365 Things to Do in Boston - New Tips Daily

The 10th Annual SoWa Holiday Market will be held on Saturday, December 14th and Sunday, December 15th. The SoWa Holiday Market features tons of goodies, including jewelry, pottery and paintings. 

"This year's Holiday Market will feature the very best of New England's independent designers, artists and crafters. From the fashionably chic to the hip and cutting edge, shoppers are sure to find an original gift for everyone on their list. 

This handmade holiday spectacular will be held in the spacious and historic main building of the Benjamin Franklin Institute, located in the heart of Boston's South End. Within walking distance to Boston's best galleries, boutiques and international cuisine, the SoWa Holiday Market is at the center of Boston's most diverse and exciting neighborhoods!"

For a full list of holiday craft fairs, please click here. 

 

Boston.com has some great options on where to go with your family and friends if you want to have some fun and avoid the mall. 

Half-price admission to Franklin Park Zoo One Franklin Park Rd., Dorchester. Fri., Nov. 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Adults, $8.50; seniors, $7; ages 2-12, $5.50. All ages. Burn off your turkey dinner while visiting with the many animals throughout the zoo.

Half-price admission to Stone Zoo (does not include evening ZooLights), 149 Pond St., Stoneham. Fri., Nov. 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Adults, $7; seniors, $6; ages 2-12, $5. All ages. Continue to celebrate the holiday by bringing the whole gang to the zoo for a day of fun. Note that the discount does not apply to the evening ZooLights.

"Black Friday Full Day Adventure: Party Crashing," Guard Up!, 103 Terrance Hall Ave., Burlington. Fri., Nov 28, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (extended day option available). Ages 6+. Goblins, ogres, and orcs have been raiding nearby villages all month. They have stolen gifts and food from the citizens of these towns. Recently, we have found out where the creatures have been gathering. Help us track down these thieves and crash their party. Bring your friends and your swords! (Foam swords provided.) Pre-registration required. Bring a nut-free lunch. 

For full list of family friendly events, please go to the Boston.com link here. 

 

The holiday concert of the year is almost here! KISS 108's Jingle Ball will be coming to TD Garden on Saturday, December 14th! 

Featured artists include Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Selena Gomez, Fifth Harmony, Ariana Grande, Jason Derulo and Austin Mahone!

Tickets are currently available through ticketmaster.com and are selling out quickly!

"Every year, KISS 108's Jingle Ball 2013 gives back to the community to celebrate the holiday season. This year's official charity for KISS 108's Jingle Ball 2013 is the Ryan Seacrest Foundation - $1.00 of each ticket sold will be donated to the non-profit organization, which is dedicated to inspiring today's youth through entertainment and education focused initiatives."

For more information on this event, check out the Kiss 108's Jingle Ball link here! 

 

"Ray Ciccolo’s Boston Volvo Village of Brighton is sponsoring their Annual Volvo 5k Road Race to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater New England Chapter.

The Turkey Trot has become a tradition for hundreds of runners each year. The Race begins at Boston Volvo Village, winds through the streets of Brighton and ends where it began at the dealership."

For more than 60 years, the Greater New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has provided help for today and hope for tomorrow to nearly 19,000 individuals and families affected by MS in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.  Monies raised by runners and sponsors of the Boston Volvo Village 5k Road Race help fund cutting edge research to stop disease progression, restore lost function, and end MS forever."

Registration is $20 online before November 26th and $25 on-site the morning of the race. The race starts at 9:00am on Thanksgiving morning. First 750 people to register receive a free T-shirt. Prizes will be given to the top finishers. 

Please click here for further information on the race and registration.

 

During the Thanksgiving season, there are numerous towns and organizations in the Boston area that coordinate charitable running events. All of the Thanksgiving day events listed are held on Thursday, November 28th. 

Turkey5 in Wellsley

"With both 5K and 5Mile courses, the Turkey5 offers something for everyone.  Starting and finishing at Linden Square, you will run through the beautiful Wellesley College campus and the marathon’s famous 'Scream Tunnel' section before seeing the '1 mile to go!' sign. The Turkey5 Road Race is a fundraiser for several worthy charitable organizations." In 2012 Turkey5 proceeds went towards Wellesley Cancer Prevention Project, the Ellie Fund and the Greater Boston Food Bank." For more information on this event, please click here. 

2013 Marathon Sports Gobble Gobble Gobble 4 Miler

The 2013 Marathon Sports 4 Miler is known as one of the best races in New England. Although this event is already sold out, feel free to cheer on runners and continue to donate. The four mile race goes through the town of Somerville and ends in Davis Square. Proceeds for the event goes to Project Soup and the Somerville Track PAC. Please click here for further information on the event. 

Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot in Dorchester is a 3.1 mile route around the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse. The run "includes the most beautiful and historic views of Franklin Park." All proceeds from this event will go towards supporting the Franklin park Colaiton's Youth Conservation Crew. The Conservation Crew program "provides summer jobs for 20 neighborhood teens and their young adult leaders. This inspiring crew has restored trails, restored woodlands, and also runs Thursday Sports Nights, providing fun and games for hundreds of local children." For further information on this event, please go to www.runagainstcancer.org/turkey5. 

For information on other running events in your area, please click here. 

 

    

The Seventeenth Annual Boston International Fine Art Show will take place Thursday, November 21st through Sunday, November 24th. The BIFAS event will be held at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for The Arts. 

"Both traditional and contemporary galleries from the United States, Canada and Europe will offer more than 3,000 original works of art. The only show of its kind in New England, BIFAS has no restrictions on the type of work that may be shown. Works on offer range from fine original prints priced at a few hundred dollars to museum-quality masterpiece paintings priced in the millions. The show enjoys a stunning mix of both blue chip traditional works and today's outstanding contemporary artists."

For further information on this event, please go to FineArtBoston.com.

 

Rage through six of Boston's best bars & pubs in our outrageously styling 80's ski gear! Dig out that classy neon ski jacket, suspender snow pants, throw on some goggles, crimp your side pony or gel up that rat tail you've been growing JUST for this." 

The 80's Ski Bar Crawl will be held on Saturday, December 7th from 12:30-6:00pm. Partcipating bars include Paddy O's, Hennessy's and Wild Rover! The ticket for this event includes drink deals, free apps, bar games and chances to win some prizes! 

Tickets are available through the BSSC website and are $15 for members/$20 for non-members. 

"Boston Ski & Sports Club (BSSC) is a member-based organization, providing  thousands of sports leagues, social events, ski trips, and adventure travel for over 45,000 socially active professionals throughout Greater Boston. With a full-time staff dedicated to quality programs and excellence in customer service, we are committed to making sure that all activities are fun, well-organized and social."

 

The Faneuil Hall Christmas Tree Lighting event will be on Saturday, November 23rd. The day long festivities will start at 12 pm with the arrival of Santa Claus and a performance from "A Christmas Story". There will also be a variety of live entertainment including singers, dancers and performers! 

The Blink! Light & Sound Extravaganza will start at 7:30 and continue to 8:00pm. During this time, there will be special performances by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and Paula Cole! The tree lighting will be at the end of the ceremony with Mayor Menino on hand to flip the switch. 

"The light switch will turn on more than 30,000 lights and strobes on the 80-foot tree, the tallest in the northeast. That's not counting the 350,000 lights that are part of the Blink! lights and music show that will light up all of Faneuil Hall."

If you can not attend the ceremony, the festival will air live on WBZ-TV and WSBK-TV. 

 

For those of you who can't go home or maybe don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, many hotels in the city are offering Thanksgiving brunches and dinners on Thursdays. Here are a few suggestions on where to go in Boston.

Please keep in mind that reservations are highly recommended. 

Ritz Carlton
The Ritz Carlton will be having a Thanksgiving brunch from 12pm-6pm. "Indulge in a delicious feast of traditional carving stations of roast turkey, prime rib and a seafood station with shrimp, Jonah crab claws and oysters. Family-friendly foods, decadent pastries, live music and dessert decorating stations for children are also featured." There will also be a Thanksgiving buffet. Please check the Ritz Carlton website for event information. 

75 on Liberty Wharf
"Located in Boston’s Seaport District, 75 on Liberty Wharf is celebrating Thanksgiving with a special three-course prix fixe meal. Choose from a spread of starters, entrees, and desserts, with options such as oven-roasted turkey, harvest pumpkin bisque, and rum raisin pudding." The Thanksgiving meal will be offered from 11:30am-6:00pm. The prix fixe meal is set at $55/adult. 

Aura Restaurant
"Leave the Thanksgiving cooking up to chef Robert Tobin at Aura restaurant at the Seaport Hotel. Brunch will include Thanksgiving favorites, traditional brunch fare, and other autumn classics including pumpkin chestnut soup, corn bread pudding, and whipped sweet potatoes." The brunch will be from 11am-3pm. Please check the Aura website for further details. 

Want a few more options? Check out the Boston.com suggestions here. 

 

"The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, the nation's official memorial to President John F. Kennedy, will observe the 50th Anniversary of November 22, 1963 with a number of presentations that celebrate the legacy of the nation's 35th President.

Observances will include a ceremony webcast by satellite from the IM Pei designed glass pavilion at the Kennedy Library, and the presentation of a selection of artifacts from the President's State Funeral that have never before been displayed."

Some of the artifacts on display will include the American flag that draped over Kennedy's coffin during his funeral percussion, handwritten notes by Jacqueline Kennedy and photographs. 

Admission for the museum will be on a first come first serve basis. Please check the JFK Library event webpage here for further information on this event. 

For information on other events pertaining to the 50th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination, please click here.