Fun To Go

New Year’s Eve Day is predicted to be sunny and 30 degrees-perfect  weather for  First Night activities with the kids . Check out this month’s P+K for Five Family Friendly New Year’s  Celebrations. Boston’s First Night Celebration of course, is the granddaddy of all First Night celebrations. To really do First Night right, here are some tips.

1. Bundle up. Dress the kids (and yourself!) in layers. Don’t forget a hat and mittens and very good (and warm!) shoes or boots.
2. Take the T. First Night activities take place at more than 40 locations throughout the city, but since the Hynes Convention Center is the site of the FedEx Family Festival   (1 PM-5 PM )and is also the starting point of the Mardi-Gras parade  which starts at 5 PM-  try to arrive at Hynes or  Copley  on the Green line, or Back Bay on the Orange line.
3. Plan for an early dinner (or really late lunch) to avoid the crowds. A  3 PM dinner  is not too early to enjoy both the 5 PM parade and the  family fireworks on the Boston Common at 7PM.  There are lots of chain restaurant choices and a food court in the Prudential Center- but if you are looking for a little quiet, consider either  Caffe Jaffa across Boylston St. at 48 Gloucester St.  for family- friendly Middle East  or Asana in the Mandarin Oriental hotel (776 Boyslton St.) for Asian-inspired cuisine.