what to do • where to go • what to see November 17–30, 2008 The OOfficialfficial Guide to BBOSTON OSTON BOSTON DGUIDEessert PLUS: The Grinch Holiday Tree Tara Comes to Lightings Donovan Boston Around Town at the ICA panoramamagazine.com now iPhone and Windows® smartphone compatible! Get VIP treatment at Macy’s… including exclusive savings! No trip to Boston is complete without Celebrating visiting The World’s Most Famous Store! Put Macy’s on your must-see list and Boston discover the season’s hottest styles for you and your home, plus surprises and for over excitement everywhere you look! Bring this ad to the Gift Wrap Department 200 years. at Macy's Downtown Crossing or the Executive Offices at Macy’s CambridgeSide Galleria to request your reserved-for- visitors-only Macy’s Savings Pass, and use it as often as you want to save 11%* throughout either store. Macy’s Downtown Crossing 450 Washington Street Boston, Ma. 617-357-3000 Macy’s CambridgeSide Galleria 100 CambridgeSide Place Cambridge, Ma. 617-621-3800 *Restrictions apply. Valid I.D. required. Details in store. Boston Flagship Store The Mall at Chestnut Hill Corner of Berkeley & Boylston (617) 965-2700 (617) 267-9100 contents COVER STORY THE SWEETEST THING: Boston cream pie, a local classic, can be enjoyed at Parker’s 14 The Sweet Life Restaurant at the Omni Parker House Hotel. Refer to story, A baker’s dozen of delicious desserts page 14. from Boston’s best restaurants PHOTOBY T IMOTHY R ENZI DEPARTMENTS 8 around the hub 8 NEWS & NOTES 11 STYLE 12 ON EXHIBIT 18 the hub directory 19 CURRENT EVENTS 26 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES 31 SIGHTSEEING 35 EXCURSIONS 37 MAPS 43 FREEDOM TRAIL 45 SHOPPING 51 RESTAURANTS 65 CLUBS & BARS 66 NEIGHBORHOODS on the cover: Back Bay Italian restaurant Sasso (116 Huntington Ave., 617-247-2400) features such gorgeous and tasty desserts as this chocolate semifreddo. Photo by Timothy Renzi ___ NOVEMBER 17–30, 2008 5 The Official Guide to BOSTON www.panoramamagazine.com November 17–30, 2008 Volume 58 • Number 13 Jerome Rosenfeld • CHAIRMAN Tim Montgomery • PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Josh B. Wardrop • EDITOR Scott Roberto • ART DIRECTOR Sharon Hudak Miller • PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Betsy A. Halsey, Della Huff, Timothy Renzi • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nicole McGovern, Joseph Normandin • EDITORIAL INTERNS Jacolyn Ann Firestone • VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING Nancy O’Rourke • ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rita A. Fucillo • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Alicia Macneil, Shane Solar-Doherty • SALES AND MARKETING INTERNS 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 ___ ___ 6 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 17–30, 2008 7 aroundthehubby Josh B. Wardrop NEWS&NOTES City of Lights 4HE SHOPPING 4HE DINING is the season…when Boston starts to resemble a Currier & Ives postcard, thanks to ’Tthe arrival of white fluffy snow, wreaths on every corner and bright, sparkly holi- day lights and giant Christmas trees. This month, Boston shows off its Yuletide spirit as tree-lightings and special events kick off the holiday season. On November 22, the holiday season at Faneuil Hall Marketplace begins with a day of festive fun, including musical performances by local blues-rock favorites Ernie and the Automatics and Motown Records vocal ensemble Jada, as well as the lighting of FHM’s Christmas tree. Visit www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com for more information. Then, on November 28 at 5 p.m., stop by Macy’s in Downtown Crossing for the tradi- tional Christmas tree lighting (pictured). The legendary retailer—celebrating its 150th anniversary this year—hosts an annual event boasting performances by the Boston Children’s Chorus and Boston Ballet, the official arrival of Santa Claus and, this year, the launch of Macy’s new FAO Schwarz toy department. Refer to listing, page 22. 4HE BEST OF IT ALL "EGIN YOUR "OSTON EXPERIENCE AT .EW %NGLANDS NUMBER ONE SHOPPING AND DINING DESTINATION 3TOP BY THE #USTOMER 3ERVICE $ESK TO RECEIVE YOUR &2%% 3HOPPING 0ASS GOOD FOR DISCOUNTS AT OVER SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS INCLUDING A FREE CUP OF AWARD WINNING .EW %NGLAND CLAM CHOWDER AND DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO "OSTONS ONLY SKY HIGH OBSERVATION DECK DESTINATION EXTRAORDINARY cont. on page 10 >> "ACK"AY\3(/0025\WWWPRUDENTIALCENTERCOM n e w s & n o t e s 8 • s t y l e 1 1 • o n e x h i b i t 1 2 ___ 3AKS &IFTH !VENUE \ 3KYWALK \ 0 & #HANGS #HINA "ISTRO \ "OSTON $UCK 4OURS \ ,EGAL 3EA &OODS 8 PANORAMAMAGAZI NE.COM aroundthehub:NEWS&NOTES aroundthehub:STYLE calendar of events << cont. from page 8 Unique Gifts TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18– SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Lovers of rude French knights and savage killer rabbits, rejoice, for everyone’s favorite medieval musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot, returns to OSEGG R Boston for one week only. The award-winning show “lovingly ripped off” from the motion pic- AROL C ture Monty Python and the Holy Grail sings and dances its silly, merry way across the stage of The Colonial Theatre. Refer to listing, page 24. Lap of Luxury PHOTOBY e’d all like to savor the sensa- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 FRETTE 776B Boylston St. W tion of slipping into the plush The Boston Celtics sent the Detroit Pistons 617-267-0500 bathrobes and sleeping on the silky packing in last year’s Eastern Conference ANNUAL ARTISTS’ MARKET AT THE SHOP @ DECORDOVA sheets found in lavish hotels in our finals. The rematch between Paul Pierce DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park own homes, but face it—stealing is just wrong. That’s (pictured) and the C’s and the Pistons (with Through December 31 why lovers of luxury can rejoice at the arrival of the first new acquisition Allen Iverson) rocks the TD HE’S A MEAN ONE… INSIDEOUT: THE MUSEUM Frette outpost in Boston, located within the Jewel Box Banknorth Garden. Refer to listing, page 23. All us “Whos down in SCHOOL ART SALE promenade of the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Whoville” better beware this School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boylston Street. Provider of fine linens to royalty and fine 230 The Fenway MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 & month, because there’s a November 19–23 hotels since 1860, Frette sells gorgeous cashmere and TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 foul-tempered green guy on Danish mink throws, Egyptian cotton bathrobes and slip- Thirty years ago, he was best known as “Mork,” his way to Boston to put the We all know holiday shopping can pers, silk velvet boudoir pillows, top-drawer table linens but today Robin Williams is an Oscar winner and kibosh on holiday fun in the be stressful: fighting crowds and and many more items sure to lend that essence of Italian one of comedy’s most influential and successful Hub. On November 26, the waiting in line for hours on end sophistication to any home. —Nicole McGovern voices. The legendary comic makes a long-await- much-awaited stage adap- just to find out your loved one ed return to stand-up for two evening shows at tation of a Christmas clas- already owns that exact sweater the Orpheum Theatre. Refer to listing, page 20. sic hits the Citi Performing (in four colors, no less). If you FITNESS À Arts Center when Dr. Seuss’ want to give that special someone LA CARTE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28 & How the Grinch Stole a truly special gift, try a creative LIFE IN SYNERGY STUDIO SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Christmas! The Musical approach: from November 19–23, 867 Boylston St., 2nd Floor World-renowned conductor and former Boston (pictured above) makes its InsideOut: The Museum School Art 617-867-6500 lifeinsynergy.com UTCH L Symphony Orchestra music director Seiji Boston debut. Sale (pictured above) features Ozawa (pictured) returns to his old stomping The show tells the famil- hundreds of one-of-a-kind pieces Missing your weekly grounds at Symphony Hall for the first time ICHAEL iar-to-generations tale of by students, alumni and faculty of cardio or yoga classes M since 2002 when he leads the BSO in a pro- how that nasty-wasty skunk the School of the Museum of Fine while visiting Boston? In a gram featuring the works of Messiaen and The Grinch launches a one- Arts. Or head to the DeCordova world of “members only” Berlioz. Refer to listing, page 19. man war on Christmas, only Museum in Lincoln (refer to list- fitness clubs, the new Life in Synergy Studio in Back Bay PHOTOBY to discover that the holiday ing, page 28), currently hosting its offers fitness that fits your life. A new venture from local SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 he hates may not be so bad 15th Annual Artists’ Market, fea- entrepreneur Helena Collins, Life in Synergy offers a variety of Since forming in South Africa in 2002, The after all.