‘Tis the season to shop, sip, eat & play in Boston & beyond

Eat, drink, and be merry, that’s the go-to holiday motto. But we’re going to amend that. This year, how about: Eat, drink, shop, take classes, buy gifts, brunch with girlfriends, nosh with family, and yes — be very, very merry.

The next few holiday weeks are filled with fabulous events spilling over with all that fun stuff.

It starts as early as tomorrow, with a road trip for a smashing intimate in-person cocktail soirée and book signing with Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush, to celebrate their children’s book, “Love Comes First.” (https://aubergeresorts.com/whitebarninn/experiences/prelude-cocktails). From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the celeb sisters will be hosting and toasting with cocktails and light bites in the elegance-meets-rustic dining room of The White Barn Inn ((The Bush Family compound is located just down the road apiece in Kennebunkport, ME). For a $55 ticket you can meet them, get the opportunity to buy copies of their book for your favorite youngsters, and luxuriate in the stunning setting of the Inn—which is of course now decked out for the holiday. Not a bad idea to book a night to stay (aubergeresorts.com/whitebarninn) while you’re there, either, considering that Kennebunkport is currently celebrating Christmas Prelude, a weeks-long festival that’s one of the country’s most fun and boisterous holiday festivals.

And then this Saturday, Boston Public Market (https://bostonpublicmarket.org/happenings) is cramming its halls with tastings and classes as well as shopping events —swing in at noon for Jennifer Lee’s Vegan/Allergen-free Gingerbread Making Class. Or grab the kiddos and go next Saturday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. for Seven Hill Pasta Co.’s Kid’s Ornament Making Session. They’re all free, followed by holiday movies — and are an easy way to get holiday shopping done while picking up a new skill or two.

The Revere Hotel (reverehotel.com) is ramping things up and getting very merry indeed with their Festive Fridays throughout December. Think holiday cocktails, a live DJ from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and fun activities — I’m especially looking forward to their Dec. 8 holiday shop: “Top it Off Holiday Pop-Up” — a melange of great gloves, ponchos, cute socks, and adorable hats (the shop is a winner of Oprah’s Favorite Things).

The Revere is also hosting a Bad Moms Brunch “Holiday Edition” on Dec. 10 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Rebel’s Guild (https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/rebelsguild). They’ll be screening the movie with plenty of cocktails and brunch bites.

Pretty much anytime in December, grabbing a cocktail in the Liberty Hotel (libertyhotel.com) lobby is always one of my favorite things to do before heading out for the evening, since the property has once again put up their dizzying and gorgeous upside-down Christmas trees across their soaring ceiling. The seven inverted Christmas trees, decorated by Boston florist and event designer Cityscapes, are suspended from the hotel lobby’s stunning 90-foot rotunda. Each nine-foot tall tree is decorated with lights, ornaments, and a touch of acrylic paint for extra shine. Paired with a potent peppermint martini, it’s a surreal and sensational new tradition.

All this shopping is making everyone hungry, no? Well, arm yourself with a fork and knife and get over to Waypoint in Cambridge (waypointharvard.com) for the epic and annual Feast of the Seven Fishes that Chef Michael Scelfo rolls out — he’s increased it to two nights this year due to popularity. It’s on Dec. 22 and 23, rings in at $77 per person, and includes dishes like fishermen’s stew (tomato-braised salt cod, mussels, calamari, and fried chickpea croquettes); pan-seared halibut (with potato crema, greens, chopped lobster, and crab gravy); and oysters with champagne and quince.

The Miracle Pop-Up at the bar at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel (hotelmarlowe.com) in Cambridge is the O.G. of cheeky local hotels doing holiday revelry. The winter wonderland is festooned with twinkling lights, and bartenders donning their favorite ugly Christmas sweaters while shaking up delish specialty cocktails under the watchful eye of a six-foot Santa. Drop in any night but Monday from now until Christmas.