Set your Boston sites for 2009: Top 10 List of Must’s

#1 - Get your taste buds ready for Steph's on Tremont Street, soon to open in 2009. This will be Stephanie Sokolove's second al fresco restaurant -- many of you know of Stephanie's on Newbury, the great American bistro with outdoor dining in the summer. Culinary seafood specialties, sophisticated ambiance and a great crowd should work well in the South End.

#2 – Walk through Faneuil Hall, also known as Quincy Market – while you still can. The economy may shut it down soon. Street performer acts, a smorgasbord of food offerings and nightlife are woven throughout the area watched over by the statue of Samuel Adams. This Sam’s for you!

#3 –As the newest addition to the Boston Harbor, The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel  is a sophisticated downtown Boston hotel that stylishly reflects the vibrancy and aqua-elegance of the ocean. Inspired by the sea, this newly acclaimed Boston Harbor hotel boasts luxurious guestrooms with the latest amenities and offers breathtaking ocean vistas. Guests will experience exquisite service in creative spaces at this dynamic South Boston hotel, which blends a unique style with advanced technology for fluid business engagements and stunning social events. Conveniently situated as a flagship Boston Seaport District hotel, the Renaissance Waterfront offers easy access to Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Logan Airport and the Financial District.

#4 – Glide across Frog Pond with your lover. Here at the coolest gathering place in Boston you can join local residents and visitors alike as they glide over the carefully manicured, refrigerated surface. In 1997, people were able to skate on this type of surface for the first time in Downtown Boston. The Frog Pond Skating Rink is now open from November to mid-March with at least 100 days of seasonal skating.

After you take a spin on the ice, why not enjoy a pleasant lunch or dinner nearby? Just beyond the Frog Pond you'll find some of Boston's finest restaurants and shops lining Charles Street to the shopping excitement of Downtown Crossing, Back Bay's Newbury Street and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. There's so much to do and see it can be positively dizzying, just like the feeling you get after attempting your first spin on skates.

#5 – Discover Boston Harbor Islands. Choose your adventure. Will it be camping? A guided ferry tour or a kayaking trip? Start with a tour of Georges Island: Tour the National Historic Landmark, Fort Warren, a 19th-century granite stronghold built to defend Boston. Walk around the ramparts or along the shore. Tidal pools await explorers and large fields beckon Frisbee players. There are also free range guided tours and cafe amenities. Move on to Spectacle Island: Take a swim in lifeguarded waters. Hike along five miles of trails to the islands' highest point, with spectacular views of the Boston skyline and harbor. A "green" visitors center offers cafe amenities and exhibits about island history and nature. Free jazz concerts Sunday afternoon, from June through September.

#6 – Catch a flick at Free Film Fridays at the Museum of Science. This January, the Museum of Science and The MathWorks are partnering to give New Englanders a special treat. All day Fridays, Jan. 9, 16, and 23, Museum-goers are invited to view free films on New England's only IMAX® dome screen. Free Film Fridays will give visitors a chance to escape the winter cold and travel to some of Earth's most exotic locations or blast off for an out of this world adventure - all in the comfort of the Museum's newly renovated Mugar Omni Theater. With a shared passion for discovery and learning, the Museum of Science and The MathWorks invite the public to enjoy some of the world's most incredible experiences, from base-jumping off the Fjords of Norway to diving into an underwater feeding frenzy off the coast of South Africa. Audiences will see these spectacular sights on a five-story-high screen and hear heart-thumping audio delivered by the Mugar Omni Theater's state-of-the-art surround sound system.

On Jan. 9, at 6:45 p.m. the public is invited to A Night on Mars, an evening celebrating Free Film Fridays and the Museum's newest IMAX® film, Roving Mars. Visitors will enjoy a sneak preview of the film and meet Cornell astronomer Steve Squyres, star of the film and principal investigator on the missions that landed the rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Discover the dramatic events that happened in the five years since these robot explorers first touched Mars terrain, and find out about the future of Mars exploration. After the film, guests can simulate the experience of a NASA mission control scientist and test-drive the Museum's Personal Exploration Rover (PER). They'll also meet a full-scale model of the rover twins Spirit and Opportunity, on loan from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Standing over 5 feet tall and more than 7 feet long, the six-wheeled rovers were originally designed to last 90 days—but have been making discoveries for five years and counting. Limited free tickets to A Night on Mars are available at the box office, on Jan. 9 only, first come, first served.

Along with Roving Mars, the Museum will show The Greatest Places, Wild Ocean, and Adrenaline Rush during Free Film Fridays. Visitors can pick up tickets at the Museum box office on the day of the show only, first come, first served. Limit two shows per guest. For more information, call (617) 723-2500. 

#7 – Score tickets to the home opening Red Sox game in Boston, April 6.

#8 – Seek out a couple of nearby wineries and arrange tours and tastings. (www.redoakwine.com) Don't forget to purchase a bottle or two from your favorite winery. Don’t like wine? Plan a tour and beer-tasting at a local microbrewery (www.bostonbeerworks.net).

#9 - Feast on events thrown by Phantom Gourmet.

#10 - Tour de Champagne Boston - Last year’s Tour de Champagne Boston was such a hit with local wine lovers that the event is back for round two!  Once again, Tour de Champagne will bring together champagne from a variety of prestigious champagne houses like Bollinger, Ruinart and Perrier Jouet; cuisine from some of the city’s most talented chefs and live music. In each city, Tour de Champagne partners with a local non-profit - the Boston non-profit organization will be announced soon.

For more than three years, Tour de Champagne has popped into cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and Washington D.C. In each city, the event joins forces with top local restaurants and chefs to create an unmatched champagne tasting experience.

Saturday, March 14 at Charles Hotel Cambridge, One Bennett St., Cambridge. Call 617-661-5000 for more information. Tickets: • Pre Sales $15 OFF! through Dec. 31, 2008; • $115 $100 General admission; • $150 $135 VIP admission

7-10 PM: Main Event
• Featuring a many major brands, along with smaller houses you may not know!
• Champagne & Caviar Reception
• Taste culinary delights from Boston's Best Chefs
• Live Music by Fin de Soiree at Regatta Bar
• Live Jazz
• Continue the evening compliments of the feature Champagne House (TBA)

• Or enjoy a snifter of Cognac served with dessert crepes
• And, a dessert and chocolate buffet