❄️🛍️ Babe, wake up, it’s Snowport szn

Happy Friday, Boston!

😅 Today marks the end of one of the most chaotic New England weeks that we can remember. On top of the historic presidential election, this week brought us 4:30 p.m. sunsets, 80 degree weather, and … the return of Dunkin’s holiday menu. We think it’s fair to say, this is how we collectively feel.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Weekend T shutdowns

• Record-breaking Boston heat

• Maine’s not-so-cute state flag

Up first…

OUT & ABOUT

*Mariah Carey voice* It’s tiiiiiiiiime!

If you can believe it, it’s Snowport season. a.k.a. The season when the Seaport transforms from a ritzy shopping hub into … a festive, ritzy shopping hub.

The holiday extravaganza kicks off today, so here’s what to know:

🎁 The holiday market is the pièce de résistance. When most folks think “Snowport,” they’re probably thinking of the holiday market that features over 120 small businesses selling clothes, artisan foods, home decor, knick-knacks, and more. This year, 22% of vendors are new, 65% are local to New England, and 83% identify as BIPOC and/or women-owned. It’ll be open seven days a week through Dec. 29, with extended hours starting Dec. 9. Here’s the full list of vendors. 

🥌 That said, the Snowport isn’t just a holiday market. See: The free, iceless curling lanes that are open seven days a week (sign up for a spot here), the annual tree market, events for both menorah and Christmas tree lightings, an NYE ice sculpture stroll, and a seasonal mascot (hi, Betty the Yeti!). You can check out the events cal here.

🍪 TBH, the food and bev tent alone is worth a trip. You can expect returning faves like Zaz Restaurant, the Frenchman’s Crepes, and Cheese Louise, plus some seriously notable newbies like Dumpling Daughter, Eloti, and S’mores N’more. Per usual, its signature bars like the Jingle Bar and Dizzy Dreidel will be slinging cocktails and other bevs. If you want our recs, you can check out our Snowport foodie’s guide. 

🎟️ This year, you can skip the lines (for a price). The days of showing up to the holiday market just to wait in a line like this are numbered … but it’ll cost you. If you’re willing to download the Seaport Insider app and pay $12 (or $6 for vets and kids), you can nab a timed-entry ticket on the weekends. Those tickets will ensure you entry to the market within 30 minutes of your reservation. 

💸 Bonus: Even if you’re not down to drop the cash, the free app has some serious deals for users like a BOGO HeyDay facial, a free food item at Flight Club, and a BOGO 20% off at Little Words Project. 

🎄 Not sure where to start? We have recs! Emily Soukas, the Seaport’s associate director of community and partnerships, is excited about Madhrasi Chai, a local chai concentrate and spice shop. (The business happens to be one of Snowport’s 12 scholarship recipients, which received discounted booths and business coaching.) As for us, all of our faves from our under $30 Snowport gift guide — like Dr. Silkman’s, Ashley Eisenman Art, Rooting for You, Crystal Rock Maple, and Hillside Harvest — are back for another round.

QUICK QUESTION

🎁 What do you go to Snowport for?

TOGETHER WITH FLEXCAR

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CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

🚃 It wouldn’t be a weekend without some T shutdowns. This weekend, Red Liners will see their current Broadway/North Quincy shutdown expand to include service from JFK/UMass to Ashmont. And over on the Green Line’s D branch, shuttles will replace service between Riverside and Kenmore (minus the Beaconsfield stop). Riders who want to go to Union Square during the shutdown should use the C branch, which will be stopping there temporarily. And that’s just a warmup for the line’s next, bigger shutdown next week. 

👊 Some Mass. Democrats are prepping for battle. Following the reelection of Donald Trump, some Mass. leaders vowed to push back against the “threats” of his administration. During Trump’s last presidency, Mass. sued the administration 96 times, more than all but three states. On Wednesday, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said she would do more of the same, while leaders in the State House and Senate promised to stand up against “federal mismanagement” and be “a light of democracy and justice for all.”

🥵 It might be fall in New England, but nobody told Mother Nature. See: Boston, Worcester, Providence, and Hartford all coming in HOT (literally) with record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday. Boston hit a high of 82 degrees, marking the latest in a string of record-breaking high temps this season. Meanwhile, it still isn’t raining. The latest drought report shows that severe drought conditions have arrived in not only Greater Boston, but some of central and western Mass., with no end in sight. 

😋 Boston’s restaurant scene just won’t quit. POE-Lenta is the latest addition to Time Out Market’s vendor list. Just in time for cozy season, the spot will serve comforting Italian soups, sandwiches, and pastas. In the South End, Desnuda Cocina & Bar, Boston’s latest listening bar-slash-restaurant, is slated to open Wednesday, with a vinyl sound bar downstairs and Asian-Latin fusion dining upstairs. Bonus: The Globe just gave the new-ish Abuela’s Table in JP a big thumbs up.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a $100 gift card to Legal Sea Foods!

One lucky winner is about to enjoy a boat load of the best New England seafood, for FREE! That’s right, we’re giving away a $100 gift card to Legal Sea Foods. To enter, just refer a friend and have them accept your invite by the end of the day on 11/8. If you have already referred a friend to B-Side (and they’ve accepted), you're eligible! Full details below*

21+. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Limit one entry per person. See Official Rules & an additional entry option here.

THINGS TO DO

Weekend plans

🏓 Get off the apps and onto the table. The ping pong table, that is. Jigsaw Dating is hosting a singles ping pong mixer for 25- to 35-year-olds tonight at SPIN. There’s gonna be conversation, prompts, drinks, games, and if all else fails, at least you can work on your spin serve.

🧶 Cozy up with a blanket you made yourself. No knitting needles required! Craft Loft in Cambridge has a chunky-knit throw blanket-making workshop, where all you need to bring is your hands (they provide the yarn).

🍂 Dive into soup season. If there’s a better way to embrace fall than by making soup from scratch with seasonal veggies, we haven’t heard of it. The Fenway Community Center will teach you how this afternoon. 

🐰 Downward dog … with a bunny. You’ve heard of goat yoga and puppy yoga, but this Saturday, you can partake in some bunny rabbit yoga in Back Bay. And if you don’t feel like doing yoga, just cuddling with the bunnies is also A-OK. 

🪩 Party with your favorite pop princesses. Grab your butterfly clips, cause we’re sprinting to Remnant Brewing in Somerville for its Saturday night dance party dedicated to the queens of pop, from Brittany to Beyoncé.

🍻 Sip your Saturday away on local cider. Crisp ciders, sours, and local bites? We’re there. Specifically at CiderFeast in Southie on Saturday, where you can sample ciders from around the region.

💃 Put on your dancin’ shoes. And shimmy straight to Swing City in Cambridge for a beginner swing and Charleston dancing class on Saturday. Bonus: Stick around post-class for an open dance to practice your new moves. 

👗 Get your vintage fix in Somerville. Fend off the Sunday scaries with an afternoon at Back and Forth flea market. 20+ local vendors will be slinging Y2K clothing, jewelry, books, and more. 

ONE LAST THING

Maine’s not-so-cute flag

This election, Mainers had the opportunity to do the cutest possible thing. And … they didn’t. 

For decades, Maine has been toying with the idea of swapping out its state flag (which, like over a dozen other states, is the state’s seal over a navy background) with a riff on the state’s very aesthetic, very unique, original flag (just look at it!). After much back-and-forth, the new flag finally got the ballot for voters to decide on.

But … they shot it down. The question failed 55% to 45%, with most Mainers opting to keep the old, boring flag. Why? Many “no” voters cited criticism for the new design, or simply resistance to change. 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🌲 Thanks for reading! As long as they keep selling cute hats and stickers with the new design, we’re happy. 

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Flexcar, for supporting local journalism and making transportation more affordable and accessible in Boston. 

🐟 The results are in: Looks like B-Side Certified is heading to Kaia, because 57% of readers said they want us to try it out next. 

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].