🎶😋 Boston Calling’s *better* lineup

🎨 In the mood to get crafty? We’re hosting a glass-painting workshop at Crafts Zone’s Brookline studio on April 24 (you’ll take home an adorable cup like this!). And remember, members get discounted tickets. Grab tickets here!

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

No matter what you think about Boston Calling’s music lineup … this year’s food lineup is undoubtedly STACKED, including tons of notable newcomers. 

Here’s what’s worth a bite:

🍕 Have a slice at Sally’s Apizza. It’s pronounced “a-BEETZ!” The famous New Haven-style pizzeria is breaking its usual “pies only” rule to bring coal-fired thin-crust slices to the fest. You gotta try the classic mozzarella, but we’re also excited for quirkier flavors like basil burrata.

🦞 Taste the sea at New England Provisions and Summer Shack. This just in: Boston Calling has caviar. In GA! We can thank New England Provisions, where it’ll be offered either straight-up or on a “bougie caviar lobster roll.” Balling on a budget? It'll also have regular lobster rolls and oysters. Meanwhile, seafood joint Summer Shack will offer crispy shrimp and chicken baskets and fried ish tacos.

🥪 Grab a sandwich at Pennypacker’s and Flip The Bird. Pennypacker’s porchetta sammy is famous for a reason (just look at this dude’s reaction). It’ll be on the menu alongside some other sandwiches and sides. Meanwhile, Flip The Bird will be offering all types of fried chicken sandwiches, but keep your eyes out for “The Boston Calling,” with spicy Nashville dusted fried chicken, coleslaw, and homemade bayou sauce. 

🍓 Chill out at Amelia’s Açaí. If you want to cool down without a trip to the new cooling area, Amelia’s açaí bowls should do the trick, with toppings like mango, strawberries, Nutella, granola — you name it.

🥟 Some fan faves are making a comeback. Standout items include Love Art Sushi’s rainbow sushi nachos (we tried them last year, hard recommend); dumplings from Moyzilla or Dumpling Daughter; Monster Fries from The Smoke Shop BBQ; the namesake waffle from Zinneken's Waffles with chocolate, whipped cream, and shortcrust cookies; and pierogies from Jaju Pierogi. Plus, pro tip: FoMu’s pink waffle cone will look cute on IG. 

🍺 As for the drinks … Expect the usual assortment of beers, seltzers, and (hopefully) a few free samples. That said, Sam Adams is letting GA ticketholders try its Boston Calling-special beer Stage Lites for the first time, available in the arena bar. And we’re hyped about the return of Liquid Death, the viral canned flavored water (fingers crossed for Mango Chainsaw!). 

The Center Will Not Hold makes its Boston premiere at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, April 25 & 26. See 11 dancers, including tap dancer Michelle Dorrance and b-girl phenom Ephrat Asherie, bring the heat in this electrifying Dorrance Dance Production.

Buy Tickets Now!

😵‍💫 Chaos is brewing at Harvard. On Monday, Harvard gave a big thumbs down to President Trump’s list of sweeping demands. By Tuesday evening, Trump had frozen $2.2 billion of its federal funding, threatened its tax-exempt status, and asked for an apology … and the impacts across the school have been rolling in. So far, it looks like Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals (including Mass. General Brigham) have been spared any cuts, but at least one top Harvard scientist has already had her years-long work halted.

🔍 Round two of the Karen Read trial is on tap. After 10 days of selection and over 600 candidates, Karen Read’s second trial has nailed down its 18-person jury. This means the trial can officially begin, and opening arguments have been scheduled for April 22 — almost a year after the first trial’s start date (which ended in a hung jury). From there, according to Judge Beverly Cannone, the trial could take anywhere from six to eight weeks. Need to catch up on your Karen Read lore? Here’s a primer.

🚴 Your next BlueBike ride’s on us … JK! It’s actually on Blue Cross Blue Shield. Starting today, the company is offering free $15 BlueBikes credits to celebrate Earth Week — and donating $1 per ride to the Environmental League of Massachusetts. Here’s how it works: From today through April 22, you can access the credit on either pedal or e-bikes through the app’s rewards section with code “BLUECROSSMAEARTH.” Once you’ve got it, you can use it whenever from now until the end of the year.

🏳️‍🌈 Speaking of summer music festivals … OUTLOUD, an LGBTQ+ music festival, is coming to The Stage at Suffolk Downs on June 21. OUTLOUD’s goal is to uplift queer and trans artists and provide a safe space for folks to gather and support them. Headlining acts include Kim Petras (think: Unholy, I Don’t Want it At All) and a DJ Set from Trixie Mattel, but we’re just as excited about smaller artists like Rebecca Black, Flo Milli, Frankie Grande, and local rapper Oompa. Tickets start at $69 and go on sale April 18 at 10 a.m. 

Enter to win two VIP tickets to Big Queer Food Fest’s Grand Tasting. To enter, just refer a friend and have them accept your invite by the end of the day on April 17, 2025. If you have already referred a friend to B-Side (and they’ve accepted), you're eligible! Full details below*

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

If you have any friends and family visiting for marathon weekend, comedian-slash-runner Laura Green has some tips to help them look like a local.

Here are a few highlights: Start and end every conversation talking about the weather (for example: If you start with “It’s so nice out” … close with “but we could really use some rain”). If you’re running on the Esplanade, stay on the right side of the walkway unless you want to get run over. And if you’re thinking about tanning: Don’t. It’s a dead giveaway.

But we saved her best tip of all for last: Don’t be nice … but definitely be kind. Awwwww. Check out the whole video here.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

👟 Thanks for reading! Some other great conversation starters: The traffic, the crowds, parking tickets, the game … we’re simple people! 

🍪 The results are in: 36% of B-Siders say they’re most excited about Flour’s new hot sticky buns. One reader said: “I am just so curious about what a bakery hotdog tastes like...hopefully like a hotdog.”

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