Chef Michael Mina has opened the second location of his Pabu Izakaya at the Millennium Tower Boston with Chef Ken Tominaga and Mina Group. The 7,700-square-foot Japanese restaurant, located on the hotel’s second floor, opened in November and seats 171 guests. A 250-square-foot private dining room overlooks Downtown Crossing and seats 20 or holds 30 for cocktails. There's also a 12-seat sushi bar. Traditional and seasonal tasting menus composed of seven or nine courses are available for customization.
Located in one of downtown Boston's most historic buildings, the Ames Boston Hotel unveiled 1,700 square feet of new meeting and event space on the hotel's second floor in late January. There are two new rooms available: the 964-square-foot Ames room, which accommodates 41 guests for banquets or 20 for conference-style events, and the 432-square-foot Oliver and Oakes room, which seats 34 for banquets or 18 guests for conferences. The two rooms, which are flooded with natural light and contain full audiovisual capabilities, can be combined for larger events.
In late January, Supper Club at Capo opened in South Boston below the Italian restaurant of the same name. The new 4,000-square-foot space features a stage with state-of-the-art sound and lighting capabilities suited for live entertainment of all kinds. The lounge seats 100 guests or holds 180 for cocktail-style events. The upstairs restaurant and downstairs can be combined for full buyouts of as many as 360 guests for receptions. In the lounge, chef Tony Susi can create custom menus for events, including dishes that from the restaurant menu.
The Italian-inspired eatery Mida opened in the South End in late November. Owner and chef Douglass Williams presents handmade pastas and bold flavor combinations in a stylish but cozy setting with a diverse wine list. The 2,000-square-foot space is available for seated events of as many as 50 guests or receptions of 100 guests.
Oak & Rowan, restaurateur Nancy Batista-Caswell's 5,500-square-foot American restaurant, opened in mid-November in Fort Point. Available for both full or partial buyouts, the restaurant includes a 600-square-foot private dining room equipped with audiovisual capabilities that seats 30 guests. The main dining room seats 95, with an additional 26 seats at the bar. For events with as many as 18 guests, Batista-Caswell will roll out a table-side cocktail cart with customized drinks.
The Boston outpost of the comfort food and craft beer spot City Tap House opened December 31. Measuring 6,000 square feet, the space seats 150 guests in the main dining room, which overlooks the open kitchen and is outfitted with 11 HD TVs, including three 80-inch screens. A 525-square-foot private event room seats 30 guests or holds 50 standing, while a seasonal patio holds 60 guests for cocktails. A full buyout accommodates 250 people, but the space can accommodate semiprivate events of as many as 100 guests. The menu offers what it calls “elevated American pub fare,” including gluten-free options, as well as more than 60 beers on tap.
A lively neighborhood restaurant serving globally influenced dishes, Publico Street Boston will be a welcome addition to South Boston's food scene. Opening on February 24, the 5,876-square-foot eatery will seat 131 guests. An atrium with a full bar, fire pits, and flat-screen TVs will seat about 50 guests at tables, low seating, and a 13-person bar. Coming later in the year is a 325-square-foot private dining room.
A taste of the South comes to central Massachusetts with the Battle Road Brew House, which opened in late January. Serving craft beer and Southern-style barbecue from a massive outdoor hardwood smoker, the 9,600-square-foot brew house also features live music on the custom-made stage area. The Revere Room is a private event space that seats 25 guests or holds 40 for receptions. Semiprivate events for groups of as many as 75 guests are available, and a patio that fits 45 standing guests will become available in warmer weather. All private dining spaces are equipped with audiovisual equipment including HD portable flat screens, iPod docking stations, and microphones, along with flip charts, whiteboards, and podiums. The adjacent Battle Road Brewery is set to open later this year and will be available for tours, tastings, and special brewing events.
With a prime location at the South End's Ink Block, Lion's Tail is a cocktail den with a menu of small plates and shared entrées. The 2,228-square-foot hotspot, which opened in mid-February, is available for full or partial buyouts. The space seats 34 guests in the dining area, with an additional 28 seats in the bar area split between bar seats and high-top tables. The space holds 90 guests for cocktail-style events.
A sibling to Somerville's Painted Burro, Burro Bar is a colorful restaurant in Brookline's Washington Square. The 2,500-square-foot eatery, which opened on January 30, seats 50 guests in the dining room, 12 at the bar, and an additional 20 on a seasonal patio. It serves over 100 types of tequila and a menu of bocaditos (small bites) like Mexican street corn as well half a dozen taco options. The space is available for buyouts.
Environmental nonprofit Global Green held its 14th annual pre-Oscar awards and concert at Tao Hollywood on February 22, honoring Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council chairman David Archambault II as well as other environmental leaders. The awards were the first event inside the new Tao location, which is scheduled to open this spring.
JJLA handled design, production, and management for the event, which took on an Asia-inspired theme to celebrate the venue, with red and gold accents and plenty of greenery and succulents. The event was, of course, eco-friendly, with LED light fixtures, no plastic, and zero food waste; scraps were composted and leftover food was donated.
Atmosphere Productions handled audiovisual production, while Town & Country provided rentals and Seed Floral Couture handled flowers. The evening featured performances by DJ Asha, Cody Simpson, Estelle, and Taylor Dayne.
Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland worked with longtime event producer Cheryl Cecchetto and Sequoia Productions to produce and design this year's Governors Ball, which took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Dolby Theatre immediately following the ceremony. The night drew 1,500 Oscar winners and nominees, show presenters, and other A-list talent, and was decorated with a “magical transformation” theme, with red, gold, and white colors. Starburst light fixtures and irregular-shaped decor pieces, illuminated with white lights, comprised a cloud-like ceiling installation that served as the evening’s focal point.
