19th at the Hyatt Regency Boston
The 4th Annual Over The Edge Special Olympics Massachusetts event is being hosted on the rooftop of the Hyatt Regency Boston (1 Avenue De Lafayette) on July 18th and 19th.
Participants have raised more than $150,000 already! They will rappel down 24 stories for the Special Olympics Massachusetts. This year Stephen Brookes (not pictured), the BID's Clean & Hospitality Operations Manager, is going over the edge after raising more than $1,500. Click here for more info or to make a general donation. |
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Arts, Entertainment & Events
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MAPC and Asian Community Development Corporation Present
Youth-Guided Tour of Chinatown on July 26th
Join the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) for a youth-guided tour of Chinatown on July 26th. 
Learn about more than 130 years of history, and hear stories about the community's struggle, activism, and continued legacy of immigrants in the neighborhood. After the tour there will be a dialogue on the current challenges and opportunities Chinatown residents face in regards to housing choices, displacement, and gentrification. $10 per person. Traditional Chinese tea will be served. The tour is from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at ACDC at 38 Oak St. Click here for more info and to RSVP by July 24th. |
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Register for 'Downtown By Foot Summer Walking Tour' on July 23rd
NAIOP Massachusetts, a commercial real estate development association, is hosting a Downtown By Foot Summer Walking Tour on July 23rd.
The presentation will start at One Federal Street and feature speakers from Related Beal and the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Then get your walking shoes on as investment and brokerage insiders provide a guided tour. The tour includes stops and feature presentations from property owners at Lafayette City Center, the Kensington, One Greenway, and Millennium Tower.
After the tour there will be a networking, cocktail/light appetizers event on the roof deck of the Sports Club/LA-Boston (4 Avery St).
The presentation starts at 4 pm with the walking tour to follow until 5:45 pm. The cocktails/networking portion is from 5:45 to 7 pm. You do not need to be a NAIOP member to attend this event. Tickets vary from $45 to $85. Click here for more info and to register for the event. |
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See and Hear SA: Performing at Berklee Performance Series This Week
The Berklee Performance Series, featuring students from the Berklee College of Music, takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is a perfect way to spend your lunch break.
Performances are at 100 Summer St. (adjacent to Long's Jewelers), from noon to 2 pm. SA will perform on July 15th and 17th, which is a journey of Indian songstress Shilpa Ananth, pictured above. The music is diverse and multicultural as she stays true to her past and present musical influences. SA is the first and last notes of the Indian scale; its Western counterpart is 'Do.'
With a fusion of soul, jazz and world genres, SA will open your ears to a delicious palate of tasty surprises from the East as well as the West. The Bonobros Trio is scheduled to perform on July 22nd, and HartBeat is scheduled for July 24th. Click here for a full schedule of performers.
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Enjoy Music at Readers Park/Irish Famine Memorial Plaza During Lunchtime
The Readers Park/Irish Famine Memorial Plaza Lunchtime Music series continues with guitarist Carlos V. Ramos, pictured below, on July 18th and 19th. The series runs on Fridays and Saturdays in front of the Walgreens Emporium (intersection of Washington and School streets) from noon to 2 pm.
Arthur Smeall is scheduled to play on July 25th and Vessela Stoyanova is scheduled to perform on July 26th. Click here for a full schedule of performers. |
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$3 Movies at AMC Boston Common 19 Support Good Causes
All summer long AMC Boston Common 19 is showing $3 movies Monday through Wednesday at 9:30 pm. All proceeds will go to the Will Rogers Institute, the Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, and AMC Cares.
 "Robocop" (the 2014 remake) is being shown July 14th through the 16th. "300: Rise of An Empire" is being shown July 21st through July 23rd. Click here for more info and all movie schedules.
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Wednesdays and Fridays: Have You Shopped at the Summer Street Market?
Delicious popcorn, handcrafted jewelry, soy soaps and candles, are just a few items for sale at the Summer Street Market on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The market has a new location (125 Summer St.) this year due to construction on upper Summer Street. The market features original artwork, food, crafts, and more, from local artisans. The market is
open 11 am to 6 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
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Construction & Utility Work Updates
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Burnham Building Being Restored to House Roche Bros. 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?Click here.  |
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