For First Night director, final push is grueling, fun
One million partygoers are expected tonight for First Night festivities. For Geri Guardino, First Night’s executive director, the final preparations are a whirlwind of activity.
Boston prepares for First Night
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
The 36th Annual First Night festivities include live music, dance, two firework shows, and a festival of International Short Films.
Photos
New Year’s celebrations around the world
New Zealand and Australia are among the first in the world to welcome 2012 with New Year celebrations.
Logan expects to set a record
A record number of passengers flew in and out of Logan International Airport this year, a growth Logan officials attributed to the recent arrival Southwest Airlines and expansion of JetBlue.
Jeff Haynes; Jim young; Jessica Rinaldi/reuters
Different flavors of the GOP
The difference in styles between the Republican presidential candidates has intensified in the closing days before the Iowa caucus.
A vending machine that serves up safety
A group of MIT undergraduates designed HelmetHub vending machines that would dispense headgear to riders of Hubway, Boston’s bike-sharing system.
Some Bostonians prefer quiet, warm welcome to new year
Many in the city will trade tonight’s fireworks and other First Night fanfare in exchange for quieter celebrations with family and close friends.
“Customers are using Logan more than they ever did, which is great news for everyone. The more passengers you have, that generates more revenue.”
Edward Freni, director of aviation for the Massachusetts Port Authority
Inside The Boston Globe
Columnists
Metro
Peabody says goodbye to a hero
James M. Rice’s funeral marked the second time in two weeks that firefighters from across the region flocked to a final salute for a colleague.
Business
Historic theater gets new hope
The Everett Square Theatre in Hyde Park has been closed for three decades, but a new marquee is sparking hopes for a larger renovation project.
Politics
political notebook
Gingrich gets teary recalling mother
Newt Gingrich choked up and wiped away tears yesterday while recalling his late mother’s struggle with depression and mental illness.
Nation & World
Syrian forces strike at protesters
Tens of thousands of protesters poured into the streets across Syria, braving a government onslaught of tear gas, nail bombs, and gunfire that activists said killed at least 16 people.
Sports
Thomas has become next in line for Patriots
Donald Thomas hadn’t played a regular-season game in two years. Suddenly, last week against the Dolphins, he was starting at left guard against the team that drafted him.
Arts
Television Review
‘Angry Boys’ could stand to be funnier
The lives of men have been front and center in several new comedies this season.
Opinion
“What’s needed is a system in which everyone’s interest — the patient’s, the doctor’s, and the insurer’s — lies in getting the most effective treatment in the most cost-efficient manner.”
Globe editorial
Ideas
The practice of sending commercially printed cards soon became wildly popular. It reached the United States in 1875…By 1958, the average US family mailed 100 Christmas cards.
Mark Feeney on the history of Christmas cards