what to do • where to go • what to see December 31, 2007–January 13, 2008 The Officficialial GuGuideide to BOSBOSTONTON NEW YEAR, NEW YOU The Best Spots in Boston for Keeping your New Year’s Resolutions PLUS: First Night Hot Stove, Cool Chinese New 2008 Lights Music at the Year at the Up the City Paradise Opera House panoramamagazine.com contents COVER STORY 14 New Year, New You Where to go in Boston to make those New Year’s resolutions stick DEPARTMENTS 6 around the hub 6 NEWS & NOTES 10 DINING 12 ON STAGE 9 STYLE 11 NIGHTLIFE 13 ON EXHIBIT 18 the hub directory 19 CURRENT EVENTS 37 MAPS 26 CLUBS & BARS 43 FREEDOM TRAIL 28 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES 45 SHOPPING 32 SIGHTSEEING 51 RESTAURANTS 35 EXCURSIONS 65 NEIGHBORHOODS 78 5 questions with…Actor MICHAEL VAN OSCH on the cover: Leah of Maggie Inc. turns to yoga as part of her New Year’s self- improvement plan at Healthworks (441 Stuart St., 617-859-7700). Photo: Tim Llewellyn/www.fourl.com. Hair and Make-up: Rachael Berkowitz. FIGHTING TEMPTATION: Produced by Heather Burke Our cocoverver model Leah considers breaking her New Year’s resolu- tion as she prepares to work out at Healthworks. Refer to story,, page 14. PPHOTOHOTO BY T IM L LELEWELLYNWELLYN ___ DECEMBER 31, 2007–JANUARY 13, 2008 3 The Official Guide to BOSTON www.panoramamagazine.com December 31, 2007–January 13, 2008 Volume 57 • Number 16 Jerome Rosenfeld • CHAIRMAN Tim Montgomery • PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Josh B. Wardrop • EDITOR Scott Roberto • ART DIRECTOR Sharon Hudak Miller • PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Heather S. Burke • PHOTO EDITOR Betsy A. Halsey, Tim Llewellyn, Della Huff • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Erin Goldman, Eva Medoff, Sarah Shanfield • EDITORIAL INTERNS Jacolyn Ann Firestone • VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING Kristi Wolfrom • ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rita A. Fucillo • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Paul Hurst • NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES HURST & ASSOCIATES, INC. 800-397-8908 • [email protected] Peter Ng • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Melissa J. O’Reilly • BUSINESS MANAGER Tyler J. Montgomery • OPERATIONS MANAGER George Ghareeb • TECHNICAL CONSULTANT PANORAMA is published bi-weekly by Jerome Press Publications Inc. Editorial and advertising offices at 332 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Telephone (617) 423- 3400. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced with- out written permission of the publisher. PANORAMA is a member of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, The Back Bay Association, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Boston Concierge Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Newbury Street League, the South End Business Alliance, the North End Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Crossing Association. PANORAMA is audited by BPA Worldwide, an independent audit bureau recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. a magazine affiliate ___ ___ 4 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 31, 2007–JANUARY 13, 2008 5 crowd at Copley Square’s Countdown to Midnight.As calendar of events aroundthehubby Josh B. Wardrop the clock strikes 12, see the MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 NEWS&NOTES skies above Boston Harbor Laugh your way into 2008 as Boston Welcome In 2008 by Heading Outside explode with brilliant color stand-up favorite Steve Sweeney does during the Midnight Grand a special early set at the Comedy he days are ticking down on 2007, and in Boston that means one things above all else: it’s Finale. It’s a perfect way to Connection in Quincy Market at Faneuil TFirst Night time. Boston’s annual First Night festivities on December 31 encompass a full say goodbye to 2007 and Hall Marketplace. Refer to listing, page 19. day, multiple locations throughout the city and a slew of activities appropriate for all ages and welcome a brand-new year. interests. (A complete schedule of performances and events can be found at www.firstnight.org.) Refer to listing, page 22. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4 But while indoor celebrations abound, there are more than a few outdoor delights Paul Pierce (pictured) and the surging associated with First Night that make the city of Boston sparkle. As you stroll the streets Boston Celtics take on Pau Gasol and of the Hub, keep an eye out for the glittering, spectacular ice sculptures (pictured the Memphis Grizzlies in a showdown at below) on display on the Boston Common and in Copley Square through- TD Banknorth Garden. Refer to listing, out the day. page 23. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the Boylston Street Grand Procession fea- tures a cavalcade of community groups and performers—including the SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 Back Alley Puppet Theatre, The New Magnolia Bring some Spam to munch on with your Jazz Band, the Middlesex County 4-H Drum and popcorn as the Brattle Theatre hosts a Fife Corps and many others—celebrating “Python-A-Thon,” screening the classic this year’s theme of “Look at You, Boston.” films And Now for Something Completely FIRE UP THE The parade ends with the 7 p.m. Different, Monty Python and the Holy HOT STOVE Family Fireworks, a 12-minute extrava- Grail, Month Python’s Life of Brian and ganza that lights up Boston Red Sox fans Monty Python and the Meaning of Life. Boston Common. haven’t, at press time, Refer to listing, page 20. However, the received the Christmas gift biggest blast they were hoping to find SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 awaits the under the tree: namely, the Bring your little hockey fans to TD late-night Sox trading for Minnesota Banknorth Garden for the annual Bruins Twins ace Johan Santana. Wives’ Charity Carnival, where kids can (Although, to be fair, win- meet Boston Bruins players, play games, ning the World Series was take shots against Bruins goalies and pretty nice—perhaps we meet the team mascot, Blades (pictured). shouldn’t be greedy.) Refer to listing, page 22. Still, Sox fans have a great excuse to party on SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 CHIO The Middle East hosts a night of local rock January 6, when the annual ERA concert Hot Stove, Cool luminaries when hilariously off-kilter rocker P OB Music returns to the Robby Roadsteamer performs, supported B Paradise Rock Club by Township (pictured) and Ernie and the BY for an O evening of high-energy rock Automatics. Refer to listing, page 21. T HO benefiting the Red Sox P Foundation. A local winter SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 tradition, the lineup features Witness the dazzling, death-defying spec- (as usual) ESPN baseball tacle of China’s Golden Dragon Acrobats news & notes 6 • style 9 • dining 10 • guru Peter Gammons (pic- as they bring their martial arts and acro- tured above right) and Red batics show to Symphony Hall in their nightlife 11 • on stage 12 • on exhibit 13 cont. on page 8 >> Boston debut. Refer to listing, page 22. ___ ___ 6 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM DECEMBER 31, 2007–JANUARY 13, 2008 7 aroundthehub:NEWS&NOTES aroundthehub:STYLE Flutie hits the lanes with friends from the Everything Here worlds of pro sports and Old is New Comes entertainment, and later the Bride entertains the crowd with a Again live performance by his 2008 VERA WANG BRIDAL band, The Flutie Brothers FASHION SHOW & CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH Band. In addition, guests The Ritz-Carlton Hotel can enjoy cocktails and 10 Avery St. • 617-574-7118 January 13 from 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. hors d’oeuvres and partici- pate in live and silent auc- ittle girls grow up tions to raise money for the Ldreaming of the perfect worthy cause of finding a wedding dress, though few cure for autism. Refer to dare to dream it’ll be the listing, page 22. creation of a legendary designer like Vera Wang. On January 13, brides-to-be can check out pieces from Wang’s 2008 bridal collection dur- GET AN “L” OF A ing a gala event—designed by area event planner Bryan START TO 2008 Rafanelli—in the Ritz-Carlton’s newly-renovated ball- Want to kick off the year room. For $75 a person, guests can enjoy a scrumptious with some cold, crisp New champagne brunch, practice wedding toasts and meet with area wedding consultants to get ideas for everything England air and perhaps a FIDDLEHEAD mild case of frostbite? 292 Newbury St. • 617-247-1120 from floral arrangements to honeymoons. If you’re tying Then feel free to join The the knot soon—or just looking for ideas for when the big L Street Brownies for their With all its pricey and exclusive day comes—this event will show you how to get hitched annual New Year’s Day shops, Newbury Street has always in high style. —Erin Goldman Swim on January 1 at 9 put a lot of emphasis on how a.m. at the Curley much green you’re packing. Now, Community Center (L however, there’s a new kid on the POST- Street Bathhouse), William block focused on a whole different HOLIDAY J. Day Blvd., South Boston, type of green—the new environ- SHOPPING STRIKING AGAINST << cont. Sox GM Theo when members of the local mentally friendly shop Fiddlehead. AUTISM FORT POINT from page 8 Epstein, surround- swimming club (and any Designed with a cork floor and ARTISTS COMMUNITY ed by an all-star Another charity event hardy, yet foolish, soul recycled paper lining the shelves, HOLIDAY STORE SCH 300 Summer St. lineup of musicians that involving local sports fig- willing to join them) Fiddlehead offers products rang- EUT 617-423-4299 D this year includes Kay ures takes place on charge into the surf of ing from bathrobes to dishware, Monday–Friday from 10 a.m.– ANE Hanley, Lori McKenna, January 7.