❤️‍🔥 Boston might just be the city of love

Happy Friday, Boston!

🤑 Tonight’s dinner plans just got cheaper. In honor of National Pizza Day, Sal’s Pizza is offering their medium meat lover’s pie at Mass. locations for only $10 with code PIZZADAY. You can place your order online here!

👀 What’s on tap today:

• A storm’s a brewin’

• Lord Hobo no-go

• AI Pats fan

Up first…

OUT & ABOUT

Boston’s loveliest things to do

If you’ve already made V-Day plans … Congrats, you’re better than everyone. But if not, we’ve rounded up some of the best Valentine’s, Galentine’s, and Palentine’s events around town over the next few days (no significant others required).

🍝 For a fancy meal that won’t (completely) break the bank … TBH, your options are going to be slim close to the day, but there are still reservations available to try out City Tap House’s three course prix fixe tasting menu for $75 a person, or Rosebud Kitchen in Somerville’s $45 prix fixe option. Bonus: If your idea of a romantic dinner is pizza and a movie, Ducali’s and Bertucci’s are both offering heart-shaped pies.

🕺 For a lovely time, sans-romance … Grab your gals (and some Advil) for Painted Burro’s Galentine’s day bottomless drag brunch or Nash Bar’s Galentine’s day soirée complete with specialty cocktails and a pink theme. For something more wholesome, consider this social V-Day craft night with card-making supplies and sweet treats, or bust out your skates for The Rink’s “Skate Kenway,” a professional drag skating performance inspired by “Barbie.” But for perhaps the most … unique celebration of all, try this Valentine’s weekend goat hike. 

💌 For the single, ready to mingle, and truly fearless … Head over to Harpoon’s “pitch a pal” event on National Singles Awareness Day (Feb. 15), where the friends of local singles will “pitch” their pals to the bar via PowerPoint presentation. But if you'd prefer to keep your public rejection (slightly) more lowkey, try out this speed dating event in the Seaport hosted by Boston’s very own TikTok celeb Joe Fenti (@fentifriedchicken). And if you’re more in the market for a pal-entine, try this LGBTQ+ speed friending event at Trident.

🙄 For those who are truly over the V-day hype … Rail against the season of love at this anti-Valentine’s “Fight Cabaret” performance, where, yes, every performance is a fight (of sorts), or enjoy an anti-Valentine’s Day drink or special at the iconic South Street Diner, like the “Got Punched” punch, or the “Anti-Love Potion.” And if you’d rather spend the day solo, why not treat yourself to an evening out? Here’s a list of reader recommended spots for solo dining from Boston.com.

QUICK QUESTION

❤️‍🔥 What are your V-Day plans?

CITY

Quick & dirty headlines

❄️ A storm’s a brewin’ next week. Which feels fitting given that this weekend will be unseasonably warm. It looks like Mass. could see some more snow on Monday night into Tuesday, but per usual, it’s a little too soon to tell. The long and short of it seems to be that there’s potential for some snow, or at the minimum, heavy winds and rain (sound familiar?), particularly in Northwestern Mass. But no matter what precipitation comes our way, in true February fashion, we’re likely going to see some nippy temps through the middle of the week.

✈️ A collision at Logan is giving us serious déjà vu. Two JetBlue planes collided on Logan’s tarmac on Thursday, but it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds. While in the de-icing area, one plane’s wing tip clipped another's tail, which thankfully, caused no passenger injuries. But it certainly caused a major headache for travelers, as both flights were canceled. And this isn’t the first time a collision like this (or other close calls) has happened at Logan. In fact, last year, it happened enough that the FAA issued a safety alert and gave Logan nearly $45 million to address the issue.

🏈 Super Bowl Sunday is about to be liiiiit. Even if the Pats aren’t playing. If you’re looking for a classic Super Bowl watch party, this one at Bleacher Bar is free with a reservation and this one at the Greatest Bar will pretty much guarantee a good view of the game. If you’re more interested in the Puppy Bowl (and you don’t mind a short drive) Castle Island Brewing in Norwood is hosting their very own Puppy Bowl talent show.

🍺 Somerville’s Lord Hobo is looking like a no-go. For the past two years, Somerville residents have been awaiting the opening of a new Lord Hobo location (essentially, a tap room with elevated bar food) on Highland Avenue. But as of this week, the company has decided to put a stop to the expansion in order to focus on their current priorities, according to the Globe. But in some good food news, Banh Mi Cafe is officially open on Watertown’s Main Street, serving up Vietnamese cuisine and bubble tea.

THINGS TO DO

Weekend plans

🧀 Pre-game for Super Bowl Sunday with The B-Side. We’re hosting a charcuterie board-making class at Castle Island Brewing this Saturday. Your ticket gets you expert instruction, a charcuterie board for four, plus a drink ticket!

💐 Gather your gal pals for a craft night. Bluebird Bouquets and Boston Women’s Market are teaming up at Aeronaut in Somerville on Saturday for their blooms and besties floral workshop.

🧧 Celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Stop by Blue Triangle Gallery tonight for a group show with Night Shift drinks and Dope Dinners snacks.

🎤 Stage fright? Shake it off. Channel your inner world-class performer with Taylor Swift karaoke at Night Shift in Everett tonight. May you have all her confidence and vocal talent.

🌿 Come on down to the canna-cabaret. Make it a high stimulus Saturday with Cannabis Cabaret this Saturday at Jacques’ Cabaret, complete with drag, comedy, games, and “a high-atus intermission.” 

— Written by Claire Nicholas

🎉 Want more things to do recommendations? Refer five friends to unlock five bonus items. For those who already have, enjoy below.

ONE LAST THING

An “average” Pats fan

Are you a middle aged white man with a stern expression, a giant puffer jacket, a fur scarf, and a graying beard? If so, you might just look like an “average” Patriots fan, according to AI.

FlashPicks, an online gaming site, used AI art software to create what it thinks an average fan of certain NFL teams looks like, and we’ve gotta say: The Pats image isn’t … too far off. Weird beanie? Check. Slightly unflattering facial hair? Check. Steely grimace for no apparent reason? Check. It’s basically a more outdoorsy Bill Belichick.

TBH, our only notes are the fur trim on his jacket looks a little too fashion-forward for most Pats fans, and the fact that, under all that winter gear, this man looks kind of like Chris Pine.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

🏈 Thanks for reading! We’ll just say, AI was a lot kinder to Pats fans than to some other teams. 

☃️ The results are in: Most B-Siders don’t think we’re going to get much more snow this season, but wish we were. Special shoutout to the several teachers who wrote in specifically hoping for more snow days, like this reader: “Teachers need snow days too!”

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