Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Back Bay moments defined Boston’s whirlwind year in 2025?

Coming up: United in Prevention: Human Trafficking Current Trends and Prevention Strategies Conference 2026 on the Back Bay Patch calendar

Friday January 2nd Patch AM
Friday January 2nd Patch AM (Patch graphic)

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:

  • What Back Bay moments defined Boston’s whirlwind year in 2025?
  • Could Mission Hill rentals start mirroring Back Bay’s short‑term rental problems?

Also on today's calendar: United in Prevention: Human Trafficking Current Trends and Prevention Strategies Conference 2026 and 7 more events.

Find out what's happening in Back Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Back Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 29 and low of 20 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partial sunshine, temps: high: 31, low: 23.
  • Sunday: A little snow in the morning, with a high of 29 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• Looking back on '25 in Boston (thebostonsun.com) — Back Bay residents saw a busy 2025, from Neighborhood Association licensing meetings to Mayor Wu’s decision to remove the new Boylston Street bus lane while studying bike infrastructure. Local groups won Mayor’s Garden Contest honors, and neighbors joined citywide milestones like Esplanade upgrades, Swan Boat season, and the lighting of Commonwealth Avenue Mall, all shaping daily life around Copley and the surrounding streets.
   

• CAMH hears plans for Heath Street residential development (missionhillgazette.com) — A new 14‑unit building proposed for Heath Street in Mission Hill is raising questions about parking, affordability, and potential short‑term rentals, with neighbors citing problems seen in Back Bay high‑rises as a warning. Community Alliance of Mission Hill members want tighter conditions on student and short‑term rentals before the plan returns in January, and also reviewed separate proposals to add basement units on South Huntington and Calumet streets.
   


📸 Around Back Bay

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!


🗓 Upcoming Events in Back Bay

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Featured events

Want to see your event featured? Click here!


Other local events
    Saturday January 3
  • Junk Journaling
    Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
    3:00 pm
  • Tuesday January 6
  • LEGO Builders Challenge (Drop-in)
    Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
    3:30 pm
  • Wednesday January 7
  • 2026 Discover Boating New England Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive
    415 Summer St , Boston
    12:00 pm
  • Creativity Club (drop-in)
    Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
    3:30 pm
  • Boston Teachers Union: Homework Help
    Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
    4:00 pm
  • Thursday January 8
  • Tech Help (By Appointment)
    Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
    10:30 am
  • Saturday January 10
  • Saturday Science (ages 4-8)
    Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
    10:30 am
  • Kids Paint Nite w/ Lydia Jane
    Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston
    2:00 pm
  • Adult Paint Nite w/ Lydia Jane
    Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston
    5:00 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

    Friday January 2
  • Story Time (Ages 0-5)
    South Boston Branch Library , 646 East Broadway , South Boston
    10:30 am
  • Storytime at West
    West Branch , 40 College Ave , Somerville
    11:00 am
  • ESOL Conversation Group
    Faneuil Branch Library , 419 Faneuil Street , Brighton
    11:00 am
  • Small Business Camvassing
    Watertown Free Public Library Raya Stern Trustees Room (2nd floor) , 123 Main St, Watertown, MA, 02472
    1:00 pm

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:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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🗞 Nearby News

South End

North End

  • Mayor Michelle Wu Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Community Center in North End (einpresswire.com)
  • Planning Department Advances Zoning Reforms In Support of New Housing, Small Businesses (einpresswire.com)
  • How to plan an epic staycation with a baby or toddler (familyvacationist.com)

Boston


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 just lost interest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!


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