August 8, 2016

Featured Stories

In The News

Meetings & Notices

This Week's Featured Event

Arts, Entertainment & Events

Announcements

Deals & Promos

BID Services & Links

Construction & Utility Work Updates

City of Boston Services

In The News

Boston Restaurant Talk: Coombs and Piccini Bringing New Restaurant to Downtown Crossing 8/7/16

Banker & Tradesman: Related Beal Sells Congress Square Parcels 8/5/16

Globe: Here Comes the Downtown Crossing Neighborhood 8/4/16

Zagat: 5 Things to Know About haley.henry wine bar 8/3/16

Globe: City Picks Millennium Partners to Develop Winthrop Square Garage Site 8/3/16

BBJ: Places to Get Ice Cream in Downtown Boston 8/2/16

Voice of Downtown Boston: The Merchant is a Great Place for Cocktails and Farm Fresh Dishes 8/1/16

Meetings & Notices

RSVP Now:

Hear From New Retail Bizs & Restaurants

Annual Summer BID Members Meeting August 17th

The Downtown Boston BID will be hosting a BID Members Meeting on Wednesday, August 17th from 4 to 6 pm. This meeting will take place at 100 High Street at the newly renovated state of the art 5-Star Service Worldwide Conference Center (pictured below).

At the meeting you'll hear from some of Downtown's newest and upcoming retail businesses and restaurants.

Please RSVP to Doug Meyer at dmeyer@bostonbid.org.

This Week's Featured Event

Echoes of the Past, Stamp Act Protest Commemoration and Reenactment on Aug. 13th

The Old State House (206 Washington St.) is hosting the interactive mystery game Echoes of the Past, and a Stamp Act Protest Commemoration and Reenactment on Saturday, August 13th.

Echoes of the Past sends you into Boston's past to search for clues. There will be three sessions of the game: one at 1 pm, another at 2 pm and the final at 3 pm. The Stamp Act Protest Commemoration and Reenactment will be at 4 pm and is the Bostonian Society's annual commemoration of the Stamp Act protest. All of these events are free.

Arts, Entertainment & Events

Disco Night with Stardust at

City Hall Plaza on August 10th

The Dorothy Curran Wednesday Night Concerts continue at City Hall Plaza on August 10th with Stardust for Disco Night.

This is a free concert, which starts at 7 pm. This series is presented by Mayor Martin Walsh, the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

Get Your Ticket for St. Francis House's Shooze Cruise on August 10th

St. Francis House's 13th Annual Shooze Cruise will be cruising the Boston Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 10th. There are tickets for this fundraiser at which hundreds of shoes are donated by attendees that will go help those in need.

The evening will feature music and dancing, food provided by North 26 Restaurant, and the chance to win incredible raffle prizes. The Provincetown II will be boarding at 6:30 pm at the World Trade Center Pier. Click here for more info and to purchase a ticket or donate.

Watch 'Mystic River' at the

Old South Meeting House on Aug. 11th

Join the Old South Meeting House (310 Washington St.) for a screening of "Mystic River" on Thursday, August 11th at 7:30 pm. This screening is part of OSMH's Bostonians in Film series.

Doors open at 6:45 pm, film begins at 7:30 pm. Advance tickets are $8 for general public or $4 for OSMH members. All tickets are $10 at the door. Click here for tickets. Light refreshments will be available for purchase.

Boston Calling Block Party at

Dewey Square with

Salem Wolves on August 11th

This week's Boston Calling Music Festival Block Party in Dewey Square will feature music from the Salem Wolves on Thursday, August 11th. 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.

Dear June 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.

Dear June will perform on Tuesday, August 9th and Thursday, August 11th. Dear June is a rock 'n' roll band from Boston. Founded as a duo with folk roots, the band has transformed into a five piece with a distinctly eclectic, Americana sound.

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 will be performing on Wednesday, August 10th and Rachel Sumner, pictured above, will be performing on Friday, August 12th and Monday, August 15th. 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.

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.

City of Boston Services

Featured Stories

European Flair with Tinned Fish:

haley.henry wine bar Now Open on

Province Street

The highly-anticipated haley.henry wine bar (45 Province St.) opened on Friday and has already garnered rave reviews.

"The restaurant is meant to feel like a funky, unpretentious and cozy space where one could duck in for a quick nosh, or completely lose themselves in the room and stay for hours," said owner Haley Fortier (below with thumbs up). "I think it is going to appeal to a variety of different people and have a personality that everyone can speak to."

The wine bar will feature nearly 50 wines from primarily old world, Mediterranean producers.The menu is highlighted by tinned fish dishes, which are popular in Europe.

The haley.henry wine bar is open 3 pm to 1 am Monday to Friday, 11:30 am to 1 am on Saturdays and closed on Sundays (for now).

Millennium Partners Selected to Redevelop Winthrop Square Garage with 55-Story Tower

Millennium Partners was selected by the City of Boston to redevelop the Winthrop Square Garage site. Millennium hopes to get shovels in the ground next summer for its proposed 750-foot tall 55-story tower.

The proposal includes a multi-story 65-foot high Great Hall with nearly 13,000 square foot that would serve as a cultural and commercial center. The proposal also includes 14 stories of office space and 36 residential floors atop the 65-foot high Great Hall.

Millennium Partners released a statement about being selected to redevelop the site: "We appreciate the opportunity to continue our work in Boston's most dynamic neighborhood, and we look forward to our continued collaboration with the City of Boston and the BID. Together we will make a vibrant, exciting and transformative project at Winthrop Square for all to enjoy."

Millennium Partners was selected from six developers that submitted proposals to the city. The Winthrop Square Garage site has been vacant for more than three years.

Enjoy Restaurant Week Boston Starting August 14th

Call it Dine Out Boston or Restaurant Week Boston -- either way there are lots of great deals to be had on multi-course meals at a lot of restaurants. And it's actually two weeks of great deals: August 14th-19th and August 21st-26th.

Click here to see menus and participating restaurants in the Greater Boston area. There are nine Downtown Boston restaurants offering deals for the two weeks. Here are the nine restaurants in Downtown with lunch and dinner prices:

Avenue One (1 Avenue de Lafayette)

617-422-5579

Lunch: $20 for two-course menu
Dinner: $33 for three-course menu

Back Deck (2 West St.) 617-670-0320

Lunch: $20 for two-course menu
Dinner: $33 for three-course menu

Blu (4 Avery St.) 617-375-8550

Lunch: $20 for three-course menu
Dinner: $38 for three-course menu

Central Bistro (34 Summer St.) 617-737-1777

Lunch: $20 for three-course menu
Dinner: $33 for three-course menu

Marliave (10 Bosworth St.) 617-422-0004

Dinner: $38 for three-course menu

The Merchant (60 Franklin St.) 617-482-6060

Dinner: $33 for three-course menu

Oceanaire Seafood Room (40 Court St.) 617-742-2277

Lunch: $25
Dinner: $38

Ruth's Chris Steak House (45 School St.) 617-742-8401

Lunch: $25 for three-course menu
Dinner: $38 for three-course menu

Serafina (10 High St.) 617-426-1234

Dinner: $38 for three-course menu

More Ice Cream Options:

Don't Forget About Zermatt Gelatria & Cafe!

Last week's BID newsletter featured ice cream and frozen yogurt options in Downtown Boston -- but we forgot to mention one of the best options -- Zermatt Gelatria & Cafe in The Corner Mall's food court (417 Washington St.).

Zermatt makes 18 different gelato flavors onsite every day. The restaurant also serves panini sandwiches, salads, Italian cuisine like spaghetti and meatballs and shrimp linguine. Coffee drinks such as lattes, and espresso, as well as milkshakes are available.

Announcements

BID Baggo League Players of the Week

Edible Arrangements (241 Washington St.) is the official sponsor of the BID Baggo League and is providing gift certificates to players of the week.

This week's players of the week are Eric Robinson, above right, of Fidelity, and Solomon Flax, above left, of CIC Boston. 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, above middle, 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.

Deals & Promos

Avery Bar Celebrating

Olympics with Brazilian-Inspired

Appetizers and Cocktail Specials

Avery Bar (10 Avery St. inside The Ritz-Carlton, Boston) is celebrating the Olympics being held in Brazil by offering Brazilian-inspired food and cocktails from Aug. 5th to Aug. 21st.

Executive Chef Frank Kassner is creating Salt Cod Croquettas and Short Rib pasteis, and lead bartender Sterling Jackson is offering several craft cocktails such as Caipirinha and a Freestyle Martini to complement the new appetizers.

Receive a Complimentary Custom

Whitening Kit at Boston Dental

Boston Dental (36 Chauncy St.) is offering BID newsletter readers a complimentary custom whitening kit. Please mention this offer when scheduling your appointment. Call 617-338-5000 to make an appointment.

The whitening kit includes a custom-fit whitening mouthpiece tray and one professional dentist-strength teeth whitening gel for at-home use. This is for new patients only.

Boston Area Spanish Exchange Offering Spanish-Language Workshops in August

The Boston Area Spanish Exchange (50 Milk St., 16th Floor) is offering a variety of level-specific Spanish-language workshops in August.

One of the workshops is Spanish for Lunch, a brown-bag Spanish conversation round table with mixed levels. Workshops are free for BASE students. For non-BASE students your first workshop is free, and $10 or less each after.

Boston BID newsletter readers will receive a 5% tuition waiver when using the coupon code BostonBID5 when registering by the end of Aug. 19th. This offer is for early fall courses starting the week of Sept. 12th. Click here for more information.

All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Slices or

Pasta With Marinara at

Ziti's Italian Express

Ziti's Italian Express (140 Tremont St.) is offering all-you-can-eat pizza slices (cheese or pepperoni) or pasta with marinara (ziti or linguini) for only $6.99 (plus tax).

This deal is available 3 to 9 pm Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. There is no sharing and you must eat-in.

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.

THANK YOU!

Downtown Boston BID Weekly News Update

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