Category: Boston Area

How to Have Some Winter Fun in New England

Snow Much Fun (Snow Tubing)

New England has been known for its harsh winters ever since the first English settlers stepped foot upon its soil. However, just because the area is regularly buried in snow with a temperature ranging anywhere from 0 to 50 and a wind chill of who knows what doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t enjoy the weather outside. In fact, if your children are going a little stir crazy (and, in turn, driving you crazy), there are a couple of wintry activities this weekend that are sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

First, if you and/or your kids have always loved snow tubing, you should definitely check out Amesbury Sports Park. This is because Amesbury Sports Park boasts the steepest snow tubing hill in all of New England, and with 8 lanes that are kept almost constantly snow-covered during the winter (temperature allowing), your entire family should have no problem enjoying the hill over and over again. Best of all, it’s only $27 a person for up to three hours of snow tubing, and you don’t have to buy your own tube. It is important to remember though that you cannot bring your own sled, and you will have to sign a waiver for each person going down the hill before anyone in your group can go sledding. For more information on Amesbury Sports Park and its facilities, please visit the Amesbury Sports Park website or call 978-388-5788 ext. 106.

Secondly, if really steep hills seem a little unnecessary to you and/or the price of tubing doesn’t really sound like such a great deal when you have eight kids, you may want to take a trip down to Holyoke, Massachusetts. This is because the Third Annual Holyoke Winter Carnival runs from today, February 7th to Sunday, February 16th, 2014. This event will give you and your family the opportunity to enjoy arts and crafts, chili cook-offs, dancing, hockey, hot chocolate, ice-skating, music, quilts, races, scavenger hunts, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Third Annual Holyoke Winter Carnival, please visit the Holyoke Winter Carnival website.

Photo credit: gfpeck / Foter / CC BY-ND

Ring in the New Year All Over Again

Year of the Horse (2014)

As the first month of 2014 draws to a close, many people have already begun to develop their own opinions of what the rest of the year will be like. In fact, some people have already decided that 2014 will be a great year while others have decided that they would really like a do-over. Fortunately, if you fall into the second category, there is a way for you to experience the start of a new year without waiting for 2015. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, “either this is a trick or this guy’s nuts.” However, the fact of the matter is that there is another new year you can celebrate, and this new year is the Lunar New Year (or the Chinese New Year as it is also called.)

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the Lunar New Year and learn about the traditions surrounding it, you may want to check out the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The Peabody Essex Museum is hosting a Lunar New Year Festival from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, February 1st, 2014. This festival, which is included in the normal admission price to the museum, will allow you and your family to ring in the Lunar New Year with dancing, drumming, lanterns, swords, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Lunar New Year Festival at the Peabody Essex Museum, please visit the Peabody Essex Museum website.

If you’re just looking for a way to celebrate another new year (and get your do-over), Dance Republic has you covered. Dance Republic, which is a social, fitness, and sports dance studio located in Wellesley, MA, is hosting a Year of the Green Horse Social Dance Party from 7:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. tomorrow, February 1st, 2014. This dance party will feature dancing showcases, food, and social dancing with a Chinese New Year theme. For more information on the Year of the Green Horse Social Dance Party, please visit the Dance Republic Event page.

Photo credit: emmstitch / Foter / CC BY

Death by Chocolate? Hardly.

I've heard of death by chocolate, but I don't think this is what people usually mean.
I’ve heard of death by chocolate, but somehow I don’t think this is what people usually mean.

It doesn’t matter whether it is hot, cold, or somewhere in between, chocolate is one of the most popular foods available. However, did you know that chocolate doesn’t only taste good, but is also good for you? In fact, studies have shown that chocolate can help alleviate depression and stress, improve brain function, lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of developing diabetes, reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, and improve the overall functioning of your body in a number of other ways. As a result, it’s really no surprise that chocolate is so hard to pass up, and if you’re looking for a way to get your chocolate fix, there’s no better time to find some than now.

The first place that you should look if you’re in need of a chocolate fix is Old Town Trolley Tours. This is because Old Town Trolley Tours offers a tour of the top chocolate shops in the Boston area every Saturday from now until April 12th. This tour, which is known as the Boston Chocolate Tour, will allow you to learn all about chocolate from an actual chef while you travel to the Top of the Hub, the Omni Parker House Hotel, and the Langham Hotel’s Café Fleur to sample the best chocolate desserts they have to offer. Now, with a price tag of $75 a person, the Boston Chocolate Tour may seem a little on the pricey side. However, it is important to remember that the tour includes an all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet at the Langham Hotel’s Café Fleur, which may account for a large portion of the $75 fee. The tour also includes samples from each of the places you stop and samples while you travel courtesy of Beacon Hill Chocolates. For more information on the Boston Chocolate Tour, please visit the Old Town Trolley Tours website.

The second place that you should look if you’re desperately seeking chocolate this weekend is Harvard Square. This is because the annual Harvard Square Chocolate Festival, which is also known as the Taste of Chocolate Festival, runs from today at 11:30 A.M. to Sunday at 12:30 P.M. This festival will give you the opportunity to sample and/or purchase a variety of heavily discounted chocolates and chocolate-themed items while you listen to music, learn more about chocolate at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and enjoy everything else that Harvard Square has to offer. For more information on the Harvard Square Chocolate Festival, please visit the Official Harvard Square website.

Finally, if you prefer your chocolate in cookie form, you may want to find a local Girl Scout. Girl Scout cookies are on sale from now until the end of February in most places, so it is the perfect time to stock up on those Thin Mints.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter.com / CC BY

Keeping the Kids Entertained Before the Big Game

Even though this county could use an editor, the idea is sound. I mean your living room could be considered a "recreational facility when the big game is on, right?
Even though this sign could use an editor, the idea is sound. I mean your living room could be considered a “recreational facility” when the big game is on, right?

Many football fans throughout New England are anxiously awaiting a certain playoff game between two well-known rivals. In fact, there are probably more than a few fans out there who aren’t really anxiously awaiting the game as much as they are just anxious about it. However, if you’re one of the people who just can’t wait and you’re really looking forward to watching the AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos this weekend, you may already be searching for a solution to the age old football dilemma. What do you do with the kids? Well, if you find yourself in this particular situation, don’t worry because there are a number of kid-friendly activities this weekend that end long before the game starts at 3:30 P.M. on Sunday.

First, if your kids are always talking about how they want to be a veterinarian when they grow up, the Franklin Park Zoo has you covered. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo has a special program every Saturday in January from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., which is appropriately entitled “Be A Veterinarian Saturday.” This program will allow your children to bring their beloved teddy bear or other stuffed creature to the zoo, so they can dress up as a vet, learn why vets are important to pets and zoo animals, meet the zoo’s vets, and give their stuffed animal a checkup just like the trained veterinarians at the zoo. Best of all, the program is included in the normal admission fee, so you can take your kids to see all of the animals and learn how to care for them without completely emptying your wallet. For more information on the Franklin Park Zoo’s “Be a Veterinarian Saturdays”, please visit Zoo New England’s Event Page.

Secondly, if your kids are more into action than animals, there’s an event at the Boston Children’s Museum on Sunday morning that may be more their style. The Boston Children’s Museum is hosting OSHOGATSU 2014 from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Sunday (and you can always go early and be back before the game!) This event is a celebration of the Japanese New Year, which features Japanese cuisine, drummers, lion dancers, kite making demonstrations, origami, storytelling, and a whole lot more. For more information on OSHOGATSU 2014, please visit the Event Calendar for the Boston Children’s Museum.

Finally, if you have a young daughter who is absolutely obsessed with the book, Pinkalicious by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann, the Boston Children’s Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts may have exactly what your daughter is looking for this weekend. The Boston Children’s Theatre (BCT) is performing PINKALICIOUS–The Musical every Saturday and Sunday until February 2nd. This 55-minute musical performance will allow you and your kids to see the story of a young girl who is just a little too obsessed with cupcakes and the color pink for her own good. For more information and/or to order tickets for PINKALICIOUS–The Musical, please visit the Boston Children’s Theatre website.

Photo credit: BarelyFitz / Foter.com / CC BY

Learning Can Be Fun

Learning doesn't have to be this way. It can actually be fun.
Learning doesn’t have to be this way.  Contrary to popular belief, it can actually be fun.

If you live anywhere in the United States, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve seen the slogan “Reading is FUNdamental” somewhere.  In fact, this slogan, which was created by a literacy group called Reading is Fundamental, Inc., has been in wide-spread use since 1966.  As a result, anyone under the age of 48 has quite literally had their entire lifetime to  hear the organization’s motto and, hopefully, recognize its meaning.  However, even though reading is essential to our understanding of the world around us, it is not the only way that people can have fun learning new things.  You may, therefore, be interested in some of the ways that you can learn new things and have fun at the same time this weekend.

First, have you and/or your children ever wanted to design your own car or another similar type of vehicle? Well, if you have, the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) Space will give you the chance at its monthly Family Design Day this Saturday, January 11th from 10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.  This month’s BSA Space’s Family Design Day, which is entitled Rights of Way: Mobility and the City, will allow children ages 5 to 13 and their parents to see how people move through the city, how the city itself has changed as a result of the way people move, and how future changes to the city and the transportation system may improve the way everyone moves from place to place.  Best of all, each family will be able to use the information that they learn from the exhibits to design their own vehicles out of recycled materials.  For more information on the program and/or to register for the event, please visit the Family Design Day Eventbrite website or the Learning by Design in Massachusetts website.

Secondly, if you and/or your kids aren’t really into cars or architectural design, but you’re always up for some science, there’s no better place to go than the Museum of the Science.  The Museum of Science, which is open every day from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.  (with some special nighttime shows on weekends) will give your entire family the opportunity to learn about animals, color, computers, dinosaurs, energy conservation, engineering, light, lightning, mapmaking, math, nanotechnology, optical illusions, the tools and methods that scientists use, the universe, weather forecasting, wind power and other types of renewable energy, x-rays, and a whole lot more.  For more information on the Museum of Science, the events that are currently taking place at the Museum, and/or to order tickets, please visit the Official Museum of Science website.

Finally, it is important to remember that there is one thing that you may want to avoid if you are planning to head into Boston with your kids this Sunday, and that thing is the “T.”  Why avoid the “T” you might ask?  Well, you see, this Sunday is BostonSOS’s and Improv Everywhere’s Annual No Pants Subway Ride.  This event, which is exactly what it sounds like, will have a number of people riding the subway throughout the day in their underwear.  As a result, unless you want your children to learn that people are really weird (and potentially scar your children for life), you may want to find another way into the city.  For more information on how to avoid the Annual No Pants Subway Ride or, if you’re crazy enough, participate in it, please visit the Boston No Pants Subway Ride Facebook page.

Photo credit: Jean Marc Cote (if 1901) or Villemard (if 1910) / Foter.com / Public Domain Mark 1.0

2014 US Figure Skating Championships

Composure

I have to admit that one of my favorite things about writing is that it gives me the opportunity to learn new things. In fact, while I was researching this week’s blog post, I learned that the amount of snow that a particular location will get during a storm is closely tied to the temperature. Now, I know that some of you are already thinking to yourselves “No Duh Sherlock” (or a less politically correct version of that particular statement.) However, I’m not talking about whether it’s above 32 degrees Fahrenheit and we get rain or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and we get snow. I’m talking about how much snow we actually get when there is a storm.

You see, slight differences in the temperature actually play a key role in how much snow a particular location gets because the temperature affects the size and shape of the snowflakes. For example, if the temperature is 28°F in a particular location and that location is expected to receive the equivalent of an inch of water (or, in other words, an inch of rain if the temperature was above 32 degrees), that location will end up with approximately 12 inches of snow. An area with a slightly lower temperature, however, say 23°F, would actually end up with approximately 15 inches of snow.

If, after reading this, you’re wondering why any of this actually matters, the truth is that, unless you’re a meteorologist or someone who is truly obsessed with the weather, it really doesn’t. However, it is one of the reasons why two neighboring towns can end up with two drastically different snow totals, and it does prove that if the Northeast is supposed to get buried by snow, it must be pretty friggin’ cold. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy your weekend without becoming an ice sculpture with a tasty human filling, look no further.

First, if you’re a big fan of figure skating and/or you always wanted to see someone actually get into the Olympics, Boston is the place to be this weekend. This is because the TD Bank Garden and the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is hosting the 2014 Prudential US Figure Skating Championships from Sunday, January 4th to the following Sunday, January 12th. This event will feature juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, and champion skaters competing for national titles in both individual and pair competitions. It will also feature a number of well-known skaters and some not-so-well known skaters competing for the right to qualify for the Olympics as a member of Team USA. And, for those of us who think single digit temperatures are a little too cold to be wandering around in, they have wisely made sure that all of the events are indoors. For more information on the 2014 Prudential US Figure Skating Championships and/or to order tickets, please visit the Official 2014 US Figure Skating Championships website.

If, on the other hand, you’ve decided it is entirely too cold to go out this weekend and you have no interest in leaving your house at all (which I completely understand), you can always make your own movie marathon. I know it may sound lame, but grab some microwave popcorn, make some hot chocolate, and toss in your favorite movie or a movie that you’ve never taken out of the package. Sitting on the couch watching movies can be a lot more fun than it seems, especially when walking outside may result in your extremities falling off.

Don’t have a copy of your favorite movie or you’ve already watched everything you own nine thousand times? Don’t worry. You can always rent or purchase a movie from Amazon if you have a computer or a streaming device or On Demand if you’re an Xfinity subscriber. You can also watch movies for free online with Amazon Prime, Netflix, or another movie streaming service as long as you have a membership.

Photo credit: kennymatic / Foter.com / CC BY

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

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

Friday Fun: White Wedding

Hitching a Ride (To the Wedding)

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, planning a wedding can be a challenge in the physical, mental, and financial sense. In fact, there are usually pounds to be shed, family members to be appeased, venues to be chosen, and a plethora of other things with which the average bride and groom has to contend. However, if you’re in the middle of planning your wedding and you’re looking for a way to find some of the things that you need to make sure that the day to goes off without a hitch, there are two bridal events this weekend that are sure to make the whole process a lot easier (and, with any luck, a lot cheaper.)

First, Pat Hoey Productions is hosting the Boston Home Show & Bridal Expo at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in Boston tomorrow (November 16, 2013) from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday (November 17, 2013) from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This trade fair features representatives from bakeries, chocolate companies, travel planners and resorts, wedding venues, and everything else that you will need to plan your wedding or your honeymoon. Best of all, this fair also features a home show that will allow you and your soon-to-be spouse to see all of the appliances, furniture, and other accessories that you may need to outfit your new home. For more information on the Boston Home Show & Bridal Expo, please visit the Boston Home Show website.

Secondly, if you’re closer to NH than you are to Boston (or you really just don’t like driving into the city), the Renaissance Golf Club is hosting the New England Bridal Affair on Sunday (November 17, 2013) from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. This wedding showcase features caterers, DJs, honeymoon and wedding destination specialists, photographers, and a whole lot more. For more information, please visit the New England Bridal Affair website.

Photo credit: Robb North / Foter.com / CC BY