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July 18, 2016
Featured Stories
Meetings & Notices
In The News
This Week's Featured Event
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Announcements
Deals & Promos
BID Services & Links
Construction & Utility Work Updates
City of Boston Services
Meetings & Notices
Public Meeting About 
South Station Expansion on July 20th

MassDOT is hosting a public meeting to discuss the South Station Expansion project's Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) on Wednesday, July 20th at 6 pm. This meeting is being held at Atlantic Wharf, Fort Point Room, 2nd Floor (290 Congress St.). 

The purpose of the South Station Expansion project is to expand the station terminal capacity to meet current and anticipated future commuter rail and intercity rail service needs. Click here to read more about the project and the FEIR. 
In The News
Globe: Doc Rivers Wants Help with BID Member ABCD's Hoop Dreams Program 7/17/16

Globe: An Uncommon Shakespeare Comedy for the Boston Common 7/15/16

Globe: Stage Review of Spellbinding 'Cuisine & Confessions' at Emerson's Cutler Majestic Theatre 7/14/16

Eater: Luke's Lobster Coming to Downtown Crossing Later This Summer 7/14/16

Curbed: Millennium Tower Unit Would be Highest (Height) Rental Ever in Boston 7/13/16

Globe: The Chicken & Rice Guys Among Top Spots for Cheap Eats 7/13/16

Eater: Yvonne's and Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe Among Essential Summer Restaurants 7/12/16
This Week's Featured Event
Shakespeare on the Common: 'Love's Labour's Lost' Starts July 20th

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's performance of "Love's Labour's Lost," for the 21st year of Shakespeare on the Boston Common, opens on July 20th. 

"Love's Labour's Lost," is a high-spirited romantic comedy about friendship and loyalty among four young men and four young women. Their friendship is put to the test when notions of youthful love encounter the challenges of adulthood. In true Shakespearean fashion, there is dazzling wordplay, strong comic characters and a few unexpected twists.

All performances are free. Click here for performance times. The show runs on the Common through August 7th.
Arts, Entertainment & Events
Multi-Sensory Marvel 
'Cuisine & Confessions' Now at 
Cutler Majestic Theatre Thru Aug. 7th

ArtsEmerson is presenting the U.S. premiere of "Cuisine & Confessions" from the world-famous circus The 7 Fingers at the Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College through August 7th. 

Like The 7 Fingers' previous Boston appearances (Traces, Sequence 8, and PSY), "Cuisine & Confessions" highlights the troupe's acrobatic and choreographic prowess -- and this time they will add sound, smell, touch and even taste! They will actually make food on the stage for the audience to enjoy! 

Tickets range from $25 to $80 and can be purchased by calling 617-824-8400 or clicking here..
Boston Calling Block Party at 
Dewey Square with 
The Almighty Buck on July 21st

This week's Boston Calling Music Festival Block Party in Dewey Square will feature music from The Almighty Buck on Thursday, July 21st. The block parties are free and open to all members of the public aged 21+.

The block parties are a partnership with the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Shock Top, Wicked Wines, RadioBDC, CHEN PR and the BID. All block parties will feature local musicians. The parties are from 5 to 8 pm and have a cash bar, lawn games and promotions.
Daniel Patiño Performing at
Free Berklee Concert Series at 
100 Summer Street Plaza

The Berklee College of Music Summer Concert Series continues at the 100 Summer Street Plaza. The series offers free musical performances every Tuesday and Thursday by Berklee students.

Daniel Patiño will perform on Tuesday, July 19th and Thursday, July 21st. Patiño is a singer-songwriter from San José, Costa Rica. In 2007, alongside his brother Andres, Patiño formed a band called Patiño Quintana. Patiño Quintana recorded three albums and performed in some of Costa Rica's major music festivals such as Festival Imperial and Festival de Ias Artes. 

All performances are from noon to 2 pm. Performances may be cancelled due to weather or changed due to scheduling. Click here to see all of the upcoming performances. 
Live Soloist Performers at 133 Federal Street Three Days a Week

The BID sponsors soloist performers outside on the 133 Federal St. Plaza on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for everyone to enjoy. 

Holly McGarry, pictured above, will be performing on Wednesday, July 20th. Tupahn will perform on Friday, July 22nd. These performances are from noon to 2 pm.
Sweet Harmony Singing on Saturdays on Summer Street 

The singing group Sweet Harmony is performing on Saturdays outside of Macy's on Summer Street from 12:30 to 3 pm.

Sweet Harmony is a professional performance troupe at Riverside Theatre Works in Hyde Park performing modern hits and songs through the years. 
Redcoats are Coming to Occupy Boston's Freedom Trail

This summer, the Freedom Trail Foundation and the BID offer the opportunity to experience British soldiers in 18th-century Redcoat uniforms reenact guard duty on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between noon and 2 pm.

This historical program utilizes experienced 18th-century costumed Freedom Trail Players who bring the daily actions and atmosphere of British-occupied Boston to life. Residents and visitors can meet the soldiers and engage them in talk about their postings in the hostile environment of colonial Boston as they "occupy" Downtown Boston on Washington, Summer, and Winter streets. 
Deals & Promos
Free DAVIDsTEA for Kids July 15th thru 20th

DAVIDsTEA (298 Washington St.) is offer a free Tea of the Day to kids 12 and under from July 15th through July 20th.  

Boloco Donating $1 of 
Every Big Kitchen Burrito Purchased to 
David Ortiz Children's Fund

Boloco will donate $1 of every Big Papi's Kitchen Burrito purchased to the David Ortiz Children's Fund until Red Sox star David "Big Papi" Ortiz's final regular season at-bat. This promotion is available at all Boloco restaurants, and there is a Boloco at 133 Federal St.

The goal is to raise $34,000 for the Children's Fund. Big Papi's Kitchen Burrito is only available until the end of the regular season. 
Construction & Utility Work Updates 
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 updates on developments, construction, sidewalk closings, and more? Click here. 
City of Boston Services
Featured Stories
Early Pioneer of 
Downtown Crossing Pedestrian Zone, 
Alvin Schmertzler Visits the Crossing

Alvin Schmertzler remembers Downtown Crossing before it was called "Downtown Crossing." His family, the founders of the Chock full o'Nuts coffee brand, ran several businesses and owned properties on Winter Street and Temple Place from the 1940s into the 1980s. And he did not like the vehicles travelling down Winter Street, stunting shoppers from visiting businesses, so he did something about it. 

Schmertzler wrote a letter to then-Mayor Kevin White "recommending auto traffic be removed on Winter Street," which the city had actually been discussing for several years. To gain support for the idea he went door-to-door to businesses and formed the Winter Street Merchants' Association.   

He said the first mention of the name "Downtown Crossing" happened in the late 1970s, around the same time as the 1978-1979 birth of the pedestrian zone on Winter, Summer and Washington streets.

The creation of the pedestrian zone automatically increased business. "People would come because they could walk around comfortably," said Schmertzler on a visit to the BID's office last week.

"When Alvin called me to introduce himself we immediately made plans for him to visit the BID," said Rosemarie Sansone, President & CEO of the BID. "He is definitely one of Boston's true champions!"
BID interns (left to right): Jake Lebovic, Alyssa Ciolfi, Hanako Gutterman and Dylan Chorlton with Albert Schmertzler, smiling in the middle. 
Through the years Schmertzler saw the transformation of Downtown Crossing as the department stores like GIlchrist's, Conrad & Chandler's and R.H. Stearns left the area. Now he marvels at the arrival of Roche Bros. and Primark in the Burnham Building, and the adjoining Millennium Tower.

After visiting the BID's office and regaling the staff with stories of Winter Street, he took a walk around the old neighborhood and was amazed at its evolution. 
New Wayfinding Kiosks On the Streets, 
More Coming Soon

The BID installed several new wayfinding kiosks on Downtown Boston streets last week, and there will be 20+ new kiosks put up in the coming weeks. The kiosks are solar-powered and will be lit at night to visibly standout on the streets.

The new wayfinding kiosks were constructed after a pilot program by the BID with similar kiosks. All of the kiosks provide users with specific information based upon which direction they are facing. The kiosks also provide directional arrows to commonly visited locations like the Boston Common, Public Garden, Faneuil Hall and more. 

"During the installs a lot of people were taking photographs of them and immediately being drawn to them and using them as soon as the crews would step away," said Nafie O. Nafie, project manager for DCL.   

The new kiosks are spread throughout the district including by the Chinatown MBTA Station, in front of the Grand Masonic Lodge on Tremont Street, on Avery Street and more.  
Intaglio Antique Prints and Maps at Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market on July 22nd, 27th & 29th

The Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market is featuring a new vendor -- Intaglio Antique Prints and Maps.

Intaglio sells only original antique prints and maps -- never digital copies or modern reproductions. There's a little bit of everything: natural history, science & technology, architecture, fashion, maps and more. 

"My entrance into the world of antique prints and maps was by pure accident," said Tunde Bodnar. "My husband and I stumbled across antique books in his father's attic. And after discovering the beauty and artistry of antique prints and bookplates, the interest and intrigue soon developed into a hobby, which then snowballed into a full-time job."

Intaglio Antique Prints and Maps and other vendors will be at the Walgreens Plaza (School and Washington streets) from 11 am to 6 pm on July 22nd, 27th and 29th. The Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market is open on Wednesdays and Fridays at Walgreens Plaza.
Announcements
Office Space at 333 Washington Street Available for Lease

An office space in the Jewelers Building at 333 Washington St. (8th Floor) is available now for lease. 

The 961 sq. ft. office was recently renovated and has one large open space and one large private office. It has hardwood floors and new windows. The lease term is flexible and the space is immediately available. There is potential access to a large conference room. Please call
617-720-1000 if interested (Mass Taxpayers Foundation main number). 

BID Baggo League Leaders at Mid-Season

The BID Baggo Lunchtime League hit the mid-season last week. Below are the point leaders of the league at the halfway point.
Eric
Robinson
Fidelity Investments
19
Alex
Rouleau
BBH
19
Sue
Burris
State Street
14
Jessica
Rondon
KPMG
13
Chantal
Delise
CIC Boston
13
The BID Baggo Lunchtime League is a free league that anyone can join. Playoffs will take place in September. If you are interested in playing please contact Mike Testa at 617-482-1928. 
Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market at 
Walgreens This Week

The Downtown Boston Arts & Crafts Market features local vendors offering handmade products.

Vendors will be at Walgreens Plaza (School and Washington streets) from 11 am to 6 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Now You Can Submit Your Own Event to the Downtown Boston BID Website

If you have an upcoming event you can now submit it to the Downtown Boston BID website. Click here to submit your own event.

Once approved by BID staff your event will be on the BID's calendar section and could be featured in the newsletter or on the BID social media accounts and promoted elsewhere. 
BID Services & Links
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.
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. You can also email help@bostonbid.org.
 
  • Ambassadors remove litter and graffiti
  • Ambassadors clear handicapped ramps and storm drain openings
  • Ambassador powerwash in Downtown Boston during warm weather
  • Ambassadors maintain the BID's landscaping by watering flowers
  • Masonry Ambassadors fix sidewalks and more
Additional BID Services & Info
  • Communication and Business Networking
  • Meetings with individual BID members to discuss neighborhood affairs 
  • Entertainment programming
  • Member Advocacy
  • Capital/Public Improvements
  • Wayfinding
  • Please click here for the 2016 BID Report to learn about 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 dmeyer@bostonbid.org.
THANK YOU!
Downtown Boston BID Weekly News Update

BID Logo Lo Res

For questions and comments, please contact David Ertischek, newsletter editor, at: dertischek@bostonbid.org