The following is a column by Mayor Thomas Menino:
Thanksgiving arrives next week and “Black Friday” marks the official start of the holiday shopping season. As you make your holiday shopping lists, I urge you to skip the midnight lines and mall traffic and explore Boston’s neighborhood retailers. Our Main Streets districts offer a variety of shops and restaurants where you can find unique gifts close to home. The Mayor’s Holiday Special is a great resource for finding deals on holiday events and shopping in Boston.
We are also continuing the annual Holidays on Main Streets campaign, a small business initiative designed to highlight the many festive events taking place in and around the 20 Main Streets districts through the end of December. Businesses are getting into the holiday spirit by participating in our district-wide contest for the best dressed storefront window, offering shopping deals, and hosting fun family events including holiday strolls and tree lightings. Click here to find events, deals, and discounts in your neighborhood.
We’re even offering free holiday parking hours in commercial shopping districts, making it even easier for shoppers to access their neighborhood retailers on weekends. As is tradition in Boston, weekend shoppers will enjoy two free hours of metered parking throughout the city’s commercial districts, including downtown, starting on “Black Friday,” November 25 and continuing on five consecutive Saturdays through December 24. While meters will be free on these days, a two-hour time limit will be enforced by the Boston Transportation Department to accommodate as many visitors as possible in shopping districts.
If you do get a ticket, remember that you can redeem it with a toy donation through the city’s “Toys for Tickets” program. The program will allow any driver that is issued a non-public safety parking ticket on Boston’s streets between December 5 and December 9 to resolve their ticket by providing a non-violent, wrapped toy of equal or greater value than the fine on the ticket. Toys will be accepted from December 8 through December 16 between the hours of 9am and 4pm on the second floor of Boston City Hall. To participate in the “Toys for Tickets” program, drivers must bring the parking ticket and a receipt for the toy. Last year the “Toys for Tickets” campaign contributed over $3,000 in toys to brighten Christmas morning for many children.
Most importantly this holiday season, please consider sharing what you can to help families who are struggling. During these difficult economic times, families are doing their best to make ends meet, but the pressure to buy toys and provide a big holiday feast can be an overwhelming challenge. This year is the 25th annual Boston CAN Share food drive and our goal is to collect 100,000 pounds of food for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Whether you contribute canned goods or donate a toy, your generosity and holiday spirit will help a neighbor in need and is greatly appreciated.
Click here for more information on how you can participate.