🌱 Patch AM: How a Back Bay gateway could be transformed by spring

Cheers Back Bay! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Back Bay gateway could be transformed by spring
• How January MBTA shutdowns will disrupt getting to and from Back Bay
• Which Back Bay businesses just landed major support from City Hall?

Also on today's calendar: United in Prevention: Human Trafficking Current Trends and Prevention Strategies Conference 2026 and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: I’m trying to think of a new cloud joke. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 35 and low of 31 degrees.
• Monday: Periods of rain, temps: high: 49, low: 25.
• Tuesday: Windy and much colder, with a high of 28 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Fundraising Campaign gets Underway to Raise Funds for Improvements to David Mugar Way (thebostonsun.com) — A Back Bay resident–led nonprofit is raising $350,000 to overhaul and maintain David Mugar Way, the landscaped gateway between Back Bay and Beacon Hill. The plan would add climate-resilient, pollinator-friendly plantings and improve the roadway’s appearance, with hopes to break ground next spring if fundraising succeeds. Local groups like the Garden Club of the Back Bay are already advising the effort.
   

2. MBTA Announces upcoming Service Changes for January (thebostonsun.com) — Expect major MBTA disruptions affecting Back Bay in January, including an Orange Line shutdown between Wellington and Back Bay and fare-free gates at Back Bay and nearby Copley. Additional changes on the Blue, Red, Needham, and several Commuter Rail lines will alter routes into downtown, with shuttle buses, ferries, and alternate subway options offered but requiring significant extra travel time.
   

3. Mayor Wu hosts the first annual Scaled Impact Celebration (thebostonsun.com) — Back Bay-based firms Bleu Line Designs and Delta Wye Critical Solutions were among 27 small Boston businesses honored in Mayor Wu’s new SCALE procurement program, which offers grants up to $200,000 and intensive training. The Faneuil Hall celebration highlighted big gains in city contracts going to minority-, women-, and veteran-owned companies, and recognized several departments for steering more work to certified local vendors.
   

4. Downed wire in Hyde Park prompts long delays, cancellations on Amtrak (wcvb.com) — Train riders near Back Bay Station faced hours-long delays and cancellations after a downed wire in Hyde Park disrupted Amtrak service between Rhode Island and Boston. One passenger reported being stuck in a powerless tunnel train for several hours. Back Bay commuters should expect significant ripple effects while Amtrak works to resolve the issue.
   

📸 Around Back Bay

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Back Bay

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday April 15

• United in Prevention: Human Trafficking Current Trends and Prevention Strategies Conference 2026
  Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, 101 Harborside Dr, Boston
  1:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday December 29

• CENTER CLOSED for the Holiday
  Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston

Wednesday December 31

• The Resolution Ball
  The Westin Copley Place, Boston , 10 Huntington Ave , Boston
  7:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• CLOSED for New Years Day
  Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston

Saturday January 3

• Junk Journaling
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  3:00 pm

📣 Back Bay Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 28

• Vacation Week Palooza: Sleeping Beauty by Tanglewood Marionettes — Puppet Showplace Theater
  Puppet Showplace Theater , 32 Station St , Brookline
  10:30 am
• Hello Gorgeous: A Tribute to Barbra Streisand Starring Diane Lynn
  The Plaza Theatres at Boston Center for the Arts , 539 Tremont St , Boston
  2:00 pm
• The Slutcracker
  Somerville Theatre , 55 Davis Square , Somerville
  4:00 pm
• Maddi Ryan at SoWa Winter Festival
  SoWa Winter Festival , 550 Harrison Ave , Boston
  4:00 pm
• The Felice Brothers
  The Sinclair , 52 Church St , Cambridge
  6:00 pm

Monday December 29

• CENTER CLOSED for the Holiday
  Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston
• Amanda's & Jean's Mixed Beginner Class
  Watertown Free Public Library Raya Stern Trustees Room (2nd floor) , 123 Main St, Watertown, MA, 02472
  9:00 am
• Slow Flow Yoga
  Watertown Free Public Library Watertown Savings Bank Room (1st floor) , 123 Main St, Watertown, MA, 02472
  9:15 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Back Bay PatchAM possible:

• Dogtopia of Dedham — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Dependable Cleaners — (617) 471-1900
  Discover the Dependable Difference!
• Brick Marketing - Digital Agency — (781) 999-1222
  Brick Marketing, a Boston digital marketing agency.

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

Ok Back Bay! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I haven’t the foggiest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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