😅💉 Boston bars now serve ... IV drips?!

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👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

The hottest new bars in Boston: Drip bars. Across the city, Bostonians are shelling out hundreds for trendy IV drip treatments (yes, like the ones in hospitals) that advertise themselves as a more effective way to take your vitamins. 

Here’s what to know: 

💉 IV drips are wellness culture’s latest fixation. The treatments are popping up at medspas, esthetic clinics, and standalone “drip bars,” advertising vitamin infusions that promise everything from hangover recovery to clear skin to athletic performance. And they’re not cheap: They cost anywhere between $150 and $600 a drip, depending on the ingredients.

🙋 The people are eating it up. See: John Blazo, a 34-year-old regular IV drip user. He stops by Vivolo Wellness every Friday to get a different “cocktail” of vitamins. He recently got a boosted immunity treatment with a liter of fluids and vitamins, plus an extra dose of vitamin C and glutathione, an antioxidant. He threw in a (literal) shot of the NAD+ supplement for good measure. “What really drove me here is performance and wellness,” he said.

😷 The rise is part of a post-COVID “preventative wellness” kick. Immunity boosts, quick recovery from colds, and perceived shortcuts to better health have been trendy for years, but their popularity skyrocketed during COVID. “[It] was a clear time that the healthier you were, the less likely it was going to hurt you,” said Vivolo owner Aaron Landes. “Preventive wellness and preventive care are becoming more popular.” 

😬 But like most wellness hacks, doctors aren’t into it. “People think they’re getting preventative care when they’re really just buying an expensive, mildly helpful pick-me-up.” said Dr. Ali S. Raja, executive vice chair of emergency medicine at Mass General Brigham. Evidence that the drips help otherwise healthy people is very slim, if not nonexistent. Plus, if they’re improperly administered, they can cause infections and electrolyte imbalances. “The biggest danger might be the false sense of security,” Dr. Raja said. 

💅 But that’s not stopping the medspas. In 2022, they were a $15 billion industry with nearly 9,000 facilities — including close to 100 across Mass. But the market is largely unregulated: The state requires medspas to be licensed by the Department of Public Health, but concerns about limited oversight for the pricey treatments remain.

🩺 If you do hit an IV bar: Ask about the spa’s medical oversight and what happens if you have a reaction; check for its license and those of its providers; and talk with your doctor first — especially if you're pregnant or have poor heart or kidney function.

😬 Boston’s new budget might be going on a diet. The city is facing some looming financial challenges, read: a $50 million budget shortfall this year. So it’s no surprise Mayor Michelle Wu’s $4.9 billion budget proposal only hikes spending by 2%, one of the smallest year-over-year increases since 2009. We’ll have more deets on specifics today, but some pandemic-era grant programs will likely get axed, along with spending cuts across several departments. Still, plenty of programs will survive, like free English language classes for adults through the BPL.

📲 A social media ban for teens could be closer than you think. Leaders across the state are booked and busy this week to make it happen: House lawmakers will vote on a bill today to ban kids under 14 from using social media (!), require 14- and 15-year-olds to get parental consent before using the platforms, and enact a school phone ban. Quincy Schools are proposing their own strict cellphone ban to the School Committee today. And Gov. Maura Healey was about to drop her own social media bill but abruptly cancelled the unveiling, citing a schedule change.

🏳️‍🌈 BU is pressing pause on removing Pride flags on campus. ICYMI: The university pissed off a lot of students, faculty, and alumni after removing some Pride flags on campus last month. But according to BU President Melissa Gilliam, they’re now pausing their signage policy (the policy they used to justify taking down said flags in the first place). Gillam acknowledged the impact this has had on LGBTQ+ students, saying the pause is intended to create space for further discussion. She also said BU will explore more ways to support the LGBTQ+ community.

✈️ Spring is in the air. And so are cheap flights! If you need an excuse for a pre-summer getaway, JetBlue is coming in hot with a 20% discount on base fares to help you take off. Some deets: It works for Tuesday and Wednesday travel between April 14 and May 20, 2026, it can’t be used on transatlantic or connecting flights, and you gotta book by April 8. Chasing sunshine? We saw a handful of reasonable deals to hot spots like Fort Lauderdale, Charleston, even The Bahamas! Read all the fine print here. 

B-Side Members can save more than $150 across our events this month, plus monthly freebies like free coffee at Flour Bakery.

🧘 TODAY: Enter to win two weeks of unlimited pilates. B-Side Members can enter for a chance to win two weeks of unlimited classes at Barre & Soul and discover your new favorite way to move. Start a free trial to enter!

🎶 April 10: Orkest at Democracy Brewing. Enjoy songs from curated emerging artists at Democracy Brewing. Expect intimate community vibes, plenty of talent, and infectious energy from the downtown backdrop. B-Side Members get 20% off. Get tickets here.

🩷 April 19: Rise & Thrive Women’s Conference. Rise & Thrive is coming to The Cyclorama on Sunday, April 19, featuring a leadership panel, shopping, and plenty of chances to connect. Grab your ticket here! Members get free entry.

👀 Want to feature your upcoming event above? Click here.

The rumors are(n’t) true!?

Swifties were buzzing last week after Harper’s Bazaar reported that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce would be tying the knot at the Ocean House in Westerly, R.I., on June 13, 2026. And frankly, it didn’t feel too out of left field given recent rumblings on the interwebs.

But if it felt too good to be true, well … that’s because it was … probably.

Celebrity wedding planner Tara Guérard apparently shut said rumors down on this IG post detailing the story with a simple comment: “I am the wedding planner for June 13th at the Ocean House in Rhode Island! Sorry to let you all know, Taylor is not my bride this weekend! Boo!" Boo is right!

So now we’re left asking ourselves: Is Guérard telling the truth? Is she faking us out? Are Taylor and Travis in on it? Is a New England summer wedding off the table entirely? Are they *gulp* … already married?

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

💍 Thanks for reading! Yes, we know, get a life, etc.

😬 The results are in: Today’s job market does NOT pass the vibe check, according to 46% of readers who said they’re striking out big time. One said it “feels like I’m playing for the Red Sox right now 🤷‍♂️.” Oh … that’s BAD bad. 

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