"Harpoon IPA—or, better yet, get one free. Founded in 1986 by three Harvard classmates—proof that people actually do more than just study over there—Harpoon’s South Boston brewery has daily tastings and weekend tours. The two-ounce samples may seem puny, but a few refills (yeah, there's a limit) do add up to a nice buzz. Dedicated drinkers may even find themselves stumbling down the pier after the one-hour session. At the very least, they’ll learn a thing or two about craft beer—a nice way to impress their friends at the bar. Harpoon also hosts three major festivals in Boston each year—the St. Patrick’s Festival in March, Harpoon Summer Session in June, and Oktoberfest in, well, October—and two at its other brewery in Vermont"

Where:Harpoon Brewery - 306 Northern Ave. in the Marine Industrial Park
When:Tastings, Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. and Friday, 2 and 4 p.m.

Tours and tastings (admission charged), Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the half hour, Sunday noon to 3 p.m. on the hour

Price:

It's the holidays, so we figured we would do some places, aka bakeries, that are known for their cookies! Because who doesn't like cookies during the holidays with milk or hot chocolate? For real!!! And you need to give Santa the good if you've been mis'behavin' this year. ;)

Royal Pastry Shop
"Known as a hidden gem...well not any more Royal...not anymore...."
738 Cambridge Shop

1369 Coffee House
Cambridge Street
"The cookies and little tidbits are tasty."

Petsi Pies
"Petsi is a goddess!  Just had one of her ginger molasses cookies, and it was pure delight!"
285 Beacon Street
Somerville, MA

Paradise Bakery & Cafe
"Their cookies are AAAAMAZING!"
800 Boylston St - The Prudential Center

These were just a few. Boston, where are you favorite cookies hidden? Share with us!

I remember my first visit to Silvertone...for the first half the evening. :)

Great drinks and amazing food! That's all I am saying. If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly suggest you do.

A blurb: "Fans of the basement-level restaurant and bar come there for the upscale comfort food and retro vibe. But if you really want to be in the know, order a specialty drink made with the homemade raspberry-infused vodka; sampling the cocktails is a perfect way to pass the time while waiting for a table. Fresh raspberries are steeped in vodka before the mixture is served up in the signature raspberry martini and in other concoctions like the raspberry lime Rickey."

Where: 69 Bromfield St
When: Until it closes. M-F 11:30AM-2:00AM, Sat 6:00PM-2:00AM (kitchen open until 11:00PM nightly).  Closed on Sunday & Monday holidays
Price: Apps. $4-$10 Entrees $10-$21
URL: Silvertone

What is more fun than watching holiday movies in a cozy library?! The Boston Public Library, is presenting Deck the Halls toinght starting at 6pm.

IMDB's blurb: "Two neighbors have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space. "

Directions: 700 Boylston Street
URL: http://www.bpl.org

 

I like miniatures! Everything in smaller form is always so fascinating!

Head to UFORGE Gallery and check out their recent project/event.
20 Artists responded to this month's call to create their tiniest work ever. Each piece is smaller than 3 x 3 inches, and work ranges from painting to photography to book art. Proof that big creativity can come in small packages!

Directions: 767 Centre St Jamaica Plain
Price: No Clams - aka - FREE
URL to see more stuff related to this: UFORGE Gallery
Times the Gallery is open, so you don't have to look through a window because it's closed...
UFORGE Gallery Hours of Operation:
Thursdays and Fridays: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

How do you feel about tradition? No, not the song from the Fiddler on the Roof, although, that song is kinda fun...did you know the Trinity Church has been doing Candlelight Carols since 1909! That's INSANITY! (Did you also know that the song Jingle Bells was written in Medford? ALSO INSANE!)

Anyways... A Boston tradition since 1909, come celebrate the birth of Christ through music offered by the choirs of Trinity Church, including works by Britten, Rutter, Biebl, and others.  Doors open one hour prior to the service, with prelude music beginning 30 minutes prior. While tickets are not required, a free-will offering is gratefully received at these services.

Directions: Trinity Church | 545 Boylston St
Time: Saturday, December 17, 2011 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Price: FREE
URL: (For more information): Trinitiy Church

Forget about watching this on TV, watch on the big screen as it was intended.

Playing at 4pm & 7pm at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge

Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, a forlorn small-town banker with a serious case of regret, who while considering suicide meets Clarence (Travers), an angel in training. Clarence shows George what life would be like if he had never been born, and through this George is able to realize how valuable one person's life can be. This film, which offers one of the most memorable (and bittersweet) Christmas stories ever, is a wonderful reminder that life may not be what we expected but it is still sweet and rich. Forget about watching this classic film at home on TV, we're showing it the way it was meant to be seen: on the Big Screen!

Directions: Brattle Theatre : 40 Brattle St : Cambridge
Clams: $6.00 - $7.00
URL: http://brattlefilm.org/2011/12/16/its-a-wonderful-life-4/

Head to Club Café tonight for some Tinsel & Tunes!

"The Christmas musical revue "Tinsel & Tunes" stars four of Boston's very best professional cabaret performers including: Lynda D'Amour, Brian DeLorenzo, Jan Peters and Randy Zinkus with Mr. Tom Larmark on keyboard. All seats are general admission (no reserved seating) first come first served. Doors open half hour before the production."

Where: Club Café | 209 Columbus Ave
When: Tonight starting at 7:30pm
Price: $30, $25 advance
URL: Club Cafe and Told You So Productions

 

The New England School of Photography's. Go. Check. It. Out!

This week opened Amy Theiss Giese’s exhibition of new site specific work.  Giese uses a unique process of directly recording light onto black and white photographic paper to make large scale installation environments.  The opening was Wednesday evening, and she will be giving an artist talk next Thursday, Dec 8th at 6pm in the gallery.  Here are some detail views of the work:

Where: Deerfield St. in Fenway

When: Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm
Price: Not sure. I could not find it.
URL: Amy Theiss Giese or NESOP

What says Christmas more than the Radio City Rockettes?!?

"How many trucks does it take to get the Radio City Christmas Spectacular show on the road? This year, it's almost 20, which makes the production the biggest theatrical version ever. New scenes and costumes, a spirited chorus, Santa, cool lighting, and a 50-foot LED screen help put the "spectacular" into this holiday revue, but the real stars are the Radio City Rockettes and their precision dance moves. Watch them tap their way through "12 Days of Christmas, hop on a double-decker in "New York at Christmas," and show off their skill in the classic "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers." -- Milva DiDomizio, Globe Staff

Brand-new scenes and costumes and a 50-foot LED screen are the highlights of this return visit from the touring holiday show. The new material includes “Magic Is There,’’ in which two brothers (played by real-life brothers) journey to the North Pole, “Here Comes Santa Claus,’’ in which we learn how Santa can be in two (or more) places at once, and “New York at Christmas,’’ in which the Rockettes dance in a double-decker bus. But all the traditional favorites are back, including “The Twelve Days of Christmas’’ (revamped this year), “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,’’ and “The Living Nativity.’’--Jeffrey Gantz, Globe Correspondent"

Where: Want Theater at 270 Tremont St
When:  Now until 12/28/2011
Price: $83 to $25; A limited number of VIP seats are available for $130

URL: Get more information here. And probably tickets