Today: A festive weekend in Boston.

With our Christmas tree up and decorated (and smelling like heaven), we celebrated quite a festive weekend in Boston.  There is so much to see and do in ye olde Cradle of Liberty this time of year; we’re lucky it’s all just a walk (or Uber ride) away.  We bundled up on Saturday night for dinner, drinks and lots of lights in Faneuil Hall with Tina and Mal.  Our first stop was dinner at Anthem, one of Nick’s favorite lunch spots.  I studied their gluten-free menu online beforehand, which made my dinner choices (a Boston Bibb salad and a side of garlic mashed potatoes) easy and stress-free.

My three dining companions started with the fondue… which for me, was a fondon’t.  Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.  Did anyone else have “fondue day” in their high school French classes?  I think I will forever associate fondue with those awkward chair/desk combinations.  We left the restaurant just in time to catch the tail end of Blink!, a three minute light show set to the music of the Boston Pops.  We ducked into Durgin Park for hard ciders while waiting for the next show to start.  If you’re passing though the area, the quick show is definitely worth checking out.  Here’s a little iPhone/YouTube preview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hodAC3JYpSA

If I wasn’t already high on the Christmas spirit, I certainly would have been after Blink.

[For more information about the show, click the image above.]

If you’re in the area and looking to celebrate your own festive weekend in Boston, here are few more ideas:

• See the “new” Nutcracker – this year the Boston Ballet is debuting new sets, new costumes, new choreography and new characters.  I am so looking forward to seeing how this Boston tradition has been updated.
• Visit the Downtown Boston Holiday Market for unique gifts
• Find a neighborhood stroll and enjoy lights, decorations, shopping and perhaps an appearance by Santa? (Beacon Hill 12/6, Newbury Street 12/8, Fort Point 12/14)
• Run a festive 5k (Walter’s Run 5k 12/8 in West Roxbury, The Sightings Santa Run 12/8 in New Bedford, Miss Santa Holiday 5k 12/15 on the Esplanade, The Winter Warmer 5k and Chili Cook-off 12/16 in Clinton)
• Get in the holiday spirit, have your dog’s photo taken with Santa and support the MSPCA at Bark Place on 12/8
• Check out the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus’ annual holiday show, described as a “joyful celebration of diverse holiday traditions.”
• Lace up your skates (or rent a pair for a few bucks) at one of our local rinks.  Many are free and open to the public during specific hours.  This is one of my favorite ways to pass a winter weekend afternoon.

Because two light and sound extravaganzas are better than one, I met my brother and niece for the tree lighting aboard the U.S.S. Constitution yesterday.  I think we may have been running late (mostly because I wanted to tell the baby all about Christmas in a weird baby voice), since the tree was already lit when we arrived and guests were being ushered off the boat.  Welp, can’t win ’em all.

After walking along the Harbor Walk and admiring all the boats decked out for the holidays, I headed home to light the first candle on our Advent wreath, and whip up a few treats for the week.  My sister-in-law is hosting a cookie swap next weekend and I want to be sure my gluten-free peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies with pretzel bits and sea salt are both edible and palatable.  Hopes are high.  Expectations are slightly lower.

The highlight of my weekend had to have been Clark, wearing his little Santa hat, greeting the patients at the hospital where we do pet therapy.  Needless to say, his chapeau was a hit.  I always leave the hospital with an overflowing heart (and a very sleepy French bulldog), and can think of no better way to kick off the first week of December.

Also On Tap for Today:

• Kicking off week 3 of HBBC with new goals and solid plans
• Taking Clark for his annual check up and shots (I mostly always almost faint, while he totally plays it cool)
• Finishing wedding thank you notes and starting Christmas cards