what to do • where to go • what to see December 5–18, 2005 The Official Guide to BOSTON HOLIDAY Gift Guide 2005 PLUS: >The MFMFAA ExpandsExpands itsits WWingsings >Holiday PerforPerformancesPerformancesmances ArAroundound BostBostonon www.panoramamagazine.com contents COVER STORY 16 Holiday Gift Guide 2005 Panorama shows you where to go to get the perfect gift for everyone on your list DEPARTMENTS 6 around the hub 6 news & notes 13 kids corner 10 on stage 14 nightlife 12 on exhibit 15 dining 22 the hub directory 23 current events 31 clubs & bars 33 museums & galleries 38 maps 43 sightseeing 48 freedom trail 50 shopping 54 mind & body 55 restaurants 68 NEIGHBORHOODS 78 5 questions with… Comedian GARY GULMAN on the cover: Model Elizabeth Smith gets a jump on some holiday shopping. Photo: Tony Scarpetta At The Corner Mall you’ll find a world of shops, boutiques and Hair: AnneMarie Aldrich an international food court offering something for every palate. IN THE BAG: Makeup: Shauna Shay Boston is the perfect place to Jewelry supplied by John Lewis get something for everyone on Production Assistant: your holiday shopping list. Refer to story, page 16. Juliann Rubijono PHOTO BY Produced by Heather Burke TONY S CARPETTA ___ DECEMBER 5–18, 2005 3 The Official Guide to BOSTON www.panoramamagazine.com December 5–18, 2005 Volume 55 • Number 15 Jerome Rosenfeld • CHAIRMAN Tim Montgomery • PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Christine Celli • EDITOR Scott Roberto • ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Josh B. Wardrop • ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sharon Hudak Miller • ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Heather S. Burke • PHOTO EDITOR Marketa Hulpachova • EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jonathan Chamberlain, Della Huff, Juli Rubijono, Tony Scarpetta • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Coulter, Reshma Melwani, James Sligh, Kevin Spak • EDITORIAL INTERNS Jacolyn Ann Firestone • VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING Rita A. Fucillo • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Tyler Montgomery • ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Angela Belanger, Colby Ann Burlingame • SALES/MARKETING INTERNS Peter Ng • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Melissa J. O’Reilly • BUSINESS MANAGER George Ghareeb • TECHNICAL CONSULTANT While three-quarters of Boston is sleeping, 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 there’s a party going on at the Top of the Hub. Business Association, the Newbury Street League and the Downtown Crossing Association. PANORAMA is audited by BPA Worldwide, an 4 independent audit bureau recognized by the 0 fabulous years American Association of Advertising Agencies. LATE NIGHT BISTRO • LIVE JAZZ NIGHTLY CALL 617.536.1775 a magazine affiliate 800 Boylston Street, Prudential Center, Boston ___ ___ 4 PANORAMA DECEMBER 5–18, 2005 5 calendar of events aroundthehubby Josh B. Wardrop news&notes MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 Controversial Irish pop vocalist Sinead O’Connor returns from a long musical hiatus at Avalon tonight at 8 p.m., promoting Throw Down Your Arms, her new album of classic reggae interpretations. Refer to listing, page 27. BEST IN SHOW Do you wager at home with TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 your loved ones on who’s Tonight, “American Idol” runner- going to win the canine up Clay Aiken is in town, to the competitions shown on delight of “Claymates” in the Animal Planet? Well, this Hub, bringing his Joyful Noise month visitors to Boston 2005 tour to the Orpheum have a chance to see show- Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Refer to dogs and their passionate listing, page 27. owners right up close. The Bayside Expo FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 Center, from December AND SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 A Welcome Addition 8–11, hosts the annual Bay The contemporary dance showcase Colony Dog Show. Actually Ten’s the Limit presents eight new oston’s most prominent museum took a step toward the future on November 14, a series of four American pieces—each less than 10 Bwhen the Museum of Fine Arts broke ground on the newest phase of their expansion Kennel Club shows, the minutes long—at and renovation—a plan that calls for a new multi-level gallery to house the MFA’s exten- expo includes something Cambridge’s Green Street sive collections of American art, a gleaming glass courtyard for public gatherings, and for every fan of man’s best Studios at 7 and 9 p.m. the reopening of a former museum entrance facing the grassy Fenway area. friend. More than 12,000 Refer to listing, page 24. MFA Director Malcolm Rogers was joined by state politicians and other distinguished dogs will strut their stuff speakers at the well-attended press conference. A videotaped message by Senator Edward in a variety of categories, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 Kennedy was played, in which the venerable legislator lauded the project and called the including Best of Breed, THROUGH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 MFA “one of the great cultural jewels of our Commonwealth.” the obstacle-laden agility See Little Women, Mark Adamo’s opera based on the classic novel The extensive MFA building project is expected to be completed in 2010, and will, in trials, and the coveted Best of the same name, performed through the weekend at the Cutler addition to the new structures, provide for the refurbishment of existing galleries and in Show. Majestic Theatre. Refer to listing, page 28. enlarged conservation and research labs onsite. The museum has set a fundraising goal Boston Police will of $500 million to support the renovations and have, to date, raised $316 million. demonstrate the powers of SUNDAY, Also at the groundbreaking ceremony, the MFA publicly announced the donation of a their bulletproofed K-9 DECEMBER 18 $15 million campaign gift from the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation. The muse- Units, and rescue organiza- Bring your child (or just yourself) um plans to use those funds to support both the building project and the MFA’s endow- tion Greyhound Friends will to see a traditional holiday delight ment, and will name the new glass courtyard the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family put on their annual Rescue on the big screen, when the Courtyard in recognition of the Foundation’s generosity. Refer to listing, page 34. Parade. Finally, for anybody Coolidge Corner Theatre screens doing some last-minute hol- 1965’s animated classic A news & notes 6 • on stage 10 • on exhibit 12 • iday shopping, try the 100 Charlie Brown Christmas at 11 concession booths to find a.m. Refer to listing, page 26. kids corner 13 • nightlife 14 • dining 15 cont. on page 8 >> ___ ___ PHOTO COURTESY OF THE M USEUM OF F INE A RTS C LAY A IKEN PHOTO BY E RIC O GDEN 6 PANORAMA DECEMBER 5–18, 2005 7 around the hub NEWS & NOTES Whether you seek deco- AIRPORT SPECIAL rative glassware or pottery OWNTOWN TO OGAN ACK AY TO OGAN for your home, creative D L : $20 B B L : $25 children’s toys for the wee ones, or jewelry and wear- able art for that special someone, the Market (open “The Best Ride through December 31) brings together some of the in Town” area’s top artisans and their work to help shop- pers find that perfect, unique something for everyone on their list. Refer to listing, page 35. TEA TIME We’ve all heard about the events of the legendary precursor to the Revolu- Your own Private Limousine and Chauffeur tionary War, the Boston Tea Party. But few have had a from your downtown hotel to Logan Airport... chance to actually watch them unfold. N Luxurious Lincoln Town Car Fleet On December 11, you can get as close to the real N Courteous, Reliable Service Boston Tea Party as you ever will, when the Old N Transportation to Theatres, Restaurants and South Meeting House’s Tea the Casinos Party Players stage a reen- actment of the pivotal lit- N Shopping and Sightseeing Tours tering. Beginning with a recreation of the fiery Tours include Cambridge, Concord and Lexington, debate between Samuel Salem, Plymouth, Newport,Cape Cod and Cape Ann Adams and other colonists, the event culminates with Equally attractive rates from hotels outside of costumed performers lead- << cont. that perfect gift for raucous as that, but the ing spectators out of the Boston to the Logan airport. All Major Credit Cards Accepted from page 7 the dog (or dog per- abundance of creative art Meeting House and down to son) in your life. pieces (such as the birdhous- the Harbor for a bit of “civil Refer to listing, page 28. es pictured above) at the disobedience.” If you’re in 12th annual Artists’ Market the mood for some pre- at the DeCordova Museum Christmas rabblerousing, ART! GET YOUR and Sculpture Park may oth- this is the event for you. Boston Town Car ART HERE! erwise remind holiday shop- Refer to listings, page 28. Okay, so the atmosphere pers of a street fair jammed —Additional contributions For Reservations, call (617) 782-4000 probably won’t be quite as with one-of-a-kind treasures. by James Sligh ___ [email protected] Toll Free (888) 765-LIMO ABOVE: DESIGNER BIRDHOUSES, THE G ARDEN PATH, ELIOT, MAINE; 8 PANORAMA PHOTO BY M ARK W ILSON around the hub ON STAGE Now in our 2nd In the ear!!! Holiday Spirit Record Breaking Y ® Clara Reinterpreted The Hilarious Celebration of Women and The Change! URBAN ractically everyone has seen some ver- NUTCRACKER Psion of The Nutcracker, but you’ve prob- Strand Theatre ably never seen anything quite like Urban December 10, 11, 17 & 18 Nutcracker.