Boston Celebrates The 243rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary

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By Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Special for USDR

WHAT: The Boston Tea Party comes alive this December! It’s December 16th, 1773 and trouble is brewing in Boston. Presented by Boston’s famed Old South Meeting House and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the 243^rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment is an opportunity for the public to experience one of America’s most iconic public protests. Reenactors from across New England theatrically tell the story of The Boston Tea Party and recreate the evening of December 16, 1773 which sparked the American Revolution. It all begins with a fiery tea tax debate at Old South Meeting House, the actual historic hall where the colonists congregated 243 years ago. Then, the public joins a lively procession to the waterfront and witnesses as the Sons of Liberty destroy 220lbs of actual loose [expired] tea into Boston Harbor. The tea is supplied byLondon’s East India Company, the same company from where the original tea came in 1773 and is still in existence today!

Boston, MA Celebrates 243rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary on Dec. 16, 2016 with Tea Direct from London's East India Co. — Boston, MA Celebrates 243rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary on Dec. 16, 2016 with Tea Direct from London’s East India Co.

Boston, Mass. celebrates the 243rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment on Dec. 16, 2016 (the actual anniversary). Presented by the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Old South Meeting House, this annual reenactment is one of the largest historical theatrical moving performances in the United States. London's East India Company, the same company from where the original tea came in 1773, will provide 220lbs of expired loose tea to be thrown into Boston Harbor. And, Boston restaurants, bars and hotels offer a dose of patriotism with tea-inspired specials, cocktails and packages throughout the month of December 2016.

WHEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 – Actual Historic Boston Tea Party Anniversary
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

TIMELINE:

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Meeting of the Body of the People – TICKETED EVENT (Ticket includes admission to the meeting at the Old South Meeting House plus special reserved viewing access along Boston’s historic waterfront for the Destruction of the Tea)
Old South Meeting House – 310 Washington Street at Milk Street
Ticket holders join an authentic, spirited and theatrical colonial debate at Old South Meeting House to protest the tax on tea (“No taxation without representation!”) just as unprecedented numbers of colonists gathered in this very building 243 years ago. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere and other Patriot leaders join in a heated debate with crown-loving Loyalists in this final attempt to peaceably resolve the crisis before the midnight deadline. Visitors are encouraged to join the debate, letting their voices be heard in the very place where Boston’s most famous act of rebellion began.

7:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Huzzah to Griffin’s Wharf! – OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Procession from Old South Meeting House to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – Milk Street to Congress Street to Pearl Street
Led by fife and drums and accompanied by colonial reenactors (in addition to a number of Redcoats along the way), the public is invited to march from Old South Meeting House to Boston’s historic waterfront where Griffin’s Wharf once stood along the same route the Sons of Liberty took to Boston Harbor to destroy the tea in 1773!

8:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Boston Harbor, a Tea Pot Tonight! – OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC (Ticket holders have access to a reserved viewing area on the Harborwalk)
Destruction of the Tea at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – 306 Congress St.
The public is invited along with the reenactors to line the shores of Boston Harbor and watch as the Sons of Liberty storm aboard the Brig Beaver and destroy chest after chest of East India tea, just as colonists did 243 years before. In this fully narrated program, the Sons of Liberty board the ship, opening the hold and hoisting tea chests on deck. Tea chests are broken open and actual tea from London’s East India Tea Company is spilled into Boston’s historic waters. Viewers cheer “Huzzah!” as each chest of tea is dumped into Boston Harbor as they witness the dramatic conclusion of this single most important event leading up to the American Revolution.

TICKETS: THIS EVENT SELLS OUT ANNUALLY. GREAT DEALS EARLY!

AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 – Discounted General Admission prices – $25/per person
ON NOVEMBER 1, 2016 – Ticket prices jump to General Admission pricing – $30/per person

To purchase tickets go to: http://gottea2016.bpt.me or visit Old South Meeting House at 310 Washington Street, Boston, MA. Discounted General Admission tickets ($25/person) are also available for sale at the Old South Meeting House through October 31, 2016.

Tickets include admission to the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House and access to an exclusive reserved viewing area on Boston’s Harborwalk for the Destruction of the Tea. All ticket proceeds help support Old South Meeting House, a non-profit National Historic Landmark. This event takes place rain, sleet, snow or shine. For general information on the annual reenactment, go to: www.December16.org.

NOTE: Both Old South Meeting House and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will be FREE and open to the public on Fri., December 16, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HOTEL INFO:

ALOFT BOSTON SEAPORT HOTEL, a new trendy 330-room hotel, is offering a BOSTON TEA PARTY EXPERIENCE starting from $299.00 and includes:

Deluxe accommodations in Boston’s thriving Seaport District
Two (2) tickets to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Adult (21+) Tea Time voucher for two (2) at WXYZ Bar featuring Aboslut® Wild Tea Vodka
$25 Re:fuel credit, a 24/7 grab & go outlet with snacks, beverages and light meals

This package is valid from Dec. 1-31, 2016 and is based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call Aloft Boston Seaport 877-462-5638. The hotel is located at 401-403 D St.

BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL, a 230-room Forbes five-Star luxury hotel situated on Boston Harbor, is offering a BOSTON TEA PARTY PACKAGE starting from $274.00. This package includes:

Deluxe accommodations overlooking Boston’s historic waterfront
Afternoon Tea for two (2) at Rowes Wharf Sea Grille
Tickets for two (2) to the 243^rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment

This package is available Fri., Dec. 16 ONLY is based on double occupancy (must be booked by Dec. 14, 2016 to guarantee tickets). The package will be bookable as of Nov. 1, 2016 on www.bhh.com. The hotel is located at 70 Rowes Wharf.

HOTEL INFO:

ELEMENT BOSTON SEAPORT HOTEL, a new 180-room hotel, is offering a BOSTON TEA PARTY EXPERIENCE starting from$299.00. This package includes:

Deluxe accommodations in the thriving Seaport District with full kitchens in every room
Two (2) tickets to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Tea Amenity featuring Tea Forté
$25 Restore: Gourmet pantry credit, a 24/7 grab & go outlet with snacks, beverages and light meals

This package is valid from Dec. 1-31, 2016 and is based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call Element Boston Seaport at 877-353-6368. The hotel is located at 391 D St.

INTERCONTINENTAL BOSTON, a 424-room luxury hotel located closest/adjacent to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, is offering a REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY: BOSTON TEA PARTY PACKAGE starting from $299.00. This includes:

Deluxe accommodations overlooking Boston’s historic waterfront and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Two (2) adult (age 13+) combo tickets with access to both the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Old South Meeting House
Two (2) tea-infused beverages – RumBa’s hard tea rum cocktails (IC-Breeze, Life & LibertTea or Tea Act) or hot tea
Tea Amenity – Boston Tea Company Connoisseur’s Mini Wooden Tea Chest which includes 20 tea bags in five gourmet blends: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Oriental Treasure Green, Pomegranate Green & Lemon Honey Chamomile Herbal
Tickets for two (2) to the 243^rd Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment – available Fri., Dec. 16, 2016 ONLY.

This package is available year-round and is based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call InterContinental Boston directly at 617-217-5033 or 877-747-BOSTON. The hotel is located at 510 Atlantic Ave. overlooking the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

BOSTON RESTAURANT & BAR SPECIALS:

OFFERED THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2016 –

AVERY BAR (10 Avery St. in the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common):
- THROW IT INTO THE CARIBBEAN – Owls Brew Coco-Lada, Papa’s Pilar Rum – $16
- THE NORTHEAST MOJITO – A local gold rum, lemon, sugar, mint leaves, Bohea black tea (one of the teas throwing into Boston Harbor during The Boston Tea Party) – $16
BASTILLE KITCHEN (49 Melcher St.) – TEA SMOKED MUSSELS MARINIÈRE with Earl Grey salt, rouille toast – $14
BLUE STATE COFFEE (155 Seaport Blvd & 957 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA) Also available at cafes in Providence, RI& New Haven, CT) – PATRIOT BLEND COFFEE & REVOLUTIONARY BLEND TEA
BON ME (313 Congress St.) DEVILED TEA EGG – Eggs soaked in a black tea mixture topped with homemade spicy mayo, cayenne pepper, scallions – $2.50 each
HARPOON BREWERY (306 Northern Ave.) Annual December BOSTON TEA PARTY ALE – Craft beer made with Souchong tea, a black tea from the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian province of China. The tea, provided by the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, is famous for its very distinctive smoky aroma and is one of the five teas thrown into Boston Harbor during The Boston Tea Party.
L’ESPALIER (774 Boylston St.) SOUTHERN EARL GREY – Earl Grey-infused Bourbon, Grand Marnier, oolong and ginger syrup, orange bitters, Champagne – $18
THE MARLIAVE (10 Bosworth St.) THE BOSTON TEA PARTY – Lunazul Tequila, Earl Grey tea, ginger beer, lemon – $12
THE OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM (40 Court St.) ABSOLUT® BOSTON TEA PARTY MARTINI – Absolut® Wild Tea Vodka, muddled with fresh lemons, triple sec, fresh sour mix –$10
RED LANTERN RESTAURANT & LOUNGE (39 Stanhope St.) KOLD TEA – An oversized cocktail (serves 3-4) of jasmine and oolong-infused Tito’s Vodka, lemon, beer – $35
RESIDENCE INN BOSTON DOWNTOWN/SEAPORT HOTEL LOBBY BAR & LOUNGE (370 Congress St.) GREEN TEA GIMLET – Tanqueray Gin, green tea, lime juice, lemon syrup – $12
RUMBA (rum bar located in the InterContinental Boston – 510 Atlantic Ave.):
- IC-BREEZE – Barr Hill Gin, fresh brewed mint tea, limoncello, orange juice, Peychaud’s bitters, simple syrup, lemon –$15
- LIFE & LIBERTEA – Rum steeped with Earl Grey tea, honey syrup, fresh muddled lemons –$14
- TEA ACT – Rum, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Mathilde Pêche, fresh brewed iced tea, fresh muddled ginger, fresh lemon juice – $14
SCHOLAR’S (25 School St.) THE SCHOLAR’S LONG ISLAND ICED TEA – House-infused honey peach tea vodka, a splash of citrus mix – tall and over rocks – $12
THE TAP TRAILHOUSE (19 Union St.) THE BOSTON TEA PARTY PUNCH – An oversized cocktail (serves 3-4) of pisco, pineapple juice, lemon, cinnamon, green tea – $39

OFFERED FROM DECEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 16, 2016 –

EMERALD LOUNGE (in the Revere Hotel Boston Common -200 Stuart St.) TWO4THREE – Bulleit Bourbon, Barry’s homemade sweet tea, lemon, mint – $13

OFFERED THE EVENING OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY ANNIVERSARY/REENACTMENT ON FRI., DEC. 16, 2016 –

BARKING CRAB (88 Sleeper St.) THE CRABBY TEA PARTY – one cup of clam chowder, one entree of Harpoon IPA battered fish & chips, a pint of Harpoon IPA – $20.16
SMITH & WOLLENSKY (294 Congress St.) BOSTON TEA PARTY REENACTMENT PRIX FIXE DINNER – 3-course prix-fixe menu (signature steak or seafood, side & dessert), Samuel Adams Boston Lager™ – $45

ABOUT OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE:
Famed as the place where the Boston Tea Party began, the 1729 Old South Meeting is one of the nation’s most important colonial landmarks and was the center for Boston’s protests against British rule in the years leading to the American Revolution. Saved from demolition in 1876, this treasured National Historic Landmark has been open to the public since the as a non-profit historic site, museum and an active center for public dialogue and free express in the heart of downtown Boston. The Old South Meeting house is a 501(c) 3 organization supported by The Massachusetts Cultural Council and other public and private funders. Presenting exhibits, rare artifacts and a full schedule of programs and events year-round and open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from April 1 – Oct., 31, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. from Nov. 1 – March 31. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. For more information, visit www.osmh.org, info@osmh.org or call 617-482-6439. Old South Meeting House is located at 310 Washington St., at the intersection of Milk St. in Boston, MA.

ABOUT BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM:
The Boston Tea Party, “the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution,” occurred the night of Dec. 16, 1773. With the grand opening in June 2012, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, owned and operated by Historic Tours of America, is dedicated to accurately reliving and representing a key time in history (1773-1775). Through actors, tea throwing reenactments, high-tech interactive exhibits, authentic replica ships: the Beaver and the Eleanor, and an award-winning multisensory film, Let it Begin Here. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open 7 days/week from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.(Summer/Spring) and from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Fall/Winter). Tours run every 30 minutes in the fall/winter and every 15 minutes in the spring/summer and last 1 hr. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum was voted #1 ‘Best Patriotic Attraction’ in USA Today‘s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2016, ‘Best New Museum’ by Yankee in 2012 and ‘Best of the New 2012’ by Boston Globe Magazine. To learn more visit www.bostonteapartyship.com or call 1-855-(TEA)-1773. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is located at 306 Congress St. on the Congress St. Bridge, Boston, MA.