Month: December 2013

2014 New Year’s Eve Events

First Night Ice Sculpture

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As 2013 draws to a close, many people have already begun the age old tradition of reflecting on the past 365 days, deciding that they may have not been as good as they had originally anticipated, and hoping beyond hope that the next 365 days will be better.  However, if you’re one of the unfortunate souls who truly had a rough year (perhaps even one for the history books), you may be focusing more on the celebration that lies ahead than the events that took place during 2013.  Fortunately, if this is indeed the case, you’re in luck because there is certainly no shortage of events in the Boston area when it comes to First Night and the New Year’s celebration that accompanies it.

In fact, if you’re looking for something to do with your family to celebrate the New Year before the party gets too out of control, you may want to head on over to the Hynes Convention Center on Tuesday.  The Hynes Convention Center is hosting the First Night Boston Family Festival from 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on New Year’s Eve.  This festival is intended to allow younger children to ring in the new year a little early with circus trainers (yes, your kids can learn all the skills they need to run away with the circus), comedians, dancers, face painters, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and everything else that an adult could think of to keep a young child entertained (because, let’s face it, children are constantly coming up with ways to keep themselves entertained that we would never think of.)  For more information on the First Night Boston Family Festival, including times for each act, please visit the Official First Night Boston website.

If, on the other hand, you’ve had quite enough of your family for one year and would really like one night without them, you may want to consider attending Timeless: A Bond Evening.  Synergy Events is hosting the 6th Annual Timeless Gala from 8:30 P.M. on New Year’s Eve to 2:00 A.M. on New Year’s Day at the Colonnade Boston Hotel.  This black tie event will allow you to unwind with other adults in the 21 to 39 age range, Miss USA title holders, contestants for next year’s Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and a wide assortment of other interesting individuals while you dance the night away to music from some of the best DJs around.  Best of all, the whole evening has a James Bond theme, so you may be able to win some great prizes or, at the very least, score an awesome picture with your significant other by wearing your best James Bond suit or best Bond Girl dress.  For more information on the event and/or to order tickets, which are selling out fast, please visit the Timeless Gala Eventbrite website.

Photo credit: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism / Foter.com / CC BY-ND

Twas The Weekend Before Christmas

Twas the Weekend Before Christmas

Twas the weekend before Christmas, when all through the house
Every creature was stirring, even the mouse.
For nothing was wrapped and the tree was still bare,
In fact, half of the presents still aren’t there.

The children, with scissors in hand, are jumping on their beds,
While visions of a gift-less spouse or child dances in your head.
And everyone thinks you’re desperately seeking that elusive baseball cap,
But what you really want is just one more minute to nap.

When, all of the sudden, you get a look like the mad hatter,
And your spouse begins to wonder what’s the matter.
Away to the computer you fly like a flash,
Click away the screensaver and begin your shopping dash.

Then, the quiet click of your mouse,
Is interrupted as all through the house,
Your screams can be heard for everyone to know,
When you realize there’s no way for your presents to get through the snow!

You sit silently contemplating if there’s something you can click,
To make your gifts appear at your home really quick.
Unfortunately, with only days left to order,
There’s nothing you can do except make a run for the border.

However, I’m very happy to say,
That there is still hope on this winter day.
For if it is a last-minute gift you seek,
Here are some ideas to make your holiday less bleak!

1. Candy

There’s really no question that everyone from kids to adults loves candy, and candy, as a result, has become one of the staples of many holidays. Candy canes, chocolate, and peppermint bark are only a few examples of the sweets that are typically associated with Christmas. However, there’s nothing that says that you have to go with candy that is specifically related to Christmas, and you may find that putting together a basket or a box of some of your friend’s or loved one’s favorite candies can be a great way to come up with a last-minute gift.

2. Digital Goods

Almost everyone loves books, movies, music, and/or video games, but trying to make your way through the mall around Christmas time to get these gifts is never a simple task. However, there is an easier way to get these items, as all of these items have one thing in common. They can all be downloaded.

In fact, if you have a friend or family member with a Kindle, a phone or tablet with a reading app, or another similar device, you can actually buy books online and send the books that you buy right to their device using the e-mail that they have associated with that device. If, on the other hand, you have a friend or family member who is really into movies and/or music, all they need is a computer, a laptop, or a streaming device and you can buy any song, CD, or movie that you want and send it directly to them. And, if you have a friend of family member who is really into video games, all they need is a computer or a console for you to buy them a game and download it.

In the end, the only thing that you need to remember is that you will need your credit card and you will need to make sure that you buy something that will actually work with the device that your friend or family member has. It is also important to note that not every game and movie is available for immediate download, and if you are looking for something specific, you may not be able to find it in some cases.

3. Gift Cards

Alright, I know what you’re probably thinking. Anyone can give a gift card, and it really doesn’t require a lot of thought. In fact, you may be thinking that, even if you wanted to get someone a gift card, there is no way that you will be able to make your way through the crowds this weekend to pick one up.

Fortunately, gift cards don’t actually have to be boring, and they can be a lot easier to get than people think. This is because most grocery stores, pharmacies that belong to national chains, and other similar stores not only sell their own gift cards, but sell gift cards for other retailers as well. As a result, you may be able to go to your local grocery store or pharmacy and find a group of gift cards to all of your friend’s or loved one’s favorite places without going to every store under the sun. Best of all, if you choose a group of gift cards to places that you know your friend or loved one goes to all the time, it will prove that you actually put some thought into it and that you didn’t just pick up a gift card at random.

Photo credit: stuartpilbrow / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Keeping Your Kids Busy During The Holidays

Lacing Up The Old Skates

With Christmas less than two weeks away, the countdown has truly begun. In fact, most parents and children are now running around faster than their electric meters in anticipation of the arrival of Old Kris Kringle. As a result, many mothers, fathers, and other guardians are currently in the process of trying to figure out how to alleviate some of their children’s excess excitement before they go out to get the gifts that their children are so excited about. Fortunately, if you are running around trying to find a way to keep your kids busy or, at the very least, find a way to keep them from tearing your house apart, there are a couple of holiday events this weekend that are sure to help.

First, if your children really love to see all of the holiday decorations and/or you prefer holiday decorations when their attached to someone else’s electric meter, the Somerville Illuminations Tour may be the way to go. This tour, which begins at Somerville City Hall, will allow you and your family to see all of the decorated houses in East or West Somerville (depending on the tour your choose) from the comfort of a trolley car. Best of all, you will not only be able to see all of the lights without driving around aimlessly, but will also be able to enjoy coffee, cookies, hot chocolate, kid’s crafts, and music while you wait for the trolley to arrive. For more information on the tour, which runs from 4:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. on Saturday (December 14, 2013), please visit the Somerville Arts Council website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for something to do later in the weekend or you had a traumatic experience with holiday decorating at some point (perhaps you never found the one bulb that burned out), the Charles Hotel in Cambridge may have the event for you. This is because the Charles Hotel is officially opening their ice rink on Sunday and, in honor of the occasion, the Hotel is hosting an Ice Rink Opening Party from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. This party will allow you and your family to skate for free, drink hot chocolate, watch professional skaters demonstrate their skill on the ice, and keep your kids busy with arts and crafts if skating really isn’t their thing. For more information on the Ice Rink Opening Party at the Charles Hotel, please visit the Ice Rink Opening Party’s Yelp Page.

Photo credit: Minnesota Historical Society / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Friday Fun: Harvard Square

Smiling Hot Chocolate

Black Friday may be over, but the holiday season has just begun. As a result, almost every mall, plaza, and independently-owned store will be filled with people who are still desperately trying to find gifts for all of the hard-to-shop-for friends and family that they didn’t cross off their list last weekend. Unfortunately, with the forecasters predicting rain followed by a significant temperature drop, it’s probably not going to the best weather to be wandering around looking for gifts. However, if you are determined to get some shopping done this weekend or you’re just looking for a way to have some fun without your extremities getting too frosty, Harvard Square is definitely the place to be.

First, if you’re looking for a way to stay warm while you’re shopping, Yelp Shops Local is hosting a Hot Cocoa Crawl in Harvard Square tonight (December 6, 2013) from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. This event will give you the opportunity to try some of the best hot chocolate around and includes stops at Algiers Coffee House, Black Ink, Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe, Crema Cafe, and LA Burdicks. For more information on the event and to find out more about the exact times that the Yelp crew will be in each shop, please visit the Hot Cocoa Crawl in Harvard Square’s Yelp page.

Once you’re done with your hot chocolate or if you just want to skip the hot chocolate and get straight to the shopping, you can head over to the Harvard Square Holiday Fair. The Harvard Square Holiday Fair, which is hosted by the First Parish Church, is a craft fair that will give you a chance to peruse and, as far as the vendors are concerned, hopefully purchase a wide assortment of handmade calendars, cards, clothing, jewelry, pottery, and other similar holiday gifts. For more information on the holiday fair, which runs every weekend until Christmas, please visit the official Harvard Square website.

Photo credit: stefg74 / Foter.com / CC BY