The rink will open for the 2009/2010 season with a special Frog Pond Skating School exhibition featuring a dynamic and exciting assortment of the Boston area’s top national and international figure skating competitors, local up-and-coming young skating stars, and Frog Pond Skating School students of all levels. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies will be Ed Peduto, president of the NorthEast Ice Skating Managers Association.

Starring in this year’s performance will be two of the highest-ranking singles figure skaters in the nation in 2009, both from the Boston area: Brittany Rizo, seven-time National Competitor, national and international medalist, and US Figure Skating Team member who placed seventh at the 2009 US National Figure Skating Championships; and Curran Oi, national and international medalist, Junior World Competitor and US Figure Skating Team member who placed sixth at the 2009 US National Figure Skating Championships. Both Rizo and Oi represent the Skating Club of Boston.

Other featured performers include the Hayden Recreation Center Ice Mates who are the 2009 US National Novice Synchronized Skating Silver Medalists and US Team Members, the Hayden Recreation Center Mini Mates, and other nationally-ranked local skaters including Rochelle and Isabelle Dost from Brookline, Mary Galstian from Boston, Ryan Donahue from Cape Cod, and Melissa Burrows from Lexington.

Opening night will feature raffles for season and night passes and more along with free admission for all following the skating demonstration with skate rentals at the regular price. Special guests will include mascots Frog Pond Freddie and Blades from the Boston Bruins with Bruins team representatives.

Additionally, this year’s Frog Pond Grand Opening celebrates the release of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ musical “The Princess and the Frog” which opens nationwide on December 11. The event will take on a festive New Orleans flair complete with complimentary Mardi Gras masks and beads and a special musical performance by the Hot Tamale Brass Band, New England’s favorite Dixieland jazz band, as well as complimentary movie passes and item giveaways.

The 2009-2010 Frog Pond hours of operation are Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (except Monday when the rink closes at 4 p.m.), Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, open Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., New Year’s Eve 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and New Year’s Day 12 noon to 5 p.m. On December 28, 2009, and February 15, 2010, the Frog Pond will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission fees are $4 for ages 14 and over and free for ages 13 and under. Skate rentals are $5 for children 13 and under, $8 for 14 and over, and lockers are available for one-dollar tokens from the cashier. Introduced last season, the Frog Pond continues freestyle skating on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. for $12 a session. Don’t forget to bring your own skates, because there are no rentals during that time.

Individual season passes are available for $100, family passes with children ages 13 and under are $150, and lunch passes good Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (holidays excluded), are available for $60.

The Frog Pond Skating School has enhanced its skating lessons program this year and will be offering a variety of group and private skating lessons throughout the season for skaters of all levels and ages, from raw beginners to those aspiring to be figure skaters and hockey players.

The Frog Pond features concessions, skate rentals, rest rooms, and a warming area. For more information, please call the Frog Pond at (617) 635-2120 or visit www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org.

BOSTON, MA, August 5, 2009 – The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) and American Express announced that this year’s Summer Restaurant Week Boston® will be the largest in the event’s nine-year history. From August 9-14 and 16-21, 2009 diners can choose from an array of more than 200 of the region’s best eateries to enjoy three-course prix fixe lunches for $20.09 and three-course dinners for $33.09 – excluding beverage, tax and gratuity. An added menu option this summer is a two-course gourmet lunch priced at a very affordable $15.09; diners can select an entrée and then enjoy either an appetizer or dessert as the second course. For the first time in August, many of the participating restaurants have opted to offer their restaurant week menus on Saturday, August 15, the one night of the week when the offer has traditionally been excluded.

“Summer Restaurant Week Boston® provides a great dining experience at a great price,” said Patrick B. Moscaritolo, President and CEO of the GBCVB. “We have over 200 restaurants from across the Greater Boston area participating. Top chefs have the opportunity to get creative and showcase seasonal New England ingredients, farm fresh herbs and produce, and local seafood all at a tremendous value to diners. It’s also the perfect time to enjoy the region’s outdoor cafes, patios and harborside dining.”

Visitors looking for gourmet meals at bargain prices can go online to view all restaurants, peruse menus and make reservations at the OFFICIAL website, www.BostonUSA.com/RestaurantWeek. Along with prix fixe menus at the region’s best tables, participants are encouraged to take advantage of special hotel packages and bargains during the two week promotion. Special offers can also be easily accessed at www.BostonUSA.com/GreatDeals.

Restaurant Week Boston® isn’t just about great deals – when diners use any American Express® Card at participating restaurants, American Express and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau will donate* $.25 per transaction, up to $5000, to Community Servings, an independent, non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide free home delivered
meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to home bound and critically ill people with HIV/AIDS, and other acute life-threatening illnesses.

“We are proud to continue our support this year of Summer Restaurant Week Boston®,” said Kyle Curtin, Regional Vice President & General Manager, American Express Merchant Services, “Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to sample the wonderful restaurants of Boston and we are delighted to also be able to give back to the community through this
program.”

You can further support Community Servings by bidding on Restaurant Gift Certificates at www.RWBauction.com.  Continue to enjoy great dining savings while supporting an even greater cause!

Restaurant Week Boston® is sponsored and presented by founding partners, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and American Express®. Additional sponsors include Greater Media, Inc. radio stations: MAGIC 106.7 (WMJX), Radio 92.9, 105.7 (WROR), Country 102.5 (WKLB),Talk 96.9 (WTKK), and Metro Boston and TV DINER.
* Purchases are not tax deductible.

Once again, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and American Express present Restaurant Week Boston®. American Express® Card members have first dibs and can enjoy an exclusive early reservation period now through February 22, 2009. View the participating restaurants above. Reserve your table now by calling the restaurants of your choice and mention any American Express Card.

From Sunday, March 15 through Friday, March 20 and Sunday, March 22 – Friday, March 27, 2009 diners will enjoy 3-course lunches for $20.09 and/or dinners for $33.09 at restaurants throughout Boston, Cambridge, the suburbs and beyond.

New to the Restaurant Week Menu this year is a 2-course lunch option for $15.09. Diners can enjoy an entree and then elect either an appetizer or dessert as the second course. Many restaurants are also including Saturday this year.

Price is per person and excludes beverage, tax and gratuity. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.

Restaurant Week Boston® is a perfect time to sample new restaurants and visit old favorites as chefs prepare delectable 3 course meals for your dining pleasure.

Eat out. Eat Out Often.

bostonusa.com/restaurantweek