What Bostonians need to know this week, from the supermoon to Biden sightings
Welcome back Boston and a big thanks to Kevin for taking over last week. I’m back this week from my own respective Thanksgiving coma (remember, it’s not the tryptophan; it’s the sides) and am ready for more holidays. So without further ado, here’s what to look forward to this week.
What you missed over the weekend:
‘A trickle-down revival’:
Despite protest from Democrats, the Senate passed its version of the sprawling Republican tax bill in the wee early hours Saturday morning. The legislation cuts taxes for corporations and individuals, eliminates deductions for state and local incomes taxes, and repeals the individual health-care mandate. The bill is largely the same as the one passed by the House weeks earlier, but there are still some differences to work out.
Speaking of bills: The Patriots made easy work of their foes in Buffalo, extending their winning streak to eight games. As Chad Finn put it, another “imperfect victory.”
Tweet it out: White House officials are trying to do clean up after President Donald Trump sent a tweet suggesting he knew former advisor Michael Flynn lied to FBI officials when he fired the agency’s former director James Comey. In another tweet Sunday morning, Trump denied that he asked Comey to stop investigating Flynn.
Also important: Though perhaps not the flashiest of news, CVS’s $69 billion deal to acquire Aetna is a very big deal in the health care industry. According to the Washington Post, the merger has the potential to “rein in health-care costs and transform its 9,700 pharmacy storefronts into community medical hubs.”
Season Ticket: Celtics owner Wyc Grousbek joined Chris Gasper on The Boston Globe‘s new sport podcast to talk all things green — from Gordon Hayward’s recovery to trading Isaiah Thomas to what he sees in the Celtics future.
Friday night lights: Here’s your one-stop site for all the scores from the Massachusetts high school football championships this weekend.
What to know this week:
Sexual harassment on Beacon Hill:
The Massachusetts Senate is expected to appoint an independent special investigator this week to look into sexual harassment allegations against the Bryon Hefner, the husband of Senate President Stan Rosenberg. Rosenberg, who said Friday he was “shocked” and “devastated” to learn of the allegations, is supporting the investigation. The allegations against Hefner were reported in a bombshell story Thursday by The Boston Globe’s Yvonne Abraham.
Biden book tour hits Boston: Joe Biden’s speech Monday night at the Wilbur may be sold out, but those looking to catch the former vice president may want to trying hanging around the area’s old-school seafood restaurants.
Get those signatures: The deadline for filing signatures for 2018 ballot initiatives is this Wednesday. Supporters of two proposed referendums — one to guarantee paid family and medical leave and another to raise the minimum wage to $15 — said this weekend that they’ve collected the required 64,750 names. Check out all of the filed petitions hoping to make next year’s ballot here.
Look up: The moon is as as close to Earth as it gets in its cycle Saturday through Monday. You know what that means? Supermoon! Also, king tides. David Epstein has more.
Get in the holiday spirit: Boston.com’s Kristi Palma has a good list of the half-dozen New England towns to visit this season, featuring festive communities with everyone from Christmas fireworks to gingerbread light houses to — of course –lots and lots of holiday lights.
What’s happening in Boston:
Tis the season:
The Boston Pops begin their long-running Holiday Pops concerts this week with shows every day Tuesday through Christmas Eve (and one on New Year’s Eve). Check out the concert schedule here and find tickets here.
In local award show news: The 30th annual Boston Music Awards, which claims to be the longest running regional music award show in the country, will celebrate the area’s best artists and industry members Wednesday at the House of Blues with honors and live performances. Tickets to attend are still available here.
For your gift-giving purposes: City Hall Plaza isn’t the only one with a pop-up market. The Allston-Brighton Winter Market at the Harvard Ed Portal kicks off Thursday afternoon, equipped with craft vendors, a Lord Hobo beer garden, food, and live music. It will be open through Sunday. On a related note, Boston magazine has a nice roundup of all the Boston-area holiday markets going on this month.
Concerts in the neighborhood: This week brings a number of heavy hitters of Boston’s music scene. New wave legend Gary Numan starts us off Monday at the Paradise. Then on Thursday night, Morrissey — touring in support of his first album in three years — headlines at the Orpheum. And the Brooklyn rock band LCD Soundsystem takes over BU’s Agganis Arena on Friday night, with tickets going for less than $33.
Winter revelry: The three-week run of the Christmas Revels begins Friday at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre. The four-decades-old holiday tradition explores the city of Venice this year in a “joyful theatrical celebration” of music, dance, and culture.
The most prestigious holiday tradition: As if you needed any other reason to run a chilly one-mile lap in downtown Boston in nothing but sneakers, a Speedo, and holiday attire, the annual Santa Speedo Run returns this Saturday afternoon in Back Bay.
For legally aged gingerbread men (and women): The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel is hosting a “Gingerbread Houses For Grown-Ups” event Saturday night. For a cool $75-per-person (or $125-per-couple), you get a gingerbread house to decorate and bring home, as well as assistance from the hotel’s culinary team, wine, beer, holiday cocktails, and snacks.
For cotton-headed ninny-muggins: This week is your last chance for fans of the beloved holiday Will Ferrell comedy Elf to catch the musical version at Boston’s Wang Theatre. The show, which opened Thursday, closes Sunday, December 10.
This week’s Patriots schedule:
Monday, December 11: 8:30 p.m. at the Miami Dolphins on ESPN
This week’s Celtics schedule:
Monday, December 4: 7:30 p.m. versus the Milwaukee Bucks on NBC Sports Boston
Wednesday, December 6: 7:30 p.m. versus the Dallas Mavericks on NBC Sports Boston
Friday, December 8: 9:30 p.m. at the San Antonio Spurs on NBC Sports Boston and ESPN
Sunday, December 10: 4 p.m. at the Detroit Piston on NBC Sports Boston
This week’s Bruins schedule:
Monday, December 4: 8 p.m. at the Nashville Predators on NESN
Thursday, December 7: 7 p.m. versus the Arizona Coyotes on NESN
Saturday, December 9: 7 p.m. versus the New York Islanders on NESN
