Boston bustles at Christmastime

Author: By Jerry Morris, Globe Staff

Date: SUNDAY, December 6, 1998

Page: L2

Section: Travel

While this weekend is known for its Christmas strolls in picturesque villages throughout New England, Boston has its own stroll along famed Newbury Street where art, fashion, and delightful cafes create a festive holiday scene. There's something for everyone, from music to decorating holiday cookies, even getting your picture taken with Santa on a Harley-Davidson. Until 4 p.m., today you can bid on designer wreaths and menorahs created by the artisans of Newbury Street; proceeds benefit charities.

Today, too, Boston completes its tree lighting ceremonies with a grand illumination at 4 p.m. of 40 trees lining America's oldest park, Boston Common. Already lit are magnificent trees from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

For shoppers, the stroll doesn't end today but continues through the season with one of the grandest and most varied ``strolls'' anywhere. Begin, say, in the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace filled with colorful shops, eateries, music, and decorations along its cobblestone walkways, then amble down to Downtown Crossing with its huge department stores along with specialty shops, then head along Tremont Street to Boylston, with its unique collection of stores, then into Copley Place, where you can enter an indoor wonderland of lavish shopping, and continue across an enclosed walkway into the Prudential Center for even more variety. Now open in the Prudential Center is Marche Restaurant, the largest restaurant in the city; it offers a fantasy island of dining rooms where diners go to food stations, pick the ingredients they want, then watch the Marche cooks go into action. It's just about a two-mile dazzling showcase of holiday ideas.

To really celebrate properly, spend a night or two in the city at special holiday rates and enjoy enchanting festivities. At the Four Seasons, there are Teddy Bear Teas; the Ritz-Carlton has Nutcracker brunches; the Boston Park Plaza offers a Sugarplum Festival and lunches; and the Fairmont Copley Plaza provides gift wrapping in its ornate lobby (proceeds go to charities). For information on packages and special events, call 888-SEE BOSTON or visit www.bostonusa.com.

Among holiday happenings is a visit to the Enchanted Village, filled with animated figures, teddy bears, and more in a miniature New England village of the past. The attraction used to be found in Macy's (the former Jordan Marsh) and now graces City Hall Plaza in a great white pavilion. Meanwhile, ``Black Nativity'' is on at Tremont Temple; Boston is ``Nutcracker'' happy with the annual holiday treat from the Boston Ballet on at the Wang Center, and just across the street The Ballet Theatre of Boston is offering its version at the Majestic Theater. Also, you can try out the ice skating pond on Boston Common; catch the Christmas Revels at Sander's Theater in Cambridge; take one of the nightly Holiday Trolley Tours from Old Town Trolley; or join in the 225th Boston Tea Party reenactment Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Old South Meeting House and follow the ``Indians'' to the waterfront for the dumping. More festivities: a Nutcracker luncheon at the Four Seasons on Dec. 12; a Christmas concert at Old North Church on Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.; and the ``Messiah'' at Trinity Church in Copley Square also Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

And this is only a sampling of happenings.