12.19.2023

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Today’s Forecast

45º | Mostly sunny | 4% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:08 a.m. | Sunset 4:13 p.m.

🌨️ Slip ‘n’ slide on these slopes

Where to go snow tubing near Boston

Three tubing lanes covered in snow, with people in snow tubes sliding down the middle and leftmost lanes. Other riders wait at the top of the slope.

Located in Great Barrington, Ski Butternut is a popular winter getaway for residents of Massachusetts and New York. | Photo by @skibutternut

When you’re craving a little adrenaline rush this season, grab a snow tube. Whether you’re looking for a day trip, or a proper winter getaway, check out these ski areas and parks that embrace their tubular side.

Note: Opening dates change depending on weather and snowfall.

Quick trips

Nashoba Valley Tubing Park, 179 Great Rd., Littleton
Distance from Boston: ~29 miles
Hailed as the largest tubing spot in New England, this 18-lane park is a ~2 mile drive from Nashoba’s sister ski area in Westford. Two-hour tickets are $45.

Ski Ward, 1000 Main St., Shrewsbury
Distance from Boston: ~37 miles
Twelve lanes, two lifts, and 200 tubes create an afternoon of crisp winter air whipping through your hair. Passes are available in one or two-hour increments and start at $20.

Extended Stays

Berkshire East, 66 Thunder Mountain Rd., Charlemont
Distance from Boston: ~114 miles
Rocket down 500-ft lanes at this Western Massachusetts ski resort, which also hosts alpine racing. Tickets are $28 per person.

Bousquet Mountain, 101 Dan Fox Dr., Pittsfield
Distance from Boston: ~135 miles
After you fly down one of the mountain’s 10 lanes, kick back in a cabana or defeat the nippy air near a fire pit. Tickets for 90-minute sessions start at $20.

Ski Butternut, 380 State Rd., Great Barrington
Distance from Boston: ~139 miles
Head west to take advantage of the $25 ticket on Fridays, which grants you access to 10 lanes on Warner Mountain. Otherwise, two-hour tickets are $35 on Saturdays, Sundays, and select holidays.

Bonus: Stay warm + dry at The Enchanted Village, a holiday experience by Jordan’s Furniture in Avon that features an indoor tubing slide.

Events

Tuesday, Dec. 19

Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston | Prices vary | Cheer on the B’s on this weeknight match against Minnesota.
Holiday Edition Pottery Class | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Notch Brewery & Tap Room, 525 Western Ave., Brighton | $75-$105 | Sign up for the beginner-friendly pottery class and create a pinch pot-style container for a candle or planter.

Wednesday, Dec. 20

WhistlePig Holiday Party & Pig Roast | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 6 p.m. | Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar, 1310 Boylston St., Boston | $279-$399 | The holiday party includes cocktails + a whole-roasted pig dinner, BBQ mac & cheese, bacon-studded brussels, and stuffing with mini pork meatballs.
BrewSKI at Sam Adams Taproom | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Sam Adams Taproom, 60 Congress St., Boston | $15 | Grab a free drink and network with the Boston Young Professionals Association at this giveaway-packed winter party.

Thursday, Dec. 21

Main Stage Holiday Show | Thursday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Dec. 30 | Times vary | Improv Asylum, 216 Hanover St., Boston | $29-$35 | Blow off some seasonal steam at this evening of audience-inspired comedic sketches.
Winter Solstice Celebration | Thursday, Dec. 21 | Leland Community Garden, 4 Leland St. | 5-7 p.m. | Free | Light candles all around the garden and celebrate community with hot cider for the Winter Solstice. Pro tip: Street parking is available.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Transit

Lynn commuters can once again ride the Commuter Rail’s Newburyport/Rockport line, thanks to a temporary platform at 11 Ellis St. For the first time in over a year, trains will now stop in Lynn every ~30 minutes on weekdays and every hour on weekends. (Boston Globe)

Sports

Local nonprofit The Coalition of Us (CATO) proposed a permanent “Bill Russell Day” in Reading to honor the legendary Celtics player in his hometown. The holiday would acknowledge both Russell’s accomplishments in the NBA and the adversity he experienced when living in Reading in the 1960s. (WBUR)

Open

A motherload of new treats awaits you at Mothership. The restaurant recently opened at 125 CambridgePark Dr. near Alewife, serving steak frites, stuffed acorn squash, and snacks like fried ravioli + mac and cheese bites. Reservations are available now. (Boston Restaurant Talk)

Featured

Boston has risen to the top of another national list of acclaimed eateries. Two local bakeries made the cut for Food & Wine’s “100 Best Bakeries in America” — Flour Bakery & Cafe and Somerville’s Petsi Pies.

Plan Ahead

You’ve never seen Plane Jane serve like this before. Time Out Market is hosting a watch party to celebrate their resident Drag Bingo host appearing on the new season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Join the market’s festivities on Saturday, Jan. 5 from 7 to 10 p.m.

State

MassDOT and the US Army Corps of Engineers will receive $372 million in federal funding to rebuild the Sagamore Bridge. The project will improve travel and accessibility to the Cape, with plans also in place to rebuild the Bourne bridge. (WHDH)

Civic

💼 Boston’s getting down to business

Civic leadership and sustainability on the agenda for Boston’s 2024 summit

The Boston skyline, including the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center, in front of a green corner of Boston Common.

Up to 200 members of the public can register for free for the 2024 Civic Summit. | Photo by @oschapov

Boston is starting 2024 on a communal note. Mayor Wu announced the details of the 2024 Civic Summit — an event that empowers civic leaders and residents to connect, share knowledge, and effect positive change in their neighborhoods.

Specifically, the summit’s programming aims to motivate + educate residents “who have a desire to make a difference in their community, but don’t know where to begin,” explains Brianna Millor, Chief of the Community Engagement Cabinet.

The all-day summit is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13 at Boston University’s Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground. The event will feature a fireside chat with the mayor, a networking hour, and informational sessions on topics like civic leadership and sustainability. This year’s edition will center around the theme “Community Over Everything” and marks the first time the summit will be orchestrated by the Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing.

The summit is free to attend, but registration is required, as capacity is limited. The deadline to register is Sunday, Dec. 31.

The Buy

The Buy 12.19.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This Adams Apple Company apple butter. It’s made in the USA + you can use it to make these amazing apple butter snickerdoodle cookies Lifestyle and Recipe YouTuber Jessica O’Donohue whipped up (just save a few for Santa).

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Victoria

From the editor

Your 2024 reading list just got longer — the Boston Public Library has revealed its 10 most-borrowed books for 2023. I can personally vouch for the No. 5 slot, aka child star Jennette McCurdy’s gripping memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died.”

Let me know if any of your favorites made the list, and check out our guide to local literature if you need more New Year’s reading material. Happy spending and/or lending.

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