Shop Locally in the Back Bay on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24

Start your holiday shopping at locally owned stores during Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that their community thrives on. American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building the local economy in the Back Bay.  Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by shopping at locally owned stores to help boost the economy and their communities. Many places in the Back Bay are offering special deals for Small…

• Photos (1)

See Who is Participating in Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Sales on Newbury

The Newbury Street League is rounding up a list of participating shops.

Newbury Street Businesses: Everything You Need to Know About the Holiday Stroll

Time is running out to register to participate in this year's stroll.

The following is an edited piece from the Newbury Street League:  We have some great new additions to this years Holiday Stroll! These are some great opportunities for more exposure for your brand!        Reminders:  Time is running out. The sooner you send in your Stroll Participation Form (attached), the more exposure you get. The deadline for the Program Guide is Monday, Nov. 26. Stroll participants and their events are being posted on our social media channels. Please email us a photo to post with your event. It can be a photo of anything you would like to have posted. We are now posting, so again...the sooner you submit, the better. The time for these postings will run out as we get closer to the event. Please SHARE, LIKE and COMMENT …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (2)

Authors of 'Tokyo Heist' and 'Croak' Talk Tonight at Copley Library

And more to know today, Nov. 15.

1. Author Talk: The Boston Public Library is hosting a duo author talk with Diana Renn, author of Tokyo Heist and Gina Damico, author of Croak. The two will be talking young adult books from 3 to 4 p.m. The lecture is free and so are the snacks! 2. Holiday Cooking Class: Discover how to achieve the ultimate holiday feast (and eat it afterward) during a cooking class with Scampo (215 Charles St.) chefs Lydia Shire and Simon Restrepo. Lydia and Simon will demonstrate how to craft three courses for your holiday table, while you enjoy light bites and a specialty cocktail. The class runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and costs $150 per person. See here for ticket information.  3. Zumba for a Good Cause: Tomorrow night from 7-9 p.m., head to The Z Spot …

Upper Crust in Danger of Going Under, Newbury Street Store Closes

The financially and legally troubled Boston-based pizza chain has shut some locations, including its Newbury Street restaurant.

The locally owned pizza chain Upper Crust needs a cash infusion of a least a hundred thousand dollars to keep its doors open, or it could close forever, according to the Boston Globe.  The chain has rapidly shut down 10 out of its 16 area locations, including the store at 222 Newbury St. The Beacon Hill branch on Charles Street remains open.  The business may have to shut down completely if no cash infusion is received, according to the Globe.  Upper Crust declared bankruptcy last month and is also in the midst of a scandal that it owes $850,000 to its workers in back wages, according to the US Department of Labor. A separate investigation into the company in 2009 found the company had also violated several labor laws and owed employees $…

• Photos (1)

Free Earl of Sandwich Samples Today

And more to know today, Nov. 12.

1. The Earl of Sandwich: The restaurant will open today on the Common after an extensive renovation of its home, also known as the Pink Palace. Several city councilors, owner Robert Earl and the 11th Earl of Sandwich will be on hand for the ribbon cutting. Also, enjoy free samples from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  2. Santa's coming to town: Bring your kids to meet the big jolly man himself, at The Shops at the Prudential Center from Nov. 23 to Dec. 24. A variety of photo packages will be available, starting at $19.99. See here for more details. 3. The Taste of Boston: Boston magazine’s ultimate culinary celebration, the annual Taste event is tonight from 7-9 p.m. at the Mandarin Oriental Boston (776 Boylston St.) Visit the chefs at their stations…

• Photos (1)

Labor Agency: Upper Crust Pizzeria Owes Workers $850,000

Labor department claims Boston restaurant chain cheated workers.

The U.S. Labor Department filed court papers claiming that Upper Crust pizzeria owes workers $850,000 in back wages, according to a Boston Globe report. The company, founded on Beacon Hill in 2001, was found in a federal investigation to have violated minimum-wage and overtime laws between April 2009 and January 2011, largely by exploiting immigrant workers. This came on the back of a 2009 Labor Department investigation which ended in an order to pay workers $350,000 in back overtime.  Upper Crust founder Jordan Tobins allegedly came up with a scheme to recoup this money by lowering employees' wages or firing them if they refused to give the mandated compensation back, the Globe reported. What followed was a 2010 class-action lawsuit and …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)