New England Boat Show At Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center (MCEC)

The New England Boat Show is coming to the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center (MCEC) on January 7, 2026 through January 11, 2026.  We will be welcoming 28,000 daily visitors to the neighborhood. 

The show is expected to be extremely busy with local drive-in traffic, and overflow parking will be needed. Once the MCEC South lot fills, attendees will be sent to overflow parking lots in the following order:

1. South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center (SBWTC)

2. Channel Center Garage (Shuttle buses will be available from the Channel Garage to the MCEC)

3. Necco Street Garage & Channelside Open Air Lot

Portable variable message signs (PVMS) will guide attendees quickly off the streets and into the parking lot.

Boston and MA State Police details to help pull traffic and provide for pedestrian safety.

Thank You For A Successful 2025 & Happy New Year!

December 31: New Year's Eve on the Waterfront: Ice Sculpture Stroll & Celebration from 1pm to 5pm. New this year is free ferry shuttles between East Boston’s Lewis Mall Dock, Fan Pier, and Lovejoy Wharf. Find out the ferry schedule, ice sculpture locations and how to enter the Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll Selfie Contest  at the link above. 

December 31: John Boston Harbor Now, the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, and your closest friends to ring in the New Year with fireworks that will begin promptly at midnight. Public viewing is free and available along the Harborwalk at Fan Pier, Christopher Columbus Park, and the East Boston waterfront.

***THANK YOU***

Thank you for making 2025 a success and for improving our neighborhood. We couldn't have done it without you! Please take a moment to join us. Your membership allows FPNA to continue to advocate for a better neighborhood while bringing neighbors together at our monthly gatherings.  An individual membership is $35 and a family membership is $50. Venmo us @FPNA-Boston

2026 Happenings

January 1: Take the L Street Brownies New Year’s Day 2026 Polar Plunge. The L Street Tavern hosts a special march from the bar located at L + 8th to the beach led by the Greater Boston Firefighters Pipes + Drums on January 1st!  Doors open at 8 am. March to M Street Beach as a group, usually between 9am and 10am. A special commemorative t-shirt will be on sale for $25.

January 6: Boston Civic & Design Commission Monthly Meeting Agenda includes 2025 Year in Review by BCDC Executive Director Kristina Ricco and address from Deputy Chief of Urban Design, Diana Fernandez.

Save the date of January 27h for FPNA's 2026 Kickoff Gathering at 6pm at the Community Work Lounge at 15 Necco. 

Comment Deadline (updated 12/31 at 3pm with new date)
 

January 22 (new date): Resilient Moakley Park Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) , a 60-acre city-owned park susceptible to immediate and regular flooding following major rainstorms due to limited stormwater management infrastructure and high groundwater conditions; with projected sea level rise which will turn the park into a major flood pathway inland. The City’s strategy includes the construction of a resilient landscape berm while simultaneously making improvements to stormwater and community amenities. Comment deadline submitted due to supplemental filing December 23rd. Comments to  Eva.Vaughan@mass.gov.

Winter Fun at the Boston Children's Museum During School Vacation

Winter Fun at the Boston Children's Museum

WHO: Kids and Families 

WHAT:  Winter Fun During School Vacation

Snowmazing! Through February 22, 2026
Boston Children’s Museum’s cherished winter experience, Snowmazing!, returns for its 10th year! This year’s forecast calls for an updated look to the space with a wonderful, wintry mix of new and familiar features. Slip and slide on the beloved sock skating rink! Build an igloo fort! Ooh and aah at the Crystalline Entities, a stunning interactive art installation inspired by the Northern Lights, or just simply cozy up with a good book in the Winter Book Nook.

Snowmazing! Highlights:
•    Sock Skating
•    Igloo Forts
•    The Crystalline Entities Interactive Art Installation

Meet Betty the Yeti
Tuesday, December 30
10:30am–12:30pm
 
Betty the Yeti has landed in Snowport, and she’s ready for the spotlight. Her home this winter is Betty’s Blizzard Bluff, but she will be making a special guest appearance to visit some of her biggest fans at Boston Children’s Museum during Snowmazing. Get your cameras ready and catch her if you can!

Happy NOON Year!
Wednesday, December 31
9:30am–3:30pm

Join in the celebration of the coming New Year at (and around) NOON! Enjoy the special fun of New Year’s Eve during the day without having to stay up until midnight.

WHEN:    
December 26, 2025–January 4, 2026

TICKETS: https://bostonchildrensmuseum.org/ticketing/
Advance tickets/reservations are highly recommended, especially during weekends, holidays, and school vacation weeks.

WHERE:    
Boston Children’s Museum
308 Congress Street 

About Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children’s Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Children’s Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org Like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram 

Hours and Admission
The Museum is open Wednesday–Monday (Closed Tuesday) from 9:00am–4:00pm. Advance tickets/reservations are highly recommended, especially during weekends, holidays, and school vacation weeks. Adults, $24, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $24; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free.

Happenings Start Wednesday Plus 2 Art Openings, Toys & More

December 10: Zoning Commission Hearing at 9am. Special Order No. 16 Linkage: Said Special Order would allow the Zoning Commission to adopt a zero percent increase to the Linkage Policy for a period of one year beginning January 1, 2026. 

December 10: Conservation Commission at 6pm with Barking Crab marina and Northern Avenue Bridge.

December 11: Resilient Moakley Park MEPA site visit at 11am at 1005 Columbia Road, Boston MA 02127. Meet at the parking lot adjacent to the community gardens, proximate to Saunders Stadium.  RSVP to Eva.Vaughan@mass.gov at least one day in advance.

December 11: Fort Point Channel Landmarks Meeting at 6pm.

December 11: PAPERCLIPS Opening featuring artwork in a variety of media from the artists at 249 A Street Artists Cooperative from 6pm to 8pm at 249 A St. All artworks are original and priced at $200 or under. Ornaments & Stocking Stuffers are $25 or less. 

December 11: "Songs from the Subducted Sea", charting a fluid, archipelagic world where volcanic calderas, drifting islands, and submersible forms echo "wandering trajectories” Opening Reception from 6pm to 9pm at the Midway Gallery, 15 Channel Center Street.

Iwalani Kaluhiokalani, Sonic Mistral: Siren’s Call

December 12: We Need to Talk: What if Staying is No Longer an Option? hosted virtually by EBC from 9:30am to 12:30pm. What needs to be in place to manage the huge financial, social, and cultural costs associated with climate disasters and involuntary, unsupported climate migration? What do we need to do to prevent an “everyone for themselves” reaction that worsens existing structural inequality?

December 15: Comment deadline at 5PM for the Wetlands Ordinance Phase 3 regulations that will explicitly address: climate resilience, extended riverfront, climate equity and environmental justice. For coastal, establish a Coastal Flood Resilience Zone (CFRZ) and for inland neighborhoods establish a Inland Flood Resilience Zone (IFRZ) that will help identify and protect areas of the City that will become (or already may be) subject to inland flooding. More details and prior information sessions available from the link above.  Send comments to cc@boston.gov.

December 15: State Rep. David Biele's 7th Annual Holiday Party & Toy Drive for South Boston children from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at Amrheins. Bring an unwrapped toy or select a toy from the holiday wish list.

Toy Drive and Holiday Party

State Rep. David Biele is running his seventh annual toy drive in partnership with the South Boston MOMS Club.

Help clear the holiday wish list for 900 South Boston children aged 0 to16 by ordering via Amazon or bringing an unwrapped gift Monday night. 

You are invited to

Rep Biele's Holiday Party & Toy Drive

December 15, 2025

5:30pm to 7:00pm

Amrhreins, 80 West Broadway

T'is The Season Of Holiday Festivities & Fun Starting Tonight

December 4:  South Boston Chamber of Commerce and South Boston NDC are hosting the South Boston Christmas Stroll: Shop, Dine & Celebrate starting at 4pm.

December 4: Woven Together, a group show of 9 textiles artists visualizing the importance of our everyday connections, Opening Reception from 5pm to 7pm at the FPAC Art Space, 70 Sleeper St. 

December 5: Light Up Seaport is from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, The festivities begin at Betty’s Blizzard Bluff in The Superette Courtyard at 5:00 PM, where Betty hosts a pre-party with live DJ beats and dreamy snacks from Puffy Clouds Boston. 
At 6:00 PM, head to Seaport Common where Ashlee Feldman of JAM'N 94.5 and Herv Jean Baptiste, will lead the countdown to Boston’s most magical moment right at 7:20 PM, when our 52-foot holiday tree comes alive with 10,000 twinkling lights. Enjoy performances and additional acts throughout the evening. Light Up Seaport will also be live on WBZ-TV/CBS from 7:00 - 7:30pm.

December 6: Jingle All the Way Seaport 5k at 9am. View route. 

December 6: Massport Winter Festival takes place from 12pm to 5pm at the new 10 World Trade (401 Congress St,).building. Celebrate the season with a free holiday movie, photos with Santa and seasonal surprises. 

December 7: Mayor’s Enchanted Trolley Tour and Tree Lighting will be spreading good cheer at the M Street Park (East Broadway & M Street) at 2pm. At 1:30pm enjoy hot chocolate, holiday music and gingerbread decorating. Stay to see the Grinch, Santa, Mrs. Claus and Mayor Wu.

Mayor Wu's 2024 Enchanted Tour @ M St. Park

December 11: PAPERCLIPS Opening featuring artwork in a variety of media from the artists at 249 A Street Artists Cooperative (249 A St.) from 6pm to 8pm at 249 A St. All artworks are original and priced at $200 or under. Ornaments & Stocking Stuffers are $25 or less. 

December 11: "Songs from the Subducted Sea", charting a fluid, archipelagic world where volcanic calderas, drifting islands, and submersible forms echo "wandering trajectories” Opening Reception from 6pm to 9pm at the Midway Gallery, 15 Channel Center Street.

Iwalani Kaluhiokalani, Sonic Mistral: Siren’s Call

Fort Point Landmarks December 2025 Meeting

updated 12/8/24 with 308 Congress St. presentation. 

THE FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

will hold a public hearing on:
Thursday, December 11, 2025  
6:00 PM

This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person.

You can participate in this hearing by going to the Zoom meeting link or by calling 646-828-7666 and entering meeting id 160 227 7594#. You may also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston. 

I.  ADVISORY REVIEW HEARING

APP # 26.0942 FPC 308 CONGRESS STREET

Applicant: Jug Chokshi
Proposed Work: Boston Children’s Museum proposes to add a waterproof membrane over the existing brick façade of the Atlas Stores Building, extending up to approximately 6 feet above ground level and 1 foot below the sidewalk. New brick or stone veneer will be installed over the waterproofing membrane. Fittings for stop logs will be installed at openings.

II.  RATIFICATION OF 10/9/25 Hearing Minutes

III.  STAFF UPDATES

V.  PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 7:00 PM

Members: David Berarducci, Vacancy, Thomas Rodde, Vacancy, Vacancy, 
Alternates: Vacancy, Raber Umphenour

Conservation Commission December Meeting

The Conservation Commission (ConCom) will be holding a virtual public meeting on December 10th at 6pm.

Neighborhood Items

• Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-2088 and BOS File No. 2025-044 from Childs Engineering on behalf of Poseidon Enterprises for the proposed replacement of deteriorated sections of an existing fender system along a pier face, as well as repairs to structural timber piles and timber pile caps at Barking Crab, 88 Sleeper Street, South Boston Waterfront, MA (LUO).*Continued from the October 22, 2025 hearing. Continuance postponed to a future hearing.

• Request for a Determination of Applicability from AECOM on behalf of the City of Boston Public Works Department for the proposed removal of the Northern Avenue Bridge superstructure over the Fort Point Channel, South Boston Waterfront, MA.

Trip to Fort Ticonderoga 12/5-12/7

Senator Collins invites FPNA  and members to Fort Ticonderoga this weekend for the Real Time Revolution Signature Reenactment Event: “Noble Train Begins”.

The hotel and transportation are complementary. Yankee Bus Line will be leaving South Boston Friday AM (exact time is still TBD) and returning Sunday PM. View itinerary. 

If you are interested in attending this historic event, please let Haley Walsh, Senator Collins Chief of Staff, know at your earliest convenience.

MA Conference for Women Travel Advisory

The Massachusetts Conference for Women will take place at the Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (formerly the BCEC) on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. 

We will be welcoming up to 13,000 attendees to Fort Point and the South Boston Waterfront. Expect increased area activity, traffic, and limited parking during the event.

The Seaport TMA highly recommends that people traveling through the Seaport utilize public and alternative transportation modes throughout the day of this event. Cyclists can reference live map of bike parking and Bluebikes stations located in the vicinity. MBTA Silver Line service may see busier than normal ridership levels, and area garages may also be busier. If you must drive, please allow additional time for your commute.

Overflow parking will be available at:

1. South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center
2. Channel Center Garage
3. Necco Street Garage & Channelside Open Air Lot

Boston Police details will join State Police to help direct traffic and provide pedestrian safety.

Sparkle, Lights & Local Delights: Martin’s Park Ship Lighting, Small Business Saturday & More

FPNA wishes all our neighbors a safe and Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. As we enter the holiday season, we invite you to join us starting this weekend for fun neighborhood events—and maybe even cross a few names off your holiday gift list!

November 29: Small Business Saturday. Grab a friend, stroll down Broadway and the surrounding areas, and discover that special gift, refreshment and nourishment throughout the entire neighborhood. Don't forget the small businesses at the Snowport Holiday Market. 

November 29: Get in the holiday spirit with the fifth annual Martin's Park Ship Lighting hosted by Friends of Martin’s Park and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department from 5pm to 6pm at 64 Sleeper Street. You won't want to miss Santa arriving by boat at the Harborwalk, live music, hot chocolate and of course, the lighting of the Ship and pedestrian bridge, illuminated with over 1,500 feet of blue and white lights.

Mark Your Calendar

December 3: Winter Cycling Clinic hosted by Seaport TMA and MassBike from 6pm to 7:30pm at 52 Seaport Blvd. Learn best practices of cycling in the winter.

December 4:  South Boston Chamber of Commerce and South Boston NDC are hosting the South Boston Christmas Stroll: Shop, Dine & Celebrate starting at 4pm.

December 4: Woven Together, a group show of 9 textiles artists visualizing the importance of our everyday connections, Opening Reception from 5pm to 7pm at the FPAC Art Space, 70 Sleeper St. 

December 5: Light Up Seaport is from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, bringing sparkle, music, and a few familiar faces to Seaport Common.

December 6: Jingle All the Way Seaport 5k at 9am. View route. 

December 6: Massport Winter Festival takes place from 12pm to 5pm at the new 10 World Trade (401 Congress St,).building. Celebrate the season with a free holiday movie, photos with Santa and seasonal surprises. 

December 7: Mayor’s Enchanted Trolley Tour and Tree Lighting will be spreading good cheer at the M Street Park (East Broadway & M Street) at 2pm.

December 11: PAPERCLIPS Opening featuring artwork in a variety of media from the artists at 249 A Street Artists Cooperative (249 A St.) from 6pm to 8pm at 249 A St. All artworks are original and priced at $200 or under. Ornaments & Stocking Stuffers are $25 or less. 

December 11: "Songs from the Subducted Sea", charting a fluid, archipelagic world where volcanic calderas, drifting islands, and submersible forms echo "wandering trajectories” Opening Reception from 6pm to 9pm at the Midway Gallery, 15 Channel Center Street.

Traffic Advisory - Northern Avenue Lane Closure Update

updated 11/22/25- Per our friends at the Seaport Neighborhood Association, Northern Avenue is now open in both directions. Fallon Co and Turner Construction expedited their work and completed it in one day instead of two days.

The westbound lane on Northern Avenue between Fan Pier Boulevard and Pier 4 Boulevard will be closed to traffic from 12:00am on Saturday, November 22 through 11:00pm on Sunday, November 23th. This closure is necessary to remove the tower crane at the One Harbor Shore construction project.  

Signage and a police detail will be present throughout the road closure. 

Traffic Advisory courtesy of the Seaport TMA

originally published 11.20.25