🎶😳 Boston Calling’s got some competition

It’s Tuesday, Boston.

🏙️ Think $4,000/month for a Seaport studio is pricey? Try $50 million for a Seaport penthouse. This place just dethroned a Martha's Vineyard estate to become Mass.’ priciest listing. And looking at the inside … we can see why.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• Three strikes, Devers is OUT

• Getting a BQ just got harder

• Maine flips the bird

Up first…

OUT & ABOUT

Three words: Queer. Music. Festival.

What do Kim Petras, Rebecca Black, and Flo Milli all have in common? They’re all queer icons … who are coming to town this weekend!

Boston’s first-ever OUTLOUD Music Festival is at Suffolk Downs on June 21. Here’s what to know: 

🏳️‍🌈 It’s a queer music fest made for queer audiences. And “puts LGBTQ+ artists to work outside of just Pride,” said founder Jeff Consoletti. The concept debuted as a digital showcase back in 2021, but has run as a fully-fledged music fest at West Hollywood (WeHO) Pride since 2022, drawing big-name headliners like Doechii, Lizzo, and Remi Wolf. 

🦞 It’s shipping up to Boston for the first time EVER. When the time came to expand, Boston was the obvious choice for Consoletti, a Mass. native. For one, Boston’s impressive track record of standing with the LGBTQ+ community “very much aligns with that community-forward mentality that we've developed,” he said. And for another … it’s nearly impossible to get his family out to Cali. “It's always a chore for people from Massachusetts to travel.”

🎤 The lineup is a mixture of nine heavy hitters and local legends on one stage … including local DJs and artists like MATH3CA, Oompa, and Big Body Kweeng; nationally recognizable names like Flo Milli and G Flip; and iconic headliner Kim Petras.

🤫 And, rumor has it … there might be a super-secret surprise or two, according to Consoletti.

🌈 Don’t expect to be crying in the club. Instead, expect “queer joy … [and] dance energy.” Plus, one perk of a smaller lineup: It’s built to be super cohesive. So fans can count on the fact that if they know and like just one artist in the lineup, they’ll probably like what they’re hearing all day, Consoletti said. 

🍟 The music isn’t the fest’s only killer lineup. Attendees can expect bites from the likes of Amelia’s Acai Bowls, The Sausage Guy, Bees and Thank You, Snacks Box Boston (the folks behind Boston’s viral meringue hot cocoa), fun foodie surprises from premium sponsor McDonald’s (we’re expecting fries), and a beer garden.

🎟️ Ready to grab a ticket? They start at just $69. Buuuut our B-Side membership team went OFF and snagged our members 50% off(!!) GA tickets. 

🤔 Any other questions? Here’s everything you need to know. 

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

⚾ Three strikes, Rafael Devers is OUT. The Red Sox decided to ruin Father’s Day for all Masshole dads by trading the big hitter and franchise face to the San Francisco Giants. Why? Jury’s still out, but drama over Devers’ position and a desire to unload his massive contract are two solid guesses. Some analysts are accusing the team of cashing in on a good vibe (not to mention re-traumatizing fans), while others think it’ll be a positive shakeup. Our take: If the Giants make the playoffs and the Sox don’t, we ride at dawn. 

🌭 Meanwhile, Fenway Park might see *another* type of strike soon. Fenway concession workers overwhelmingly voted Sunday to authorize a strike after months of stalled contract negotiations. The workers are seeking better wages and limits on automation like self-checkout and beer kiosks, which they say are limiting their shifts. The strike technically hasn’t started yet, but the union warned it’s coming soon if Aramark (the concession company) doesn’t start some serious negotiating. The Sox’ next home game isn’t ’til June 27, so they still have time to get things rolling. 

🏃 Qualifying for the Boston Marathon just got harder. Starting in 2027, the B.A.A. will tack up to 10 extra minutes onto qualifying times that come from races with over 1,500 feet of net downhill. The move is meant to crack down on what’s become a known hack for earning a BQ as marathoning gets more popular — in 2025, nearly 10% of runners earned their qualifying time at a significantly downhill race. Under the new rules, races with 1,500 to 2,999 feet will add five minutes, 3,000 to 6,000 add 10, and over 6,000 won’t count at all.

🤑 Clear your schedule for Aug. 9 and 10. Because it’s tax free weekend, baby! A.k.a. the one weekend of the year where Mass.’ 6.25% sales tax doesn’t apply to most purchases under $2,500 (including online shopping!). As you work on your shopping list, remember: The savings apply to retail purchases of items for personal use (so, no business expenses, meals, or gas), and alcohol and weed are no-gos. Check out the full list of do’s and don’ts here.

QUICK QUESTION!

🏃 Be honest: If you qualify for Boston running downhill, did you really qualify for Boston?

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Don’t miss this deal!

B-Side members get 60+ discounts to some of Boston’s best businesses, including $300 off their broker fee at Apartment Advisor, which combines smart technology with expert local guidance to make your apartment search easier at every step.

ONE LAST THING

Maine flips the bird

Is the tree on the new Maine license plate … flipping us off? Some Mainers seem to think so.

On May 1, the state officially started phasing out its old standard license plates (you know, the ones with the cute chickadee) for a new version featuring a pine tree and a star. The only problem? Once the plates came out, some folks started noticing something … sinister … about the tree. Namely, the tippy top looks like it’s giving you the finger. 

In fact, some people thought the resemblance was so clear that they began to wonder whether it was intentional, sparking some (pretty silly) online conversation. But we’re here to put it to rest: According to the tree’s designer, the resemblance is a funny, but unintentional coincidence. “Definitely not my brand,” she said.

Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has some slightly stronger sentiments about it: “Anyone who suggests it’s anything other than a pine tree doesn’t know pine trees,” she said.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🌲 Thanks for reading! It took us about two full minutes to find it, but now we literally can’t unsee it.

🍕 The results are in: 39% of B-Siders said they LOVE some bar pizza. One reader said: “As a South Shore native, bar pizza is the only good thing that we have.” Hot take!

🥳 🎵 Don't forget to grab your tickets to Best Day Ever, our Aug. 2 food, music, and shopping extravaganza at Artists for Humanity!

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