12.22.2023

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Today’s Forecast

37º | Sunny | 6% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:12 a.m. | Sunset 4:28 p.m.

Important Message

Season’s greetings, Boston. We’ll be out of office until the New Year to spend time with our loved ones. Until then, we’re pausing our newsletter sends and reducing our social posts. We’ll see you in your inboxes at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

Events

🎆 Party like it’s 2024

A crowd in winter clothes gathers in front of a stage with a sign that reads "First Night Boston"

The annual New Year’s Eve celebration will move to City Hall Plaza. | Photo by @FirstNightBoston

The countdown to 2024 is on. To help you prepare, we’ve rounded up a few parties across the city so you can find the right celebration to ring in the new year.

First Night Boston | City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Sq. | Free
Festivities begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, lasting until 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The main stage will host performances from over a dozen New England artists, including Nancia, LIZJE, Koliba, Maddi Ryan, Guess Method, and Sammy Adams.

Wonka’s New Year’s Eve Party | High Street Place, 100 High Street Pl. | $125-$1,050
Enter a world of pure imagination with oversized candies, golden tickets, Fizzy Lifting Drinks, and over-the-top delicacies for a scrumptious experience.

The Last Night: A Black Tie Affair | SOWA Power Station, 550 Harrison Ave. | $80-$250
Bid farewell to 2023 and welcome the new year with live entertainment, mouthwatering bites, and loads of bubbly in your best black-tie look.

New Year's Eve Party at Time Out Market Boston — Get ready for a trip down memory lane at Time Out Market with an 80s vs. 90s battle of the decades dance party.
|
Photo provided by Time Out Market Boston

New Year’s Eve Party Battle of The Decades | Time Out Market, 401 Park Dr. | $90
Groove to a battle of the 80s vs. 90s during this decades party, featuring a live DJ, dance-offs, and a countdown to remember. Bonus: Tickets include a $40 card to enjoy a taste of the market, a champagne toast, and a 360-degree photo booth.

Super Mario Bros. New Year’s Eve Party | Night Shift Brewing, 87 Santilli Highway, Everett | Free to attend
Don your best Super Mario Brothers costume and celebrate the new year at a one-of-a-kind night filled with live music, gaming zones, and mystery sips from Mario’s Mystery Dice.

Yappy New Year Ball Drop | Park-9 Dog Bar, 48 Waters Ave #1, Everett | Free to attend for humans and dogs
Woof — Enjoy an early bird toast and ball drop at 7 p.m., or stick around for an official toast at midnight.

New Year’s Eve Bash | Blue Owl Rooftop Bar, 907 Main St., Cambridge | $10-$20
Greet the new year in style with live tunes from DJ Big Body Toph, craft cocktails, tasty bites, and a glass of complimentary bubbles.

Events

Friday, Dec. 22

Disney On Ice “Into The Magic” | Friday, Dec. 22-Monday, Jan. 1 | Times vary | Agganis Arena at Boston University, 925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston | $15-$105 | See your favorite Disney characters like Moana, Belle, Anna, and Elsa take the ice.
Common Culture: Tonkotsu Ramen | Friday, Dec. 22 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston | Free | This free demonstration for making Tonkotsu Ramen is hosted by Ethan Zhu.
Erev Xmas Eve | Friday, Dec. 22 | 7-10 p.m. | Kowloon Restaurant, 948 Broadway , Saugus | $50 | Enjoy gourmet Chinese food, ugly sweaters, movies, and friends at the third annual celebration.

Saturday, Dec. 23

Ugly Sweater Party with Richard Fraioli | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Royale Boston, 279 Tremont St., Boston | $0-$20 | Donning an ugly sweater before midnight gets you free admission to this late-night holiday bash.
December School Vacation Week | Saturday, Dec. 23-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown | Donations encouraged | Make a holiday craft to share with the crew of the USS Constitution or create your own holiday keepsake, and check out other family-friendly activities happening over the week.

Sunday, Dec. 24

Matzoball Boston | Sunday, Dec. 24 | 9 p.m. | Royale Boston, 279 Tremont St., Boston | $50-$75 | Head to the local nightclub for this 21-years and older holiday party experience.

Tuesday, Dec. 26

Music Bingo | Tuesday, Dec. 26 | 6-8 p.m. | Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, 30 Germania St., Boston | Free to attend | Listen for the songs instead of the numbers to score Bingo at this game night.

Wednesday, Dec. 27

Hike Boston: Therapy Dog Holiday Stroll | Wednesday, Dec. 27 | 3:30 p.m. | Boston Common, 131 Tremont St., Boston | Free | Meet and learn about therapy dogs while you stroll Commonwealth Avenue Mall into the Boston Common to enjoy the Holiday Lights.
WWE Live Holiday Tour | Wednesday, Dec. 27 | 7:30 p.m. | TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston | Prices vary | See DJ Steve Aoki alongside wrestling superstars like the “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, and “Dirty” Domink Mysterio.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

Seasonal

4 last-minute holiday gifts

The red and blue Nintendo Switch console.

Get two-day shipping on a Nintendo Switch. | Photo via Amazon

Not quite done holiday shopping? No judgment here. Browse digital gifts and gifts that, last we checked, ship in two days with Prime.

For college students: A Prime Student membership. They’ll get discounts on college essentials + free Grubhub delivery.

For family members: A Nintendo Switch. You can play games fun for the whole family, like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

For “Star Wars” fans: A stormtrooper shaver.

For kids (or busy parents): An Owala kids bottle.

More last-minute gifts this way

News Notes

Biz

California-based Activision Blizzard Inc. — one of the largest video game companies in the world — is moving into a portion of the Verizon Communications Inc. offices. Located inside The Hub on Causeway tower, the 27,000-sqft space soon will be home to the company known for titles like “Call of Duty” and “Candy Crush.” (Boston Business Journal)

Transit

Bluebikes has added 50 new electric bikes to the fleet this week. This is the first wave of 750+ e-bikes that will be added across the Greater Boston area, including Somerville, Everett, and Brookline.

Open

STK Steakhouse is now open in Back Bay at 222 Berkeley St. The upscale steakhouse chain is accepting reservations for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. (Boston Restaurant Talk)

Number

$850,000. That’s how much the Bay State will invest in developing the literacy skills of future preschoolers. The state will divide the funding among four organizations that will better prepare children to enter elementary school. (Boston Globe)

Sports

Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi will play at Gillette Stadium next year. The New England Revolution’s recently-announced 34-game itinerary includes a match against Inter Miami on Saturday, April 27.

Watch

Netflix announced it will air a comedy roast for former Patriots star Tom Brady in May. “The Greatest Roast of All Time” will be filmed at the “Netflix is a Joke Fest” comedy showcase in Los Angeles from May 2-12. (Boston Globe)

Community

Well, this is officially our last News Note of 2023. Thank you to our BOStoday community for staying connected with us this year. If you want to support us in 2024, consider becoming a member — you’ll support us directly and keep these newsletters coming. Until next year, folks.

Answered

🎥 Now showing: A BOStoday Hallmark movie

Answered: A BOStoday Hallmark movie

inside of winter market with christmas trees

Shopping local vendors at the SoWa Winter Festival is the perfect place for a potential meet-cute.

Thanks to your title recommendations, location ideas, plot points, and even which actors you picked for our film, we have mapped out a new Hallmark film in Boston. Here are just a few of the responses to our six-question survey.

Allow us to set the scene.

Where does the meet-cute happen

“The snow is falling, the Common’s tree is lit, ice skaters are gliding on Frog Pond. When the dog she’s walking gets loose and slides across the rink, it trips up a first-time skater. As she rushes to help him up and grab her dog, the two become tangled in the leash, and a kiss catches them both by complete surprise.” — Lizzie G.
“Arguing over a freshly shoveled parking space.” — Derek S.
“Getting on the T at North Station.” — Holly H.
“Sowa Market” — Angela M.

Click the link below for more reader responses.

Title, plot points, and local actors picked by you

The Buy

The Buy 12.22.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This versatile wristlet from Avryn Co. that’s crafted with top-grade leather — because you’ve probably been buying for others this holiday season, and you deserve something nice too.

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The Wrap

Jess Burton in a blue shirt and gold necklace

Today’s edition by:
Jessica

From the editor

All I want for Christmas is to try the trending Brick Street Bagel’s rosemary and sea salt bagel. The South End weekend pop-ups draw long lines for bagel pre-orders + cream cheese, and they sell out every time.

If you have pro tips for securing the fresh baked local goods, share them and let me know what’s your favorite flavor.

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