By Courtney Wright
Special to the Gazette
“It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season-like all the other seasons-is a good time not only to tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them, and that’s the end of this particular story.” -Lemony Snicket, The Lump of Coal: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids
As we transition from the holiday of giving thanks to the winter holidays, I thought of one of my favorite literary quotes that I like to reflect on this time of year. As I write this, I think of how thankful I am personally to have the opportunity to work and spend so much of my time in the miracle that is our neighborhood of Mission Hill. I think of this past month when so many of our organizations, institutions and neighbors have spent their time, energy and resources to provide a piece of the holidays to our residents, young and old. From the 500 turkeys donated by Stop and Shop in coordination with New England Baptist Hospital, to the volunteers who came out to the Tobin Community Center on November 14th to bag and distribute these to 500 families around the neighborhood. I think of the camaraderie and spirit of service that exists in our local business community who helped to provide hot meals to even more seniors and families during the week of Thanksgiving but also for the myriad of community events leading up to it. (Thank YOU to Solid Ground Café, Penguin Pizza, the Mission Bar and Grill and Lily’s Pasta). It is these examples of community and taking care of one another that happen not only during holidays, but all year, that make me most grateful for the miracle that is our neighborhood.
Before I get too mushy, there is a LOT going on in December to look forward to and I hope that it will give us all many opportunities to come together and share joy over the next month. It is officially the time of year for our snowflakes to retake their places on Tremont and Huntington and for the annual Tree lighting in Brigham Circle and Mayor’s Trolley Tour. Please join us this Saturday, December 2nd (tomorrow by the time you read this) in Brigham Circle for the Tree lighting ceremony beginning at 3:15 p.m., with the Mayor’s Trolley expected at 3:45. There will be refreshments of hot chocolate and coffee and of course the world’s best munchkins (thank you Maria and Mike’s Donuts!) and the infamously delicious baked goods of Solid Ground Café (thank you Lucia and Keith!). Pam Carthy and the Penguin will be supporting the event as well- please grab a slice of pizza while we wait for the Trolley! Rain or shine, frigid or warm, we will be there and I hope you will be too!
Our artists at the Mission Hill Artists Collective have been busy and have a lot happening this month for us to look forward to and enjoy. The Mission Hill Holiday Market returns on Friday, December 8th and Friday, December 15th from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. to the main plaza entrance of One Brigham Circle (1620 Tremont). Thank you to the sponsors, Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services and One Brigham Circle for supporting this great event. Thank you to the organizers, the Holiday Market Team with the MH Artists Collective also supported by the Mission Hill Health Movement and Main Streets. On December 14th, from 6-7 p.m. there will be a Community Social Gathering and artist reception at the Parker Hill Branch Library for the ongoing “Landscape and Hidden Places” exhibition that will be on through January. Also on the 14th, at the Library from 5-7 p.m. is the Parker Hill Library Winter Gala, presented by the (very busy!) MH Artists Collective.
The tree lighting and Mayor’s Trolley won’t be your only opportunity to meet Santa this month. On December 9th, Penguin Pizza is having a Christmas Party! The event starts at 3 p.m. and Santa will arrive at 4:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be on hand as well as a special guest, the grinch! There will be Christmas crafts, gifts for the children and much more. Please bring a toy for the toy drive and enter to win a $50 gift card. We hope you’ll stop by the Penguin at 735 Huntington to share in the joy.
Later in the month, on December 23rd from 5-8 p.m. will be “Christmas on the Hill” at the Mission Hill Playground (1581 Tremont St) presented by STEP NATION INC and BCYF. For more information on this event, please reach out at [email protected]
With everything going on in Mission Hill this month, it is possible I missed something so please keep your eyes and ears out for all that the holiday season has to offer in the neighborhood. There are so many opportunities to gather and spend time with old and new friends, and enjoy the many miracles we create together here in Mission Hill. On behalf of myself and the MH Main Streets Board, we wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday!