Where to Spot Santa in Boston, MA This Month!

‘Tis the season for holiday events in Boston, MA! Check out what’s happening around Boston this month on my Events Page. From theater productions to Christmas concerts, there is something for everyone on that list. As your Boston real estate agent, I like to know that Boston residents are always enjoying themselves in this great city of ours.

One of the most notorious ways to prepare for the holidays is to bring the kids to see Santa Claus. If they’ve been good this year, chances are, they have a wish list they’d like to share with him. To help you out, I’ve gathered a list of places where you can catch Santa in and around Boston! Schedule a visit in your calendar, and afterward, feel free to share a photo on my Facebook page.

Here is where Santa will be located through Dec. 24:

• Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Stop by Santa’s Cabin Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 7:30 p.m. His cabin is located at the South Market Promenade. Bring a wish list and get your photo taken! His cabin is also a New England Patriots Holiday Toy Drive drop-off location. 

• The Shops at Prudential Center: Santa’s Winter Wonderland is located in Belvidere Arcade, with a variety of photo packages available, starting at $19.99. View Santa Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Extended hours start on Friday! 

• Cambridge Galleria: Santa is there daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Head to Level 3 to see him and have your photo taken! Photo package prices vary. 

• Stone Zoo: Through Dec. 23, head to Stone Zoo to view ZooLights from 5 to 9 p.m. each night! You can view thousands of twinkling lights while also visiting with reindeer and many of the zoo’s animals. You can also visit Santa at Santa’s Castle. Afterward, travel through a holiday world of fairy tale character’s and dancing animals. This is the whole shebang! 

Special events where Santa will be present:

• This Saturday, head to Barefoot Books Store/Studio in Concord, MA for Global Santa Visit at 3 p.m. Santa will be there to read “The Night Before Christmas,” have photos taken and make a free holiday craft with the kids. All ages are welcome and it’s free with a donation of one food item for the Food Drive! Reservations are required. Bring a camera! 

• If you don’t mind taking a drive out of the city, you can visit with Santa in a more nature-inspired setting. Smolak Farms in North Andover will have Santa as a guest this Saturday and Sunday. Visit Santa’s Workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. There are lots of other holiday events going on there as well! 

• Have pets that would like to have their photo taken with Santa? Bring them to PetSmart in Boston on Dec. 14 or to South Shore Plaza in Braintree on Dec. 15!  

For more special Santa events, visit the Boston.com calendar. 

Happy Holidays from your Boston real estate agent and enjoy these last few weeks before Christmas here in Boston, MA.

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
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Your Father’s Day Guide for Boston, MA!

Father’s Day is coming up this weekend in Boston, MA! Do you have plans? Father’s Day is a great summer weekend for grilling, swimming and watching the Boston Bruins play for the Stanley Cup! But if you’re looking for something specific to do around the Boston area, as your Boston real estate agent, I’ve put together a guide for you!

Is your dad not the grilling type? Bring him to one of Boston, MA’s finest restaurants, each offering a unique special for Father’s Day. Options include:

·        The Beehive on Boston’s South End. They’re offering a Father’s Day Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., include skirt steak, eggs and frites, prime burger with frites and slaw, short rib and so much more. That night at the Beehive, from 8 p.m. to midnight, enjoy live music from the all-star house blues band! Reservations are highly recommended. 

·        UpStairs on the Square in Cambridge. They are featuring an outdoor garden grill on Sunday, with Father’s Day specials starting at 5 p.m. Included is woodfire-grilled NY strip, lobster, mahi mahi, clam chowder and more! They also have a Sunday brunch. Make reservations by calling or visiting their website! 

 

·        Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Boston. This is a win-win, because when you dine at Fleming’s on Father’s Day, dad also gets a $25 gift card to use on a future visit! The chef has created a three-course brunch menu for $36.95 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regular menus are also available. 

 

To view more restaurant specials on Father’s Day, check out this article.

 

Does your dad love history? Take him to the annual Bunker Hill Parade Sunday morning, which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill! The route travels all around Charlestown, beginning at Vine and Bunker Hill Street and traveling down Main Street. It begins at 12:30 p.m. Enjoy reenactments, music and patriotism while indulging in slushes, ice cream and cotton candy. 

 

Dads get free admission to Franklin Park Zoo on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The whole family can enjoy checking out animal families and animal dads while enjoying music from Magic 106.7 from noon to 2 p.m. and a performance by singer/songwriter Marcie at 10:30 a.m. 

Dads also get into deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum for free on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. This park and museum encompasses 30 acres, just 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA. There is plenty of sculptures and New England scenery for the whole family to enjoy!

No matter what you decide to do, I hope you and the dad in your life enjoy a beautiful weekend here in Boston, MA.

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes

6 Mother’s Day Events Coming Up in Boston, MA!

Complements of Fort Point Arts Community Inc.

As a mother in Boston, MA, how do you plan to celebrate your special day? Whether you’re in the mood for an outdoor parade, a relaxing picnic or a fancy brunch, there is a plethora of Boston events to choose from. As your Boston real estate agent, I wish you a happy day of celebrating. If when it’s over, you’re interested in buying a Boston home or selling your Boston home, contact me!

Here are six Mother’s Day events to choose from in Boston,MA:

1. For Mother’s Day, want to just sit back and relax to some peaceful, beautiful music? The Waltham Symphony Orchestra presents a Mother’s Day Concert with acclaimed cellist Allison Eldredge. Head to the Kennedy Middle School Auditorium on Saturday, May 11, at 8 p.m. and be swept away by these peaceful tunes. 
2. On May 12, head to Boston Common at 10:30 a.m. to preregister for the annual Duckling Day Parade! Entertainment will be provided until the parade starts at noon. Dress your child up as a duck or the color yellow for the parade that retraces the path taken in the children’s book, “Make Way for Ducklings.” Each child will receive snacks and a duck toy.
3. Lilac Sunday takes place at the Arnold Arboretum every year on Mother’s Day! Tons of lilac bushes burst to life just in time for moms to enjoy them with their families. Plus, Mother's Day is the only day of the year that picnics are allowed at the arboretum, so pack a blanket and food and find a patch of grass to gather on! Activities and refreshments take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day. 
4. Mother’s Day brunch is a popular tradition for many families. Restaurants across Boston, MA feature a special brunch for this special day, but since they fill up quickly, making reservations is a smart move! Some options this year include Brasserie Jo at the Colonnade Hotel, UpStairs on the Square for a three-course prix fixe brunch, Scampo in the Liberty Hotel, Top of the Hub for brunch or dinner, and North 26.  
5. Forget to get a Mother’s Day gift? Bring her to the SoWa Open Market in Boston’s South End on Sunday! That way, she can choose her own gift while you both can scope out the farmer’s market, live entertainment, food trucks, antiques, local crafts and more. This takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.! 
6. Need some new wall art for your Boston home? Head to the ArtWalk at Fort Point, which happens only twice a year! All of the artists open their studios to the public, so you can find the perfect painting, sculpture, photograph or other type of art. This takes place all weekend, Friday through Sunday.  The next Art Walk isn’t until October, so don’t miss it!

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes

Boston Holiday Events to Get You in the Festive Spirit!

Now that your stomachs are comfortably full from Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s time for the city of Boston to light up for the winter holiday festivities all December long! What is your favorite holiday festival or activity in Boston? I’d love to hear from you!

If you’ve just recently moved to Boston, MA, or you’ve never taken the opportunity to check out Boston’s holiday events, I’ve created a go-to schedule for you. As your Boston real estate agent, I want you to know about all the fun opportunities available to you in your home city! Here’s a lineup:

• Not yet in the Christmas spirit? Head to Boston Common tomorrow, Thursday, for the Holiday Lighting! This year’s event will include an ice skating show at Frog Pond at 5 p.m., followed by a lighting ceremony of more than 80 trees. After the lighting, enjoy a performance by American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin. Other areas to catch holiday lights in Boston include the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Prudential Center and Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

• Looking for an indoor, cozy and calm event? Check out the multitude of performances happening around Boston. These include Family Holiday Pops put on by the Boston Civic Orchestra, The Nutcracker at the Opera House, Vienna Boys Choir, Handel’s Messiah, A Christmas Carol, The Comedy Club at Cheers, How the Grinch Stole Christmas musical and A Christmas Celtic Sojourn. You can even find half-price tickets for many of these events by becoming a Goldstar member!    

• Looking for an activity to get the whole family involved? Decorate your own gingerbread house together! Head to the Hampshire House at Boston’s Beacon House on Sundays in December for a holiday brunch and decorating party. Tickets cost $25 per gingerbread house. After brunch, eat your masterpiece as dessert or bring it home as a decoration. Your choice! Reservations are required.

• On Dec. 7, get all your holiday shopping done during one great event! The Buon Natale Holiday Stroll features one-night-only discounts at participating North End boutiques, galleries and more. Join other Bostonians for budget shopping, or window shopping, while enjoying the décor and socializing opportunities. If you can’t make this Holiday Stroll, head to Beacon Hill for another special stroll on Dec. 6!

For more information on events and festivals in Boston, MA during the holiday season, visit the Boston Discovery Guide’s website. Have questions? Feel free to contact me, your Boston real estate agent!

Also, in the midst of your decorating, ice skating, shopping, caroling and all-around merriment, don’t forget about the Boston real estate market! Home prices, home sales, home equity and homebuilder sentiment are all up right now. That means the housing recovery is gaining traction, according to this Reuters article. Mortgage rates are still hitting record lows, too. 

Take advantage! Contact me to buy a Boston home or to sell your Boston home during the winter real estate season. Happy holidays!

Patti Fine 

Phone: 617-642-7585

Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Home

6 October Events To Look Forward To In Boston!

If you just bought a house in Boston, MA and would like to get to know your new surroundings, the best way to do that is to attend local Boston events! Fall is a beautiful time in Boston, with vibrant leaves and brisk breezes. It’s also the Halloween season, which means lots of activities to partake in.

Even if you’ve lived in Boston, MA forever, you can never experience all the city has to offer too much!

As your Boston real estate agent, I’ve gathered upcoming events for you to check out. The first three are seasonal fall events, and the last three are Halloween-related. Enjoy!

Fall Events

Did you know that Summer Street Markets in Downtown Crossing were so popular, they were expanded to Wednesdays and Fridays through October? That means you can still head into Downtown Boston from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. this month for original, handmade art, jewelry, clothes, accessories, photography, artisan foods and more, not to mention live music and hundreds of local food options! You can stop by for a quick purchase or make a day of it.

New to Boston? Want to check out the sights while also getting to know people? Sign up for the Cashunt’s Mad Dash Scavenger Hunt! It takes place this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pick a day and head to Faneuil Hall Marketplace at 10 a.m. People will group together and compete in six challenges throughout the city of Boston. It lasts two-and-a-half hours and is suitable for all ages! Price is $39 for adults and $25 for kids.

This Friday and Saturday, head to Space 57 at the Revere Hotel in Boston to experience Gilt City Warehouse Sale! There will be racks of the latest fashion pieces, including shoes, jewelry, suits, jackets, jeans, tops, outerwear and more, all for up to 90 percent off retail price! If you just moved to Boston, or you’re staging your home to sell, you’ll also find bedding, kitchen and bath accessories, home décor and more. Purchase a ticket before they’re sold out, click here. 

 

Halloween Events

Bring the whole family to the Franklin Park Zoo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 27, in costume! During Zoo Howl, kids can go trick-or-treating amongst the animals by following the Trick-or-Treat Trail! The event also features creepy crafts, ghoulish games, costume contests, a haunted maze and more! With admission, you also enjoy a full day’s admission to the zoo.

Looking for a reason to dress up for Halloween? Everyone in Boston over the age of 21 can participate in the Official Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 27! Get up early, because this crawl begins at noon and goes until 9 p.m. You must dress up! Tickets are available now, for noon to 6 p.m. or for the whole crawl. There is also an optional pre-party on Friday night and an additional party on Halloween night. For ticket info, click here. 

Are you single? Looking to dress up, dance and mingle for Halloween? Join the Halloween Boston Harbor Singles Party Cruise on Oct. 27! From 5:30 to 10 p.m., enjoy a cruise with complimentary snacks and dessert, dancing on three decks, prizes for the best costume and more! Tickets cost $30 in advance or $40 at the door. There is no better way to start a conversation than in costume!

As always, if you have questions about the Boston real estate market, would like to buy a home in Boston, or would like to sell your Boston home, contact me! I am your Boston real estate agent, always here to help you with whatever you need!

Patti Fine 

Phone: 617-642-7585

Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Home