FINAL: Boston Introduces Two New Holiday Traditions

There are plenty of holiday events and decorations to experience around Boston, but this year the city debuted two new seasonal spectacles that are sure to become beloved traditions.

The first is Blink!, which premiered on Nov. 17. You can take a look at my experience at Blink! below:



The six-week light show, funded by the Faneuil Hall Merchant's Association, features over 350,000 LED lights that blink to the music of the Boston Holiday Pops Orchestra. Most of the trees throughout Faneuil Hall's property are decorated with white lights and the Christmas tree looks as impressive as ever as the star of the show.There are 12 shows per night lasting about five minutes each and every one is different.

Blink! is taking advantage of the popularity of social media and viewers are encouraged to share their experiences at Blink! online, especially on Twitter (#BostonBlinks) and Instagram.

If you’re in Downtown Boston to see Blink!, here are some other stops you should make while you’re in the area:

View Downtown Boston Holiday Attractions in a larger map

While most of the other decorations around Boston are large Christmas trees and twinkling lights, the Shops at the Prudential Center introduced Boston’s second new holiday display in a more understated way. 

The event is called 31 Nights of Light and it has been established as a way to bring awareness to Boston area organizations. Each night starting on Dec. 1, the Prudential Center Tower will be lit a different color representing that night’s organization. Throughout the month of December, 28 organizations will have the chance to get some valuable recognition during the holiday season.

Each night, there will be a “Flip the Switch” ceremony featuring a four-foot light switch that will light up the Tower. The events will also have performances and speakers corresponding to that night’s partner. Supporters of each night’s organization and members of the Boston community will be invited to the ceremonies. Some of the community organizations receiving attention this year include AIDS Action, the Boston Harbor Association, and the Boys & Girls Club of Newton.

If you’re looking to make a difference this holiday season, the Prudential Center is also host to other charitable events including a holiday toy drive to benefit the Home for Little Wanderers and a “Giving Tree” where participants can pick an ornament and fulfill a wish for someone.

While you’re in Back Bay to take advantage of the Prudential’s many holiday donation options, take a walk to Boston Common to see all of the festive decorations: 

View Back Bay Holiday Attractions in a larger map

While Blink! and 31 Nights of Light are holiday celebrations with different purposes, they do have one important similarity: LED lights. This year Boston is making the transition to LED lighting wherever it can. The Prudential installed these new energy efficient lights in the Tower and Blink! used them on all of the trees. In fact, throughout Blink!’s six-week run at Faneuil Hall, it will only use as much electricity as the average American household.

According to the City of Boston, Mayor Menino has been encouraging people to use LED lighting for their holiday decorations whenever possible. It’s a good move considering that they last longer, have better color, and save energy. So far, these lights have been used for the two new holiday traditions as well as the lights on Boston Common’s Christmas tree and the other decorations throughout the Common and the Public Garden.

The city also has plenty of other sights to take in that have been longstanding traditions: 

Whether you’re looking to enjoy Christmas lights, one of the world’s largest menorahs, or make a difference in someone’s life, Boston has plenty of options for you this holiday season.

NY Mag Tells New Yorkers Why They Should Love Their City

For my final blog post for JO 304, I'm going to take a look at New York Magazine's Reasons to Love New York 2012. 

The list gives 74 reasons why New York is great. The top part of the list features icons that link to  corresponding text. 

For example, New York Magazine thinks Times Square might be better than ever, which is one of the longest articles on the list. Many of the items are quick and funny excerpts like the fact that Eli Manning has won two Super Bowls and still looks like he's 12-years-old. 

New York Magazine also added a photo slideshow if readers needed even more reasons to love New York this year. 

Overall, the list is entertaining and there is a good mix of poignant articles about New York and what it's been through as well as the sarcastic humor that NY Mag is known for. 

I wish that every entry on the list had an icon to go with it, but overall the list is each to scroll through and none of the articles are too long so they keep readers' attention. It's a list that I would go through in it's entirety and it reminded me that even though I live in Boston now, I'll always have a special place in my heart for New York.

Interactive Mapping on NYMag.com

Last week, I was disappointed with New York Magazine's lack of multimedia usage in their holiday gift and event guides, but this week they have redeemed themselves.

Grub Street is NY Mag's food blog and they took full advantage of Google Maps to create the New and Notable Grub Map.

The map plots recently opened (green) and recently reviewed (orange) restaurants as well as restaurants that are coming soon (yellow). The map is regularly updated to include new openings and reviews. Each of the points features the name and address of the restaurant and a link to an article. I would have liked to see a photo of the restaurant for each point, but at least the link is helpful. 

The Magazine also takes advantage of its readers' social media use and provides links to share the map via Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. 

NYMag also tags its posts, giving it some SEO brownie points. This map is tagged under "grub map" and "openings." 

If readers click "openings," they can see  all of New York Magazine's posts that are tagged as "openings" even if they are not on the Grub Street Blog. 

I have been reading New York Magazine for years thanks to my parents (they're subscribers), but I was pleased to discover today that NY Mag expanded the Grub Street Blog to include other cities. Now I can get my food fix for Boston from my favorite New York publication!

Obviously, New York Magazine would not be able to do this with every blog or specific website, but the Grub Street Blog was the perfect section to expand across the country. So far, the blog has expanded to Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia. 

Even though NY Mag is based out of New York City, there are no shortage of posts in every cities' blog. Most of the blogs are updated multiple times daily. 

The Grub Street Blogs are great (and interactive!) ways to keep up on food news and reviews in New York, and other major cities. 

Flash Assignment #1

 Alayna, Zack, Lauren

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

New York Magazine is beginning to come out with their gift and event guides for the holiday season.

The lists all feature great ideas for holiday excursions for a variety of prices. The gift guides are unconventional and one lists experiences you can give someone as a gift, including butchering a pig, bagpiping lessons, and knife-making. If you're looking for interesting things to do, see, or buy, NY Mag's holiday guides have you covered.

While the ideas are great, it is disappointing to see such a lack of photos and videos to accompany each list's suggestions.

At most, the Experiential Gift Guide included one photo beside each gift idea.

It would have better to pick a few of the most unique experiences and maybe have a slide show or video testimonials from people who have actually done them.

The Very Classic Christmas guide has great suggestions like a puppet production of A Christmas Carol and a performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas complete with a live jazz ensemble.

Unfortunately, there are no photos or videos accompanying this list at all.

I think that New York Magazine would benefit from adding photos or videos to their gift and event lists because it makes the suggestions more appealing. If you can see photos or hear clips of the performance or people's reviews, it makes you want to click the links and maybe consider doing one of the activities or buying one of the eccentric gifts for someone instead of just reading (and eventually forgetting) about them.

MIDTERM: East Boston's HarborArts Outdoor Gallery

It all started with a fish. A large, orange, metal fish to be exact. You know you’ve arrived at the HarborArts outdoor gallery when you see it.

The codfish sculpture sits atop a building at the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina in East Boston and it’s impossible to miss. The cod, which is now endangered, represents HarborArts’ mission to use large scale art to bring attention to the need to preserve and protect our waterways, and especially our oceans.

Steve Israel is the man responsible for HarborArts. As the founder and chairman, he uses art to raise public awareness for an issue he is incredibly passionate about. Israel hopes to inspire both communities and companies to take action and lead environmentally responsible lives. His desire to protect our water resources coupled with a background in architectural salvaging led Israel to create the gallery as well as the online marketplace, which is currently under development, to connect artists and consumers with art that promotes environmental respect.

The HarborArts gallery began with Israel’s creation of the forty-foot codfish. He sculpted the fish and let it set sail in September of 2009. The fish was lit and powered by solar panels and made stops at the Boston Children’s Museum and the New England Aquarium.

Israel wanted to inspire and educate people about preservation of the waterways. What better way to do that than sail an orange cod the size of a whale and made of metal through Boston Harbor. He wanted people to take notice of the sculpture and start asking questions.

The codfish now sits atop a warehouse near the entrance of the shipyard as a reminder of how easily the species could become extinct.

With more and more focus currently being put on ecological preservation, HarborArts is a shining example of awareness being promoted in a creative and compelling way. The international outdoor gallery features the famous cod as well as contemporary exhibits from over thirty artists from three different continents and still has spaces open for display.

While most of HarborArts’ installations are contemporary, the materials used to make the pieces vary from recycled materials to acrylic paint to vines and trash.

Artist Trace O’Connor created “Iscariot”, a sculpture made of recycled steel and pipes, which is positioned atop one of the shipyard’s warehouses. The stunning cross between a mermaid and a squid is among the larger exhibits at the gallery

Entirely different yet equally as compelling, James Fuhrman designed the exhibit “Sea Change – See Change”, a floating text display reminding viewers that their actions have the potential to make a visible difference. Even though each piece of art is crafted from different materials, they all work together to enforce the message of environmental respect and reverence.

The exhibits are spread out among the buildings and docks of the marina. They hang on the sides of buildings, sit atop warehouses, and are even anchored in the water itself. The installations are changed seasonally and they are on loan from the artists for at least a year.

View HarborArts Exhibits in a larger map

HarborArts doesn’t only have a presence at the marina, they have extended their operation online as well. The HarborArts blog keeps fans of the gallery up to date on happenings around the Harbor as well as information on new exhibits.

The blog also provides information about the HarborArts Festival, which was held this year on Saturday, September 22^nd. Since its inception in 2010, HarborArts has held a festival to celebrate the gallery’s opening and to bring attention to its mission as well as the gallery itself. The Festival (date to be determined for 2013) features live music, local food, drinks, and of course, plenty of art.

Although HarborArts is worth the trip to the shipyard in East Boston, it’s best explored when the weather is warm and you have plenty of time to devote to each installation.

HarborArts is a non-profit organization and relies on the donations and support of patrons. The gallery, located at 256 Marginal Street in East Boston, is open from 3 p.m. to sunset on weekdays and from sunrise until sunset on weekends. 

While you're in the area, here are some places to visit on your way to HarborArts from the Blue Line Maverick T stop. 

View HarborArts in a larger map

Election Day!

It's Election Day and naturally, New York Magazine's home page is all about politics.

What I like about NY Mag's election coverage is that it's not just news updates. While these are obviously important, not everyone wants that kind of coverage.

For example, the featured article is The Ultimate Guide to Watching the Election and it gives a timeline for what to expect throughout the night as the polls close. It gives the time that each state's polls close as well as other information about important polls to watch, important senate races, and ballot issues.

The website also features articles about Obama's confidence and five ways Romney could win the election. Of course, NY Mag isn't always entirely serious and the article about Romney ends with the fifth way he could beat Obama...

And since it's Election Day and New York Magazine allows comments on its articles, there will be an endless source of entertainment.

This was a comment on how Romney could win the election:

While NY Mag's Daily Intel is tweeting and blogging updates about the election, the home page features the more comical articles as opposed to the hard news updates.

Happy Election Day!