City Council president Maureen Feeney (aka "MoFee") had plans to host a big gathering--or kvetch-fest, if you will--at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. At the time it was originally announced, it was seen as a potential irritant to Mayor Menino and a possible traffic nightmare. Whatever it is, it's on. The Globe describes the gathering thusly: Her goal is to combat the voter apathy displayed in the most recent council election and address a......

Art Somerville's Nave Gallery has brought us thoughtful installations before, but their new "Ghost Town" sounds positively compelling. Artists imagine our earth in a process of transformation, with cities growing and shrinking, populations moving, people interacting with nature, and everything cycling both naturally and unnaturally toward growth, decay, and chaos. Might sound like a bunch of hippie nonsense, but we think it makes for some appealing art. "Ghost Town" runs through March 21 at......

City Councilor President Maureen Feeney ("MoFee") has suggested hosting a gigantic town meeting at the South Boston Convention Center in the spring, the Globe reports. The mayor is not feeling the idea because of the teeming hordes that are likely to descend up on the convention center to speak their minds and he has to listen to kvetching all the time, anyway. But the mere presence of teeming hordes is the point. All too......

First Night Monday, December 31 Everywhere (see below) All outdoor events are free. All indoor events are accessible with a First Night button ($15) Official First Night site Wizard-rockers Harry and the Potters will bring the magic to the First Night proceedings. At first, Bostonist was skeptical because, although the masses love their Harry Potter, that gimmick was bound to get old. And then we were thrilled to discover that they play straight-up, fuzzy......

First Night Film Festival Monday, December 31 All movies will screen in Room 312 of the Hynes Convention Center, except for the Dylan at Newport feature, which will be in Hall D. All indoor events are accessible with a First Night button ($15) Official First Night site First Night usually inspires thoughts of fireworks, ice sculptures, and outdoor activities. But movies are First Night's secret weapon because a) the lineup of movies is great and......

First Night Monday, December 31 Everywhere (see below) All outdoor events are free. All indoor events are accessible with a First Night button ($15) Official First Night site Artists use the cold weather to their advantage with ice sculptures. The sculptures will be on the Common starting at 1:00 pm until midnight. You can look at a frozen version of Florida courtesy of Donald Chapelle, an American eagle that would make Stephen Colbert proud, and......

--What would happen if you threw a Christmas mass and the priest never came? [Boston Herald] --Looks like City Councilor Maureen Feeney (aka "MoFee") will be elected City Council president for another term. [Boston Globe] --Even though the family that owns the stores skipped the country, Alpha Omega stores reopened. [WBZ] --Since Filene's is undergoing reconstruction, the annual "Running of the Brides" is moving to Hynes Convention Center and will be held February 22. [Boston......

First Night Monday, December 31 Everywhere in Boston (see below) All indoor outdoor events are free. All outdoor indoor events are accessible with a First Night button ($15) Official First Night site First Night has been preparing to ring in the New Year. Revelers can enjoy all the First Night outdoor events, such as the ice sculptures and the fireworks, for free. But they'll need to pick up a button to attend the indoor events,......

Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair November 16-18 Hours: Friday 5-9 Saturday 12-7, Sunday 12-5 Hynes Convention Center Directions | Tickets (Purchase $15 weekend tickets on Friday, or $8 for Saturday or Sunday only) If nothing turns you on like yellowed pages and musty smells, the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair is for you. From a copy of Ariel inscribed by Ted Hughes to an original copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with promo......

--A Boston judge sentenced three cocaine dealers yesterday and then told them that, after they serve their time, they will not be allowed to move back to the city for 12 years. According to the Herald, 19-year-old Amos Carasquillo of Mattapan, 26-year-old Nathan Garrasteguy of Roxbury, and 21-year-old Louis Garcia Jr. of Roxbury have 60 arrests among them. Besides those guys, eleven gang members have been rounded up in the past few weeks. --Last night,......

Bostonist saw today's "Rolling Rally," featuring the players riding duck boats across the city and relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon dancing to the Dropkick Murphys, from two different vantage points--near the Common and at the Hynes Convention Center. Everyone clearly enjoyed themselves, especially Papelbon: Wherever you were along the parade route, it was simply madness. Of course, the Red Sox faithful turned out in their jerseys. Hundreds of little kids skipped school. College students sat down......

The Armenian Memorial, a proposed park, would pay homage to the Armenian Genocide that saw the loss of an estimated 1.5 million lives in 1915. The memorial has been on and off in the news mostly for their intention to develop a parcel of the Greenway near Christopher Columbus park as the site of the memorial. Tom Menino has voiced his opinion: no way. He doesn't want the Greenway to become home to a number......

We're playing a little game we call "what's Tommy's name not on?" The Zamboni that smoothes the ice at the Frog Pond? It's on there. The welcome sign to Boston? It's on there. The toothbrushes the Boston Public Health Commission distributes? It's on there (and happens to be absurdly huge.) The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center? Yeah, that's it. Menino's name does not adorn the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is not yet called......

Some people might wind up on the blotter starting tomorrow. Police are getting ready for an onslaught of protesters for Bio 2007, the gigantic biotech conference that starts on Sunday. We think that making such a fuss about it makes protesters look like a bunch of peasants armed with pitchforks, and anyone working in biotech should already be prepared for people to have a lot of questions. It's probably going to be a lot of......

Bostonist saw Anime Boston 2007 participants all over yesterday: on Newbury Street, in the mall, at Spike's, outside the Pru, where they had strayed from Hynes Convention Center in their full regalia.......

The emphasis on First Night has been as much on what you can't do as much as what you can do. So let's get what you can't do out of the way right now. Don't drive. Take public transportation. No excuses because the T will be free after 8 pm. The MBTA provides more details about the New Year's schedule here. And, as far as the law is concerned, the message is try not to......

While you were waiting in line for the CharlieGate to open the MBTA has been hard at work. Fixing escalators? No. Running busses on schedule? Of course not. Giving their website a complete overhaul? You got it. This morning browsing over to the MBTA.com website brings up a whole new page. Compared to the last 2002-esque design of the T website of yesterday the new implementation is in the flashy web 2.0 vein. For......

If you’re hiking, consider charging up your iPod, as Seattlest finds out that a man lost during a hike was found by the glow of his iPod. That cleverness seems to be devoid in cops who were using police cruiser instant messaging clients - although we imagine IMs “so are you nakie” to be included in cop shows, just for realism. If only the cops were busting the Hummer-driving jerk who made a poor......

Before the book clubs, car giveaways, and Bob Greene, Bostonist didn't really mind Oprah and her show. Then Ms. Winfrey began her path to spiritual bliss and started her magazine, and now she is a guru of anything having to do with females. So, she’s now pairing up with her own set of “gurus” and is hosting the O You! event this Saturday at the Boston Convention Center. For a measely(!) $95 resgistration fee, you......

Walking around Boston – from the Common to Mass Ave – characters had invaded the Hub. They weren't the usual Saturday afternoon cast: tourists strapped with cameras and children, or Red Sox fans in full attire getting ready for the evening game. Boston Anime 2006 took over the Hynes Convention Center for the weekend, spilling out on more that one occasion into the Pru and Copley Malls before taking in some of the sights and......

Some of the coolest stuff at South By Southwest Interactive takes place after the convention center's shut tight. One of the most interesting things this week was 20x2, an annual get-together where 20 speakers, from all corners of the Web and the tech world, get two minutes each to answer one very open-ended question. This year, "What's The Secret?" The answers were as varied and off-the-wall as you could expect. Some took the question very......

We knew it was that time of the year when we saw them all huddled together at the Hynes Convention Center T stop, shouting something about “Thin Mints.” Of course our ears perked up and before we knew it, we had shelled out $16.00 for two boxes of Shortbreads and two boxes of “Caramel Delites” (which used to be called “Samoas” back in the day). Yes, we are currently in full swing for the three......

In the land of Bostonist, two whole days before Xmas means dedicated shopping to ensure that this year, no friend or relative receives something chosen randomly from a drawer in the kitchen and wrapped. Open markets, fairs and bazaars abound on Saturday and Sunday, with lots of variety for all styles...so come all 'ye (consumer) faithful! For the earthy, culturally aware, and maybe a little bit boho-chic The Cultural Survival Winter Bazaar Days: Saturday......

Have you ever walked down Boylston and seen weird people with funny accents and large tote bags? These people from all over the country come to the Hynes Convention Center to pay large sums of money and hear important people talk. Nothing upsets Bostonist more than an event too expensive to attend, and for once we have found a different solution than charging the guards at the front gates. AIGA has decided to podcast all......

I will be spending 4 days in your lovely city for a design conference at the Hynes starting next week. Would have you have any suggestions as to what I should do while I am visiting Boston? Good places to eat on the company dime (sadly solo), places to go, etc? I want to make the most out of my trip. Any suggestions would be welcome. - Samae Claspill For once, our use of the......

Globe Columnist Brian McGrory is often critical of Romney and his administration. That is, critical when he’s not waxing poetic about his childhood summer cottage or praising to Francona. Today’s column by McGrory applauds Mitt for cutting through the red tape and offering to host 2,500 Katrina-displaced persons. Romney acted much quicker than Menino who was still drafting plans to host evacuees at the Boston Convention Center. Today’s column had an obligatory dig on......

This week attendees for the Yankee Dental Congress have drilled their way into Boston. Through the snow, and more snow, they have arrived into Back Bay to attend the 30th Yankee Dental Congress at the Hynes Convention Center. Pre-conference events start tomorrow and the conference oficially opens Thursday. This means if you’re visiting the Pru or Copley Mall, riding on the orange or green line or going into a candy store - beware – your......