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December 28, 2015
Featured Stories
In The News
This Week's Featured Event
Meetings & Notices
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Announcements
Deals & Promos
Construction & Utility Work Updates
BID Ambassador Services & Links
City Services
In The News
Globe: Cardinal O'Malley Calls for Compassion While at St. Francis House in Downtown Boston 12/25/15

BBJ: Tech Firms Looking to Hire in Downtown Boston Include Datadog, Carbonite and Bullhorn 12/24/15

BBJ: Rockpoint Acquires 99 Summer St. for $132 Million 12/23/15

CBS Boston: Mayor Walsh, Gov. Baker Ring Bells for Salvation Army in Downtown Crossing 12/23/15

NewBostonPost: Governor Baker Kicks Off Salvation Army's Political Bell Ringer Competition 12/21/15

BBJ: Ames Boston Hotel Getting New Owner 12/21/15

Globe: Flocking to Yvonne's for Creamed Finnan Haddie 12/21/15

Globe: Christmas in the City Lifts Spirits of Homeless Families 12/21/15
This Week's Featured Event
First Night is Free This Year!
No Buttons Needed 

First Night and Day in Boston is fun for the entire family and every event is free this year! 

Events start at noon in Copley Square and go past midnight. There are puppeteers, numerous musical performances and more. Some of the highlights include the People's Procession to the Boston Common parade at 6 pm from Copley to the Boston Common, fireworks at 7 pm over the Boston Common and fireworks at midnight above Copley Square and the Boston Harbor.

Click here for a full schedule of events and to learn more of what's happening. The majority of events are in Copley Square. 
Meetings & Notices
Advertising Opportunity to Support the BID's 5th Anniversary 
Boston Business Journal Special Section

The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) is partnering with the Boston Business Journal to publish a special advertorial section in January in the form of a five-year anniversary report. 

 
This report will focus on the revitalization and renaissance of Downtown Boston, which has captured local, national and international investment and media attention. We invite you to support the report by adding your marketing message. Please contact 
Jaclyn Sunseri at Jsunseri@bizjournals.com
704-973-1813 to learn more about advertising opportunities for this special section.  
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Enjoy Works of Bach and More at 
King's Chapel on New Year's Eve for Free

Enjoy the works of Bach and Mussorgsky as King's Chapel's Heinrich Christensen pulls out all the stops on the C.B. Fisk Organ on New Year's Eve.

The event is at 9 pm, free and open to the public. Click here for more information.  
Ice Skating at 
Boston Common Frog Pond 

The skating rink at the Boston Common Frog Pond is open for people of all ages to enjoy skating. Don't forget there are also season and lunch passes.

The schedule is as follows: Mon. 10 am to 3:45 pm; Tue. to Thurs. 10 am to 9 pm; Fri/Sat 10 am to 10 pm; Sun. 10 am to 9 pm.  

The following is the holiday schedule:
New Years Eve 10 am to 4 pm; New Years Day 10 am to 10 pm. 

Admission price is based on skater's height: 58-inches and over: $6; Under 58-inches: free. Rentals & Services: Skates for adult men/women is $12, $6 for kids. Click here for more info.
Trunk Show at Newbury Yarns 
Jan. 9th 

Newbury Yarns (2 Milk St.) is hosting an Anny Blatt & Bouton d'Or Trunk Show on Saturday, Jan. 9th from 11 am to 4 pm.

Yarn will be on sale, as well as already made items for purchase. This is a free event. 
Must-See for Families and Children: Holiday Night Lights Show at Walgreens Plaza

Get into the spirit of the season with our Holiday Night Lights Musical program at Walgreens Plaza (Washington and School streets). This is fun, must-see entertainment for families and children. The program incorporates projected moving snowflakes as holiday-themed music accompany the light show. 
 
The Holiday Night Lights Musical Program at 
Walgreens Plaza (Washington and School streets) is occurring daily from 5 to 8 pm every 30 minutes. 
 
Also, more than 100 trees have been lit, and 200 wreaths have been hung on streetlamps throughout the Downtown Boston area. The trees have been lit colorfully, snowflakes are being projected onto sidewalks and streetscapes, and the famous holiday starlight banners are now LED and hung once again above streets. 
 
The Boston Ballet's 'The Nutcracker' at Opera House Thru Dec. 31st 

The Nutcracker by the Boston Ballet is being performed at the Boston Opera House through Dec. 31st. 

Mikko Nissinen's The Nutcracker will capture your imagination and transport you to a magical world of brave toy soldiers and dancing candy canes. Follow Clara as she embarks on her journey filled with colorful characters, breathtaking costumes, and majestic scenery. There are many days with multiple shows, including 1 pm (perfect for little ones). Click here for tickets and more info. 
Enjoy Freedom Trail 
Historic Holiday Strolls 

Enjoy one of Boston's best traditions -- the Freedom Trail Foundation's Historic Holiday Stroll.

These merry 90-minute tours are led by Dickensian costumed guides leaving from Faneuil Hall Thursdays through Sundays at 3:30 pm. The stroll is complete with a tour of holiday lights and Christmas trees along the Freedom Trail, a visit to the Omni Parker House for signature refreshments. Guests receive discounts off museum store purchases at several Freedom Trail sites. Tickets are $29 for adults, $19 for children, and reservations are required 24 hours in advance. All Freedom Trail tours are available as private family or group tours. For reservations and more info please call 617-357-8300. 
BID Ambassador Services & Links
BID Ambassadors Provide Walking Escorts and Directions 
24 Hours a Day in Downtown 

The Downtown Boston BID Ambassadors provide hospitality services seven days a week, nearly 24 hours a day, creating a welcoming environment for everyone. BID Ambassadors provide walking escorts all day or night - they'll even tote an umbrella if it's raining or snowing! 

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 help@bostonbid.org, which is encouraged. 
Additional BID Ambassador Services
  • Friendly, welcoming downtown presence: helping visitors with directions, notifying fire and police personnel of incident, etc. 
  • Making sure handicapped ramps are not obstructed and storm drain openings are not clogged.
  • Cleaning and powerwashing in Downtown Boston during warm weather. 
  • Landscaping, watering flowers during warm weather.
  • Remove litter and graffiti 
  • Contact info@bostonbid.org for more.
THANK YOU!
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 info@bostonbid.org.  
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
Year in Review 2015: Roche Bros., Primark and Millennium Tower Reached for the Sky

2015 was a momentous year for Downtown Boston. Flagship businesses like Roche Bros. and Primark opened in Downtown Crossing, further rejuvenating the area into one of the hippest neighborhoods to shop, work, live and go to school in. 

After being fully refurbished, the historic Burnham Building welcomed a Roche Bros. flagship supermarket, which quickly drew high praise and many shoppers. 
In September, the Irish retailer Primark opened to great fanfare taking up four floors of the Burnham Building. Primark shopping bags are now a common sight across Boston as people make their way to the very popular fast fashion destination.

The most visible construction project, Millennium Tower, celebrated its topping off in mid-September. The public celebration was preceded by a catered thank you meal to all of the employees who have worked hard to keep the residential luxury building on schedule even with losing several weeks to last year's horrible winter. Millennium Tower is scheduled to open, on time, in the summer of 2016.
Boston Globe Photo by Erik Jacobs
The highly-anticipated Yvonne's restaurant, which took the space of the fabled Locke-Ober restaurant, opened in September. It has since been widely acclaimed and is one of the trendiest restaurants in Boston.

Other big openings in 2016 included PAUL Bakery and Ogawa Coffee, which both opened their first United States-based branches. 

Next week our newsletter will look at what's happening in Downtown Boston for 2016! 
Millennium Tower Crane Coming Down: Partial Closure of Franklin Street Sidewalk 

The Millennium Tower crane will be removed starting Dec. 29th. This means that major construction of Millennium Tower is finished, and there will be a temporary partial closure of the Franklin Street sidewalk during the crane's removal.

The Franklin Street sidewalk between Hawley and Washington streets will be closed temporarily while the crane is demobilized. The sidewalk closure will occur between 7 am to 4 pm daily for about 10 consecutive days. The sidewalk will be open during afternoon rush hour for pedestrians. No streets will be closed during this process. 
Restaurants Open for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Downtown Boston

There are several restaurants open on New Year's Eve and Day in Downtown Boston.

The following restaurants are open on New Year's Eve: Artisan Bistro (10 Avery St.) is open for dinner, please call 617-574-7176 for more info and reservations. Avenue One (inside Hyatt Regency Boston at 1 Avenue de Lafayette) is open for a 3-course pre-theater menu, and a 4-course New Year's Eve dinner with a champagne toast for $55 per person or $80 with wine pairings, please call 617-422-5579 for more info and reservations. Avery Bar (10 Avery St.) is offering craft cocktails, a champagne cocktail menu and its Taste and Share menu for light fare, please call 617-574-7100 for more info. Back Deck (2 West St.) is offering a special New Year's Eve menu, as well as its regular menu, please call 617-670-0320 for info and reservations. GEM (42 Province St.) is offering a champagne dinner for two and music by DJ Diskino, click here for tickets. The Marliave (10 Bosworth St.) is open and serving its regular menu, please call 617-422-0004 for info and reservations. The Merchant (60 Franklin St.) is serving a 3-course prix fixe menu for $65 per person/$95 per person with wine pairings; Make your reservations via the Reserve app, OpenTable or by calling 617-482-6060. Ogawa Coffee (10 Milk St.) is open 7 am to 6 pm. Teatro (177 Tremont St.) is serving dinner and open 5 to 11 pm, please call 617-778-6841 for more info and reservations. 

The following restaurants are open on New Year's Day. Artisan Bistro is offering a brunch and a build your own Bloody Mary bar. Back Deck is offering a special menu, as well as its regular menu. GEM is offering its annual New Year's Day Hangover Brunch Party with DJ Costa from 2 to 6 pm. 
Announcements
A.W. Perry Welcomes Crowe & Mulvey, LLP & Recap Real Estate Advisors to 77 Franklin St.

Perry Brokerage (20 Winthrop Square), a full service commercial brokerage firm serving Boston and the South Shore is pleased to announce the execution of two leases totaling 14,200 sq. feet at 77 Franklin St. (seen below).

Crowe & Mulvey, LLP a law firm has leased 8,700 square feet and Recap Real Estate Advisors, a real estate consulting advisory firm has leased 5,500 square feet. Rich Beal and Jon Gifford of Perry Brokerage represented the landlord A.W. Perry in these transactions. John Carroll III and Lauren Vecchione of Colliers International represented Crowe & Mulvey and Jason Cameron of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank represented Recap Real Estate Advisors.     
 
"We are very pleased that Crowe & Mulvey has selected 77 Franklin Street as their new business home and we're thrilled to welcome back a former tenant- Recap Real Estate Advisors," said Kerri Gallaway, Vice President and Property Manager of A.W. Perry. "Both tenants will be great additions to the Building and we look forward to serving them in the years to come."  
Irish Language Classes at Irish International Immigrant Center Starting Jan. 14th 

The Irish International Immigrant Center (100 Franklin St. Lower Level) is offering beginner and advanced beginners Irish language classes starting Jan. 14th. 

Did you learn Irish in school yet still feel you struggle with the language? Are you of Irish heritage and have always wanted to learn the language of your ancestors? 

The IIIC and Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston are presenting a 10-week Irish Language Course on Thursdays from 6 to 8 pm from Jan. 14th into March. The cost is $140 for CnaG members and $160 for non-members. Please contact Deirdre McCann at 617-542-7654 x. 32 or dmccann@iiicenter.org.  
Deals & Promos
Two Hours of Free Parking Through Jan. 2nd with ParkBoston App

Use the ParkBoston app and receive two hours of free parking at all metered spaces in Boston through Jan. 2nd.

The ParkBoston app must be used and code 617617 should be entered to take advantage of this offer. The free ParkBoston app is available through the App Store or Google Play for IPhone and Android users, and a pay-by-voice option is offered for those without web-enabled phones. Each ParkBoston account will be allowed the use of this special 617617 code once. 
New Year Special at 
Women's Fitness of Boston 

Women's Fitness of Boston (27 School St.) is offering a New Year Special with no enrollment fee.

A one-week trial includes three fitness classes. Women's Fitness of Boston offers numerous activities, including personal training, ballet pilates, piloxing, fitness equipment, zumba and more. Click here for more info or call 617-227-1221. 
Mayor's Holiday Special: 
Over 100 Holiday Shows Now on Sale

Now through New Year's weekend, you can save on more than 100 holiday shows through the Mayor's Holiday Special.

The Mayor's Holiday Special is produced by ArtsBoston, created in partnership with Mayor Marty Walsh, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) and presented by the Highland Street Foundation. This special deals site gives you access to thousands of ticket deals to more than 100 theater, music, and dance performances throughout the region, as well as free festivities, dining deals, gift ideas, and more. Click here for more info and tickets.  
Construction & Utility Work Updates 
MBTA Construction, Millennium Tower, 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? Click here.

City Services


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