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  • What’s Open in Boston on Christmas Weekend and MBTA Schedules 2011

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    Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on Christmas, December 25, 2011 and on Monday, December 26th when the holiday is officially celebrated in Massachusetts. Remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve as well. Call before you leave, if you plan to visit a business on the 24th.

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    Restaurants, bars: Some will be open. Check for special hours and menus and take a look at our piece on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining in Boston 2011.

    Convenience stores:  Some will be open. Check for special hours.

    Supermarkets: Closeddue toMassachusetts "Blue Laws"

    Retail stores: Closeddue toMassachusetts "Blue Laws"

    Liquor stores: Closeddue toMassachusetts "Blue Laws"  both on Chrismas Day, December 25th and on Monday, December 26th.* (Here's the official word on that!)

    *Note: Update 12.9.11- a bill is moving through the Massachusetts legislature that could change this December 26th closing of liquor stores. See a well-reported story about that in the Salem News. Check back here for updates to this status.

    Update 12.18.11- According to Boston.com this bill is has passed the house and senate and has been sent to the Governor.

    Update 12.21.11- Liquor stores may open on Monday, December 26th, if they choose. The Governor has signed the bill allowing this to happen.

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.

    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. The Tow Lot will be open Monday – Friday 7am-10:30 pm, Saturdays 9 am- noon, and it is closed on all city holidays. That means it's closed on the 26th. (I would also call before going on Christmas Eve.) 

    Boston Trash Collection: The city says, "Trash & recycling collection will be delayed by 1 day for all neighborhoods."

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.

    (MBTA information after this message.)

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    Here's the MBTA Christmas Weekend Service Schedule. (Updated 12.21.11) The MBTA says…

    "Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Christmas Day

    • Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains, buses, and trackless trolleys will operate on a regular Sunday schedule.
    • Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular Sunday schedule except the Mount Wachusett Ski Trains to and from Fitchburg, which will not operate.
    • Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown and Long Wharf will not operate.
    • Hingham, Quincy, and Hull commuter boat service will not operate.
    • THE RIDE Service will operate on a modified holiday schedule.

    Monday, December 26, 2011 – Christmas Observed

    • Blue, Orange, Green, and Red line trains, buses, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule.
    • Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule.
    • Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown and Long Wharf will operate on a regular Weekend schedule.
    • Hingham and Hull commuter boat service will not operate.
    • Quincy ferries will operate on a Weekend Schedule.
    • THE RIDE Service will not offer subscription service. Customers should contact their contractors for service information.

    For additional information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the MBTA Customer Communications Department at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.

     

    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

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  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining in Boston 2011

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    UPDATE: Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2015 in Boston

     

    It's time to make your reservations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays.

    If you have inside info on a local restaurant's plans or a favorite Christmas Holiday tradition, add it in the comments below!

    IStock_000002198510XSmallWhat's open on Christmas Eve?

    This year Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday night. A quick check of Open Table for a 9 pm reservation found far more restaurants open than I might have expected. 

    As with any holiday reservation ask what is being offered. Some places will present their normal menu, some will have a restricted prix fixe, and some will add special items inspired by the holiday. And, don't be surprised if a non-refundable deposit and credit card number are required to make a reservation.

    Holiday Traditions

    Our friend, Jackie Blombach and her husband always have Tea at the Taj on Christmas Eve. She calls it, "My Favorite two hours of Christmas!"

    Traditional Feast

    If you hurry and grab one of the spots at the table, you could indulge in the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes at Grotto and sister restaurant Marliave. (Both will also offer a limited menu in addition to the feast.) The Grotto website says:

    "The Feast of Seven Fishes, a traditional meal served on Christmas Eve throughout Italy. The Feast dates back centuries and the common belief is that participating in the Feast will bring good luck and fortune in the year to come. Marliave and Grotto will once again be offering our version of The Feast of Seven Fishes. The Feast is served over three courses and utilizes the great abundance of seafood available to us in Boston… " 

    Need a Holiday Food Break?

    If you need a break from the whole Christmas scene, you could wander through Chinatown and enjoy an alternative to the traditional holiday menus. And, if Chinatown isn't quite the fit for your gang, but you would like to nibble your way through an Asian feast, we suggest Meyers+Chang on Washington Street in the South End. Chef Joanne Chang is planning to add some special treats for that night but assures us we will be able to enjoy an evening of great Asian food.

    What Boston Area Restaurants are Open on Christmas ?

    Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:

    More information after these features from AMAZON.

               

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    More information and reservations:

    Here's Open Table's Christmas Day page but remember, you can go to their main Boston page and request a reservation for the 24th, 25th, or 26th and see the full list of options for the time you prefer.

    Boston Chefs has set up recaps for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

    Subscribe to the comment feed of this post or follow us on Twitter, and we'll notify you of updates. So far, the ChowHounds and Trip Advisor crews haven't had much to say on the topic, but we'll post links if a good conversation from one of these forums gets started. 

    Details: 

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photo: from iStockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.